A Adjustable Frequency Drive (VFD) is a type of motor controller that drives an electric engine by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to the electrical motor. Other brands for a VFD are variable speed drive, adjustable velocity drive, adjustable frequency drive, AC drive, microdrive, and inverter.
Frequency (or hertz) is directly related to the motor’s acceleration (RPMs). Put simply, the faster the frequency, the faster the RPMs move. If an application does not require a power motor to run at full velocity, the VFD can be utilized to ramp down the frequency and voltage to meet up certain requirements of the electrical motor’s load. As the application’s motor speed requirements alter, the VFD can merely arrive or down the engine speed to meet up the speed requirement.
The first stage of a Adjustable Frequency AC Drive, or VFD, may be the Converter. The converter is certainly comprised of six diodes, which act like check valves used in plumbing systems. They enable current to circulation in only one direction; the path proven by the arrow in the diode symbol. For example, whenever A-stage voltage (voltage is comparable to pressure in plumbing systems) is more positive than B or C phase voltages, after that that diode will open and invite current to movement. When B-phase becomes more positive than A-phase, then the B-phase diode will open and the A-stage diode will close. The same holds true for the 3 diodes on the harmful aspect of the bus. Thus, we obtain six current “pulses” as each diode opens and closes. This is known as a “six-pulse VFD”, which is the standard configuration for current Adjustable Frequency Drives.
Let us assume that the drive is operating upon a 480V power system. The 480V rating is usually “rms” or root-mean-squared. The peaks on a 480V program are 679V. As you can plainly see, the VFD dc bus has a dc voltage with an AC ripple. The voltage operates between approximately 580V and 680V.
We can get rid of the AC ripple on the DC bus by adding a capacitor. A capacitor functions in a similar style to a reservoir or accumulator in a plumbing system. This capacitor absorbs the ac ripple and delivers a smooth dc voltage. The AC ripple on the DC bus is typically significantly less than 3 Volts. Hence, the voltage on the DC bus turns into “approximately” 650VDC. The actual voltage will depend on the voltage level of the AC collection feeding the drive, the amount of voltage unbalance on the energy system, the motor load, the impedance of the energy program, and any reactors or harmonic filters on the drive.
The diode bridge converter that converts AC-to-DC, may also be just referred to as a converter. The converter that converts the dc back to ac is also a converter, but to distinguish it from the diode converter, it is generally known as an “inverter”. It is becoming common in the market to refer to any DC-to-AC converter as an inverter.
When we close among the top switches in the inverter, that phase of the motor is connected to the positive dc bus and the voltage on that phase becomes positive. When we close among the bottom level switches in the converter, that phase is connected to the adverse dc bus and turns into negative. Thus, we can make any stage on the motor become positive or harmful at will and can therefore generate any frequency that we want. So, we can make any phase be positive, negative, or zero.
If you have a credit card applicatoin that does not need to be operate at full rate, then you can decrease energy costs by controlling the electric motor with a adjustable frequency drive, which is among the benefits of Variable Frequency Drives. VFDs enable you to match the acceleration of the motor-driven tools to the strain requirement. There is no other method of AC electric electric motor control which allows you to Variable Speed Drive accomplish this.
By operating your motors at most efficient quickness for your application, fewer errors will occur, and thus, production levels will increase, which earns your organization higher revenues. On conveyors and belts you eliminate jerks on start-up permitting high through put.
Electric motor systems are responsible for more than 65% of the energy consumption in industry today. Optimizing motor control systems by installing or upgrading to VFDs can decrease energy usage in your facility by as much as 70%. Additionally, the utilization of VFDs improves item quality, and reduces production costs. Combining energy performance taxes incentives, and utility rebates, returns on expense for VFD installations can be as little as six months.

Your equipment can last longer and can have less downtime due to maintenance when it’s managed by VFDs ensuring optimal motor application speed. Because of the VFDs optimal control of the motor’s frequency and voltage, the VFD will offer better safety for your electric motor from issues such as electro thermal overloads, phase safety, under voltage, overvoltage, etc.. When you begin a load with a VFD you will not subject the electric motor or driven load to the “immediate shock” of across the line starting, but can begin smoothly, therefore eliminating belt, equipment and bearing wear. In addition, it is an excellent way to lessen and/or eliminate drinking water hammer since we are able to have clean acceleration and deceleration cycles.