What's New

NCS305 Sensors
ABB Entrelec, Chassieu France, announces the NCS305 series of current sensors for industrial applications. These sensors designed are designed to measure 40,000A continuously and can accommodate a 300mm*100mm bus bar size, which is needed to needed to safely carry these very high currents.  Based upon ABB’s proprietary NCS (non contact sensor) technology, the sensor provides both a voltage and current output voltage while providing isolation between the primary (bus bar side) and the measurement terminals. For example a 20kA primary can produce 20mA or 10V while measuring a 20kA current. Alternatively the sensor and measure 40kA and produce 20mA or 10V because there is a second set of measurement outputs with different scaling. Optional measurement scalings are also available for 4 to 20mA or 12mA to 20mA for ease of use with PLC’s .

Three standard products are offered with nominal primary currents of 6000A, 10000A and 20000A. These sensors can continuously measure up to 20,000A, 30,000A and 40, 000A respectively. Non measurable overloads are 80,000A, 120,000A or 200,000A.

Additionally the sensor can measure both DC and AC current’s (up to 100A/us di/dt). Accuracy at 25C is <=1% at nominal current and <=2% over the temperature range (-40C to 85C).

Mechanically the sensor is designed as two mirror image parts that clip together. This allows for insertion of the sensor around existing bus bars without having to mechanically remove the bus bar so the sensor can be inserted over the bus bar’s end. This simplifies installation for retrofits or replacement of other sensors in existing equipments.

While the sensor can be panel mounted using 4 mounting holes, it can also be fixed directly to the bus bar using an available side plate kit. This gives additional mechanically flexibility often needed for retro situations.

For additional information email info@5Scomponents.com or call 412-967-5858.

Topology’s and Voltage Ratings for High Power Semiconductors for Wind Energy Conversion
June 2009, Lenzburg, Switzerland: On Jun 25, 2009, ABB presented a paper at the IEEE sponsored conference, entitled Power Electronics and Machines in Wind Applications, in Lincoln Nebraska. This conference was attended by engineers and executives from several renewable energy companies as well as representatives from public utilities. The conference focused on new developments related to wind, solar and wave energy conversion to from these renewable energy sources to electrical power.
           
ABB presented a paper related to the main topologies used for power conversion for medium voltage applications. Today, these topologies are mainly determined by the available voltage ratings of the power semiconductor devices. In this paper, ABB examines the main existing topologies for medium voltage wind power energy conversion and determine the voltage levels that can be can be achieved with the currently available high voltage semiconductor components such as the IGCT and IGBT. The paper also provided an insight into development trends for future power semiconductor device concepts resulting in increased power levels and improved overall static and dynamic performance.

Click here to download this paper

Concept Scale 2 Drivers
CT-Concept Technologies AG, Biel-Bienne, Switzerland announces the availability of its SCALE-2 Technology. This technology enables your next generation of highly integrated IGBT Gate Drivers. The SCALE-2 chipset helps designers to optimize switching performance, reliability and scalability as well as application flexibility and time-to-market. It is specifically optimized to fit various IGBTs and applications ranging from 150A to 3600A and 600V to 6500V but is also preconfigured to allow application-specific customization. This new generation is based upon the field proven SCALE 1 technology that has been in use for several years by a large number of customers. The SCALE-2 chipset includes several variants of secondary-side Intelligent Gate Driver (IGD) ASICs and a primary-side dual channel Logic-to-Driver Interface (LDI) ASIC.  The combination of state-of-the-art analog capabilities with moderate digital feature size yields an optimum cost-performance ratio. This typically results in a 60% component reduction re3duction when compared to SCALE 1 technology.

The highly integrated SCALE-2 gate driver chipset implements all required functionality and allows easy power scaling up to 60A / 20W and beyond. The pre-driver stages are primarily designed to assure optimum performance for direct driving of external n-type DMOS by using separate gate resistors for independent control of turn-on and turn-off. A bidirectional transformer interface allows both command and fault signals via the power supply line.  This also allows for asynchronous fault transfer method needed for parallel-connected IGBTs or multi-level converter topologies. Lastly the SCALE2 chip set allows for three modes of operation. Direct Mode allows independent driving of both driver channels. In half-bridge mode, the ASIC uses only one input as a common command signal and generates two (non-inverted and inverted) outputs. A third mode can be preconfigured to implement interlock or mutual exclusion of the channels.

