ENERSIS was engaged to investigate repeated Variable Speed Drive (VSD) failures at a major port facility in Malaysia. The failures primarily involved burnt electronic components within the VSD system and resulting in operational disruptions and maintenance concerns.
To identify potential electrical issues, ENERSIS conducted a comprehensive Power Quality (PQ) assessment at:
The measurements at the MSB indicated that most power quality parameters were within acceptable limits with the exception of elevated current harmonics (THDi). However, measurements taken at the outgoing feeder to the VSD revealed that both voltage harmonics (THDv) and current harmonics (THDi) exceeded recommended levels recording above 5% and 15% respectively. The findings also indicated that the main source of harmonic distortion was likely originating from the load side.
The findings suggested that harmonic distortion near the VSD load could have contributed to excessive stress on sensitive electronic components and potentially leading to premature failures and repeated burnout incidents.
Following the assessment, ENERSIS presented the measured data, analysis and mitigation recommendations to the management team. Based on the recommendations, a mitigation system was subsequently implemented by a third party provider which successfully resolved the power quality issue and improved the overall reliability of the VSD operation.
Philippines
