Scope
This hands-on course is designed to introduce technicians, operators, and engineers
to common installation, operation and troubleshooting practices typical of variable frequency drives. Even though this course
stresses the practical aspects of variable frequency drives, it also presents a thorough discussion of ac induction motors,
NEC installation and grounding requirements, and applicable OSHA regulations concerning variable frequency drives. Because
of the importance of understanding solid state electronics, an overview of electronic devices will also be presented.
Variable frequency drives also introduce new problems. Such topics
as harmonics, electro-static discharge, proper troubleshooting tools, and radio frequency interference will be discussed.
In addition, the author/instructor has used his over twenty five years of practical controls and teaching experience to clearly
illustrate the significance of the approximately 200 programmable parameters which must be properly set to permit the drive
system to operate at optimal efficiency. You also will be given hands-on opportunity to understand the detailed menu structure
of two of the most popular variable frequency drives.
Prerequisites: An understanding of basic electricity
is required to be able to get the most benefit from this course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
- Understand characteristics of AC motors which AC drives control.
- Know the components and types of variable frequency AC drives.
- Understand common AC drive applications and how to evaluate them.
- Understand the advantages and benefits of using variable frequency AC drives
in industry.
- Understand characteristics of rotating machines loads which AC motors move.
- Understand how to troubleshoot AC drive applications.
Outline
- Understanding Variable Frequency Drives and Motor Control.
- The Five Basic Parts of a Variable Frequency Drive System
- AC Motor
- Rectifier
- Filter
- Inverter
- Logic
- Characteristics of Solid State Devices
- Power Diodes
- Power Transistors
- Silicon Controlled Rectifiers
- Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor
- General and Specific Installation Requirements
- Power
- Motor
- Disconnect
- Bypass
- Grounding
- Isolation Requirements
- Temperature
- Input Device Field Wiring
- Output Device Field Wiring
- Programming Parameters
- What are they?
- How should they be set?
- What happens if they are set wrong?
- AC Drive Preventive and Corrective Maintenance
- Documentation
- Basic steps to troubleshooting
- Proper use of test equipment
- Fault isolation and component replacement
- Preventive maintenance procedures
- Predictive maintenance procedures
