Compact EMI-Suppression and DC-Link Film Capacitors

KEMET Tech Paper Introduces its Compact EMI-Suppression and DC-Link Film Capacitors for Harsh Environment in Energy, Industrial, and Automotive Applications.

Electronic component miniaturization and operation in harsh environmental conditions are growing trends in applications, such as on-board chargers, energy meters, capacitive power supplies, including connection in series with the mains, motor drives, wind, and solar inverters. This paper has studied the characteristics and performance under high temperature and humidity conditions of new capacitor designs in a miniaturized version of first to the market metalized EMI X2 class suppression and DC-link power box film capacitors. Three advanced KEMET series of metalized film capacitors have been stressed under an applied rated AC or DC voltage at 85°C, and 85 %R.H. and the drop of capacitance and change of the dissipation factor have been monitored with the time for 500 and 1000 hours, respectively.

Current EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) X2 class suppression and DC-link power box film capacitors need capability improvement to meet these requirements. Very high capacitance and dissipation factor stability are required during operational life in severe ambient conditions such as high temperature and relative humidity, while still meeting European and other Electrical Norms (ENEC and CQC), the criteria in the standard for automotive application (AEC-Q200), and the international safety requirement (UL). The moisture absorbed into the capacitor leads to corrosion of the electrode and accelerated degradation of the capacitor by increasing capacitance loss. Temperature-Humidity-Bias (THB) is a standard test for accelerated stress testing of corrosion and other moisture-driven mechanisms for degradation.

1.      Metallized film capacitors in EMI suppression

Progress in semiconductor technologies, such as implementing MOSFET Wide Band Gap (WBG) devices and the implementation of diode devices, emphasized the size miniaturization and increased performance of electronic components. However, reliability remains a concern when components and devices downsize and become more compact. WBG semiconductor components in power conversion systems allow for smaller footprints and greater efficiency with lower energy losses during the energy conversion. Other key advantages include reducing audible noise and the miniaturization of passive components (all with the benefit of PCB real estate reduction).

However, due to the ever-increasing number of electronic components integrated into smaller geometries, miniaturized devices have become increasingly susceptible to electrical noise or interference. In addition, while higher frequencies in WBG devices help minimize audible noise, it produces more high-frequency emissions. It requires more complex designs to meet emission requirements by regulatory agencies. For these reasons, EMI suppression capacitors play a crucial role in the electronics industry, emphasizing more miniaturized solutions under critical electrical and environmental applications.

The safety EMI suppression capacitors, Class X and Class Y, are designed for AC line filtering, minimizing the generation of Electromagnetic Interference in the radio-frequency range and negative effects associated with received EMI/RFI in many electronic devices applications. Class X and Y capacitors are directly connected to the AC power input to filter the noise emitted by the device to the electrical grid or the power line. Because of the direct connection to the AC voltage, the capacitors may be subjected to overvoltage or voltage transients like lightning strikes and power surges. Class X capacitors are connected between line to line, or line to neutral capacitors are connected between the line to ground. If a class X capacitor fails because of an overvoltage event, it is likely to fail short, and this failure, in turn, would cause an overcurrent protective device, like a fuse or circuit breaker, to open. Therefore, a capacitor failing in this fashion would not cause any electrical shock hazards. However, if a Class Y “line to ground capacitor” fails short, this could lead to a fatal electric shock due to the loss of the ground connection. For that reason, class Y is designed to fail open to avoid a fatal electric shock hazard.

Similarly, class Y capacitors are divided into two subclasses Y1 and Y2, where Y2 capacitor can withstand max peak impulse voltages up to 5 kV, and Y1 can withstand up to 8 kV. Also, X1 capacitors going to their higher peak impulse voltage capability can be substituted by Y2 or Y1 capacitors of the same or higher rated voltage, whereas X2 capacitors can be substituted with X1, Y2, or Y1 capacitors of the same or higher rated voltage.

