Electricity and Control July 2023

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

Automation notes: “This control system was designed with com prehensive firmware that provides for advanced customisation and allows for agile parameter changes to meet current produc tion needs. These parameters allow the drive to compensate for the mechanical timing of the crane or dc application, increasing brake life and plant efficiency.” Uncompromised safety Safety is paramount in material handling applications. The British Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Cranes (BS7121) establishes recommendations for the safe use of cranes in a work environment and is widely recognised as best practice in any industry. To ensure compliance with the code, MH Automation also ensured that the drive system provides key safety functions. These include continuity checks at start, motor series and field loss detection, loss of speed input, emergency power loss shutdown, and fail-safe pre-charge circuit design. In addition, system integration allowed for safety improvements in the control system as a whole, with compliant emergency stop circuitry among other functions. Four quadrant motor control – forward and reverse braking and forward and reverse motoring – also improves safety and eliminates the need for directional contactors and speed control resistors. This allows regenerative energy to be used by other dc components on the grid, improving

the efficiency of the process and industry sustainability overall.

Testing and performance Despite supply chain challenges, the project was completed in May 2021. As well as commissioning the system, designing and installing it, MH Automation conducted factory acceptance test ing (FAT) before the equipment arrived on site and undertook site surveys post-installation to ensure the new system was operating safely and optimally. “The FAT testing helps assure all parties that the new system complies with all contractual specifications,” says Robin Evans, Managing Director at MH Automation. “It provides for any functional issues that may arise to be addressed before the equipment arrives at the installation site. We specialise in control upgrade projects specifically for the crane sector, so we’re experienced in managing projects like this from the initiation stage to successful installation and commissioning.” Expert crane control upgrades give material handling equipment in specialist industrial environments a new lease on life. Opting for a retrofit solution, plant managers can improve the reliability and performance of their equipment at a cost-effective price point and ensure safety. □

For more information visit: www.cpaltd.net

JULY 2023 Electricity + Control

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