Compressor failure/ shut down due to Power Quality Problems

Hallo,

we see all over the world teh situation that the power quality is getting more and more worse. The utility are saving money due to deregulation the industrie get more challanges so the normal standards you won´t find in the field. But nobaody is thinking what is happening to the control devices. We see a lot of problems with phase monitoring protection modules that tripp in case of a bad power signal. The sinus wave if you measure it has nothing to do with a real all similarities are by accident.

What are your experiance?
Who has know how?
What otehr challanges are related to this topic?

I see problems rather frequently related to phase loss, phase imbalance. Some of our accounts are in areas which have such regular problems that we have installed linebackers/phase monitors which kill control power if a voltage supply issue exists. Our electrical utility insists that it never browns out areas, that the phase monitors we put in are not accurate enough, and that our meters are not as accurate as theirs. Puhlease. Utilities cut supply when everyone uses their AC, which in turn only causes overamperage, compressor/motor damage.

In times of High Electrical demand on Power Lines and because of our aging infastructure. Voltage can drop at the most demanding times when cooling needs are at a peak. Even though 3 Phase is more forgiving on Start-up than Single Phase Units a 3 Phase Monitor is beneficial for Voltage imbalance, losing a Phase and Voltage falling to a point that is too low. Single Phase Air Conditioning would benefit from a Hard Start Kit that used a Potential Relay and not a PTCR which is useless to a degree in Hot environments. I have seen cases were Electricians have used wire cable that was too thin for the length it was ran to 3 door Reach-In Freezers. On Start-up the Voltage at Compressors would drop to 192 Volts which was below the minimum starting voltage. Since unit was under a factory warranty a hard start kit was not advised and in this case the Electrician elected to just install a boost Transformer to increase the voltage at the freezer itself.