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Product category: Industrial Drives/Controls
News Release from: ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) | Subject: Low harmonic drives
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 25 June 2004

Pump drives keep harmonics in check

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Low harmonic drives have allowed a waste water pumping station to increase its pumping capacity without causing disturbances on the electrical supply network.

Low harmonic ABB drives have allowed a waste water pumping station to increase its pumping capacity without causing disturbances on the electrical supply network Countess Wear Waste Water Treatment Works, operated by South West Water, is located south of Exeter

The site, which is supplied at 11kV, already had a number of variable speed drives in operation, including a 55kW ABB drive powering the existing treatment works inlet pumps.

Because of the existing drives, the treatment works already had a high harmonic loading on site.

The installation of additional drives for the new storm flow pumps threatened to increase this load to unacceptable levels.

To solve this potential problem, ABB recommended the installation of an ABB low harmonic active rectifier.

Following installation of the drive and pumps, ABB tested the harmonic distortion, both at the incomer live connection and the cable between the fuses and contactor.

Distortion readings were found to be much lower than a normal six-pulse rectifier - around 2-3%, compared with the usual level of 40%.

Kevin Atkin, Tendering Manager with contract panel builder Blackburn Starling, says: "We asked ABB to help and they calculated what equipment would give us the best possible solution to the problem and meet the regulations".

"The drive they recommended provided the most cost-effective solution to the problem of keeping the harmonics at the lowest possible level".

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