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 […]
The brushless DC motor is becoming increasingly popular in the industrial and HVAC sectors as it negates the mechanical commutator used in traditional motors. The brushless DC motor (BLDC) replaces the mechanical commutator with an electronic device which improves the reliability and durability of the unit. The electronics allow for accurate speed and torque […]
Hot-spot detection in MV switchgear is one of the most crucial methods of condition monitoring as it allows for early fault detection preventing insulation deterioration and lowering risks of insulation faults. More and more electrical equipment operators are rethinking their maintenance strategy. It is no surprise as their maintenance budgets have decreased in recent […]
Maximising the efficiency of older pumping applications for which the full specification data no longer exists can be a difficult task. Pumping applications account for more than 20% of global electric motor energy consumption and plant owners have been trying to maximise the efficiency of this equipment for many years. This task is made more […]
