M2L Series High-End Medium Voltage Drives
2.3 - 7.2kV up to 12,000HP
Full-Size Drive Performance, Small Footprint Design
Our M2L Medium Voltage Variable Frequency Drive family provides the utmost in performance, reliability, serviceability and safety. The M2L Series is designed for versatility, with numerous installation configurations available to suit environmental conditions, providing significant cost savings and reduced total cost of ownership.
Benshaw M2L Medium Voltage Variable Frequency Drives feature a unique, patented topology, with independent transformer, rectifier and inverter sections, allowing Benshaw to offer flexible packaging options to accommodate a wide range of project-specific requirements and limitations.
Benshaw’s modular, power-cell-based M2L inverters use the most reliable components available … such as low voltage IGBTs and dry-type film capacitors … and they are equipped with the latest in safety features, including a fast and reliable arc flash detection system. This topology, along with the M2L’s advanced remote monitoring system, helps minimize down-time and simplify integration with other drive system components.
Flux braking enhancing deceleration performance in V/F mode
- Installation Flexibility
- Performance
- Reliability
- Serviceability
- Safety
Flexibility of installation
Flexible packaging to accommodate project-specific requirements and limitations
Independant transformer, rectifier and inverter sections
Industry-Leading performance
Significant savings on initial investment, operating costs and maintenance costs of air-conditioning systems can be realized by moving the majority of heat load outdoors.
| Equipment Configurations | Power Loss (kW) | Heat Load (BTU/hr) |
| Full Drive System in e-house | 115 | 394,000 |
| Transformer located outside | 35 | 119,000 |
| Transformer and Rectifier outside | 25 | 85,000 |
Enhanced reliability and efficiency
The M2L’s architecture differs radically from other multi-level systems in the market today. The drive consists of three independent components:
- Multi-pulse phase-shifting transformer
- Modular, power-cell-based multi-level inverter
- Multi-pulse diode-based rectifier
This design makes a common bank of capacitors for energy storage and filtering unnecessary, eliminating the need for multiple rectifier-capacitor combinations in individual inverter power modules. DC power is fed to the M2L inverter from a standard transformer — which can be located remotely from the inverter — via bridge rectifiers. Power is provided to the DC link as a whole via the DC voltage terminals, not individually fed to each module. Link energy storage is distributed among identical power modules that comprise the M2L inverter rather than relying on capacitors for energy storage. This arrangement greatly reduces arc flash potential and substantially improves reliability. Utilizing a standard transformer and rectifier minimizes the component count as well as the number of cable connections required.
| Benshaw | Other Solutions on the Market |
| Standard multi-pulse isolation transformer Limited number of secondary cables |
Complex integrated multi-winding transformer Numerous secondary cables |
| Standard multi-pulse rectifier Lower component count |
Complex power cell integrated rectifiers Unnecessarily high component count |
| Distributed DC link energy storage Low energy density |
Concentrated energy storage High energy density |
| Film capacitors Proven reliable |
Electrolytic capacitors Proven unreliable |
| Modular power cell based inverter Isolated faults |
Non-modular integrated inverter Cascading failures |
| Reliable LV (1700V) IGBTs Typical failure in time rate of 100* |
Less reliable HV (6500V) IGBTs |
* Failure in time (FIT) rate of a device is the number of failures that can be expected in one billion device-hours of operation.
Simplified serviceability
Simple and fast maintenance is ensured through front access only design and advanced diagnostic tools such as Benshaw Connect. Benshaw Connect provides intuitive, user-friendly access to operational and conditional data, trends and event logs as well as control and motor parameters. This system enables end users to rely on Benshaw’s expertise and receive immediate support during unexpected situations.
| Feature | Benefit |
| Front access only | No rear access required |
| Modular power cell based inverter | Faults isolated to a power cell |
| Rack-out power cells | Easy and fast power cell replacement |
| Film capacitors | No capacitor reforming required |
| Modular fan cage design | Easy and fast fan replacement |
| Built-in self test (BIST) | Safe and fast system checks |
| 24/7/365 service and support | Ease of mind |
Dependable safety
Your workforce, application and equipment are all protected through a safe design that features a reduced arc flash footprint and unique and standard arc flash detection system. Remote HMI allows personnel to operate the drive while away from medium voltage.
- Inherently lower arc flash footprint
- Greatly reduced fault currents
- Distributed energy storage and isolated faults
- Arc flash detection in power cells
