Iacdrive|Automation Solution

ACS800-104-0105-3 (ABB VFD Drives)

Question:
I have a problem with ABB ACS800-104-0105-3 drive model, the output current reading on the VFD is always double the reading of the clamp ampere(i.e. drive reading= 40 A, clamp ampere reading=20 A), what is the procedure that i can follow to detect the cause of this error?

Answer:
I don’t know about ABB drives, but hope this thing will help you.
1. The variable frequency drive may have problem with current sensor, just replace with another drive for comparison.
2. Make sure you use, true RMS type clamp meter.
3. If there is leakage current (through cable insulation and air) between each phase. This normally because of the cable insulation already degraded. Add output reactor and replace the cable with suitable insulation can fix this kind of problem.
4. If there is leakage current between this VFD drive and the other drives, that both motor cable is quiet long and run in parallel together.

To Collect more data and get more idea, you can do this:
1. Clamp all the 3 phase motor cable together using clamp. The reading will show you the leakage current. Normally about 10% of motor rated current at full load.
2. Check the current on each phase, and see if the current is balance for each phase.
3. Run the variable frequency drive without the motor cable, check the current reading and clamp meter.
4. Run the AC drive with the motor cable but without the motor, check again the reading and clamp meter.
5. Run the drive with motor, check if any oscillation in motor current.
6. Check current input to the AC drive inverter.
7. Turn of the other drive (if the motor cable run parallel together with other VFDs), and see if any change in current.

Motor output torque in rotation speed (frequency) changes

Frequency power: power supplied by the power grid (commercial power).
Start-up current: frequency inverter output current in motor starts.

The motor starting torque and maximum torque by frequency inverter driving is less than direct frequency power driving.
Motor accelerates in constant frequency power supply has high impact, which can be reduced by using frequency inverter. Because there is a big starting current in motor acceleration if it’s powered by constant frequency power supply; when using frequency inverter, the inverter output voltage and frequency is increased gradually, so the motor starting current and impact is much lower.

Generally, the motor torque is decreased with frequency decreases (speed reduction). By using vector control frequency inverter, to improve output torque during motor running in low speed, and even output sufficient torque at motor low speed zones.

Figure out variable speed drives failures

If there is frequent current-limitation or overcurrent alarm during the variable speed drive running, we should check the loads and inverter IGBT module is normal or not, if its good, then the failure is the Hall magnetic compensation current sensor damaged on the control circuit of the variable speed drive. Hall magnetic compensation current sensor is a device to measure the current value of sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal periodic, which can truly reflect the real current waveform, to provide a control and protection signal to the variable speed drive. Generally, this device in variable frequency drive mostly is Swiss company LEM LA series components, LA Series Hall current sensor magnetic compensation can be divided into three and five terminals, for different variable speed drives capacity, the Hall current sensor magnetic compensation also is difference.

Electronic components are very sensitive to static electricity, it will cause electronic components soft breakdown and then cause the circuit board cannot work. So we should be careful when we replace the circuit board, and ensure wearing grounding wrist strap before working, make sure the strap ground directly and human body is at zero potential, in order to prevent body’s electrostatic damage to the circuit board. If there is no grounding wrist strap, we should touch the variable speed drive metal cabinet before replacing the circuit board, to ease static electricity through the variable frequency drive enclosure.

Why the motor rotation speed is changeable?

r/min: motor rotation speed unit, the number of revolutions per minute, also can be expressed in rpm.
For example: 2-pole motor 50Hz 3000 r/min, 4-pole motor 50Hz 1500 r/min
Conclusion: The motor rotation speed is proportional to the frequency

Herein, the motor is induction AC motor which is used in most industries. AC induction motor rotation speed is approximate depend on the motor’s poles and frequency. As we know, the motor poles constant. Since motor poles are not continuous numbers (multiples of 2, for example, the number of poles is 2,4,6), so it’s not suitable to change this value to adjust the motor speed.

