How well do you know variable frequency drives and drive systems?

Take a short quiz to test your knowledge about variable frequency drives (VFD) and VFD based drive systems.

1. Nominal current of asynchronous motor with pf = 0.88 is 500 A (FLC).
How much is the current at 50% loading?

  • 220 A
  • 265 A
  • 330 A
  • 500 A

2. Spectrum of voltage and current harmonics is presented in figures below.
Which figure shows the current and which figure depicts the voltage?

current and voltage harmonics
  • Signal 1 is voltage, signal 2 is current
  • Signal 1 is current, signal 2 is voltage

3. What section of the torque-speed envelope below depicts the constant power range?

  • section 1
  • section 2
  • section 3
Torque-speed characteristic

 4. What is the unit of total harmonic distortion (THD)?

  • %
  • A/s
  • A/mm2

5. Motor runs with 64% torque at 80% of its nominal speed.
What is the current drawn from the supplying network in % of nominal input current?

  • approx. 50%
  • approx. 67%
  • approx. 80%

6. What is the function of the DC bus inside the variable frequency drive?

  • Smooth the DC voltage or DC current
  • Intermediate energy storage
  • Both functions above

7. AFE type of VFD is supplied from a 6.6 kV grid and feeds 6.6 kV asynchronous motor. What is the expected relationship between grid and motor current?

  • Grid current is higher than the motor current
  • Motor current is higher than the grid current
  • Both currents are equal

8. What is the range of the time constant of a capacitor-based DC link (i.e. cap bank of voltage source inverter)?

  • several milliseconds (depending on model and topology)
  • 2…5 seconds (depending on model and topology)
  • 15…30 minutes (depending on discharging resistor)

9. What is the typical efficiency of a medium voltage VFD at full load?

  • 80…85%
  • 92…95%
  • 97…99%

10. How many windings has an input transformer supplying a VFD with 24-pulse diode rectifier?

  • 4 (four)
  • 5 (five)
  • twenty four (24)

11. What is the purpose of the shield (screen) of power cables in inverter fed motor applications?

  • To minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI)
  • To provide a path for common mode currents
  • Both above answers

12. What is the typical range of modulation index of an inverter?

  • 0…1.15
  • 0…63 Hz
  • 0…5 V/s

13. Nominal DC link voltage (mean value) of a 3-level inverter is 5’000 V. What is the approximate DC link voltage when the motor runs at 50% speed?

  • 2’500 V
  • 4’200 V
  • 5’000 V

14. What technologies can be used to adjust the speed of driven load?

  • VFD, steam turbine and clutch
  • VFD, gas turbine and fluid coupling
  • VFD, gas turbine and bypass valve

15. What stands the acronym FWP for in context of variable speed motors?

  • First World Problem
  • Framework Programme
  • Field Weakening Point

16. Can you use VFD for motors in hazardous area? 

  • Yes, if the motor is equipped with corresponding warning labels.
  • Yes, if the motor is installed in an area with restricted access.
  • Yes, if the motor is properly designed and certified for specific inverter.
  • No, motors in hazardous area must not be supplied from VFDs.

17. What is the motivation of user to install a variable frequency drive?

  • Significant energy savings
  • Improved process control
  • Inherent motor soft starting
  • One or more above items (depending on application)

18. What is the starting current of VFD fed motor?

  • 200…350% of nominal current depending on total inertia and load torque
  • 150…250% of nominal current depending on motor construction and process dynamics
  • It depends on selected speed ramp and system inertia but normally far below nominal current

19. What types of motors are mostly used for variable speed applications?

  • asynchronous, BLDC and SynRM motors
  • asynchronous, synchronous and PM motors
  • asynchronous, PM and BLDC motors

20. What is another (historical) name of a power switch or a power stack?

  • transducer
  • repeater
  • gear
  • valve

21. What is the most common cooling medium of liquid-cooled VFDs?

  • inhibited mineral oi
  • deionized water
  • liquid nitrogen
  • vegetable oil

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