FEATURE DRIVES, CONTROLS & MOTORS DRIVES: A
developing technology O
ver the last 20 years, drive technology has changed
dramatically. Not only have new approaches to control transformed machine operation, but comprehensive functionality means even the humblest drive can help increase machine availability and plant floor efficiency. And yet, while integration has come
a long way, we are still asking many of the same questions and facing the same risks. Twenty years ago, key considerations related to making safe network choices, and we wondered if there would ever be an integration utopia where one network came to dominate. Today, we are still asking: If I choose
network A, will I still be able to use product B? How many vendors support it? Will it still be here in another two decades time? Which choice is the fastest? Which offers the widest range of supported products? What are the risks of obsolescence or lack of product support? Is a chosen network as well supported in one geographic region as another? Is network A as open as network B? All of the popular automation networks address today’s automation and integration requirements – EtherCAT, ProfiNet, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet Powerlink, etc. In fact these address a need for a proven network technology supported by lots of different products. It means that users can focus less on the risk of
obsolescence and more on the true issues of integration: how that network will facilitate improved machine performance, how it will simplify design, programming, commissioning and operation, how it will simplify integration with the broader automation platform, how it will boost operational reliability, and how it will enable the full information capabilities of the drive to be realised to maximise machine availability and overall plant efficiency. As an example, Omron has standardised on EtherCAT. It provides the backbone of connectivity from the PLC to I/O, robots, vision systems, HMIs, safety and drives. Standardising on a single network simplifies the integration of a host of different products, but also opens up the potential to design, develop, program, set up and commission complete machines from a single unified environment. This is at the heart of Omron’s Sysmac platform.
Drive technology has changed greatly over the last two decades to become a key enabler of improved system reliability and availability, and a vital component in the push towards ever higher OEE scores. Omron explains
DRIVE INTELLIGENCE So how does this advance the integration debate? It is crucial because the speed, reliability and suitability of the network for these control applications all impact not just on how easy it is to integrate drives into the machine and the automation platform, but also on how much more those drives can offer over and above turning the motor. Today, the modern drive is a much
Omron has standardised on EtherCAT. It provides the backbone of connectivity from the PLC to I/O, robots, vision systems, HMIs, safety and drives
PANCAKE MOTORS MEET FUEL CELL CAR DEMANDS
A key feature of the Rasa hydrogen fuel cell car developed by Riversimple is its four in-wheel electric motors which directly drive the vehicle’s wheels. Developed by Printed Motor Works, the thin yet powerful pancake motors had to meet a number requirements, including the need to include an integral mount for the brake disc while maintaining the motor’s external rotor design, which is necessary to produce the high torque required. Further constraints were the use of conventional, externally mounted disc callipers, a low target weight and the need for the whole package to fit within a 15” wheel rim. The XR32-11 in-wheel motors allow the Rasa to use regenerative braking, recapturing over 50% of the kinetic energy, and using a bank of supercapacitors in the front of the car to store the electrical power generated. This is then fed back to the motors to supply most of the power for acceleration, helping to give the two seater pre-production car a range of 300 miles. Of additional benefit, the brushless DC motors help to keep the weight of the vehicle down as each is capable of producing a peak torque of 160Nm while weighing only 17kg. This power is made possible by positioning the motor’s permanent magnets on an
externally running rotor, so that torque is delivered on the outermost section of the motor. In addition, torque density is maximised by a high degree of slot fill by winding each of the stator teeth individually before assembly. Riversimple is planning to produce 20 Rasa’s for a 12 month public trial later this year,
followed by full production shortly after. Printed Motor Works
www.printedmotorworks.com
more intelligent part of the machine or process and it can deliver real benefits for boosting machine performance and availability. A key feature, however, is the information it generates: from life monitoring data of its own internal components, to diagnostics data that can reveal developing problems elsewhere in the machine. The ability of the network to handle all of this data in real time is key to machine availability and to continuous improvement. Take, for example, the monitoring of current to the motor. A gradual increase in required current would be indicative of developing problems within the mechanical power train, perhaps with the motor bearings, gearbox or couplings. The drive can make this data available over the network, enabling preventative maintenance to be taken before a critical failure, or enabling any required component replacements to be undertaken during the next scheduled maintenance period. Such information can also be used for trend analysis. ‘Blending’ is also having an impact
on drives integration, with modern drives now incorporating even quite sophisticated PLC technology. This has been a key enabler for drives-based automation and for decentralisation, allowing islands of modular automation to be quickly and easily implemented. Again, though, network choice is a key consideration, because even in a decentralised system there is a wealth of information that needs to be aggregated and analysed within a central controller. Another area of benefit is where the
drive itself can provide a lot of the safety functionality to protect both the operator and the machine itself.
Omron Electronics
https://omron.co.uk
30 JUNE 2016 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
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 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
