1/31/2018 Understanding Variable Speed Drives (Part 3)

BASICS

Understanding Variable Speed Drives (Part 3)

Correct installation of variable frequency drives demands attention to vital

factors such as location and environment, electrical connections grounding,
supply voltage, and protective devices.Over 50% of drive failures are a
result of improper installation and start-up. As such, you can avoid many
problems by carefully planning your VFD installation prior to the actual work
beginning. There are several

Solomon S. Turkel | May 01, 1999

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Correct installation of variable frequency drives demands attention to vital factors

such as location and environment, electrical connections grounding, supply
voltage, and protective devices.

Over 50% of drive failures are a result of improper installation and start-up. As
such, you can avoid many problems by carefully planning your VFD installation
prior to the actual work beginning. There are several key factors that must be
considered to ensure a proper VFD installation.

The drive installation procedure begins with a thorough reading of the drive's
manual. (That's the book we always put aside until we have problems and need
answers). This manual will give you important information about receiving,
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1/31/2018 Understanding Variable Speed Drives (Part 3)
answers). This manual will give you important information about receiving,
storage, and planning for the installation before the equipment arrives. It's a good
practice to make several copies of the manual; it seems they always end up in that
great void with all the other lost manuals. Better yet, specify additional spare
manuals for the drive with your order.

Cooling and line power quality considerations

There are many important considerations for all industrial electronic equipment;
however, the two most important are cooling and line power quality.

Cooling. VFD control units should be installed in locations where the maximum
ambient temperature does not exceed 40 [degrees] C (104 [degrees] F). This is a
common temperature rating for most units. If higher ambients are expected,
derating of the VFD may be required.

You should avoid installing units in mezzanines, direct sunlight, or near external
heat sources because these locations usually have unpredictable temperature rises.
If you must install VFDs in such areas, take steps to provide necessary cooling.

Proper cooling of the VFD's heat sink is essential for successful operation. Wall-
mounted units employ a "chimney effect" for cooling of the heat sink and must be
mounted against a smooth, flat, vertical surface. If a wall-mounted unit is to be
installed in a free-standing position, then plywood or a sheet of metal should be
fastened to the back of the unit to ensure that chimney-effect cooling will be
achieved. Larger free-standing VFDs require minimum clearances around them for
sufficient air flow to circulate through them, assuring adequate cooling.

Altitude affects the heat dissipation capability of the heat sink and units in
locations at 3300 ft (1000 m) above sea level must be derated. A common rule of
thumb is a 2% derating for every 1000 ft above the 3300 ft altitude level.

Supply line power quality. The line voltage (supply) to the drive input should not
vary plus or minus 10% because most drives will trip via a protective fault. This
voltage stability should be considered when running conductors to the drive and
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1/31/2018 Understanding Variable Speed Drives (Part 3)
voltage stability should be considered when running conductors to the drive and
voltage drops should be calculated for long runs.

Very often external control signals are used to start/stop and control the speed of a
VFD. Control signal types can vary depending on the application. It's not unusual
to have a 115V or 24V control circuit for start commands and a 4-20mA or 0-5VDC
signal for speed control. These control signals must be run independently of each
other as well as separate from any power wiring. Induced noises can produce
erratic drive behavior that is very difficult to troubleshoot.

Other VFD installation considerations

There are other installation considerations for VFDs. These include electrical
connections, grounding, fault protection, motor protection, and environmental
parameters such as humidity and moisture.

Electrical connections. The sizing and installation of VFD line and load conductors
should conform with the NEC and other appropriate local codes.

Grounding. For safe and dependable operation, all VFDs must be properly
grounded. This normally calls for a grounding conductor to be brought back to a
single-point grounding location, usually selected to be at the service. In addition, a
grounding conductor must be brought back from the motor to the VFD's internal
grounding terminal. This direct motor ground to the VFD is required to minimize
interference and for the ground-fault protection function of the drive to operate
properly.

Fault protection. Many VFDs have short-circuit protection (usually in the form of
fuses) already installed by the manufacturer. This is usually the case on larger hp
units. Smaller units (1/3 to 5 hp) normally require external fuse protection. In
either case, the selection and sizing of these fuses is critical for semiconductor
protection in the event of a fault. The manufacturer's recommendations must be
followed when installing or replacing fuses for the VFD. Be sure to torque-bolt
fuses in place according to the manufacturer's specifications to assure fast
operation of fuses in case of a fault
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operation of fuses in case of a fault.

