An indirect approach for evaluating the availability of adjustable speed drive systems applied to large power plant motors

Concerns may exist about the availability of adjustable speed drive (ASD) systems applied to large fixed speed motors at power plants. AEP has very limited experience with ASDs. Different data sources, including AEP fixed speed motor failure statistics, AEP's survey on utility experience with ASDs, NERC data, and manufacturers' data were used. This paper demonstrates that all estimates result in consistently high levels of availability for ASDs. >