2. Metallized film capacitors in DC- link applications

On the other hand, DC-Link capacitors form an essential stage in power conversion for many applications, including three-phase Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) inverters, photovoltaic and wind power inverters, industrial motor drives, automotive onboard chargers and inverters, medical equipment power supplies, etc. Demanding applications possess cost, a harsh environment, and stringent reliability constraints. Although circuit designs can use different approaches, the long-standing core of power conversion designs includes DC-Link capacitors. DC-Link capacitors can improve system energy density and resolve the challenge of ripple current introduced by rapid switching inherent to switching power conversions.

The automotive industry includes prime examples of power conversion in hybrid and electric powertrains. Battery electric vehicles include a rechargeable bank of batteries to store energy for the drive system, an electric drive motor, and a power controller that includes an inverter. These all operate at high voltages extending from 48 VDC to as high as 800 VDC. Due to the physical limitations that limit current, high voltage correlates to high performance. The higher the operating DC voltage, the lower the required current flow for the same power output (P=VI). The automotive industry is well-known for requiring components that can operate with high reliability at extremely high temperatures, under continuous vibration, and where components are subject to harsh environmental conditions. The three-stage traction inverter converts battery power to drive the motor, and the DC-Link capacitor is key to this design.

3. Miniaturization challenges. Film capacitors’ failure mode mechanisms

In the latest film technology developments, film capacitors are trying to achieve excellent protection of film elements by utilizing new advanced humidity protective coatings, metallization treatments, and improving the overall capacitor manufacturing processes. In this way, products could withstand severe operating conditions that would otherwise lower their reliability and performance. However, enhancing the reliability levels under high temperature, humidity, and bias (THB) conditions in miniaturized capacitors can be particularly challenging for both DC and AC applications.

• Self-healing phenomena

The self-healing property of metalized film dielectrics can recover from an internal drop of insulation resistance. This property ensures a safe failure mode in AC frequency applications where electrical noise and peak voltages are added repeatedly or occasionally to the fundamental signal. So, when the self-healing operates, the temporary breakdown results in a clearing of a small area, causing a minor loss of capacitance and restoration of the capacitors’ initial electrical properties. In the metalized film capacitors, the metalized area is fragile. In the case of dielectric break down, the energy released by the arc discharge in the breakdown, the channel is sufficient to evaporate the thin metal coating close to the channel, which results in a restoration of insulation and a small capacitance drop which can be between 1÷2 %. This property makes film capacitors highly suitable technology for safety applications.

As this article concerns mainly applications with suppression and DC-link power box capacitors, it can be highlighted that polypropylene is the most suitable dielectric due to its internal structure and its excellent self-healing property, shown in Figure 2.

Fig.2. Self-healing mechanism in metalized polypropylene film capacitors

Metalized polypropylene film technology is currently the main solution for EMI suppression and DC-link capacitors due to its excellent high voltage per micron and ultra-low, stable dissipation factor capabilities. Perhaps most importantly, it also has the best self-healing properties compared to other film dielectric technologies. However, combining high temperature and humidity conditions often has a drastic effect on the metalized polypropylene material when an AC or DC voltage is applied, resulting in accelerated degradation and potentially catastrophic failures of the capacitors. The root causes for this failure mode can be due to atmospheric corrosion or oxidation, corona effect, and electrochemical corrosion of the metallization.

• Mechanism of Atmospheric Corrosion or Oxidation Phenomenon

The converted metal in its oxidized state is not enabled electronically, leading to loss of capacitance in the affected areas. This process is active without the voltage being applied. Still, its magnitude in encapsulated capacitors is most often negligible. The reaction rate is limited by the diffusion of oxygen into the part and is strongly limited by the compact film winding and the thermosetting resin encapsulation.

