CONVERTEAM MD2000 Modules: MD2000 54-400

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

CONVERTEAM MD2000 Series: Comprehensive Module Range and Technical Overview

The CONVERTEAM MD2000 series is a family of medium-voltage AC variable speed drives engineered for continuous-duty industrial applications in sectors where process reliability is non-negotiable. Deployed extensively in offshore oil & gas platforms, petrochemical refineries, LNG terminals, nuclear auxiliary systems, and heavy marine propulsion, the MD2000 platform occupies a critical position in global heavy industry infrastructure. Its modular power cell architecture allows scalable voltage and current ratings, making it a standard specification in EPC contracts for rotating equipment control across 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV, and 11 kV distribution systems. CONVERTEAM (subsequently acquired by GE Power Conversion) manufactured the MD2000 range primarily at its Rugby, UK facility, and the series achieved widespread adoption across North Sea installations, Middle Eastern refineries, and Asian LNG projects throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

The Evolution of MD2000 Architecture

The MD2000 platform was developed from CONVERTEAM's earlier GD2000 and MD series drive families, inheriting a cascaded H-bridge power cell topology that became the defining characteristic of the range. Early MD2000 variants (circa 1995–2000) utilized IGBT-based power cells rated at 690 V per cell, with series-stacking to achieve medium-voltage output without a step-up transformer in certain configurations. The control architecture evolved from analogue-dominant boards in early units to fully digital DSP-based control cards by the mid-2000s, enabling fieldbus integration via PROFIBUS-DP and Modbus RTU.

The 54-400 designation within the MD2000 family refers to a specific power and voltage class configuration — the "54" indicating the nominal input current rating bracket and "400" referencing the frame or power cell stack configuration for 400 V-class input stages. Compatibility between early and late MD2000 control boards is not guaranteed; firmware versions are tied to hardware revisions, and substitution of control cards across sub-series requires engineering validation. By 2015, GE Power Conversion had transitioned new project specifications toward the MV7000 platform, placing the MD2000 firmly in the mature/end-of-life phase. Long-term maintenance support is now the primary commercial use case for this series.

MD2000 Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified components and drive configurations within the CONVERTEAM MD2000 series:

MD2000 54-400: Medium-voltage AC drive, 54 A input class, 400 V frame, cascaded H-bridge topology.
MD2000 54-690: 690 V input variant of the 54 A class, for direct medium-voltage bus connection.
MD2000 72-400: Higher current class (72 A) drive unit, 400 V frame, for larger motor loads.
MD2000 72-690: 72 A class drive with 690 V input stage, offshore and marine specification.
MD2000 108-400: 108 A input rating, 400 V frame, pump and compressor drive applications.
MD2000 108-690: 108 A, 690 V variant for high-power refinery and LNG compressor trains.
MD2000 144-400: 144 A class, 400 V frame, high-power fan and blower drive configuration.
MD2000 144-690: 144 A, 690 V input, large rotating equipment in petrochemical service.
MD2000 216-400: 216 A class drive, 400 V frame, for multi-MW motor control in heavy industry.
MD2000 216-690: 216 A, 690 V, high-capacity drive for offshore platform main drives.
MD2000-CB: Control board assembly, DSP-based, governs PWM modulation and fault management.
MD2000-PSU: Internal power supply unit, provides regulated DC rails to control and gate drive circuits.
MD2000-GDB: Gate drive board, interfaces DSP control signals to IGBT power cell switching elements.
MD2000-IOB: I/O expansion board, provides analogue and digital I/O for process interface and feedback.
MD2000-COMM: Communications interface card, supports PROFIBUS-DP and Modbus RTU fieldbus protocols.
MD2000-FAN: Cooling fan assembly, forced-air cooling module for power cell thermal management.
MD2000-CELL: Individual H-bridge power cell module, IGBT-based, field-replaceable unit within the cell stack.
MD2000-FUSE: Power cell protection fuse assembly, rated for medium-voltage DC bus protection.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete MD2000 Parts

The MD2000 series entered end-of-active-production status following GE Power Conversion's platform consolidation. OEM spare parts availability from GE is now limited to existing warehouse stock, with no commitment to ongoing manufacturing of legacy MD2000 components. DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of MD2000 spare parts sourced through authorized surplus channels, decommissioned asset recovery, and direct OEM overstock acquisition.

For operators running MD2000 drives in long-term service contracts — particularly in offshore, nuclear auxiliary, and refinery applications where drive replacement requires full engineering re-approval — DriveKNMS provides lifecycle extension support including: verified used and refurbished power cell modules, control board exchange programs with functional test certification, gate drive board replacements with cross-reference validation, and emergency dispatch for critical process shutdowns. All obsolete MD2000 components are catalogued by part number, hardware revision, and firmware compatibility to prevent mismatched substitution.

Quality Control for the MD2000 Range

The MD2000's cascaded H-bridge architecture presents specific test challenges due to the interdependency of power cells, gate drive boards, and the central DSP control card. DriveKNMS applies a structured test protocol for all MD2000 components prior to dispatch:

Power cell modules undergo individual IGBT switching tests at rated gate voltage, insulation resistance measurement at 1000 V DC, and thermal cycling verification. Control boards are tested under live firmware with simulated encoder and analogue feedback inputs to confirm closed-loop response. Gate drive boards are validated for propagation delay consistency across all six switching channels. Communications cards are tested for PROFIBUS-DP node address response and Modbus register read/write integrity. Complete drive assemblies, where available, are tested on a dedicated medium-voltage test bench with resistive load banks to confirm output waveform quality and harmonic distortion within specification.