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Regenerative Drives - Effect of Power Factor

Former Community Member
Former Community Member

I am working on a small 16kW hydro system which is experiencing about 15% loss in the Regenerative VSD. To maximise efficiency the turbine operates at variable speed. The VSD controls a synchronous generator and supplies the grid.

The VSD is a Siemens G120. The datasheet states that the efficiency should be around 96%, whilst also stating that the Power Factor is 0.9. I am looking to replace this drive for an ABB ACS 880-11 which has similar efficiency but a unity power factor.

Firstly can I trust these datasheets since, I assume, they relate to the VSD delivering electrical energy to a motor rather receiving it from a generator? Is there an efficiency penalty for regenerative generation?

Secondly, with all else being equal, will the drive with a unity power factor equate to more electrical energy on the meter than the drive with a 0.9 power factor? 

Thanks

 

 

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  • Hmm I'm also not sure what the efficiency or power factor in this regeneration mode should be. When it came out a few years back so called  “Efficient Infeed Technology” was really sold as a bit of a energy saving by not wasting motor braking energy in banks of resistors and especially for things like lift motors when going down to get back some of the work put in when going up. 

    The main mode of operation was still expected to be motoring, and the main effort is in making that direction the most efficient.  The generator mode is more of a nice afterthought, though of course in your question the main one…

    Mike.

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  • Hmm I'm also not sure what the efficiency or power factor in this regeneration mode should be. When it came out a few years back so called  “Efficient Infeed Technology” was really sold as a bit of a energy saving by not wasting motor braking energy in banks of resistors and especially for things like lift motors when going down to get back some of the work put in when going up. 

    The main mode of operation was still expected to be motoring, and the main effort is in making that direction the most efficient.  The generator mode is more of a nice afterthought, though of course in your question the main one…

    Mike.

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