• Erosion or corona effect phenomenon

The term partial discharge describes a localized dielectric breakdown of a small portion of a solid or fluid electrical insulation system under high voltage stress that does not completely bridge the gap between the electrodes, for example, discharges occurring within solid insulation systems with gaseous voids. In film capacitors, there are small air gaps inside the film windings at which partial discharge may easily occur under a high electric field, leading to dielectric degradation. The discharge can take place in the air gap in series to the film layer or the air surrounding the active layers. Sometimes called ‘corona,’ this is the breakdown of micro-voids in the bulk of the dielectric material or air gaps between insulating layers. The effect is to insert a ‘partial’ short circuit into the insulation, effectively shortening the insulating path and locally reducing the breakdown threshold voltage. However, each short places extra stress on the remaining insulation, and as they accumulate over time, a tipping point is reached, and total breakdown occurs.

The film capacitors operating at mains voltage can suffer progressive loss of capacitance as corona discharges cause local vaporization of the metallization. The observed loss of capacitance is caused by ionization/corona, i.e., the air enclosed by the coil becomes ionized, which makes it more conductive. This means, in turn, that partial discharges on the metalized film surface can occur, causing damage to the metalized layer. The potential difference between two points on the film surface creates a small arc that vaporizes the metallization over a small area. Thus, there is a small capacitance loss, which after many such events becomes measurable. The behavior concerning ionization is affected by ambient climatic conditions such as humidity and temperature. The potential difference decreases with temperature because the air pressure is lower at low temperature, making it more likely to have ions or electrons oriented in the field director for the discharge mechanism. The potential difference decreases with the humidity level because the dielectric strength of humid air is lower than dry air. This phenomenon can be limited using a minimum dielectric thickness and protecting the film’s internal element from humidity, with good enclosure materials as box and resin.

Due to geometrical factors, in single-metalized film construction, the corona effect usually starts very near to the armature’s edge, in the free margin area. This is because, in that zone, the electric field magnitude increases due to the tip effect. In Figure 4, two films where the corona effect has occurred are shown. During the corona effect, high temperatures are reached in the proximity of the electrodes, and the metallization is vaporized. Therefore, the active area is progressively reduced in size with a corresponding capacitance drop. It is easily observable that the two films start de-metalizing from the metallization edge, close to the free margin, on both sides. If the voltage is kept higher than partial discharge extinction voltage, the erosion will continue until the electrodes are eroded so that they are not overlapped anymore.

• Mechanism of Electrochemical Corrosion

Aluminum or zinc-aluminum alloys with an oxide layer on the surface may suffer electrochemical corrosion. Especially when the surface of the oxide layer has defects such as scratches, cracks, impurities or alloy phases, intergranular precipitation, local corrosion is more likely to be induced. The local corrosion is likely to expose the base metal, because the metal is in the active state (constitutes the anode), and the undamaged oxide layer is in the passive state (constitutes the cathode), thus forming an active-passive corrosion battery so that the corrosion can be produced.

In the area of the electrochemical reaction, there will always be a certain amount of moisture in the polypropylene, and the moisture in the external environment will also penetrate inside of the capacitor. Since the electrode potential of aluminum is very low (the standard electrode potential of aluminum is -1.662 V), the free energy of forming Al₂O₃ is negative. Therefore, a certain amount of alumina must exist at the interface between polypropylene and aluminum. If the gap between the alumina and film layers is small enough, the water will form an electrolyte, connecting the alumina to the polypropylene and then forming an electrical double layer at the Al₂O₃/electrolyte and electrolyte/polypropylene interface.

In addition to the reduction of the capacitance, the corrosion of the metal electrode also increases the ESR of the capacitor and increases the dielectric loss. The main cause of the deterioration of the metalized film capacitor in the AC circuit is the decrease of the capacitance caused by electrochemical corrosion. The electrochemical corrosion rate of metalized film capacitor is affected by factors such as operating voltage, operating temperature, ambient humidity, and electrode material.

