Will the pump start automatically after a power fluctuation? Please explain it. Thanks.
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Will the pump start automatically after a power fluctuation? Please explain it. Thanks. (Our plant’s pumps should have started operating automatically after the power fluctuation, as no one was on site to restart them. After the power fluctuation caused the pumps to stop working, they started running again, and indeed they were in operation. Could such sudden automatic startup cause any damage to the electrical system or the equipment?)
From an electrical engineering perspective alone, motors are all allowed to start automatically in the presence of voltage fluctuations. The key is whether the process permits it! As long as the process requirements permit, the electrical system can be set to cause the motor to restart on its own after a power interruption within a certain time period.
Chemical plant equipment operates continuously; many units cannot be shut down and need to start automatically.
Strictly speaking, it is only when a technician sets the motor’s auto-start program function during debugging, or when a relay for maintaining operation in the event of power loss is configured in the control circuit, that the system will start automatically after a power interruption, in accordance with the pre-set program. It’s just that this type of device and system program require a certain duration for the power fluctuation. If the power outage lasts longer than the set value, the motor will not restart on its own. Furthermore, as mentioned on the 2nd floor, when restarting a motor that has experienced voltage fluctuations, it is necessary to meet the technical requirements related to the manufacturing process and the use of the equipment.
It is rare for petrochemical plants to experience power fluctuations; it’s good if such incidents occur 2 or 3 times a year. The pumps in our plant do not have a self-start function, and the power fluctuations we encounter are mainly related to severe convective thunderstorm weather. Power fluctuations caused by the electrical grid are even rarer. When severe lightning causes power fluctuations that result in the shutdown of pumps, the pumps can be restarted within a maximum of 10 minutes, so the impact on the plant is not significant. It’s the first time I’ve heard that a pump can start up on its own after a power fluctuation. I think pumps that can start on their own should be important pumps; your system probably doesn’t have self-start protection for every pump.
This depends on the control method. If self-locking control is not used, the device will start operating automatically; this approach helps to resist voltage fluctuations. Of course, it’s not suitable for large devices. When self-locking control is employed, factors such as the duration of the voltage fluctuations and the overall conditions of the power grid come into play, and it’s possible for the voltage fluctuations to continue. For example, if the capacitance in the power grid is high, or if the contactors do not lose their magnetic field completely within a short period of time, the contacts may not separate.
It mainly depends on the control method and wiring of the control device
The ability to start automatically is a feature that is added during design based on process requirements; it is usually implemented through an automatic start cabinet or a time-delay relay
It must have a self-starting device added.