Comment on jOmega (Electrical) Aug 17, 2003 marked ///\\Sorry JB, but the knowledgable folks at TCI state that the HarmonicGuard Filter is NOT DESIGNED to be used on the output of the VFD.....period. You'll fry it! Components not selected/rated for frequency components present in the output of the VFD.
///Surprise, surprise. The output of the VFD by applying the applicable TCI filter is supposed to be almost ideal sinusoidal wave. Then, it is said that the ideal sinusoidal wave would fry the HarmonicGuard Filter. This does not make any sense. What good is the HarmonicGuard if it cannot withstand the almost pure sinusoidal wave?\\If you'd like, I'll be happy to put you in touch with their VP Engineering who can explain it to you . Perhaps then you'll believe me when I tell you that it cannot be used at the output of VFDs....
///I would not engineer and design the HarmonicGuard in front of:
"dV/dTGuard KLC Filter Motor-Protecting Output Filter"
and
"MotorGuard - KMG Sine Wave Filter"
since these are designed to mitigate higher frequency contaminations.\\
And JB.... here is what you said.... and I quote (in blue):
"jbartos (Electrical) Jun 25, 2003
Suggestion: Besides the VFD output dv/dt filters, as posted by JOmega, there are also harmonic filters for the VFD output, e.g. HarmonicGuard available at:
JB you also made the same error in your Aug 16. post above, in several places..... and I quote (in blue) ....
///Just make sure that you do not make errors. See my first comment above.\\"jbartos (Electrical) Aug 16, 2003
Suggestion to jOmega (Electrical) Aug 10, 2003 marked ///\\{jO said}To correct a mis-conception from JB's post on the TCI HarmonicGuard filter; it is designed for mitigation of the 5th harmonic on the line (mains) side of the VFD in attempt to attain compliance with IEEE 519-1992.{end jO's comment}
{JB said}///Yes, this is true. However, it may be used on the VFD output side to mitigate harmonics as I posted in my previous posting that is criticized by jOmega.\\\ {end JB comment}
{jO comment} It is not designed for use at the output of the drive or for dv/dt (du/dt) reduction."{end jO comment}
///I never stated that the HarmonicGuard is to be solely applied on the VFD output. This is where things are becoming twisted by J.Omega.\\{JB comment} "///Yes, agree. I never stated anywhere that it is used for that purpose. In fact, I indicated in my posting:
"'Besides the VFD output dv/dt filters, as posted by JOmega, there are also harmonic filters for the VFD output, e.g. HarmonicGuard available at:
Here again, JB, you stated that the HarmonicGuard filter could be used at the VFD OUTPUT
///Yes, I justified my reasoning behind it in my first reply above.\\Which as I said previously and above, is just not true. The HarmonicGuard CANNOT be used at the output of any VFD. It is designed SOLELY for use on the 50/60 HZ mains.
///This does not sound credible that the HarmonicGuard would not withstand almost sinusoidal wave accomplished by other filters on the VFD output. In fact the harmonic currents are flowing from the motor into the HarmonicGard filter, the same way as on the VFD input side. Motor produces significant 5th, 7th and 9th harmonics. Where are these mitigated on the VFD output?\\The issue JB, is NOT whether or not the filter is servicable for dv(du)/dt reduction or whether it is for harmonic reduction; the issue is that it is NOT designed to be used on the output of VFDs. The HarmonicGuard Filter, as the engineers at TCI will tell you, is designed ONLY for use on 50/60 Hz Mains; and must never be connected the output of a VFD else it will cause damage to the HarmonicGuard filter.
///Please, see my comment above.\\JB, I hope you understand that now.
///I hope you understand now.\\ If not contact me at jomega@email.com with a phone number at which you can be reached and I'll be happy to have a TCI engineer contact you to reiterate the reasons why the HarmonicGuard filter cannot be connected to the output of a VFD.
///Perhaps, under some conditions.\\\
I'm sure you don't want to see someone misapply the HarmonicGuard filter and damage it and/the VFD it is mistakenly connected to, now do you?
