Recent developments and benefits of high-speed PWM inverter-fed induction-motor drive for gas filtration in nuclear power plants

This paper discusses new developments relating to the use of a high-speed inverter-fed induction motor drive for gas filtration of the main gas circulator compartment in nuclear power stations. Conventional drives use low speed induction motors which operate from fixed supply frequencies of either 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Operating speeds are essentially constant and for a 2-pole, 50 Hz machine the speed is 2750 r/min approximately. Due to the low operating speed, the sizes of both the motor and the impeller are rather large. For this type of drive, fixed speed operation results in high capital and operational costs