Motor protection. All motors require overload protection. The most common
practice is the use of a motor overcurrent relay system that will protect all three
phases and protect against single-phasing. This type of protection will respond to
motor overcurrent conditions of an overloaded motor, but will not detect over-
temperature conditions.

A motor operating at reduced speeds will have reduced cooling; as a result, it may
fail due to thermal breakdown of the motor windings insulation. Thus, the
optimum protection for a motor is thermal sensing of the motor windings. This
sensing is then interlocked with the VFD's control circuit. This is highly
recommended for any motor that is to be operated for extended periods of time at
low speeds.

Humidity and moisture. As is the case with all electrical and electronic equipment,
high humidity and corrosive atmosphere's are a concern. Drive units should be
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installed in a noncorrosive location whenever possible, with ambient humidity
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ranging between 0 to 95% noncondensing.

Completing the installation

Installation of a VFD is no different than any other type of motor control. Common
sense, along with the manufacturer's guide lines and adherence to the appropriate
code requirements, are all that is needed.

At this point in time you'll probably want to power-up the VFD and give it a test.
STOP...DON'T DO IT! Most fatal VFD failures occur about now.

A start-up procedure must be followed for the safe and correct start-up of the VFD.
If the installation is performed by outside contractors, a notice should be placed on
the VFD reading: Start-up by Facility Personnel Only.

Solomon S. Turkel is Senior Instructor and Course Author for ATMS (Advanced
Technologies Marketing and Service) Inc Baltimore Md
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Technologies Marketing and Service), Inc., Baltimore, Md.

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TRAINING

New Addition of BICSI’s Outside Plant Design Reference Manual Released

The publication includes new standards, codes, and best practices.

Jan 30, 2018

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      

BICSI, the association advancing the information and communications technology

(ICT) community, has published a new edition of the Outside Plant Design
Reference Manual (OSPDRM).

Written by OSP subject matter experts, the manual focuses on outside plant
properties, with the detailed information contained applicable to all projects large
and small. In addition to covering traditional infrastructure subjects such as
cabling and pathways, the OSPDRM also covers items not typically found within
interior design work, such as right-of-way, permitting and service restoration.

Related: BICSI Field Report: 2017 Winter Conference

The 6th Edition of OSPDRM includes updates and additional information on:

• Passive optical networks (PON)

• Aerial installation of all dielectric self-supporting cable (ADSS)

• Maintenance and restoration of OSP

• Radio frequency over glass (RFoG) specific to OSP fiber optic installations

• Additional excavation methods for direct-buried cable and pathways (i e

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TAGS: BOOKS/DVDS

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RENEWABLES

Tariffs to Reduce U.S. Solar PV Installations by 11% over the Next Five Years

The biggest impact will be felt in 2019.

Jan 29, 2018

      

According to a recent analysis by GTM Research, the tariffs on imported solar cells
and modules set forth by the Trump administration will result in an 11% decrease
in U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) installations over the next five years. This
represents a reduction of 7.6 GW of installed solar PV capacity between 2018 and
2022.

Related: Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic Systems — Part 1

GTM Research notes that the tariffs result in an average $0.10/W increase in Year 1
prices to modules stepping down to a $0 04/W premium by Year 4
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prices to modules, stepping down to a $0.04/W premium by Year 4.

According to the analysis, the utility-scale solar segment will be more heavily
affected than the residential and commercial solar segments, taking 65% of the
expected 7.6 GW of reductions over the next five years.

Projects under construction or with modules already in inventory will damper the
effect on 2018 installations, with the effect of tariffs hitting the downstream market
more heavily in 2019.

The analysis also shows that new and emerging state markets are
disproportionately affected, with southern states like Texas, Florida, Georgia, and
South Carolina among the most impacted by the tariffs.

“Trump's decision on solar tariffs matches closely to recommendations from the

U.S. International Trade Commission,” said MJ Shiao, head of Americas at GTM
Research. “The overall effect is a meaningful but not destructive reduction to
d l i ll i i ih
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expected solar installations in concert with modest improvements to a still

challenging environment for domestic solar cell and module manufacturing.”

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