BS EN 61800-3:2004+A1:2012

This part of IEC 61800 specifies electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements for power drive systems (PDSs). A PDS is defined in 3.1. These are adjustable speed a.c. or d.c. motor drives. Requirements are stated for PDSs with converter input and/or output voltages (line-toline voltage), up to 35 kV a.c. r.m.s.

PDSs covered by this standard are those installed in residential, commercial and industrial locations with the exception of traction applications, and electric vehicles. PDSs may be connected to either industrial or public power distribution networks. Industrial networks are supplied by a dedicated distribution transformer, which is usually adjacent to or inside the industrial location, and supplies only industrial customers. Industrial networks can also be supplied by their own electric generating equipment. On the other hand, PDSs can be directly connected to low-voltage public mains networks which also supply domestic premises, and in which the neutral is generally earthed (grounded).

The scope of this part of IEC 61800, related to EMC, includes a broad range of PDSs from a few hundred watts to hundreds of megawatts. PDSs are often included in a larger system. The system aspect is not covered by this standard but guidance is provided in the informative annexes.

The requirements have been selected so as to ensure EMC for PDSs at residential, commercial and industrial locations. The requirements cannot, however, cover extreme cases which may occur with an extremely low probability. Changes in the EMC behaviour of a PDS, as a result of fault conditions, are not taken into account.

The object of this standard is to define the limits and test methods for a PDS according to its intended use. This standard includes immunity requirements and requirements for electromagnetic emissions.

NOTE 1 Emission can cause interference in other electronic equipment (for example radio receivers, measuring and computing devices). Immunity is required to protect the equipment from continuous and transient conducted and radiated disturbances including electrostatic discharges. The emission and immunity requirements are balanced against each other and against the actual environment of the PDS.

This standard defines the minimum EMC requirements for a PDS.

Immunity requirements are given according to the environment classification. Low-frequency emission requirements are given according to the nature of the supply network. Highfrequency emission requirements are given according to four categories of intended use, which cover both environment and bringing into operation.

As a product standard, this standard may be used for the assessment of PDS. It may also be used for the assessment of CDM or BDM (see 3.1), which can be marketed separately.

This standard contains:

• conformity assessment requirements for products to be placed on the market;

• recommended engineering practice (see 6.5) for cases where high frequency emissions cannot be measured before the equipment is placed on the market (such PDSs are defined in 3.2.6 as category C4).

NOTE 2 The first edition of IEC 61800-3 identified that the intended use could require engineering for putting into service. This was done by the “restricted distribution mode”. Equipment that used to be covered by the “restricted distribution mode” is covered in the second edition by categories C2 and C4 (see 3.2).

This standard is intended as a complete EMC product standard for the EMC conformity assessment of products of categories C1, C2 and C3, when placing them on the market (see definitions 3.2.3 to 3.2.5).

Radio frequency emission of equipment of category C4 is only assessed when it is installed in its intended location. It is therefore treated as a fixed installation, for which this standard gives rules of engineering practice in 6.5 and annex E, although it gives no defined emission limits (except in case of complaint).

This standard does not specify any safety requirements for the equipment such as protection against electric shocks, insulation co-ordination and related dielectric tests, unsafe operation, or unsafe consequences of a failure. It also does not cover safety and functional safety implications of electromagnetic phenomena.

In special cases, when highly susceptible apparatus is being used in proximity, additional mitigation measures may have to be employed to reduce the electromagnetic emission further below the specified levels or additional countermeasures may have to be employed to increase the immunity of the highly susceptible apparatus.

As an EMC product standard for PDSs, this standard takes precedence over all aspects of the generic standards and no additional EMC tests are required or necessary. If a PDS is included as part of equipment covered by a separate EMC product standard, the EMC standard of the complete equipment applies.