The saying goes that time is money, but energy is money too. When it comes to lowering production costs and making the most of your equipment by streamlining your operations, the variable frequency drive, or VFD, is a great place to start.
The variable frequency drive can cut energy costs by simply reducing consumption when you don’t need all of the power at your disposal. You can utilize a variable energy drive with any application that doesn’t require running your equipment at full speed.
They enable the user to match the speed of equipment to the application’s load requirement, thereby conserving energy that doesn’t have to be expended.
The variable frequency drive is indeed a unique component, as there exists no other means of AC electric motor control that enables the user to conserve energy in this manner. Alternative monikers for the popular variable frequency drive include “variable speed drive,” “adjustable frequency drive,” “AC drive,” ”Microdrive,” and “adjustable speed drive.”
Potential for Significant Energy Conservation
As electric motors account for over 65 percent of industrial energy use, the optimization of motor controls via the variable frequency drive can result in an up to 70 percent reduction in energy use in virtually any industrial facility. If you do the math, it’s easy to see that this could potentially account for tens of thousands of dollars in annual savings.
Moreover, the implementation of variable frequency drives can significantly improve part quality and cut the costs of production. Factoring in tax initiatives for energy-conservation measures, as well as potential utility rebates, the installation of a VFD system could pay for itself in fewer than six months.
Operating the Variable Frequency Drive
The variable frequency drive is equipped with a set of operator control functions accessible via a fairly user-friendly operator interface.
From this interface, the user is able to power up and stop the motor, as well as set operating speed. While control functions vary from product to product, some operating interfaces may also allow the user to reverse, as well as opt and even switch between manual speed adjustment and automatic control.
While there is variation between options and control panel-displays, many offer alphanumeric readings, in addition to or in lieu of various indication lights and gauges that present vital information. Often also an element of the operator interface is a user keypad, which can frequently be connected to the drive via cable and displayed a few feet from the controller.
The vast majority of variable frequency drives are outfitted with terminals, both input and output, for the connection of switches, buttons, and additional controls for the user interface. To even further facilitate ease of use, a communications port is also a common option, as it enables the drive to be adjusted and controlled with a computer.
