28/6/2018 High Voltage Spike (dV/dt) and Motor Protection Methods

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HIGH VOLTAGE SPIKE (DV/DT) AND MOTOR PROTECTI… Popular Articles

Posted by  Craig Hartman  20/03/2014  0 Comment(s)

There are two di erent

phenomena that can
create high dV/dt and
high peak voltages. What is a Variable
Frequency Drive?
Re ective Wave
Phenomenon  20/03/2014  252
Voltage wave re ection is
a function of the voltage
rise time (dV/dt) and the
length of the motor cables. Impedance mismatches cause voltage
pulses to be re ected back in the direction from which they arrive. As
these re ected waves encounter incoming waves, their values add,
causing higher peak voltage. As wire length or carrier frequency
How to Read a Motor
increases, the overshoot peak voltage also increases. This causes motor
Nameplate
insulation degradation and failure.
 20/03/2014  29
Resonant Circuit Phenomenon
Electrical systems of every nature have a natural frequency. When
system components have a resonant frequency that matches the
natural resonant frequency of the system, peak voltages can quickly
exceed standard re ective wave overshoots.
Inverter Duty Motor:
ALL MOTORS (NEMA MG1 VFD MOTORS (NEMA MG1
 
– Part 30) – Part 31) VFD Buying Guide
 18/01/2014  70
Vrated ≤ 600
   
Volts

Vpeak ≤ 1kV 3.1 * Vrated

Rise Time ≥ 2μs 0.1μs

Vrated > 600

   
Volts

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28/6/2018 High Voltage Spike (dV/dt) and Motor Protection Methods

Vpeak ≤ 2.04 * Vrated 2.04 * Vrated What is a VFD Control

Panel
Rise time ≥ 1μs 1μs
 14/11/2014 7
 
Vrated is the line-to-line voltage
Vpeak is a single amplitude zero-to-peak line-to-line voltage.
For 480V: Recommend voltage spikes be limited to 1000V and dV/dt to 1000V/µs
The de nition of what constitutes a “VFD rated” motor varies
dramatically. However, one clear di erence comes in the rating of the
motor insulation. The National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association
(NEMA) has two di erent standards for general purpose motors and Why Should You Use a
VFD motors. Note the di erence in the insulation. This is not the peak Line Reactor?
voltage that the motor can handle during a transient. It is the ability of  30/06/2014 1
the motor to handle repeated peaks from the output of a VFD.
For standard motors, we must keep the peak voltage below 1000 volts
for a 480V motor. For VFD rated motors, we must keep the peak voltage Search VFDs
below 1520 volts. VFD rated motor insulation is rated for 1600V.
dV/dt is also speci ed. Motor peak voltage AND dV/dt must both be Select Horse Power
within the speci ed limits.
Select Voltage

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Courtesy TCI
Common mode voltage occurs when the voltages on the three output
lines of a drive do not sum instantaneously to zero. dV/dt lters slow
down the rate of change of PWM switching as seen by the load. This
reduction in the rate of change results in increased capacitive coupling
impedance between bearings and bearing races. This increase in
impedance, in turn, reduces the damaging Common Mode currents.
VFD Panel Buying Guide
(Illustration)
 07/04/2016 0

How to wire a VFD

 15/03/2016  12

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28/6/2018 High Voltage Spike (dV/dt) and Motor Protection Methods

Industry Spotlight: Using

VFDs with Reciprocating
Compressors
 20/03/2015 2

Courtesy TCI
Note that these graphs are at a VFD carrier frequency of 2.5kHz. There
are very few spikes above 1000V with 70 feet of cable. The spikes are
much worse with 500 feet of cable. Note that these are examples only.
A speci c application may have no problem with voltage spikes at 450 Industry Spotlight: Using
feet, then have signi cant problems at 500 feet, and have no problem VFDs for Irrigation and
at 550 feet. The only way to determine whether there is a problem is to Farming
measure it. Also, remember that general purpose motors can handle  16/02/2015 2
1000V, while VFD rated motors can handle 1600V.
We do not recommend using line reactors. Our experience shows that
they can actually exacerbate the problem in some applications. A dV/dt
lter will usually solve the problem.

Where to Buy a VFD

 11/12/2014 1

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Courtesy TCI
In this example, the carrier frequency has been increased to 8kHz. Note
that the higher frequency exacerbates the voltage problem.
High carrier frequencies may also damage dV/dt lters, so make sure
you stay within the published limits for that particular lter.
Is there Another Way?
Mitsubishi uses a proprietary motor output algorithm called Mitsubishi
Soft PWM and not only reduces motor noise, but also protects from
dV/dt. Other manufacturers may or may not have these capabilities.

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28/6/2018 High Voltage Spike (dV/dt) and Motor Protection Methods

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Mitsubishi’s soft PWM algorithm distributes the motor noise over a
wider range of frequencies, thus reducing the noise in any one
frequency band and resulting in lower dB and a more pleasing sound.
General Recommendations Subscribe
dV/dt lter

Reduces voltage spikes to below 1000 Volts

Slows down PWM dV/dt by a factor of 3
Reduces common mode currents by approximately 30%
Protects both the motor and the cable insulation

Recommendations

Consider when VFD-to-motor cable length exceeds 100 ft

Option: Leave room in VFD cabinet and install only if required
Stay within lter manufacturer’s recommendations for carrier
frequency
Use proprietary solution

Tags: motor protection dVdt dV/dt high voltage spike

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