This International Standard applies to the combinations of motor(s), inverter and their control, and its object is to specify:
- the performance characteristics of electric drives consisting of an inverter, alternating current motors, and the related control system;
- methods of verifying these performance characteristics by tests. Two categories of combined systems can be considered:
1) Motors fed from an inverter without any control between the mechanical output (torque, speed) and the inverter (mostly auxiliary motors, for example cooling fan motors). The motor works exactly as if it were fed from a busbar (at variable frequency and voltage or not).
2) Motor(s) (paralleled or not) with a control between the mechanical output and the inverter.
The first category of systems is tested according to IEC 349-2 and IEC 1287-1. This standard applies to the second category, mainly traction drives.
IEC 349-2 applies to convertor-fed alternating current motors, IEC 1287-1 to power electronic convenors; parts 1, 2 and 3 of IEC 571 apply to electronic equipments, this standard applies to the combination of motor(s), inverter, and their control. As a consequence, IEC 349-2 describes the tests to demonstrate the compliance of the motor to its specification, IEC 1287-1 does the same for the inverter. It is self-evident that some of the tests mentioned in this standard generally may replace the corresponding ones described in the above mentioned standards. An agreement should be reached between the parties to avoid the duplication of tests.
At the time of drafting this standard, only the following combinations of motors and inverters have been used for traction applications, but it may also apply to other combinations which may be used in the future:
- asynchronous motors fed by voltage source inverter;
- asynchronous motors fed by current source inverter;
- synchronous motors fed by current source inverter.
The d.c. source can be a supply line, a rectifier, a chopper, an input convenor, a diesel generator with integrated rectifiers, etc.
BS EN 61377:1997 history
2016BS EN 61377:2016 Railway applications. Rolling stock. Combined test method for traction systems
2006BS EN 61377-1:2006 Railway applications - Rolling stock - Combined testing of inverter-fed alternating current motors and their control system
1997BS EN 61377:1997 Electric traction - Rolling stock - Combined testing of inverter-fed alternating current motors and their control