The frequency can be adjusted before supplying to the AC motor, then the motor rotation speed can be controlled freely. Therefore, motor speed controls.

n = 60f / p
n: synchronous speed
f: power frequency
p: number poles

Conclusion: change frequency and voltage is the best motor control method.

But, if just change the frequency without changing the voltage, it will occur overvoltage (over-excitation) when frequency decreases and may cause AC motor damaged. So, the voltage should be changed while the frequency inverter outputs different frequency. If the inverter output frequency exceeds rated frequency, the voltage can not continue to increase, the maximum voltage only can be equal to the motor rated voltage.
For example: In order to reduce the motor rotational speed by half, the inverter output frequency change from 50Hz to 25Hz, then the inverter output voltage should change from 400V to about 200V.

AC drive faults analysis

It will cause a series problems during AC drive operation in various environmental conditions, take an example as: when failure occurs, AC drives protective function is activated, and the AC drive tripped immediately, the electric motor stop slowly, the red LED alarm indication turns on, the display panel shows alarm message code or fault content. Then we can analyze the variable frequency AC drive fault reasons base on the display information, if it is soft failures, we can cut of the AC drive and reset it. If the drive still not works, we need to check it manually or automatic initialization, and input the parameter values after the initialization finished. In this way, the AC drive can work if the failure is not critical. If the AC drive still can’t work after above detection, then we need to check the variable frequency drive damaged parts according to the fault phenomena, to replace components or circuit boards. Troubleshooting should follow the drives failure sequence. Like:

(1) Fault code 36, its main power failure, then the three-phase rectifier bridge modules may be breakdown shorted or opened.

(2) Fault code 14, its ground failure, check the motor windings and insulation with megger to see if it’s damaged or not.

(3) Fault code 37, its the inverter failure, the IGBT module may short-circuit breakdown. If the IGBT module short circuit, the main circuit fuse will burnout too. When a phase gate damaged, the variable frequency AC drive will appear overcurrent phenomenon, then it’s time to check the IGBT modules.

Measuring inductance in per coils of switched reluctance motors

Fundamentally, inductance is the proportionality constant relating flux linkage to current, i.e. lambda = L * i, where lamda is flux linkage, L is inductance, and i is current. Inductance is a property of the geometry. One can write L = N^2 *R, where N = number of turns in the coil and R = the magnetic reluctance “seen” by the coil. So here are a couple of comments. The reluctance varies in an SR motor as the rotor turns, so you will have to take measurements at several positions. If the current is small, L is a constant. If i is large then a small increase in i produces a small increase in lambda, which is smaller than when the current is small. So, you’ll need to decide on the level of current; or, you’ll need to make measurements at several levels of current. For example, at the rated value of current and half the rated value, etc. Now flux linkage is the product of turns and the effective flux through the coil, lamda = N * phi, where phi is the effective flux through the coil. In the case, you have two coils in series where the coils are inside a motor. You only have two leads, one each to the two coils in series. So, you will need to disassemble the motor and tap into a wire that connects the two coils in series. One way to find the flux linkage is the following. Apply a step of voltage to one of your coils. Take traces of the voltage and current. Then apply the formula v = R’ * i + d(lamdda)/dt, where v is the applied voltage to the coil, R’ is the coil resistance (you’ll have to measure this), and i is the current. Then, integrate to find lamda: d(lamda) = int(v – R’*i)dt. You’ll have to do this to both coils.

As you know the inductance of SRM depends on two parameters: 1.coil current 2.rotor position .it means that you have a lot of possible situation that each situation has particular value of inductance .if you want to measure inductance at particular position, I think you should excite one phase with ac supply and use circuit equations (kvl) to find inductance. if you use a dc supply you should measure the flux and it’s hard to do.

Frequency inverter maintenance

1) In inverter regular inspection, we must cut off power before operation. Wait 4minutes (the bigger the longer, the maximum waiting time is 15 minutes) till the frequency inverter display panel LED indicator lights turn off, to make the main circuit DC filter capacitor fully discharged, and measure with a multimeter to confirm before proceeding.

