×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

FCMA drives
5

FCMA drives

FCMA drives

(OP)
Flux Compensated Magnetic Amplifier (FCMA)Drives - Any experiences.

I read about them yestreday and seem to be rugged, simple and limit the starting currents to as low as 2pu. Appear to be ideal for large electrical drives in remotely located Oil and Gas field.

Thanks in anticipation.

RE: FCMA drives

Hello Faulty
Interesting that you ask about a piece of equipment that
most of us discarded twenty years ago.
Not much wrong with the technology,it was reasonably simple and performed well for what was designed to do.
We had one old Dragline,that we parked about 15 years ago and all the controls was done using "MAGAMPS".
Someone in Texas must have real hands on info on these things,we sold the DLINE not too long ago to those folks.
As the SCR technology became much more reliable and affordable, it made the old technology kind of obsolete.
I would guess that replacement parts could be a problem in today's market.





















GusD

RE: FCMA drives

Suggestion to the original posting. They looked rugged and seemingly simple; however, they did have fairly fine-tuned controls around them including electronics, resistors-rheostat and potentiometer, etc. They were not exactly simple looking and simple to engineer and design. The electronics was aging; especially where vacuum tubes were used. The whole idea may need a careful assessment for its true value.

RE: FCMA drives

There is a more recent answer to the intent of "Faulty's" application.  The Roesel Motor, using written pole technology allows for single phase motors up to 40 Hp and is ideal where power factor and low inrush currents are significant considerations.

I don't remember the specs to put them here, however, because of the uniquness of this equipment I remember their web page as precisepwr.com.  Some ten to fifteen years ago I was working with them, so I do not want to come across as a sales person.  They are known for their MG sets and have a pretty good track record for these remotely located motor applications such as well pumps and the like.

RE: FCMA drives

Hi Jbaros
I deserved the little smack on the knuckles.You are right on your description of the MAamps.They are not as simple as
I tried to make it.Also;it did a splendid job for what it was designed for.
The reality is, that despite all of the great credentials they did go out of fashion.I blame the advancements in of
Electronics,coupled with their low cost for the demise of
Mag Amps usage.
JB .I am curious.Just like the DC motor,a few years ago we thought they would go into oblivion,yet; they are making a return to the work place.Are there any manufacturers that continue to use the MAmp Technology?
Thanks  

GusD

RE: FCMA drives

Dear RRN,
Did you try with MSG? Remember having seen a presentation with him on this subject. It was in connection with sizing of 11/0.433kV transformer at the end of a long 11kV line for some large size motors. It was complete with some kind of mathematical treatment.
Best regards.

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources