Motors and Drives
Micro drives – drives that can make a big difference
Compact drives improve everyday life by reducing noise, saving energy, and are easy to use. Jussi Rantanen reports.
M
icro drives allow the user to vary the speed of an electric motor depending on the demand. Being able to vary the speed and torque of an electric motor means there is less wear and tear, extending lifetime, energy
savings and more efficiency. Because micro drives are small, you can find them in most
smaller appliances where there is a motor. Good examples are washing machines, whirlpool baths and treadmills. Micro drives improve daily life by reducing noise and providing a smooth end user experience. Instead of a motor running at full speed, the drive allows
the user to slow down or speed up the motor according to the demand. Being able to vary the speed and torque of an electric motor means there is less wear and tear on the motor and the driven machine. Here’s an overview of what different types of ABB micro
drives have to offer. You can find ABB micro drive ACS55 in a wide variety of
simple machines - in domestic and commercial environments. Their compact size makes them ideal for new installations
or where speed regulation is required. These drives are simple, quiet and easy installation is made possible by intuitive interface and more advanced programming from the configuration tool (DriveConfig tool) for PCs. Some examples of use are:
● Automatic gates - provides the smooth and precise opening of automatic gates, minimising maintenance costs.
● Treadmills - regulates the speed of the motor operating the conveyer belt with the precise torque and belt speed ranges required. This allows gentler acceleration and deceleration, less noise and low EMC emissions.
● Whirlpool baths - keeps the water jets of a whirlpool bath pumping as required with quiet operation enabled by using high commuting frequency.
● Washing machines - the drive controls the speed of the washing drum, enabling energy savings with lower speeds and higher centrifuge speed as with traditional motor. All while reducing noise.
● Solar tracking systems - regulates the electric motors that enable solar panels to track the sunlight. The broad temperature range reaching up to 55°C means it can be used in environments with variable room temperature. The DriveConfig kit provides a quick, safe way to set up various drives for hundreds and even thousands of solar tracking systems.
Easy to use
The ABB micro drive ACS150 is easy to operate and is usually incorporated into a wide variety of machines such as mixers, conveyors or pumps.
● Mixing applications - the drive enables a high start-up torque that is most useful when beginning mixing. The quiet operating mode adjusts commuting frequency of the drive that reduces the audible noise. The configuration tool (FlashDrop tool) is a quick and safe way to set up several drives for identical mixing applications.
● Heat pumps - the drive enables users to regulate cooling according to their needs.
● Conveyor belts - the drive allows a soft start-up and stop of the conveyor belt, reducing maintenance costs and wear and tear on the motor.
Pump and fan optimised drive Fig. 1. ABB micro drives. 48
www.engineerlive.com
The ABB general purpose drive ACS310 is aimed for variable torque applications, such as pumps and fans. The specific features of drive pumps and fans save on operating costs, increase energy efficiency and reduce CO2
emissions. These
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60