///I am more concerned about the 5th, 7th, 9th, etc. harmonics, that are not being treated on the VFD output or on the motor input. I do not see them addressed by J.Omega, TCI, etc. However, I did have them addressed during various VFD presentations by the VFD manufacturers, e.g. Magnetek in the past.\\Ok ? Are we clear on the use and non-use of the HarmonicGuard filter ?
///Far appart as at the beginning.\\NEXT.... you said (in your Aug. 16 post above.. and I quote in blue...
{jO comment} See: KLC Drive Output Filters
They also make a sinewave filter that filters the PWM voltage pulses into a sinewave voltage for application to the motor. In addition to dv/dt(du/dt) reduction, {end jO comment}
{JB comment}///This feature is not associated with the KMG filter. It is associated with "dV/dTGuard KLC Filter Motor-Protecting Output Filter"{end JB comment}
Well, JB, you leave me no choice but to take issue with you again.... In a meeting at TCI about 4 weeks ago, their chief engineer stated that the KMG filter does indeed attenuate dv/dt and does so very nicely.
///This seems to be contradicting what is posted on TCI website and what I posted above, namely:
1. dV/dTGuard KLC Filter Motor-Protecting Output Filter"
is to mitigate dV/dt effects
\\ You see, the KMG is a low pass filter design, and its output is virtualy sinusoidal. Ergo, it does not introduce step voltages (with steep wave fronts) into the wiring between the drive and motor that exhibits transmission line or tank circuit (your choice)characteristics and produces standing waves therein. As I said, the output of the KMG is a pretty good sinewave at fundamental frequency.... and so...effects DV/DT reduction at the motor...
///How comes that the HarmonicGuard would "fry" in such perfect conditions on the VFD output.\\Ok ? If not we can include this in the phone call to you from TCI....
///Thank you for your services. I follow engineering and design. I would like to witness that "frying" of HarmonicGuard filter" on perfectly sinusoidal input.\\And finally, JB, your last statements.... quoted below in blue...
3. HarmonicGuard available at:
is to mitigate harmonics on the VFD input. However, it is designed to mitigate harmonics in general. Harmonics due to wave distortion caused by the VFD switching topology are still present on the VFD output. There are oscilloscope traces available of some manufacturers VFD outputs. Also, the harmonic content is possible to measure on the VFD output by the harmonic analyzer. It appears that jOmega is not aware of this.\\
JB, the HarmonicGuard is designed as a somewhat broadly tuned 5th harmonic trap.
///Are you aware that induction motor creates 5th harmonic on its input which flows toward the power supply?\\ Broadly because there's some spillover to catch some of the 7th... as well as covering the 5th on 50 Hz mains ...
///Are you aware that induction motor creates 7th harmonic on its input which flows toward the power supply?\\It is not, as you stated, a harmonic reduction filter; it is a trap filter for limited, specific frequencies....i.e the 5th harmonic of the mains fundamental frequency.
///Do you happen to know in which direction current harmonics flow? The HarmonicGuard filter mitigates harmonics flowing from the AC-DC converter (rectifier) to the input power supply. This is why there is IEEE Std 519.\\It won't do squat for you on the output of the VFD which has much higher frequency content, other than fry....
///Certainly, entitled to your own opinion and expertise.\\
p.s.... JB, the KLC filter doesn't do squat for removal of audible noise from the motor.... That filter rolls of somewhere in the 20-30 kHZ range....filter is designed to produce some softening of the wavefronts of the output voltage pulses from the VFD.
///I posted the following information from the manufacturer web site in my previous posting, namely:
/This feature is not associated with the KMG filter. It is associated with "dV/dTGuard KLC Filter Motor-Protecting Output Filter"
""The dV/dTGuard product family has been designed as an engineered solution for motor failures due to the reflected wave phenomenon.""\\We can also include this in the discussion with TCI .... I'll let them set you straight on this as well.
///I do not have to. I feel reasonably comfortable with what the TCI offers and advertises.\\