Electric Motors And The Use Of AC Drives
They're everywhere! From the playroom to the garage, what can be found in nearly every room of the house? Electric motors. They have become so commonplace that they go mostly unnoticed, but they power everything from small toys to large household appliances. Take a look around the room you're in now. Is there an overhead fan? If so, a motor is being used to power it. If you happen to be in the kitchen, you are literally surrounded by motors, as they can be found in everything from an electric can opener to the stove fan. In fact, there are three motors in the refrigerator alone.
With all these motors constantly in use, imagine the vast amount of energy that is being used, and how much of that energy is potentially wasted by motors whose speeds are higher than what is required to power the object in question. Electric motors, unlike a gas engine, will always use all of the amperage that is available whether it is needed or not. How can we control the speed of an electric motor and conserve energy? That's where AC Drives come into play.
An AC Drive, or variable frequency drive, is placed between the electrical supply and the motor. The AC Drive changes the AC power to DC power through the use of a rectifier. The DC power is then fed into capacitors which smooth the electrical wave, and finally an inverter changes the DC power back to AC power that goes to the motor. This process allows the frequency or voltage to be regulated rather than running at a fixed constant speed. There are many benefits associated with the ability to control motor speed, in addition to the conservation of energy as discussed above. An AC Drive reduces the number of starts and stops and means less wear and tear on a motor's compressor, which in the long run results in higher longevity of the motor. This can reduce costs by eliminating the need for maintenance and the eventual replacement of the motor as well as reducing the number of scraps in our landfills. Additionally an AC Drive can even reduce the noise level of a motor.
Despite all of the great benefits that AC Drives provide, there are a few downfalls. They can be complicated to install and unfortunately they also degrade power quality because they produce a simulated waveform rather than a perfect sine wave.
For more information, visit websites like HITACHIACDRIVE.COM.