This new chipset has very low jitter (+/-1ns) and with transformer coupled systems delay time of <=80ns are achievable. This allows switching frequencies up to 750kHz and easy implementation of parallel or series-connected IGBTs.

The new SCALE2 chipset serves as a core platform for implementing your next generation of IGBT driver series. Suitable for IGBT voltages to 6500V and for 3.3V to 15 V logic levels, this single chip set can cover most of your IGBT gate driver needs

Medium Power AC Traction Motors
Vasteras Sweden: ABB introduces a high performance traction motor for medium power, 100–600 kW range. The development is based on ABB’s 130 years experience in the design and manufacture of electrical motors. The main feature of the new design platform is a flexible and modular design approach that allows ABB to adapt motors quickly to customer requirements, reducing the weight and to shortening design and delivery times.
           
This medium power traction motor design platform has a standardized house design for 160, 180, 200, 225, 250, 280, 315, and 355 frame sizes. Rotors can be either aluminum or copper and a number of standard end shields are available. Initial designs are either open self or open force ventilated cooling approaches. Based upon a customers need, terminal boxes, Sensors, brackets and motor length can be adapted to fit the application. This modular design results in an estimated weight savings of 10–20% compared to other traction motors with the same output. The motors are optimized to give the highest possible efficiency, and high power output while effectively suppressing harmonics from the converter and providing world class reliability.

For more information, email info@5Scomponents.com or call 412-967-5858.

ABB Supplies Pulse Power Switching Assemblies for De-SOx /De-NOx Application
Lenzburg Switzerland: ABB Switzerland Semiconductors has supplied a large quantity pulse power switch assemblies for De-SOx / De-NOx modulators used to reduce flue gas emissions from a large steel sintering plant. The concept is to use high power solid-state switch (HPSSS) with a magnetic pulse compressor (MPC) to generate high power pulses for a plasma reactor located in the gas stream. These high voltage pulses create a streamer corona discharge in the plasma reactor that decomposes the pollution molecules. More information can be obtained from the paper “Pulsed Plasma Process for Flue Gas Removal from an Industrial Incinerator by Using a Peak 200-kV, 10-kA Pulse Modulator” which is attached.

The HPSSS consists of seven 5SPR26L4506, reverse conducting discharge switch devices in series connection. The assembly is rated at 20kVdc and produces a peak current of 12.6kA with exponential decay over a 10us period. Repetition rate is 300Hz. Because the electrodes in the plasma reactor can arc, the switch is also capable of withstanding a 12.6kA, 250us damped sine wave pulse. Cooling is accomplished by transformer oil in stainless steel liquid cooled heat sinks. The gate units for the switches are powered by a current source supply and are triggered optically. A common optical trigger box fires all switches simultaneously and produces a max on-time of 500us. Fiber optic cables connect the gate units and the trigger box.

After the HPSSS were built, blocking voltages of each device in each level was tested. Additional tests over the complete assembly included voltage sharing at 20kV turn on delays, functional pulse tests, and isolation tests.

Reliability has been estimated at 3*10⁹ pulses which equates to about 12 years of continuous operation. ABB conducted long term pulsing tests on the 5SPR26L4502 device. For example, a 31kA pulse for 100us for more than one million cycles was completed. Based upon these tests, internal analysis of the tested devices and ABB experience in other pulse applications with the same type of component, it was possible to estimate the pulse lifetime of these switches, under the required conditions.

Additional technical details on the HPSSS, see paper entitled “12.6kA / 20KV / 300Hz Reverse Conducting Solid State Closing Switch for De-NOx / De-SOx Modulator” attached

Pulsed Plasma Process for Flue Gas Removal from an Industrial Incinerator by Using a Peak 200-kV, 10-kA Pulse Modulator
12.6 KA / 20 KV / 300 HZ Reverse Conducting Solid State Closing Switch For De-nox / De-sox Modulator

For additional information please email info@5Scomponents.com or call 412-967-5858.