4.     Stress Testing to Ascertain Reliability

A well-accepted accelerated life test standard for active and passive components in the electronics industry is the Temperature-Humidity-Bias (THB) test, with levels of 85°C and 85% relative humidity under AC or DC bias conditions. For many years, designers in various industries (including automotive, energy, consumer, and industrial) have used this test to ascertain the reliability of their final products for up to 25 years of operation under severe climatic conditions. More recently, the THB test has been recognized as an IEC standard for EMI suppression film capacitors.

The suppression capacitor is usually a metalized film capacitor, defined as a safety capacitor that meets the requirements of IEC 60384-14. This standard incorporates seven groups of tests that cover standard capacitor properties: resistance to heat, vibration, mechanical shock and solvents, damp heat performance, impulse voltage endurance, charging and discharging properties, RF characteristics, and passive/active flammability tests. THB test or Temperature, Humidity Bias test is a reliability test designed to accelerate the degradation process of a safety capacitor and measure the electrical parameters after a certain period of time if they are still within the specific limits which are defined as three different biased humidity grades I (A and B), II (A and B) and III (A and B) in the latest amendment AMD1:2016 of the standard IEC 60384-14, table 3, starting from mild up to harsh to ensure that the capacitors can meet the demanding harsh environment and can continue to function during the whole product lifetime without having any issues. The acceptance criteria are listed in table 4.

Designers needing to ensure that their products pass the THB evaluation and emission certification have encountered several challenges; for instance, it can be difficult to obtain the required technology and include multiple EMI suppression and DC-link capacitors into already component-dense circuits. There are also higher power requirements within a limited board space to take into consideration. The THB test ensures that the capacitance and dissipation factor are highly stable during the expected lifetime of the capacitors.

After going through the basic technical overview and requirements regarding the EMI suppression capacitors, the next topic will be on the products in the KEMET portfolio. Table 5 are listed the different types of X and Y capacitors available by the input voltage, temperature, THB grade, and end applications.

In X1 class, there are mainly R49, R47, and PHE845 series defined for different input AC voltages: 330, 440, and 760 Vac, respectively. Similarly, in the Y2 class, R41 and R41T series are the highest temperature series to withstand higher DC voltages. In X2 class, there are different series R46 with temperature capability up to 125°C and the R46P, which is the miniaturized version of R46 suitable for commercial applications. In addition, the F862 V054 and F863 series are suitable for harsh environmental conditions and automotive applications.

4.     Miniaturized DC-link Power Box and EMI X2 Suppression Capacitor Constructions: Challenges and Solutions for Harsh Environment

The EMI X2 capacitors are generally mounted in parallel with the mains to filter electromagnetic interference, both from the mains and the equipment, and protect the appliance from voltage spikes. In this application, usually, the customers use capacitors with large nominal tolerance (+/-20%). In recent years high, However, capacitance stability and low tolerance have become a key feature for X2 capacitors due to the development of more and more applications in series to the mains. The capacitor itself has the role of feeding AC voltage to the circuit via a capacitive divider.

Besides, the peak voltage withstanding capacitors have to be qualified, when used in series to the mains, for a high level of capacitance stability to feed the right AC voltage and power to the circuit through time. For these applications, besides the typical requirements for X2, the main challenge is the temperature-humidity-bias performances, considering different grades presented in Section 4.

The requirement of high capacitance stability should be considered during the design of these RFI capacitors, for example, in selecting film base, metallization resistance, and all materials that give an enclosure of the internal film element. All these materials usually have special features that increase the cost of the capacitors. Designers should require the real application requirement level of humidity withstanding capability to find the right capacitor at the proper cost during the selection of suppressors.

Metalized film capacitors, designed for harsh environmental conditions, are usually sealed with epoxy resin. The moisture ingresses to the interior of the capacitor through the sealing material, thus accelerating electrode corrosion. As the water is continuously consumed during the chemical or electrochemical reaction, the reaction stops when the water is depleted. Therefore, the speed of external moisture ingress to the capacitor will significantly affect the corrosion rate of the electrode. The electrochemical reaction reduces the internal moisture concentration of the capacitor, so the external moisture will continue to diffuse into the capacitor through the epoxy and the gap.

