Keeping drives healthy

If you follow some basic guidelines, diagnosing and preventing variable frequency drive trouble can be simple

By Dave Polka, Drives Training Manager, Automation Technology Products Division, ABB Inc.

Maintaining variable frequency drives (VFDs) is easier than you might think. By using some basic tools and integrating some simple, logical steps into your preventive maintenance (PM) program, you can ensure your drives provide many years of trouble-free service. Before looking at those steps, let’s quickly review what a VFD is and how it works.

A quick overview

A VFD controls the speed, torque and direction of an AC induction motor. It converts fixed voltage and frequency AC input to a variable voltage and frequency AC output. Control circuitry coordinates the switching of power devices, typically through a control board that dictates the firing of power components in the proper sequence. A microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) meets the internal logic and decision requirements.

Figure 1 shows what the three main sections of a VFD are and what they do. The input section of the drive is the converter. It contains six diodes, arranged in an electrical bridge. These diodes convert AC power to DC power. The next section — the DC bus section — sees a fixed DC voltage.

Figure 1. Pulse width modulation (PWM) drives contain these main parts, with subtle differences in hardware and software components. This is a basic variable frequency drive (VFD).

The DC bus section filters and smooths the waveform. The diodes actually reconstruct the negative halves of the waveform onto the positive half. In a 460-V unit, you’d measure an average DC bus voltage of about 650 to 680V. You can calculate this as line voltage times 1.414. The inductor (L) and the capacitor (C) work together to filter out AC components on the DC waveform. The smoother the DC waveform, the cleaner the output waveform from the drive.

The DC bus feeds the final section of the drive: the inverter. As the name implies, it inverts the DC voltage back to AC. But, it does so in a variable voltage and frequency output.

How does it do this? That depends on the type of power device your drive uses. Bipolar transistor technology began superceding thyristors (SCRs) in drives in the mid-1970s. In the early 1990s, those gave way to insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) technology. Today’s inverters use IGBTs to switch the DC bus on and off at specific intervals. In doing so, the inverter actually creates a variable AC voltage and frequency output. In very small VFDs, a single power pack unit may contain the converter and inverter.

From this description, you can see a VFD is basically a computer and a power supply. And the same safety and equipment precautions you’d apply to a computer and a power supply apply here. Drive maintenance requirements fall into three categories:

• Keep it clean.
• Keep it dry.
• Keep the connections tight.

Keep it clean

Most VFDs fall into the NEMA 1 category (side vents for cooling airflow) or NEMA 12 category (sealed, dust-tight enclosure). Drives that fall in the NEMA 1 category are susceptible to dust contamination. Dust on VFD hardware can restrict cooling airflow, resulting in diminished performance from heat sinks and circulating fans.

Dust on an electronic device can cause malfunction or even failure. Dust absorbs moisture, which also contributes to failure. Periodically spraying air through the heat sink fan is a good PM measure. Discharging compressed air into a VFD is a viable option in some environments, but typical plant air contains oil and water. For cooling, you must use dry compressed air that is oil-free, or you are likely to do more harm than good. This requires a specialized, dedicated and expensive air supply. And you still run the risk of generating electrostatic discharge (ESD). A non-static generating spray or a reverse-operated ESD vacuum will reduce static build-up. Common plastics are prime generators of static electricity. The material in ESD vacuum cases and fans is a special, non-static-generating plastic. These vacuums, and cans of non-static-generating compressed air, are available through static control equipment companies.

Keep it dry

Figure 2. Moisture caused corrosion.

In Figure 2 you can see what happens to a control board periodically subjected to a moist environment. Initially, this VFD was wall-mounted in a clean, dry area of a mechanical room. However, as is often the case, a well-meaning modification led to problems. An area of the building, close to the mechanical room, required a dehumidifier. Wall space was available above the VFD, so the dehumidifier was placed there. Unfortunately, the VFD was a NEMA 1 enclosure style (side vents with no seal around the cover). Water began dripping from the dehumidifier and into the drive. In six months, the VFD accumulated enough water to produce circuit board corrosion.

What about condensation? Some VFD manufacturers included a type of “condensation protection” on earlier product versions. When the mercury dipped below 32 F, the software logic would not allow the drive to start. VFDs seldom offer this protection today. If you operate the VFD all day every day, the normal radiant heat from the heatsink should prevent condensation. Unless the unit is in continuous operation, use a NEMA 12 enclosure and thermostatically controlled space heater if it’s located where condensation is likely.