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How to Select a Variable Speed Drive

Variable Speed Drive (VSD), also called frequency converter, adjustable speed drive (ASD). This article is about the basic guide of how to select a variable speed drive.

The correct selection of the variable frequency drive (variable speed drive) is critical for the normal operation of the mechanical equipment electrical control system. To choose the best suitable variable speed drive, we need to know the specified machinery type, the load torque characteristics, speed adjusting range, static speed accuracy, the starting torque and the environment, then determine the control pattern and protective structures of the variable speed drive.

There are three mechanical torque load types: constant torque load, constant power load and fluid load.

Constant torque load
In such loads, the load torque TL is unrelated with speed n, TL is always keep constant or approx constant at any speed, the load power is linear increased along with the load's speed increased. Conveyor, agitator, extruder and mechanical equipment etc. friction loads, and crane, hoist, elevator etc. gravity loads, are all constant torque loads.
Variable speed drive for conveyor
When the variable speed drive drags constant torque loads, the output torque should be large enough at low speeds and has strong overload capabilities. If the AC motor needs operation at low speed steady in a long time, we should consider the cooling capacity of the standard cage asynchronous motor to avoid the motor temperature goes too high.

Constant power load
The feature of the constant power load is the torque TL is roughly inverse proportional to the rotational speed n, but the power remains constant approximately. The spindle of metal cutting machine tool spindle, mill, paper machine, film production line coiler, uncoiler, etc., all are the constant power loads.
Variable speed drive for paper machine
The nature of constant power of the load is in a certain speed range terms. When the speed is very low, TL can not increase indefinitely due to the limitation of the mechanical strength, then convert to constant torque nature at low speed. Constant power area and constant torque area has big influence on the selection of transmission scheme. When the motor at constant flux speed adjusting, the maximum allowable output torque constant, is constant torque speed control; While in weak magnetic speed adjusting, the maximum allowable output torque and speed is inversely proportional, is constant power speed control. If the motor's constant torque and constant power speed range is consistent with the load's constant torque and constant power speed range, that so-called "matching", the size of the variable speed drive and motor are minimal.

Fluid Load
This type of load's torque is proportional to the square of the speed, power is proportional to cube of the speed. All kinds of fans, pumps and oil pumps are typical of fluid loads.
Variable speed drive for water pump
Fluid loads are controlled by variable speed drive to regulate air flow, water flow, which can save energy significantly. Due to the fluid load demand in high speed increases too fast, is proportional to the cube of load's speed, so we should not make this kind of loads in over frequency operation.

About universal variable speed drive selection, it is a topic concerned by lots of people, here we share some basic guidelines about how to specify a variable speed drive.

The most critical selection factor: working current. Actually, choose the VSD according to the working current is the final step in the entire selection process. Here is to emphasize. Sizing the variable speed drive according to the motor actual operating current (not the nameplate current) rather than the nameplate power.
Basic principle, while working in a long time: variable speed drive output current > Motor current
Variable speed drive
In an application, the first step is selecting the motor, then the variable speed drive, means the variable speed drive is selected based on existed motor. The operating current of the ac motor is related with the actual working conditions. Estimate the motor operating current changeable relationship under certain working condition, in order to determine the appropriate variable speed drive models.
  • Generally, for driving constant torque motor, selecting the variable speed drive based on the rated current. For example a 10 hp motor, 15A rated current, can choose a 10 hp variable speed drive, 17A output current.
  • In general, driving the loads like fans and pumps, also can select the variable speed drive based on the rated current.
  • For frequent short-time overload running motors, it is necessary to calculate the overload cycle, it requires the variable speed drive maximum output current Imax is bigger than the peak current of the motor, and the variable speed drive's I2t is within its allowable range. It may select a higher level variable speed drive. For example 10hp motor, 15A rated current. Intermittent duty, one second overload two times (ie current is 30A), then stop running 29 seconds. In this case, specifying the variable speed drive according to its overload curves. In this aspect, Gozuk variable speed drive is doing well, generally 2 times short-time overload capacity.
  • For large motor large, if the work load is light, we can select a smaller variable speed drive according to the actual situation.
Other factors for selecting variable speed drive
  • Altitude.
  • Ambient temperature, transport and storage temperature, enclosure.
  • Input line voltage level, frequency, variable speed drive output frequency range.
  • The variable speed drive efficiency, overload capacity, cooling methods.
  • Size, structure, installation way.
  • etc...
The most important is specifying the variable speed drive according to practical application, not just the guide on paper.

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