Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Back-to-back (B2B) testing is a reliable and energy-efficient method for verifying the safe and accurate performance of medium voltage (MV) drives under full-load conditions without external mechanical loads. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into B2B testing, where two regenerative MV drives are interconnected to form a closed-loop energy recirculation system, closely replicating operational environments while reducing grid power draw. Several MV drive topologies, including PWM Current Source Inverters (PWM CSI) and Voltage Source Inverters (PWM VSI) for Neutral Point Clamped (NPC) and Neutral Point Piloted (NPP) inverters, are evaluated for compatibility within the B2B setup. Key safety aspects such as fault protection, isolation, grounding, and compliance with industrial standards are addressed. A range of design validation techniques is reviewed, including hardware validation, software testing, performance and thermal analysis, noise and losses measurement, and real-time fault injection. The study also explores recent literature and industrial applications to highlight the scalability, efficiency, and practicality of B2B testing as a modern solution for MV drive verification.
Author: Naveen Garg
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413079522