Double a VFD driven test-stand's throughput and capacity

Abstract

The marine & offshore and drilling markets are requiring larger brakes, and more demanding cyclic loading of tension and brake control system. Because of a backlog of testing, customer requirements for extended life of friction materials, and demand for larger clutches and brakes, The Clutch manufacture decided that the throughput and capacity of their existing 1500HP test stand needed to be doubled. The existing test stand utilized a 1500HP Variable frequency drive (VFD) and motor to: performance test and burnish brakes for customers, run static and dynamic load changes on clutches and brakes for research and development, and for customer specific applications. The existing VFD and motor were to remain and be re-used. A second identical VFD and motor would be added, and both would be connected to a combining gearbox. Each VFD and motor can test a single 1500HP brake, or both VFDs systems can be combined to run a single 3000HP brake. The upgrade of the test stand offers an opportunity to examine the application considerations (closed loop and torque control), installation considerations (harmonics and environmental), and operation considerations (dynamic load changes and master-follower control) of large VFD systems and clutch/brake performance.