The Impact of Large Grid Frequency Deviations on the Performance of Traditional Machine Tools

Frequency control in European synchronous areas is becoming a greater challenge with decreasing levels of rotational inertia. One potential approach to deal with this problem is changing frequency standards. This contribution seeks to examine the impact of unusually large grid frequency deviations of up to ±10 Hz on industrial customers through a power hardware-in-the-loop study conducted in a real mechanical workshop. For the three drilling machines and two lathes under test, the experiments suggest that machining quality is not affected by these large frequency deviations. Nonetheless, critical motor states may occur depending on the drive type. In addition, the results show a considerable impact on active power consumption.