EMC filters LeaXield™ minimizes earth leakage currents November 11, 2014 TDK Corporation presents the EPCOS LeaXield™ active filter module – a completely new solution for the minimization of earth leakage currents in power drive systems with frequency converters. Leakage current can cause RCDs (residual current device) to trip. In some applications this means that RCDs with low thresholds such as 30 mA cannot be used, or only with substantial additional expense. The LeaXield active filter module is connected between the RCD (residual current device) and the EMC input filter of the converter in standard three-phase industrial power grids and does not require an additional power supply. LeaXield detects the common-mode currents on the load-side via a current sensing transformer. An amplifier generates an inverse of the leakage currents and feeds them to the power line via a capacitor network. This produces almost complete cancellation of the leakage currents. LeaXield is now designed for rated currents of up to 150 A for 3-phase grids at frequencies of 50/60 Hz and a rated voltage of 520 V AC. The new active filter can be used in systems with leakage currents of up to 1000 mA. Besides minimizing earth leakage currents, LeaXield active filter modules can also improve the EMC performance of power drive systems in the range up to around 500 kHz. The new active filter module achieves typical common-mode attenuation values of up to 30 dB at 4 kHz, 40 dB at 10 kHz, and 15 dB at 150 kHz. The EPCOS LeaXield module can be retrofitted into existing converter-based installations in order to improve their EMC and the RCD compatibility of the power drive system. Moreover, LeaXield circuits can be integrated into new EMC filter solutions in order to downsize the expensive current-compensated filter chokes. ----Main applications • Power drive systems with frequency converters and long motor cables Main features and benefits • Compensation of earth leakage currents up to 1000 mA • Improved common-mode attenuation in the frequency range from 4 kHz to approximately 500 kHz ----- TDK Corporation 1/ 2 About TDK Corporation TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK's portfolio includes electronic components, modules and systems* marketed under the product brands TDK and EPCOS, power supplies, magnetic application products as well as energy devices, flash memory application devices, and others. TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and consumer, automotive and industrial electronics. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2014, TDK posted total sales of USD 9.6 billion and employed about 83,000 people worldwide. * The product portfolio includes ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites, inductors, highfrequency components such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter products and modules, piezo and protection components, and sensors. ----You can download this text and associated images from www.epcos.com/pressreleases. Further information on the products can be obtained from Sales under www.epcos.com/inquiry. Please forward reader inquiries to marketing.communications@epcos.com. ----Contacts for regional media Region Contact ASEAN Mr. K. UNTERWEGER Greater China Ms. S. SUEN Europe Mr. C. JEHLE India Mr. G. DALVI Japan Ms. M. MIYAUCHI North America South America Ms. S. McSHEA Mr. C. DALL’AGNOL TDK Corporation EPCOS PTE LTD SINGAPORE EPCOS LTD HONG KONG EPCOS Munich, GERMANY EPCOS India Private Ltd. Mumbai, INDIA TDK Corporation Tokyo, Japan EPCOS Inc. Greenville, SC, USA EPCOS do Brasil Ltda. Gravataí, BRAZIL Phone Mail +65 6597 0618 klaus.unterweger@epcos.com +852 3669 8224 stella.suen@epcos.com +49 89 54020 2441 christoph.jehle@epcos.com +91 22 2575 0804 girish.dalvi@epcos.com +813 6852 7102 pr@jp.tdk.com +1 864 232 4240 mcsheacp4@aol.com +55 51 3484 7158 candido.dallagnol@epcos.com 2/ 2