Abstract
This paper deals with high-speed electrical drives utilizing power electronic converters (commonly abbreviated as ASD, VFD or VSD). Existing solutions vary mainly on the motor side while the power electronic converter is very similar for all cases. Various advantages as well as technical challenges are discussed and illustrated. At certain stages comparisons between conventional and high-speed drives are made. The paper summarizes the experience of a VFD manufacturer based on state of the art technology in medium voltage and multi-megawatt power range. The authors believe that main complexity around high-speed drives is the motor design while the VFD requires only small adaptations or can sometimes be used directly without any modifications of standard design. The technology readiness is evaluated to be on a medium to high level.
Highlights
Variable frequency drives (VFD) gain increasing popularity across many industries
The various applications have very different speed ranges from ultralow speed machines such as large mills in mining and minerals industry, low speed rolling mills in metals industry, medium speed pumps and fans up to high speed turbomachinery in oil and gas sector
Several Optimized pulse pattern (OPP) are pre-defined in the software and the VFD changes automatically from one PP to another one at certain motor fundamental speeds
Summary
Variable frequency drives (VFD) gain increasing popularity across many industries. The various applications have very different speed ranges from ultralow speed machines such as large mills in mining and minerals industry, low speed rolling mills in metals industry, medium speed pumps and fans up to high speed turbomachinery in oil and gas sector. Easier controllability, reduced maintenance and other motivations there is a trend to replace such turbines with all electric drive system. In some cases both conventional and high-speed technologies can be used. If there are space and weight restrictions high-speed technology might be the only solution Another case is e.g. electric motor drive as starter/helper with gas turbine as main driver. The VFD design for a highspeed application does not significantly differ from a conventional VFD. It is either a standardized product with small adaptations or even completely free of any modifications. If the speed range requires magnetic bearings the complexity goes again one step higher
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