Product category:
Power supplies and plant cabling
News Release from: Rittal | Subject: Busbar
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 25 October 2005
Rittal simply supply busbar to suit Test
Unit
When Control Techniques drew up their initial brief for a Large Drive Test unit, it was for a machine to test the new SP product range, from an AC motor drive size 4 (11kW) to 7 (150KW)
When Control Techniques drew up their initial brief for a Large Drive Test unit (LDT) it was for a machine to test the new SP product range, from drive size 4 (11kW) to 7 (150KW) In addition there were also considerations for the machine to replace the original test equipment already in use on the present range of 'large' products, that included both AC and DC drives up to 300kW and which must be able to sustain 100% loads for periods in excess of 24 hours for soak purposes
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 28 Oct 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The majority of Control Techniques production is of the smaller drive sizes, and as the brief covered the large range of drive sizes and specifications, it was decided early in the project not to create a single 300kW test head, but to develop a core control and load unit of 75kW continuous rating for use as a building block from which to achieve the larger power requirements.
This resulted in a machine consisting of 4 independent test heads that could be linked together by a common bus.
By using this configuration, when a drive is put on test, the system checks the load and supply requirements, if they exceed the limit to which the individual head can supply, the software checks if other heads are in use and is able to utilise load resource from them.
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The load units are a development of technology, previously used on the smaller products, which have no moving parts as well as a very high efficiency rate.
Heat losses are taken care of by oil cooling the main components.
In order to link the heads together for load sharing an 800amp busbar system consisting of eleven separate conductors was required.
It was at this point that Control Techniques were in contact with busbar manufacturer Rittal as well as a number of other companies.
Most companies contacted only sold their bus systems in fixed lengths with fixed tap off points, which created the problem that Control Techniques would have to build their machine and process around the busbar system.
One company offered the solution of custom building the bus system to the exact requirements, but this was cost prohibitive.
The Rittal busbar system, although essentially intended for use with enclosures, provided the flexibility to fit all the requirements quickly, simply and cost effectively.
Rittal were also able to provide chiller units from their System Climate Control range.
The thermal losses in each of the 75kW loads had been calculated to be in the order of 4 to 5kW, which led to a number of options for cooling.
Previously heat exchangers in oil baths with chilled water passing through them had been used and although offering an effective solution, the risk of water mixing with electricity was too hazardous.
As direct cooling of the oil was required, a chiller unit was built into each head that would maintain head independence as well as reducing pipe work and keeping joints to a minimum.
When other units that were supplied by subcontractors were delivered they were housed in Rittal TS 8 enclosures, thereby providing a total system solution from Rittal. Request a free brochure from Rittal ...
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