ABB has chosen Dynamotive Ltd as its first Medium Voltage Drives Technology Partner, the first of its systems integrator partners to include medium voltage drives expertise as part of its offering.
Targeting existing applications of high power drive installations in need of renewal, replacement or upgrade works, Dynamotive will add value by delivering tailored solutions based on its own products in combination with ABB drives.
Dynamotive has access to training on ABB medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) drives products, allowing it to offer them as an optional component of its hybrid upgrade solutions. Using its experience in the design, application and support of MV AC and LV DC drives, Dynamotive will renew, replace or upgrade customers’ high power drive applications, such as marine drives and drives for automotive wind tunnels.
The company was formed in 1998 by former employees of Brush Electrical Machines/Industrial Drives Division.
Dynamotive is currently engaged in upgrading numerous high power load commutated inverter (LCI) systems, ranging from 1 to 9 MW. Examples include marine main propulsion systems, applications in petro-chemical process plants and automotive wind tunnel main fans. These MV high power drives are typically around 10 years old, complete with their original analogue control system. Dynamotive can extend the life of the drive system by integrating it with PLC based digital control systems, improving its reliability and long term support.
If the customer has non-ABB MV drives, Dynamotive can upgrade the analogue control to digital using ABB's dedicated power electronic controller, the AC800PEC. This is a modular high-speed control system in which the modules are arranged according to the required I/O configuration and the process.
Depending on the project requirements, Dynamotive may also use the range of ABB LV AC and DC drives or replace the whole drive with a new ABB MV drive.
Dynamotive’s service director, David Bates says: “Dynamotive delivers installed equipment technology upgrades as well as scalable service and support solutions. This helps customers to operate world class control systems successfully, as well as drive system solutions that meet their own specific business needs.”
ABB’s general manager for drives and motors, Steve Ruddell, comments: “Dynamotive is an excellent partner with a strong capability and heritage in the design, application and support of high power drive solutions. We are absolutely delighted to be working together in the medium voltage high power drives market sector, demonstrating our commitment to offer new and wider solutions to the global market need of clients with either existing or new high power drive application needs.”
The photograph above shows David Perkins, Managing Director Dynamotive Ltd (left) with Steve Ruddell, General Manager Drives and Motors ABB Ltd (right)