Electronic Control & Monitoring of PM Actuators

IPEC Engineering hold complementary expertise in the design of electronic control and power drive systems to provide control, drive and monitoring of magnetic actuators. With the decision to move into the supply of control modules IPEC Engineering are continually developing our product range using Field Programmable Logic Array and 16-bit micro-controller technology. With expertise in electromagnetic pm actuator design IPEC Engineering are one of only few companies in the world which can combine actuator design, electronic drives and advanced micro controller technology. For further information on IPEC Engineering's range of controllers please contact us.

Download Adobe PDF flyer with the latest information and specifications of IPEC Engineering PM Actuator Electronic Control & Monitoring systems.

	100-60-C1 Single-Coil PM Actuator Controller (click the image to view a larger image)
	Recloser controller with on board Power Supply Unit (PSU) and Power Filters (click the image to view a larger image)
	Dual Board PM Actuator Controller with Partial Discharge Monitoring Capability (click the image to view a larger image)

MAGACT© PM ACTUATOR IPEC Engineering 100-60-C1 Electronic Controller - SUMMARY TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

One of the essential requirements for the development of reliable indoor or outdoor VCBs incorporating the new PM Actuator Drive Systems is the need for an electronic control system to monitor and control the actuator coil supply, to interface with protection relays and provide status and auxiliary contact information.

The IPEC Engineering 100-60-C1 Electronic Controller provides all of these requirements, and more, through a central, fuse-blown logic controller which controls and monitors the actuator and VCB operation. The controller incorporates a comprehensive monitoring system for protection, indication and programmable reclose functions. The MAGACT© Electronic Controller provides the interface between the customer-specified Protection Relay and the Magnetic Actuator Drive System (either MAGACT© Actuators or the customer's own PM Actuator).

To provide a 'seamless' solution for the client IPEC Engineering provide development services to enable a complete VCB system design to be achieved through a combination of the technologies listed above. For further information on IPEC Engineering PM Actuator VCB Services refer to Design Services.

This specification summarises the functionality of the standard MAGACT© Electronic Controller (Part Number: IPEC Engineering-100-60-C1) required to interface between the customers's chosen Protection Relay, a MAGACT© PM Magnetic Actuator and the VCB. The IPEC Engineering Controller MAGACT Electronic has passed both ANSI and IEC test requirements and is CE Marked.

Typical Configuration of a MAGACT PM Actuator VCB Drive

2. CONSTRUCTION

2.1 General

The IPEC Engineering-100-60-C1 Electronic Controller consists of three major sections, the Power I/O circuits, the Logic Input Circuits, and the Logic Control Circuits.

2.1.1     The Power I/O circuit are supplied from the station battery via a DC/DC converter. The power I/O circuit typically charges 2x 100,000 MicroFarad, 80V capacitors connected in parallel, and via a command from the Logic Control Circuits, applies the capacitor voltage onto the trip/close coil with the required polarity to enable the trip and close operations.

2.1.2     The Logic Input Circuits take their voltage either directly from either the Customer Control Relay or the Capacitors. The Logic Input Circuits perform all of the interfacing between the input signals and the +5V Logic Control Circuits.

2.1.3     The Logic Control Circuits take their voltages (+5V and +12V) directly from the Capacitors via a small DC/DC Converter. These circuits receive the signals from the Logic Input Circuit, and generate the required output drive signals to the power I/O Circuits.

All components on the Controller are surface mounted on to the Controller PCB wherever possible (excluding the connectors, relays and power I/O Components). All heat sinks have PVC spacers to isolate the heat sink from the PCB surface. All heat sinks are permanently connected to their respective component using screws and/or adhesive compounds.

The entire operator components including the magnetic actuator, capacitors, power supplies (except battery), and magnetic actuator control board, should be mounted in a ventilated, air-insulated box. The components in the mechanism cabinet may in some instances be subjected to salt, pollution, and moisture. The controller is conformally coated to resist corrosion and all components are rated -25C to +85C. The Controller has been designed to be capable of withstanding vibration and shock per the relevant standards (ANSI and IEC).

All wire connections to the Controller are made using harness wiring with keyed connectors. The connector receptacles are mounted directly on the circuit board. The mating plugs on the wire harness are all latched into place to prevent disconnection under vibration and shock.

2.5.1  The controller is protected from reverse polarity protection on all power inputs 2.5.2 The Power Up circuitry has been designed so that all functionality is disabled during power up, and for a period of 1.5s seconds after power up.

Weight: 0.25 kg, Size: 220mm x 140mm (approximate), Height: 50mm (above board) , Qty.6 Fixing Centers of 5mm diameter

3. FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

The Controller has three main components, the Power I/O circuits, the Logic Input circuits, and the Logic Control Circuits.

3.1 Power Supply Circuit

Primary Power Supply In normal operation, the voltage to the Controller is supplied from the station battery via a surge-protected DC/DC converter, typical rating 50 to 100W, 80 -100V +/- 3V DC output. The converter output voltage charges 2x 100,000MicroF, 80V or 100V Capacitors to provide a local and reliable power energy store for the magnetic actuator trip/close coil.

When a signal from the logic Control Circuits is given to TRIP or to CLOSE, the Power I/O circuits switch the capacitor voltage with the correct polarity across the Trip/Close actuator coil. The current supplied to the coils is typically between 40A and 70A for a close operation (depending on Actuator Type) with a pulse duration of between 60 and 100ms.

Standby Mode: 100mA (5W)
Operational Mode: 2A (100W)

3.4.1    Voltage Monitoring Circuit
The controller monitors the voltage on the capacitors (TP-CAP). This threshold voltage is typically set at around 75% of the DC Converter Output Voltage, such that there is always enough energy in the capacitors to perform a CLOSE-OPEN operation. If the capacitor voltage is below the minimum threshold for an operation, then the controller will disable the next operation in order to avoid Vacuum Interrupter contact welding and other problems caused by insufficient closing energy/speed.

3.4.2   Main Contact Position Monitoring
The Controller monitors the main contact position via micro-switches or inductive sensors, depending on customer preference.

3.4.3    Power Pulse Output Timing
The Figure below shows the timing signals for the TRIP and CLOSE output signals:

t _t = Total Time duration of Logic Control Signal command

t _act = Actual Time duration of power output to coil to change the state of main contacts.

t _d1 = Time Delay between trip/close command signal and initiation of power output to coil

t _d2 = Time delay to turn off power output to coil after change in state of main contacts

Note: t _act + t _d2 cannot exceed t _t

TRIP Output Settings

t _t = 5 to 75ms, selectable in increments of 5ms

t _d1 = 3ms in hardware filtering plus 0 to 35ms delay, selectable in increments of 5ms

t _d2 = 5ms

CLOSE Output Settings

t _t = 5 to 155ms, selectable in increments of 5ms (J2 pins 1,2,3,4,5)

t _d1 = 3ms in hardware filtering

t _d2 = status of main contacts does not affect CLOSE output

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