In general, the film base material should have good self-healing capability and show good behavior under tough humidity conditions: this means that some film base materials are not suitable for these applications.

The metallization resistance selection has an important role in the right compromise between safety aspects and capacitance stability. As previously stated, the higher the resistance value, the higher the performance on peak voltage withstanding, but the lower the capacitance stability in humidity conditions. Increasing the resistance without modifying the morphological structure of the metal layer means reducing the thickness of the metal that could be oxidized during the electrochemical corrosion phenomenon.

In the latest EMI suppression and DC-link power box film technology developments, KEMET achieves excellent protection of film elements by utilizing new materials and improving the capacitor manufacturing processes. In this way, several products (see Table 5) can withstand severe operating conditions that would otherwise lower their reliability and performance. However, enhancing the reliability levels under high temperature, humidity, and bias (THB) conditions in miniaturized capacitors can be particularly challenging.

Some of the DC-link power box constraints and EMI suppression capacitors correlate to the film quality and protection surrounding it. The amount and type, for example, therein used, the epoxy filling the surrounding of the capacitor element, and the material and thickness of the radial box encapsulating them all play vital roles in a product’s reliability. Moreover, there is a mechanical challenge in manufacturing capacitors with smaller capacitance values; lower capacitances require less film and metallization material, making the product more susceptible to damage due to humidity.

• New KEMET’s solution: The R52 and R53 Miniaturized X2 Suppression Capacitor

KEMET’s R&D team has studied and experimented with unique solutions to address the challenges of designing EMI suppression capacitors that meet THB test requirements without sacrificing miniaturization and reliability. The first KEMET’s harsh environment solution was the F863, X2 series providing a compact and cost-driven solution for a consumer-oriented market. A few years later, it followed the F862-V054 X2 series based on an enhanced MKP technology that met the AEC-Q200 qualification for automotive applications.

The latest EMI suppression solutions from KEMET are its new R52 and R53 designs with harsh environment capabilities, exceeding the performance of previous solutions and passing the latest IEC-60384-14 humidity robustness test with a Class IIB and Class IIIB classification, respectively. Those miniaturized Dein additions are AEC-Q200 qualified. Both are First to Market X2 technologies combined with THB Grade IIB and IIIB level, miniaturized dimensions, and the highest capacitance value.

KEMET’s R52 and R53 series space-saving X2 class capacitors are offered with capacitance values from 0.1µF to 22µF and with lead spacing from 15mm to 37.5mm. As a result, they offer the highest capacitance density for small footprint capacitors. In addition, they are 60% smaller than competitive X2 class capacitors, enabling a smaller PCB area, reduced weight, lower costs, and improved reliability.

The capacitors are rated for 310Vac at 50 or 60Hz and are intended for Class X2 line-to-line applications or series with the AC mains (see figure 6). They are well-suited. In addition, they/DC converters in onboard chargers for xEVs, smart grid hardware, EMI filtering in VFD and LED drives, and high energy density applications such as capacitive power supplies.

Fig.6. Position of EMI X2 suppression capacitor

The R52 and R53 series feature a metalized polypropylene film encapsulated in a self-extinguishing resin and a shell that meets UL 94 V-0 requirements. The metalized polypropylene film combined with an internal parallel construction provides self-healing properties to prevent catastrophic failure and extend service life.  The capacitors are AEC-Q200 qualified and designed for harsh environments.

R52 series has high capacitance stability after 1000 hours on the THB test at 85°C and 85% relative humidity environment at 240Vac, as it is shown in figure 7.

