Chapter 28

Variable-speed motor controls

An alternative to control valves for adjusting fluid flow is to regulate the speed of the machine(s)
motivating fluid to flow. In the case of liquid flow control, this would take the form of variable-speed
pumps. In the case of gas flow control, it would mean varying the rotational speed of compressors
or blowers.
Flow control by machine speed control makes a lot of sense for some process applications. It is
certainly more energy-efficient1 to vary the speed of the machine pushing fluid to control flow, as
opposed to letting the machine run at full speed all the time and adjusting flow rate by throttling
the machines discharge (outlet) or recycling fluid back to the machines suction (inlet). The fact
that the system has one less component in it (no control valve) also reduces capital investment and
potentially increases system reliability:

Recycle valve
Throttling valve

Motor

Motor

Motor

(Variable speed)

(Constant speed)

(Constant speed)

Modern power electronics provide the means to electronically control the speed of almost any
type and size of electric motor, using a device called a motor drive. DC motor drives vary voltage
and current to the armature and field windings of the motor. In general, DC motor speed is directly
proportional to armature voltage, and inversely proportional to field current. AC motor drives
1 Regulating fluid flow by using a throttling valve along with a constant-speed pump is analogous to regulating an
automobiles speed by applying varying force to the brake pedal while holding the accelerator pedal at its full-power
position!

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