AC load banks

Avtron AC single- and three-phase load banks with dissipation capacities to 6 MW are now available. The banks, in addition to resistive loads, are also available as lagging reactive loads to 1575 kVAr. In addition, the combined resistive-reactive loads and resistive loads can be paralleled with reactive loads.

The loads are useful for a variety of load tests including turbines and diesel engines, UPSs and batteries, as well as for field use in periodic testing of stand-by engine generator sets and reducing under-loading diesel engines.

The resistive load banks use chromium alloy, corrosion-resistant (Helidyne) elements that are supported along their length by stainless steel posts with segmented ceramic insulators. Elements operate at low temperature due to careful design and effective fan-forced cooling (some models are available for radiator or duct mounting on diesel engines).

The banks use enclosures constructed from aluminised steel and as such provide good heat protection and corrosion resistance, particularly when compared with commonly used galvanised steel. The elements are mounted in enclosures with screened, louvred air intakes and exhausts.

A digital monitoring system is available providing operating parameters including voltage, current, frequency and power.

In addition to permanently installed load banks, the company also supplies portable devices, including hand-carried load banks. They can be remotely or locally controlled in step-wise fashion and in increments depending on the size of bank selected.

Also available are DC versions such as the K571, designed for indoor operation and suitable for testing DC generating systems, converters, transformer-rectifier units, battery systems and controls.

The unit is equipped with two fixed and two lockable swivel casters which allow it to be moved easily from one test site to another.