Constant Current Regulator - Bad Regulation

In summary, the conversation discusses a problem with a CCR (High Power) used for airfield lightning. The current regulation is not being maintained and the system is oscillating between 0.0 A and 6.6 A. This is likely due to internal feedback loops or a degraded component. The IEC-61822 standard states that the CCR should be able to regulate current at any step, even with an inductive load and a power factor of 0.60. The cause of the oscillation cannot be determined without more information.
  • #1
cliendo
1
0
Hi There,

I have a CCR (High Power) to feed current into a airfield lightning serial circuit which is having a lot of troubles trying to maintaing the current regulation.

Basically the problem is that once the CCR is set up to highest step (Step 5: 6.6 A) with a maximum load (PF=0.98), the current start oscillating between 0.0 A and 6.6 A which produce the all lightning circuit to oscillate also.

All Airfield lamps are connected to a remote control unit which in turn is connected to an isolation transformer secondary.

The remote control unit feed the airfield lamp with the appropriate current when it receives a signal from the CADA system to turn ON the lamp, and it produce a secondary short circuit when the remote control unit is being commanded to turn OFF the lamp or when the lamp is broken.

Of course, when we have all lamps OFF, the CCR is OFF, and the CCR goes ON when the lamps are commanded to be ON (the communication is going through the same power cable by using Power Line Carrier technology).

We don't have the CCR ON at any state if we have all lamps OFF, which means the PF drops to 0.63. As far as we add up load to the serial circuit the PF improves (which is logical).

What could be the reason for the system to oscillate in such a way?

The minimum PF we have in normal conditions is 0.66 (with the minimum amount of lamps that could be ON).

The IEC-61822 establish that the CCR for Airfield Lightning should be capable of regulating the current at any step (Table 1: step 1≈2.8 A / Step 2≈3.4 A / Step 3≈4.1 A / Step 4≈5.1 A / Step 5≈6.6 A).
----------------------
5.3.2 Regulation – reactive loading
The CCR shall maintain the current within the limits of table 1 for all current steps when the
load has an inductive power factor of 0,60.
----------------------

From this point of view, the system should be capable of regulating the current even in an inductive circuit with a PF of 0.60.

What else could produce the CCR to oscillate?

I observed that when I have a certain load (about 50% of the possible load) and we surpass the 900 V @ step 5, the system starts oscillating in current. The CCR is 15 KVA and the maximum load (with all lamps in ON state) is 7 KW which means that in worst case we do not reach the maximum load we might have on CCR.



Regards,

CL
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
  • #2
cliendo said:
What could be the reason for the system to oscillate in such a way?
There could be internal feedback loops. A component degraded in such as way was to make the loop oscilliatory.

Without detailed shchematics, we can't offer a better guess.
 

1. What is a constant current regulator?

A constant current regulator is an electronic device that is used to maintain a steady flow of current through a circuit, regardless of changes in the circuit's resistance or voltage. It is commonly used in applications where a constant and stable current is needed, such as in LED lighting or battery charging.

2. What is "bad regulation" in a constant current regulator?

Bad regulation in a constant current regulator refers to a situation where the regulator is unable to maintain a constant current output at the desired level. This can be caused by various factors such as poor quality components, improper circuit design, or environmental factors like temperature or humidity.

3. How does bad regulation affect the performance of a constant current regulator?

Bad regulation can negatively impact the performance of a constant current regulator in several ways. It can cause fluctuations in the output current, which can lead to unstable operation of devices connected to the regulator. It can also result in overheating and damage to the regulator itself.

4. What are some common signs of bad regulation in a constant current regulator?

Some common signs of bad regulation in a constant current regulator include fluctuations in the output current, inconsistent brightness in LED lights, and overheating of the regulator. In extreme cases, the regulator may fail completely and stop providing any output current.

5. How can bad regulation in a constant current regulator be fixed?

The solution to bad regulation in a constant current regulator depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, replacing faulty components or adjusting the circuit design may help improve the regulator's performance. In other cases, using a higher quality regulator or implementing additional cooling measures may be necessary.

Similar threads

  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
32
Views
2K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
15
Views
627
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • Electrical Engineering
Replies
1
Views
893
Replies
2
Views
1K
Back
Top