Grounded Variable Frequency Drives Balance Harmful Stray Currents

Many industries use variable frequency drives (VFDs) with induction motors. Introduced in the 1960s, VFD technology has advanced considerably during the past 50 years. The engineering advancements have encouraged operators to consider other factors during particular applications, such as harmonics, energy efficiency, temperature, rise time, cable length and switching length. Facilities that want to include VFDs often face problems during their installation. One of the most common issues associated with VFD installations is stray current, or shaft current, caused by common-mode voltage. Approximately 41 percent of the total failures in motors are the result of bearing currents. The primary cause is unbalanced current distribution with VFDs.

What Is Common-Mode Voltage?

The VFD inverter supplies unbalanced three-phase voltage to the motor. Common-mode voltages are coupled to the rotor through parasitic capacitances between the stator winding and rotor. This high-frequency voltage may result in excessive common-mode currents. Existing stray capacitances between the motor and ground may allow current to flow to the ground, passing through the rotor, shaft and bearings and reaching the grounded end shield. The higher switching frequencies in the latest drives tend to increase common-mode voltages and currents. In a typical greased-bearing motor, the bearings support the rotor with a thin film of grease between the balls and outer race. The rotor and grounded outer bearing race theoretically have no contact at operating speed. This is not actually the case. Residual imbalance and off-design operation result in elevated vibration that breaks down the grease. Discharge current then flows through the bearings. The capacitive discharge component is the current that circulates whenever the grease film is momentarily broken down. The conduction component is another current induced by a ring flux in the stator yoke. This current permanently circulates through the characteristic conducting loop comprising the shaft, end shields and housing/frame. Both these electric discharges wear the raceways and erode the rolling elements of the bearings. Long-term flowing discharge currents result in furrows or fluting, reducing bearing life.

Stray Currents and Their Paths

Stray currents are typically seen in larger motors—above 444T—and poorly grounded systems, though they have been observed in all sizes of motors and applications. The current has several options when traveling to the ground, either through the motor bearings or other equipment bearings. This means that the motor does not always fail. Some examples of paths that currents may take are:

• Stator-to-frame capacitive currents result from higher frequencies caused by switching. The appropriate solution is to incorporate VFD cable and low-impedance grounding straps.
• Stator-to-rotor capacitive currents are created in the rotor. The currents look for a path back to the VFD, and the driven equipment (for example, the pump) or the motor bearings offer the least resistance. Installing a shaft grounding brush provides a low-impedance return path to the VFD.
• Motor circulating currents are created by asymmetry in the magnetic field axially along the motor rotor. Insulated opposite drive-end bearing and drive-end shaft grounding brush minimize the risk of these currents forming, as does a low-impedance return path to the VFD. Insulated opposite drive-end bearings are typically recommended for motors more than 150 horsepower (447T and larger). Some industrial end users require insulated bearings on all VFD systems, even in lower-horsepower applications.

Bearing insulation can also be addressed in several ways, such as:

• Insulated housings place a layer of insulation between the bearing housing, fit and the rest of the end bell.
• Ceramic bearings use standard steel inner and outer rings. The rolling elements are made of silicon nitride, providing excellent insulating properties.
• Coated bearings consist of an outer or inner ring, plasma-sprayed with a coating of aluminum oxide and then resin-sealed. The downside of this technology is that the coating is thin. If scratched or damaged, the bearing may not protect the motor from stray currents.

Grounding

Directing the current to the ground includes two processes: grounding the motor to the primary baseplate and grounding the baseplate to the ground. Failing to properly clean the motor’s feet is a common motor installation mistake. During the manufacturing process, overspray often collects on the bottom of the motor’s feet. They must be clean and free of paint, grease and debris. Grinding the motor’s feet will provide a low-impedance path to the ground, where the ground strap will be installed to bare metal. Afterward, operators should ensure there is a solid, true ground. The structural supports in a facility or building offer no guarantee of a true ground. The ground methodology depends on the electrical codes for a region.