Operation & Maintenance of Power Plants
Variable speed drives reduce maintenance and boost efficiency
Variable speed drives (VSDs) have dramatic impacts on plant maintenance – and on plant efficiencies. Sean Ottewell reports.
Las unidades de velocidad variable (VSD) suponen un cambio drástico en el mantenimiento de las plantas, pero también en su eficiencia. Informa Sean Ottewell.
Regelantriebe (auch VSDs genannt) haben einen tiefgreifenden Einfluss auf die Wartungsarbeiten und die Leistung einer Anlage. Sean Ottewell hat dazu einen Bericht.
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Fig. 1. The A1000 has a calculated design life that is twice as long as previous generations.
n the first of several planned extensions, Rockwell Automation has expanded the power range of its Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 755 AC drives to 450 kW/700 hp, providing users with increased application
flexibility. Featuring advanced diagnostics and a convenient roll-out design, the PowerFlex 755 AC drive is well-suited for motor control applications in a variety of heavy industries, including oil and gas, tyre and rubber, refining, material handling, metals and mining. A key feature of the PowerFlex 755 extended
power range drive is its roll-out capability, which allows easy access to the drive for fast installation and maintenance. Te drive’s modular design helps simplify replacement of drive components, such as cooling fans, circuit boards and major subassemblies. Tis modularity also allows the drive’s converter and control pod to remain in the unit while the inverter is rolled out, so control wiring can remain connected. An additional advantage is the ability for the control pod in this drive to be mounted remotely for hassle- free access to low voltage
control and diagnostics. Advanced diagnostic
capabilities include indication of blown fuses and blown surge protectors. Not only are these alarms reported to the main control to help ease troubleshooting, but they also provide essential protection inside the drive, helping to protect the customer’s investment. Monitoring and tracking of operating data on cooling fans, I/O relay cycles and motor run times also provide valuable data for preventative maintenance, helping to reduce unplanned downtime. Te PowerFlex 755 drive comes
equipped with an embedded Ethernet
port and five option slots that allow users to tailor the drive to best suit their application.
Options include I/O, feedback, safety, additional communications, and auxiliary control power input.
Te PowerFlex 755 now supports Rockwell
Automation Integrated Motion, allowing it to be configured and controlled using motion profiles and instruction sets in an Allen- Bradley ControlLogix controller with Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 software. Te ability to support variable frequency drives, motion drives, I/O, smart actuators and other EtherNet/ IP-connected devices on a common network helps increase design flexibility, improve system performance and reduce engineering costs, says the company. Te Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America, has released the A1000 VSD. A full featured drive, the company says that it provides outstanding quality, performance, flexibility, and environmental friendliness through 1000 hp. For new installations or retrofits, the A1000 provides a single robust solution, regardless of a user’s application. Yaskawa says that its focus on developing
quality products is well demonstrated in the A1000, having a calculated design life that is twice as long as previous generations (Fig. 1). Compatibility with interior and surface permanent magnet motors provides highly efficient, precision control with incredible performance, producing up to 200 per cent torque with or without feedback. User-friendly configuration tools, including a multi-language LCD display, parameter storage, application presets, and a portable USB copy unit make programming and configuration simple. DriveWizard computer software delivers configuration, monitoring, and trending functions enhanced by direct connectivity through the A1000’s standard USB port. A significant quantity of control points are included as standard. For applications requiring more functionality, the A1000 offers three expansion ports for additional I/O, feedback, and network communications, including DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/IP, Profibus-DP, PROFINET, and MECHATROLINK-
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