Substations and distribution boards in both the utility and industry sector are under increasing pressure to reduce space usage and cost, while maintaining safety and integrity. Switchgear is the main space occupant, and efforts at space reduction are focused on reducing both the volume and footprint occupied. Solid insulation switchgear offers reduced space and […]
SF6 gas, used as a dielectric medium in circuit breakers and switchgear, has a global warming potential 24 000 times greater than CO2 and some of its by-products were used as chemical weapons in World War I. In life, in business, in the ordinary course of doing things, there is a certain level of […]
Using VSDs with direct torque control increases motor torque response dramatically. The performance of asynchronous AC motors in today’s applications comes from modern electronic controls such as variable-speed drives (VSDs) and accurate motor models whose sophisticated control algorithms can be executed rapidly by high-performance digital signal processors. Electric motors are often at the spearhead […]
Accidental or naturally occurring explosive atmospheres, which occur as a result of the process, activity or product in the environment, are encountered in many industrial and mining situations. In these conditions, a single small spark can initiate a large explosion, and care needs to be taken when using electrical equipment in these environments. In […]
For decades, the unique properties of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) have made it popular as an insulation and switching medium for electrical switchgear. SF6 is a greenhouse gas and there are life-cycle management costs associated with its use. For some years, ABB has been conducting research into alternatives with lower environmental impact but with insulation […]
Owners and facility managers must keep their equipment at peak performance, leaving them tasked with managing the maintenance process while decreasing maintenance costs. The National Fire Protection Association standard, NFPA 70B Recommended practice for electrical equipment maintenance, states: “Electrical equipment deterioration is normal, but equipment failure is not inevitable. As soon as new equipment is […]
The technological capabilities and limitations of AC and synchronous motors, quantifying that a synchronous motor allows up to 20% energy savings while increasing performance. The basic motor components of an asynchronous or induction motor, commonly called an AC or squirrel cage motor, include a stator made of magnetic material with embedded polyphase windings and a […]
Conventional thinking is constrained by the idea that the only substitute for brick and mortar substation buildings and transformer bays are shipping containers. Having spent a large portion of my career at the tail-end of projects trying to compensate for and correct delays caused by poor interfacing and the reliance on other disciplines, I […]
A discussion on the different types of UPS, their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. A variety of design approaches are used to implement UPS systems, each with distinct performance characteristics. The most common design approaches are standby; line interactive; standby-ferro; double conversion on-line, and delta conversion on-line. The standby UPS This is the most common […]
Variable frequency drive (VFD) applications face unique challenges when managing electrical current. Without proper planning, these applications can experience many issues, including disrupted network communication, inaccurate process performance, power loss, motor failure and cable destruction. Following are the four most common challenges and insights on how selecting the right cable can alleviate the associated […]
