ABB’s Surewave Static Frequency Converter allows the interconnection of grid systems with varying frequencies, offering the ideal solution for plant relocation and testing facility applications.

Complete grid interconnection

Grid systems around the world don’t all operate at the same frequency. Whilst the majority of countries use a 50 Hz grid, around 25 percent of nations employ a 60 Hz system. The solution is to convert the grid supply frequency to match the requirements of the application, be it factory or test facility, to avoid the expensive recalibration or reconfiguration of your equipment. The Surewave SFC is designed to match the most demanding industrial requirements with flexible inverter based technology allowing seamless connection. In industrial applications the innovative design maximizes power availability and delivers continuous clean power.

How it works

The system is constructed of multiple power electronic modules and functions by converting the input AC power through a sine-wave rectifier to a DC link, and then through an AC sine-wave inverter to produce a clean, full sine-wave output at the new frequency and voltage.
The Surewave SFC is extremely flexible in terms of paralleling with other voltage sources,either generators or multiple SFC units. Parallel load sharing is achieved using frequency and voltage droop profiles programmed into the converter.This allows the converters to share power with other systems without the need for any additional communication signals.
Starting the SFC into the live bus is greatly simplified due to the automatic output synchronization feature. This enables a full seamless transfer from generator supply to SFC supply on the output bus. If the output bus is dead when the SFC is given a start command it will ramp up the voltage over one second,providing a soft energizing of the output.

The Surewave SFC system is constructed using power electronic modules. These state of the art modules operate as rectifiers to source sinusoidal current from the supply, and inverters to reproduce the AC waveforms on the output.

The primary user interface is via a door mounted touch screen Graphical Display Module (GDM). The display is intuitive and is navigated by touching on the desired menu buttons and provides easy access to event logs, parameter settings, etc.

System monitoring is possible by connection to a PLC (via the digital and analog I/O) or connection to a computer based SCADA package using TCP/IP Ethernet serial communications.

Key product features:

• High efficiency power conversion
• Clean sinewave output voltage
•  Unity power factor, sinewave, active rectifier design
• Built-in module redundancy without interruption of operation
• Fully isolated AC connection using an output transformer
• Wide range of voltages available; 50 Hz and 60 Hz
• Small footprint design
• Touch screen colour graphic display (GDM)
• Internal web server and Modbus TCP allows remote monitoring
•  Output cable voltage drop compensation
•  Seamless generator change over standard (synchronization)
• Generator emulation and load sharing
•  Power flow control
• Extensive remote control with extend I/O card

For help or advice on the ABB SureWave SFC, please contact us.