EMI Filter Design and Stability Assessment of DC Voltage Distribution based on
Switching Converters.
F. Arteche
1
, B. Allongue
1
, F. Szoncso
1
, C. Rivetta
2
1
CERN, 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
Fernando.Arteche@cern.ch
2
FERMILAB, P.O.Box 500 MS222, Batavia Il 60510 USA
rivetta@fnal.gov
Abstract
The design of DC power distribution for LHC front-end
electronics imposes new challenges. Some CMS sub-detectors
have proposed to use a DC-power distribution based on DC-
DC power switching converters located near to the front-end
electronics.
DC-DC converters operate as a constant power load. They
exhibit at the input terminals dynamic negative impedance at
low frequencies that can generate interactions between
switching regulators and other parts of the input system
resulting in instabilities. In addition, switching converters
generate interference at both input and output terminals that
can compromise the operation of the front-end electronics and
neighbour systems. Appropriated level of filtering is
necessary to reduce this interference.
This paper addresses the instability problem and presents
methods of modelling and simulation to assess the system
stability and performance. The paper, also, addresses the
design of input and output filters to reduce the interference
and achieve the performance required.
I. INTRODUCTION
DC power distribution has been used by aerospace and
telecommunication industries [1][2]. This topology distributes
a high voltage (HV) and converts it to low voltage (LV) either
locally or near the electronics equipment. In high-energy
physics (HEP), some CMS and Atlas sub-detectors [3][4]
have proposed similar topologies to power-up the front-end
electronics. In such proposals, the AC mains is rectified in the
control room and DC high voltage (200-300V) is distributed a
distance about 120-150 mts. to the periphery of the detector.
At that location, DC-DC converters transform with high
efficiency the HV into the LV required by the front-end (FE)
electronics. Those converters are located about 10-20 mts.
from the front-end electronics due to the intense magnetic
field that exists inside the detector.
For LHC experiments, converters have to operate reliably
under high-energy neutron radiation and fringe magnetic
field. Converters have to present high efficiency, galvanic
isolation between input and output, and couple low amount of
noise to the surrounding electronic equipment. Intrinsically
switching power converters generate a noise level that, in
general, is not compatible with the sensitive electronics used
in HEP experiments. Input and output filters are necessary to
attenuate the level of noise coupled by conduction and
radiation through the cables. Also, interactions among
converters with input filters and distribution lines can
deteriorate the performance or induce instabilities in the
system because the converter operate as a constant power
load.
Figure 1: DC distribution system
In this paper, analysis and design approaches for the
system are presented. Section II presents an overall view of
the problem, section III resumes the standards related with
conducted interference emissions, section IV describes the
design of the system considering stability issues, while section
V addresses the design of the input filter to reduce conductive
interference.
II. PRESENTATION OF THE PROBLEM.
All switching converters generate and emit high frequency
noise. The emission can be coupled to the sensitive FE
electronics and neighbour subsystem electronics by
conduction and/or radiation. This noise can interfere with the
sensitive FE electronics and cause malfunction. The
frequency range of the electromagnetic interference (EMI)
spectrum generated by power electronics equipment can
extend up to 1GHz.
For conducted EMI there are two principal modes of
propagation, differential (DM) and common mode (CM). The
propagation of the differential mode EMI takes place between
conductor pairs, which form a conventional return circuit (e.g.
negative/positive conductors, line phase/neutral conductors).
The DM EMI is the direct result of the fundamental operation
of the switching converter. The propagation of the common
mode EMI takes place between a group of conductors and
Front-end
DC-DC converter unit
DC-DC converter unit
DC-DC converter unit
AC/DC
+ filter
3 phase mains
400V/50Hz.
~150mts
~20mts
Front-end
Front-end
Distribution
line
BUS
N
Front-end
DC-DC converter unit
DC-DC converter unit
DC-DC converter unit
AC/DC
+ filter
3 phase mains
400V/50Hz.
~150mts
~20mts
Front-end
Front-end
Distribution
line
BUS
N