Selection

Variable speed drives

for asynchronous motors

Altivar 71
Option: braking units and resistors
Determining the braking unit and resistor
Calculating the various braking powers makes it possible to determine the braking
unit and the braking resistor.
Presentation of the two main types of operation: A and B
B Braking power at constant speed n2.
Example: Vertical downward
movement, motor/generator test
bench, gravity conveyors, etc.

>

A The braking power during deceleration is characterized by a

peak power Pf obtained at the start
of deceleration, which decreases to
0 in proportion with the speed.
Example: Stopping centrifuges,
translational movement, change
of direction, etc
n1
n2
Tl
Tb
b
P

Motor speed
Motor speed during deceleration
Load torque
Braking torque
Maximum braking power

[rpm]
[rpm]
[Nm]
[Nm]
[W]

P bf
tb

Average braking power during time tb

[W]

Braking time

[s]

n
+n 1

n
n1

tb

tb

-n

Tl

tb

Tl

t
Tb

t
Pbraking

tb

Pbraking

t
t

Pb
Pb

Pb

Note: These two types of operation can be combined.

Type A operation
Calculating the braking time from the inertia.
Jt b = ----------------Tb + Tr

Tb n3
= ---------------P
b
9,55

J ( n 3 n 4 )
T b = --------------------------------9,55 t b

n
= 2
-------------60

P
P b = -----b2
Tb
J
n
n3
n4
tb
b
P

Motor braking torque

Total inertia applied to the motor
Motor speed
Motor speed ahead of gearbox
Motor speed after gearbox
Braking time
Peak braking power

[Nm]
[kgm2]
[rpm]
[rpm]
[rpm]
[s]
[W]

Pb
Tr

Average braking power during time tb

[W]

Resistive torque

[Nm]

Machine
Motor

Gearbox

n3

J = Jmotor +Japplied

i=

Japplied =

Presentation:
pages 60288/2 and 60288/4

60288-EN_Ver2.1.fm/8

Characteristics:
pages 60288/2 and 60288/4

References:
pages 60288/3 and 60288/5

n4

n3
n4

Jmachine
i

Dimensions:
pages 60294/12 and 60294/13

Schemes:
page 60295/8

Selection (continued)

Variable speed drives

for asynchronous motors

Altivar 71
Option: braking units and resistors

Type B operation
1 Braking power of a load moving horizontally with constant deceleration (e.g.: carriage)
W
m
v
tb
b
P

Kinetic energy
Weight
Speed
Braking time
Peak braking power

[Joule]
[kg]
[m/s]
[s]
[W]

Pb
Tb

Average braking power during time tb

[W]

Braking torque

[Nm]

Motor speed

[rpm]

g
a
v
J

Acceleration
Deceleration
Linear downward speed
Moment of inertia
Angular speed

9.81 m/s2
[m/s2]
3 Braking power for a downward vertical movement
[m/s]
[kgms2]
2
Pb = m g v
P b = m ( g + a ) v + J------------[rad/s]

tb

Downward stopping time

[s]

Pb = W
----tb

mv
W = --------------2

= P 2
P
b
b

2 Braking power for an active load (e.g.: test bench)

Tb n
P b = ------------9,95

tf

n
= 2
-------------60

All the braking power calculations are only true if it is assumed that there are no
losses ( = 1) and that there is no resistive torque.
To be even more precise, the following must be considered:
b the losses and the resistive torque of the system, which reduce the necessary
braking power
b the driving torque (the wind, for example) which increases the braking power
The required braking power is calculated as follows:
bR
P

Maximum actual braking power

[W]

P bR
total
Pload

Continuous actual braking power

[W]

drive
mec
mot

Udc

Total efficiency
Braking power connected with the resistive or [W]
driving torque (not taken into account in the
calculation). Pload can be positive or negative.
Drive efficiency = 0.98
Mechanical efficiency
Motor efficiency

Braking unit engage threshold

[V]

P bR = ( Pb P load ) total

P bR = ( P b P load ) total

total = mec mot 0,98

For braking, the value of the braking resistor is selected to match the required
power and the braking cycle.
In general:
2

U dc
U dc

P
bR = -------------- R = -------------
R
P
bR
tc
P b0
t0
P b1
t1
b
P
P b2
t2
Pcontinuous

Cycle time
Upward braking power, therefore zero

[s]
[W]

Rise time
Average braking power during downward
movement
Downward movement time
Peak braking power

[s]
[W]

[s]

P b0 t 0 + P b1 t 1 + P b2 t 2
= -----------------------------------------------------------------------tc

^
Pb
_
Pb1

[1]
[W]

Average power during braking to a standstill [W]

Standstill braking time

Continuous power is obtained by taking the operating cycle into account.

_
Pb0
t0

[W]

_
Pb2

t1

t2

tc

The braking unit is selected taking the following into account:

b the continuous power P f1
b the average braking power during downward movement P f2
b the peak power P f .
Depending on these elements, select the braking unit according to the
characteristics on page 60288/2.
The braking resistor is selected taking account of the same
elements listed above, but with the addition of a check to ensure
2
U dc- .
that the resistance value will allow the peak power to be exceeded R = ------------
P
f
Note: The resistance value must always be greater than or equal to the values given
in the tables on pages 60288/4 and 60288/6.

Presentation:
pages 60288/2 and 60288/4

Characteristics:
pages 60288/2 and 60288/4

References:
pages 60288/3 and 60288/5

Dimensions:
pages 60294/12 and 60294/13

Schemes:
page 60295/8

60288-EN_Ver2.1.fm/9