Advantages of using VFD:

1. Can use standard induction motor. So VFD can easily be applied to existing
installation.
2. Full range of speed control 0 to 100% rated. Can even overspeed motor (at cost of
reduced maximum torque). Full torque motor is available down to quite low
speeds.
3. Motor speed can be adjusted with simple potentiometer, or with 0–10V or 4–20mA
control signal. This makes it easy to integrate into control system or to set up local
process control loop.
4. On rising torque loads such as pumps and fans, potential for energy savings is high.
5. It is easy to electronically reverse the motor if required.
6. Inherent power factor correction for motor.
Disadvantages of using VFD:

1. Cost - a VFD adds to the cost of your installation. Although current offerings are
good value for money, and this cost can be amortised against energy savings
and/or process efficiency gains.
2. Zero speed performance - V/Hz control does not enable “rotor blocking” at zero
speed. So may not be suitable where load holding is a requirement (e.g. crane hoist
or elevator). You may need to upgrade to flux vector controlled drive to achieve
this.
3. Unable to handle regenerating loads unless dynamic braking is added.
4. Can cause excessive supply voltage harmonic distortion if adequate harmonic
mitigation measures are not included with the VFD.
5. Low speed operation may require de-rating of the motor, because of reduced
cooling for standard TEFC motor. Alternatively supplementary motor cooling may
be necessary.
6. A small loss in system efficiency will be noted (1 to 2%).

VSI vs CSI

When the DC voltage remains constant, then it is called Voltage Source Inverter(VSI) or Voltage Fed
Inverter (VFI).
When input current is maintained constant, then it is called Current Source Inverter (CSI) or Current
Fed Inverter (CFI).
Some times, the DC input voltage to the inverter is controlled to adjust the output. Such inverters are
called Variable DC Link Inverters. The inverters can have single phase or three-phase output.
 A voltage source inverter(VSI) is fed by a stiff DC voltage, whereas a current source inverter is
fed by a stiff current source.
 A voltage source can be converted to a current source by connecting a series inductance and then
varying the voltage to obtain the desired current.
 A VSI can also be operated in current-controlled mode, and similarly a CSI can also be operated
in the voltage control mode.
 The inverters are used in variable frequency ac motor drives, uninterrupted power
supplies, induction heating, static VAR compensators, etc.

VSI requires constant DC-link voltage, and generates AC voltages in the form of voltage pulses; CSI
requires constant DC-link current, and generates AC currents in the form of current pulses.
ii) VSI requires DC-link capacitor and AC filter inductors; CSI requires DC-link inductor and AC
filter capacitors.
iii) VSI is susceptible to leg short circuit fault and requires dead time in switching upper and lower
switches; CSI is susceptible to leg open-circuit fault and requires overlap time in switching upper and
lower switches.
iv) VSI is a buck inverter (magnitude of ac voltage is always smaller or equal to the dc voltage) but a
boost rectifier; CSI is a boost inverter but a buck rectifier.
for grid operation VSI is more common than CSI. VSI alone can work as either grid forming or grid
following. For Grid forming, the VSI needs to work in Voltage Control Mode, where the output
voltage of the VSI is controlled to a fixed value and frequency, to form a consistent grid. Since the
voltage and frequency is fixed in this case, the current will not be directly controllable, but depends
on the load connected (I = V/Z). The VSI will need to ensure that it is able to source the required
current to maintain the voltage regulation, failing which, the "grid" will collapse.
For VSI operating in grid following mode, it will have to run in Current Control Mode. Instead of
deciding the voltage output directly, the VSI will vary the voltage output such that the current
injected to (or drawn from) the grid is controlled.
FOC vs DTC

Comparison between Scalar & Vector Control

S.
No. Scalar Control Vector Control
1 Simple Complex
2 Slow response to transient Operate with fast response
3 Low price High Price Control
 Speed regulation is
4 Low Performance very good
excellent
5 poor transient response transient response.
unsatisfactory speed accuracy at low speed speed accuracy at low speed
6 regions regions is good
7 low performance but stable high performance
8 speed regulation is not good speed regulation is very good