2) Detach control board and main circuit from the frequency inverter, clean the inverter circuit board and internal IGBT modules, input and output chokes and other parts with brush and dust cleaner. Use cotton swab with alcohol or neutral chemical to clean PCB dirty place.

3) Check the inverter inner wire insulation has overheating traces, corrosion and discoloration or not, if found out, we should handle or replace it in time.

4) As the frequency inverter has vibration, temperature changes and other effects, screws maybe loose, we should tighten all screws.

5) Check input and output chokes, transformers, etc. is overheating, discoloration or smelly.

6) Check the intermediate circuit filter electrolytic capacitor safe valve is bulging out or not, and the outer surface has cracks, leakage, swelling and so on. Generally, the inverter filter capacitor life cycle of about five years, the inspection intervals is one year. The capacity of the capacitor can be measured by digital capacitance measurement, when the capacity drops to 80% rated capacity or less, it should be replaced.

7) Check the cooling fan operation is in good condition or not. The cooling fan lifetime is limited by bearings, we should replace the cooling fan or bearings in 2-3 years. If there are abnormal sounds and vibration, we need to replace in time.

8) Check the frequency inverter insulation resistance is in the normal range or not (all terminals with ground terminals). Note, do not use the megger to measure the circuit board, otherwise it will damage the circuit board electronic components.

9) Disconnect the inverter R, S, T terminals with power supply, and U, V, W terminals with motor cable, measure the insulation resistance between each phase conductor and each phase conductor with the protective ground terminals with the megger, to see if it’s in normal value or not, generally its higher than 1MΩ.

10) After inspection, we should use frequency inverter drive the motor with no load for a few minutes, and check the motor rotation direction.

Motor die-cast rotor non-grain-oriented VS grain-oriented

If the material is non-grain-oriented, the path of least resistance for the magnetic flux varies widely from point to point across the sheet: in one place it may go left-to-right across the sheet surface, in another top-to-bottom, and in still another through the sheet. Other points may be anywhere and everywhere in between.

If the material is grain-oriented, the material is aligned such that there is a significant reduction in the energy requirement for passing flux in one direction relative to any other.

Most machines work best with a uniform flux distribution at all points of the airgap surface: this is achieved by stacking both stator and rotor using non-grain-oriented laminations in any arrangement. However, for a grain-oriented material, each lamination has to be rotated by some angle with respect to the one above and below it in the stack (think of it like a spiral staircase).

Regardless of how the winding is made for the rotor (form wound, bar and ring, or die-cast), it is the STACKING process for the core steel that affects grain orientation.

As to skewing BOTH stator and rotor … why? It is a more costly and complex manufacturing process to produce a skewed core vs an unskewed one, regardless whether the skew is in the rotor or stator. Once the skew is begun, there is no real cost difference between a full slot skew and a fractional slot skew.

If you really want to skew both, though – opt for a half-slot skew in one direction in the rotor, and a half-slot skew in the opposite direction for the stator. Note that this means there is only ONE way to assemble rotor and stator together – with the skews opposing. (With the full slot skew on either rotor or stator and an unskewed opposite piece, the rotor can be inserted from either end of the stator with the same effect.)

Variable frequency drive applications

Due to variable frequency drive maintenance and repair experiences.

Die-cast rotor design

The method of creating a die-cast rotor is as follows:

1. An assembly of steel laminations (which may or may not be grain-oriented) containing the openings for both rotor bars and ventilation (as required) is made and clamped together to form a cylindrical iron core.
2. The assembly is inserted into a mold, which has space both above and below the core for the end (shorting) ring assembly.
3. The molten conductor material (aluminum or copper, usually) is injected into the mold and allowed to flow through the bar openings. It also fills the end ring spaces.
4. The entire assembly is allowed to cool so that the conductor solidifies.
5. The “cast” core is then shrunk onto a steel shaft.

Now we have a “cast” rotor assembly, ready for bearings and mounting into machine.