Managing High-Power Motors: A Scientist's Perspective

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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The discussion centers around the responsibility of starting six 700 HP motors, totaling 3.1 Megawatts, highlighting the significant power involved. The conversation touches on the technical aspects of motor operation, including the transition from higher voltage motors to more efficient 480-volt motors, which are now preferred due to their ability to control speed and reduce losses despite increased current. There is a humorous exchange about the personal stress of the task, with light-hearted comments about frozen broccoli and holiday traditions, illustrating camaraderie among the participants. The anticipation and seriousness of the job are emphasized, particularly the reactions of the crew when informed about the motor startup procedure.
Ivan Seeking
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A personal comment on a job that has my shorts more than just a little tight... we're talking about a serious pucker factor here. Next week I am responsible for bringing online six motors at 700 HP each. That's 3.1 Megawatts! :eek:

Okay how does that go? Green to start and red to stop?
 
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Just think about it this way: it's only three-thousandths of a gigawatt!

- Warren
 
chroot said:
Just think about it this way: it's only three-thousandths of a gigawatt!

- Warren
Whewww. That sounds much better! :rolleyes:
 
And I thought this was about you starting your own business :approve:
 
Already got that. :biggrin:
 
What don't you have?

:p
 
dekoi said:
What don't you have?

:p
He doesn't have deer ticks! You can put your clothes back on now Ivan. :-p

Tsu - thanks for the tip!

btw, I re-stocked your freezer with broccoli. :biggrin:
 
Evo said:
btw, I re-stocked your freezer with broccoli. :biggrin:

Oh good! I gave away all of my frozen broccoli to trick-or-treaters and now we have Christmas coming.
 
Ivan Seeking said:
Oh good! I gave away all of my frozen broccoli to trick-or-treaters and now we have Christmas coming.
I know, I kept thinking of the poor little tykes waking up Christmas morning, running over to their stockings and finding NO FROZEN BROCCOLI in them.

What's Christmas to a child if there's no broccoli in their stocking? :cry: :cry:

(although canned tuna is another must)
 
  • #10
Evo said:
(although canned tuna is another must)

That's for birthdays, you silly mentor you. :rolleyes:
 
  • #11
NO! WAIT! The frozen broccoli is to be given to the Christmas CAROLERS! The tuna's for the cats (and Ivan's birthday gift). :biggrin:

p.s.
Thanx for the broccoli Sis!
 
  • #12
Tsunami said:
NO! WAIT! The frozen broccoli is to be given to the Christmas CAROLERS! The tuna's for the cats (and Ivan's birthday gift). :biggrin:

p.s.
Thanx for the broccoli Sis!

Don't forget to dip the broccoli in ketchup to give it the proper complement of holiday colors. :approve:
 
  • #13
Well, darn!



blast.jpg
 
  • #14
I hope that's not indicative of how things went.
 
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  • #15
Well, there used to be this nice little town...

Really things went pretty well. I still can't get over the power going through that place. One leg of the three phase going to each motor consists of something like ten, one inch+ cables! Also, strangely enough, modern drives are so efficient that 480 volt motors were used to replace 3600 volt motors. Historically the I-squared-R losses demand a higher voltage, but the ability to control motor speeds and the ability to idle yield greater gains than the losses incurred due to the increased current.

When we were ready I got a real rise from the crew when I told them how to start the motors; that I didn't want to be anywhere near the place when started. :smile: :smile: :smile: [its always my job to make the final call to start]. I saw about twenty eyes get real, real big.
 
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