60 Hz to 50Hz

[Davebones]

Have a machine that just came in . Engineer says they have to have 50 Hz at 40 amps 240 V . What would be the best way to get this ? We have 208V and 480V 60 Hz available in the plant now .

 

[Jraef]

Have a machine that just came in . Engineer says they have to have 50 Hz at 40 amps 240 V . What would be the best way to get this ? We have 208V and 480V 60 Hz available in the plant now .

Its just not simple.

Investigate exactly what "the machine" entails. If there are AC motors, see if they are dual voltage. IEC motors that are dual voltage will be 230V if connected in Delta, 400V if connected in Wye. If you can restrap them for Wye, then you can apply 480V to them and they will be fine, although they will run 20% faster (which may be an issue). If that works for you, then separate out the motors from the rest of the power, investigate what else needs power and what it can accept, then deal only with that part of it.

If the 20% speed increase is a problem, you can still separate out the motor circuits and install VFDs on them. But a 208V service cannot give you 230V output from the VFD, so you would need boost transformers ahead of them.

If there are DC motors or servo motors, investigate the power supplies that feed them, they often can accept any frequency because all they do is rectify it to DC anyway.

Easier, but more expensive, would be to buy a Motor-Generator (MG) set that will be a 60hz motor running a 50Hz generator. But you lose power through them all of the time the machine is connected, so your energy bills go up.

You could also consider replacing all of the AC motors, but again, you must deal with the increased speed.

Or you could have saved yourself the bother and bought a machine made here to be used here...

 

[Besoeker]

Investigate exactly what "the machine" entails.

Totally agree. It's the first step.
You can't solve the problem until the problem is defined.

 

[mgookin]

There is a simple solution. Not cheap, but simple.

We have an AC Power Source in our factory which replicates every electric grid on Earth. We can get any frequency we want up to 400Hz up to 600VAC. 50Hz is no problem. We paid $8k for it and it's only rated 1500 watts. The company we got it from is called Pacific Power Source. Check out http://www.pacificpower.com/English/Products.aspx

But before you spend someone's money, I'd suggest calling the machine manufacturer (or is that who the engineer represents?). See if they say it will run fine at 60Hz.

Another thought is turn a 50Hz generator head with a 60Hz motor and make your own power source.

 

[kwired]

You could move the machine to a place in Europe where 50 Hz is what is available:happyyes:

 

[topgone]

Have a machine that just came in . Engineer says they have to have 50 Hz at 40 amps 240 V . What would be the best way to get this ? We have 208V and 480V 60 Hz available in the plant now .

If that machine is an electric motor, it will be running faster when fed with 60Hz power. Also, you'll need a higher voltage at 60 Hz for that motor, not 240 volts.

 

[Besoeker]

Also, you'll need a higher voltage at 60 Hz for that motor, not 240 volts.

Depends on the type of load.