FEATURE DRIVES, CONTROLS & MOTORS
Examining the benefits of energy efficient drive technology
With energy efficiency a key
consideration when specifying drive technology, the Movigear system
from SEW Eurodrive is being selected more and more frequently. There are, however, many other significant benefits provided by the technology, as Brian Jones, SEW Eurodrive’s electronics manager, explains
G
enerally speaking, the initial purchase cost of a drive accounts
for only about 20% of its overall costs. A massive 80% associated with the ownership and operation of the drive are hidden or follow-on costs, including things like installation, commissioning, maintenance and energy use. And, of these, energy consumption accounts for a staggering 90% of the total. It’s not surprising then that energy
With Movigear, power supply and communications are handled using Single Line Network Installation technology (SNI)
efficiency is a key consideration when specifying drive technology for a new system or when replacing old motors as part of a maintenance regime. This is why more and more systems operators are choosing SEW Eurodrive’s Movigear highly energy efficient, decentralised, mechatronic drive system, for a wide
range of materials handling applications in the automotive, food and drinks industries, and airport logistics.
EFFICIENCY Compared to standard drive products, Movigear is typically able to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% or more. It is designed with high-efficiency individual components and combines the gearing, motor and drive electronics in a single unit. This makes it possible to do away with control cabinets, saving space and reducing costs and the time-consuming wiring of motors, sensors and actuators, not to mention the elimination of much of the costly cabling. Not only does this cut installation time and significantly reduce the number of drive components, it also reduces the initial planning and design. There are, however, many other
significant benefits in addition to energy savings. For instance, with Movigear, power supply and communications are handled using Single Line Network Installation technology (SNI). This allows energy and communication transfer in a single four-core cable, which decreases the number of components required, significantly reduces installation costs and provides a clear overview of the various lines, as each unit is simply daisy-chained to the next. With SNI
technology, the 415V power line is also used to transfer communication signals. A four-core
cable (3x phase, 1x PE), between the drives is
sufficient; there is no need for separate cables for
34 DEC/JAN 2016 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Movigear is typically able to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% or more
bus communication and 24V supply. This uses significantly less cabling than a traditional centralised installation and typically reduces the cabling workload by around 60%. For example, components on a conveyor system, such as sensors, can be plugged into the I/O on the nearest motor, which is a simple job. With a centralised system a cable would have to be run from the sensor all the way round the factory to a PLC in one of the control cabinets, which would take more time and more cabling, depending on the size of the system and the distance from the sensor to the PLC.
ONGOING BENEFITS Once installed, the ongoing benefits of Movigear are not only its energy saving capabilities but also its modularity and the flexibility this provides for operational requirements. With SEW’s decentralised drive technology, plant design is so flexible that it can be changed over in next to no time as manufacturing requirements change. A good example of this is in any sector
where production is affected by seasonal demand – such as the drinks industry
> 36 / DESIGNSOLUTIONS
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