Application and Selection Guidelines for AC System Drives, 1992 Engineering Conference Proceedings

During the first decade of commercial application, AC drives have been applied to essentially all paper making, coating and finishing operations within the industry. Many applications, techniques and procedures have been tried during the course of this experience. As a result of evaluating these techniques on installed and operating systems, specific "preferred" application and design criteria have evolved. The widespread use of these successful criteria by the community of AC drive hardware suppliers, consultants and users is currently leading to the establishment of a good many "de facto" standards for AC System Drives.

This paper outlines, in considerable detail, the current practice in regard to application and selection of drive system components for AC System Drives in North America. Selection guidelines are developed from the fundamental requirements of the driven load. Special attention is given to the AC motor, inverter and the line supply equipment. These components are unique to the AC System Drives and are the least understood by the paper industry drives community.

The young engineer, as well as the established engineer within the paper industry, can benefit from the material in this paper as they are faced with the task of evaluating, scoping or engineering an AC Drive System project.