Effective rectifier maintenance relies on good heat management. Understanding how to prevent excessive heat is crucial to keeping the rectifier operational.
Every electronic product failure can be attributed to the primal force of electricity, leading to mechanisms preventing its melting and releasing it into the wild. If we can find a way to manage heating, we won’t encounter situations where electricity can’t fulfill its design purpose. If we can keep the conductor cool, it won’t melt and can work indefinitely. Of course, this is oversimplified and may even be a clumsy metaphor for true electrical science, but this simple thought experiment sparked a revelation in the room and enhanced the effectiveness of maintenance strategies for technicians.
The most advanced power supplies will consist of three main parts: control mechanisms, power components, and semiconductors. Each is affected by heat in different ways and may contribute to heat generation. Understanding how to prevent unnecessary heat is crucial to maintaining the rectifier’s operation.
Semiconductors
In the semiconductor game, none is perfect. I mean electrically perfect. When devices manipulate electricity for your purposes, there will always be some form of loss. That’s where cooling is needed. The smallest devices in these setups can be cooled by surrounding air without much concern. The largest devices require water cooling on both sides and lower ambient air temperatures to operate at full load. Since semiconductors do most of the work in the rectifier, they do require specialized maintenance. Let them fire up when they should and shut them down at other times. Ensure they receive adequate cooling and are installed with even pressure. Lastly, and most importantly, ensure clamping pressure is completely correct. Each SCR has specifically designed clamping force and size to operate normally. Old fixtures, especially those exposed to metalworking environments for too long, can lose tolerances and calibration. Replace fixtures when they are filled with chemicals and corroded.
When considering long-term maintenance of critical DC power supply equipment, heat management is the primary root cause of failures. The higher the current intensity provided, the more critical heat management becomes for your process. In addition to keeping cooling channels clear and ensuring the use of the correct temperature cooling water/air on the rectifier’s cooling surface, details such as component installation or fastening methods can also have a significant impact on your product’s success. Understanding warning signs around the machine and preventing catastrophic heat generation can save you thousands of dollars over the equipment’s lifecycle. Familiarity with warning signs can improve performance and prevent you from ultimately damaging the equipment.
Post time: Nov-20-2023
