Thanks to the progress made in the fields of power electronics, variable frequency drives are now common. By offering high efficiency and good power factor, these drives help operators to save energy.

However, the frequency converters used to regulate them, supply the grid with harmonics, which will impair the power quality. Industrial distribution networks often therefore display high loads with harmonics – under certain circumstances, even the standards for the point of coupling with the public grid are violated.

Impermissible disturbances in power quality can have serious consequences – if a sensitive device, such as an electronic control unit, is damaged by harmonics, this may result in problems extending right up to production failure.

Reactive power, load unbalance and flicker also represent significant power quality challenges. One of the major benefits of the active filter is its speed. It will be of particular importance for flicker compensation because the voltage changes need to be absorbed. If an active filters regulation is only designed for a rapid rise time, overshoots may arise.

The new generation of ACF Active Filters for very exacting demands

Westek Electronics offer the high quality Gridcon ACF Active Filters from industry leader MR.

Gridcon ACF series is designed for high peak currents so that harmonics can always be compensated for with high power.

Active filters can reliably and highly accurately compensate for these disturbances. They take the strain off the grid, extend the service life of devices and increase the safety of industrial systems.

Active filters function as a regulated current source, they compensate for disturbances in the grid by feeding a current of just frequency and amplitude needed.

Active filters ensure clean grids in a whole host of sectors and applications, for example:

• Chemical industry

• Offshore platforms and ships

• Steel plants

• Water treatment and pump stations

• Paper industry

• Oil and gas

• Mining

• Power generation from renewable sources

The Gridcon ACF series offer the level of reliability and safety you would expect – even beyond standard operational voltages and under demanding environmental conditions.

The central operating element of the Gridcon ACF is a touch panel on the front of the cabinet, with a clear menu structure.

The 3-level circuit of the Gridcon ACF is based on twelve IGBTs, whereas the conventional 2-level version simply comprises six. The special circuitry halves the voltage load of the power semiconductors. This will lead to lower losses and higher overvoltage capacity.

The benefits of the Gridcon ACF Series:

• Large area of use and high power

• Fit for future applications

• Maximum operational reliability with high voltages

• Low life cycle costs

• Ease of service and operation

For more information about the Gridcon ACF active filters from MR, please contact us through our online contact form.

The post Gridcon ACF Active Filters from MR – More Power, More Value first appeared on Westek Electronics.

The significance of harmonics in the modern distribution grids has increased vastly over the years. As a result, compensation systems and filters need to perform at higher standards.

In an electrical power system, a load with low power factor will draw more current than a load with a high power factor. The higher currents increase the energy loss in the distribution system.

As the focus is on increasing the efficiency of the energy supply, the GRIDCON PFC product range is used in the distribution grid. The passive systems for reactive power compensation and filtering harmonics can cut transmission losses and therefore energy costs.

Individual assemblies form the basis of MR’s passive systems. They make up the platform for the systems’ modular structure, which provides various benefits, including simplification of service work and subsequent expansion of modification. Since assemblies use common carriers, various technologies can be combined in one cabinet, making highly economical solution possible.

The GRIDCON PFC Systems offered by Westek

GRIDCON thyristor switched PFC equipment is used to compensate the reactive power in three-phase power supply systems with frequent fast load changes. By switching in the current’s zero point, the thyristor-controlled systems have virtually no wear. This preserves the capacitor and reduces system perturbation. GRIDCON thyristor switched PFC systems are available with 7% or 14% detuning reactors for additional harmonic mitigation of the power supply system.

Westek also offer the GRIDCON Automatic PFC equipment, used to compensate the reactive power in three-phase power supply systems. These systems allow the automatic switching of different capacitor banks, thus following the variations of the absorbed reactive power and keeping the power factor of the installation constant. Automatic PFC systems are available with 7% or 14% detuning reactors for additional harmonic mitigation of the power supply systems.

Some of the GRIDCON PFC benefits:

• The system’s modular concept simplifies subsequent assembly expansion or modification

• Complete systems in freestanding cabinet design with various cooling concept

• Maximum operational reliability

• Passive filters with multi-stage protection concept and early detection of faults

• Modular assembly concept makes demand-driven investments possible and reduces installation and service costs

High-quality and low-loss components as well as careful project planning ensure a long service life

For more information about the GRIDCON PFC product range from MR, please contact us through our online contact form.

The post GRIDCON PFC – Actively Cut Power Costs with Passive Systems first appeared on Westek Electronics.