The R52 series also meets THB Grade IIB accelerated life testing requirements, with testing for 500 hours at rated voltage 310Vac in an 85°C and 85% relative humidity environment. The capacitance drift is presented in figure 8.

On the other side, the R53 series meet THB Grade IIIB accelerated life testing requirements, with testing for 1000 hours at rated voltage 310Vac and 560Vdc in an 85°C and 85% relative humidity environment, with the capacitance drift shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10 at 310Vac and 560Vdc respectively.

Both series R52 and R53 are rated for operation from -40°C to +110°C.  They’re also 100% factory screened at 1,900Vdc, with all electrical characteristics verified after testing.

The R52 and R53 series successfully pass stringent tests while also providing a solution for space-constrained applications like automotive, 5G communications, servers, and more. The table below shows a comparison of KEMET’s R52 and R53 technology with those of three competitors’ EMI solutions using one particular part number, a capacitance of 0.47 µF, and 15 mm lead spacing. On average, the R52 and R53 physical volume is 60% smaller than any other X2 solution with the same range of capacitance values in the market (see table 6).

The R52 and R53 technology reach capacitance levels of 10µF, 15µF, and 22 µF. The high capacitance and current capabilities of KEMET’s R52 and R53 allow it to function as an excellent EMI suppression solution both across and in series with the mains on high energy density designs requiring a high level of filtering capability on a broad spectrum of frequencies. A good example is in variable frequency drives and EV fast-charging systems where designers prefer to utilize high-capacitance, certified EMI suppression capacitors together with AC and DC filtering solutions to mitigate harmonic content on the output of the drives and converters. The R52 and R53 are also suited for use in capacitive power supplies and power line communication systems.

4.1. New KEMET’s solution: The C4AU DC-link Power Box Film Capacitor

The DC-link power box capacitor is an important part of any power conversion module. Its input is usually the output of a rectifier stage or a DC-DC stage. Its output is either an AC or PWM signal for drive systems or could even be the input for buck-boost converters (see Figure 11).

Fig.11. Position of DC-LINK capacitor

The DC-link power box capacitor is used for that intermediate point between the two conversion stages. The main purpose for the DC-link power box is to provide a low impedance path for high frequency switching currents which translate to ripple current which is very commonly associated with the DC-link power box capacitors and of course to store the supplied energy when needed. DC-link capacitors need to be stable over temperature, frequency, and time. They have high capacitance density, low leakage current, low losses (dissipation factor), excellent self-healing capability, long operational lifetimes and they are able to withstand high power, high ripple current, high rated voltages up to 1200 Vdc, a large amount of charge/discharge cycles and for some specific applications they must operate reliably and safely in harsh environments.

The C4AU DC-link power box capacitor with a miniaturized size is a polypropylene metalized film capacitor with a rectangular, plastic box-type design filled with resin and uses 2 or 4 tinned copper wires. Automotive-grade devices meet the demanding Automotive Electronics Council’s AEC-Q200 qualification requirements. Typical applications include DC filtering, DC-link, power electronics, IGBT snubbers, energy storage, renewable energy grid interface, motor drives, and automotive applications.

This series is designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions at 85°C and 85%R.H. for 1000 h at rated DC voltage, showing the highest humidity robustness performance THB Grade IIIB with the capacitance drift shown in Figure 12. The miniaturized size is providing an advantage of a 28% reduction in dimension volume values compared with the actual C4AQ DC-link power box series, present in the KEMET portfolio that means a 15% improvement in the PCB space reduction. Moreover, this new advanced technology design of C4AU with miniaturized dimensions has a 320% increase in dV/dt.

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[9] https://ec.kemet.com/blog/addressing-design-challenges-in-emi-suppression-capacitors/

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[11] KEMET R52 AEC-Q200 X2 Film Capacitors | Featured Product Spotlight – New Products (allaboutcircuits.com)

[12] https://ec.kemet.com/blog/the-basics-of-power-conversion-and-kemets-new-film-capacitors/