Process Plants
EMC Solutions for Processing Plants and Large Facilities
It is no secret that machinery in a plant generates RF noise but the question has always been “how much noise?” RF and poor power quality problems in a plant manifest as a machine that constantly resets, machinery that goes off track, or machinery that stops working properly. Much of this behavior can be traced to inter-machine RF noise. Better understanding power quality can have an impact on the overall efficiency of a machine, process, or plant and also reduce operational costs.
What creates this noise? Many machines use servo drives and variable frequency drives (VFDs) to control rotating machinery. These VFDs create high frequency noise that radiates out on the input power cable. If a drive cable is close enough to a signal cable that the two cables couple then the noise from the drive cable can radiate onto the signal cable. The signal can be overwhelmed by the noise and cause false readings causing the PLC to make incorrect decisions.
Another source of RF noise is the silicon controlled rectifier (SCR). These devices are often seen in welding and brazing equipment, industrial ovens, and other large applications where systems need to develop or maintain temperatures in the system. As the SCRs turns on, the voltage on the input power line momentarily drops because of insufficient power to feed the load. This causes glitches on the power lines within the plant causing nearby PLCs to reset if the glitch duration is long enough.
Enerdoor solves RF noise problems by installing EMC filters on each panel that controls a VFD or an SCR; preventing RF noise from leaving a machine and preventing RF noise located within a plant from entering a machine.
Learn more about Enerdoor's power quality and EMI filter capabilities for process plants and industrial applications by contacting us today.