VFD Application

[maypot]

Hi,

I just joined a job in a company and they have already purchased two 600 kVA PDL variable frequency drives for two fans applications. My primary task will consist in the installation and commissioning of these drives.
I have performed similar installations in my previous job but with Cegelec , AB and other manufacturers of drives.
It also appears that impedance device( reactor )on the output of the drive is not a prequisite for this type of drive!!!! The length of the motor cable is around 50 metres.
Another surprising issue is that basic spares ( only fuses have been ordered as spares )has not been ordered.
THEY ARE HOWEVER RECOMMENDING A SURGE ARRESTOR ON THE INPUT LINE .
I haven`t got any clue about PDL and would be pleased to have feedack from experience people of this forum.

Bob

 

[jraef]

PDL make 2 different series of drives in that size class. Please indicate which one you have, the Ultradrive Elite or the Microdrive V.

"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"

 

[maypot]

We have bought the Ultradrive Elite series.

 

[jraef]

I have had great success with that series of drive. The reason that you do not need an output filter is that it is already built in to the drive. Input filtering is included as well, albeit primarily for EMI/RFI attenuation.

I found the commissioning to be easy, once you figure out that since it was built at the bottom of the world in New Zealand, you must stand on your head in the US in order to program it!

No really, it is just fine, but they do things a little different than most other VFD suppliers. The programming for things like accelleration and such are in percentages instead of absolutes. For instance, if you want the accell ramp time to be 120 seconds to get to 100% speed, you program the accell rate to be .83%/s (100/120). The other think that is bothersome is just that the motor power must be entered in kW instead of HP, but that's just my personal pet peeve. It just means I have to use 4 more brain cells during setup, and I have killed of too many over the years to spare them. If you are not in North America, that will not be an issue for you.

Once you get past these little quirks, they are actaully very functional and flexible drives without being overly complicated. The built-in PID loop is especially easy to set up and use compare to most of the other drives I have worked on. For a fan application they are serious overkill, but if the price was competitive you ended up with a great product.

"Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi"

 

[maypot]

Many thanks jraef. I am much more comfortable now.
Bob