Integrated electrical machines and drives: An overview

Over the past 2-3 decades there is has been several attempts to bring power electronics/drives closer and more tightly integrated with electrical machines. Such activities intensified over the past several years. The drivers for this are technology breakthroughs in power electronic devices, new materials as well as the increasingly system requirements for a wide range of applications. This paper will provide a thorough survey of both commercial products as well as what is available in literature in terms of integrated electrical machines and drives. The paper will cover a wide range of applications highlighting the advantages and challenges of achieving such integration. The paper will also highlight the current research trends.