The VTS is the pioneer company in the Europe who combined the VFD technology with the fans

installed in Air Handling Units. For many years Air Handling Units (VENTUS and previous range called
CV) work on variable reference objects located in many countries. All those AHUs are operated on
wide range of supply current frequencies.

The frequency range used by VTS result from the specification of 3 phase asynchronous motors fitted
with the fans. For the range of motors being in use by VTS, the frequency range is shown on below
catalogue data.

In general, the maximum allowed frequency for 4 poles motor is 140 Hz, for 2 poles – the maximum
value of 100 Hz is permitted.

For the electric motor, there are two aspect contributing the shaft mechanical power:

• Rotational speed of the shaft

• The torque on the shaft

According to basics of mechanics, if we multiply the RPM with the torque, we will get the
mechanical power, according to below formula:

Revolutions x Torque = Mechanical Shaft Power

For the electric motor highest risk of its overload (eventually damage) is caused by its overheating
due to high current flow through the wirings. On the other hand, the high current flow can be
strongly contributed by high values of shaft torque.

The performance of typical 3-phase asynchronous motor limitation is shown on below chart.
 Range of 3-phase motor nominal power working

Allowed motor shaft power as persentage

on wide supplying frequency range
120

value of nominal power [%]

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Frequency [Hz]

A motor being operated with frequencies exceeding standard 50 Hz can work on its shaft power
(resulting from Revolutions x Torque) equal to its nominal value, with slight drop on the highest
frequencies (number of revolutions per minute). Such almost constant shaft power range is caused
by the fact, that with increasing frequencies, the shaft power much more contributed by number of
revolutions than the torque (according to above formula). So, at the same shaft mechanical power,
as the RPM increases, the torque decreases which allows the current flow to be maintained in the
limits.

For the frequencies range below standard 50 Hz the rotational speed of the shaft drops linearly with
supplying current frequency.

Let’s assume, that below chart represents a 4 kW motor. If we want to operate it with frequencies
lower than 50 Hz with 4 kW mechanical power on its shaft, the risk of too high current flow takes
place, because the torque becomes a major factor building the output power over the revolutions
(which have been decreased due to reduced frequency). Finally the motor would be subjected under
high risk of damage due to high current flow followed by its overheating. Don’t forget, that utilizes a
small internal fan (installed on the opposite side of the shaft) to cool himself. If number of its
revolutions is small, its cooling capacity is very poor.

Range of 3-phase motor nominal power working

Allowed motor shaft power as persentage

on wide supplying frequency range

120
value of nominal power [%]

4 kW 4 kW
100

80

60
50 Hz

40

20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Frequency [Hz]
This fact forces us to reduce the maximal shaft power load on frequencies less than 50 Hz and to
keep the mechanical load under the blue line.

The result is, that motor we used to call a 4 kW is never a 4 kW one on revolutions less than
nominal at 50 Hz !!!

If we also apply a rule, that the motor should never be operated under 20 Hz (no matter of torque
value), our 4 kW motor operational area is limited to the green area only, like on above chart.

Fear of bearings damage…

The construction of 2 and 4 poles motors besides the number of poles is quite simmilar. This
concerns especially the bearings, which construction and life time is the same, no matter of poles
number. So the same type of bearing are used in:

• 4 poles motor, where the standard number of revolutions under 50 Hz is about 1 440 RPM
• 2 poles motor, where the standard number of revolutions under 50 Hz is about 2 880 RPM

In many cases, a motor operation proposal on frequency higher than 50 Hz is rejected by the
consultant, whose arguments are: “This causes too high RPM and bearing life time shortering,
followed by risk of damage”. If a 2 poles motor is proposed, with much less frequency, no objections
take place, even the 4 and 2 poles motor woulud work on the same number of revolutions per
minute.

If a 2 poles motor is equipped with specific type of bearing, the same or very similar type will be used
in a 4 poles motor (the same nominal power of course). So both type of motors will have the same
RPM related bearings limitations. This also means, that a 4 poles motor working with more than
3 000 RPM will not overload its bearings at all.

Another argument is a placement of electric motors used in AHUs on the backgrount of many
another low and high RPM devices. The electric motor RPM is much lower than other contemporaty
rotating devices.

Device Revolutions

Car benzin motor 5 000 RPM

Jet engine high

7 000 RPM
pressure turbine

Gyroscope 24 000 RPM

390 000 RPM !!!

Dental turbine
This is 6 500 revolutions per second !!!

The direct driven plug fan’s revolutions are nothning in comperison with many other high RPM
devices !!! So we have nothing to be afraid of …
2 poles, 4 poles… Airflow regulation

In major part of AHU selections equipped with 4 poles motor, a frequencies higher than 50 Hz are
selected and published in technical specification, like on example below:

From the “Fan section” we can read the following:

• Motor: M4/4 v.2 – 4 kW, 4 poles

• Rated revolutions (right column): 1 440 RPM – specific for 4 poles motor if supplied with
standard 50 Hz current
• Frequency: 60,2 Hz: frequency supplied from frequency converter
• Rated revolutions (left column): 1 734 RPM: number of revolutions if supplied with 60,2 Hz,
according to below calculation:
o 1440 RPM / 50 Hz = 28,8
o 28,8 x 60,2 = 1733,76 ≈ 1 734 RPM
• Shaft power: 2,198 kW: which is in the limits of 4 kW morot’s nominal power – Motor
selection OK.
• Fan Section VS 75/100 DRCT.DR.PLUG.FAN.ASM 50/4/4 v.2: a direct driven Plug Fan fitted for
VS 75 or VS 100 AHU. 500 mm impeller diameter, 4 Kw Motor, 4 poles.

As the required RPM for the fan (to keep the required air flow and cover the air flow resistandes) is
1,734 RPM, the frequency in above example must be increased up to 60,2 Hz.

Of course, this fan impeller could be also driven by 2 poles motor, reaching the same 1 734 RPM on
much less frequency. Let’s try to calculate it now:

The motor is a 2 poles motor with nominal 2 880 RPM at 50 Hz. To reach the required 1 734 RPM we
must decrease the supplying frequency much below the 50 Hz. The final frequency would be:

(1 734 / 2880) x 50 = 0,6020 x 50 = 30,1 Hz…

… which of course would satisfy a frequency sensitive consultant.

But indeed such an Air Handling Unit is a poor solution in comparison with 4 poles motor one.
Why ??

To answer this quedtion let’s remind two important aspects which concerns the VFD technology used
for AHU control:
 • The great advantage of frequency converter is a posiibility of smooth airflow regulation,
especially it’s reduction,
• The motor, no matter 2 or 4 poles should be never operated below 20 Hz,
• The relation between fan revolutions and airflow is linear, according to formula:

݊ଶ ܸሶଶ
=
݊ଵ ܸଵሶ

Now, we can calculate the regulation cabability of two, almost identical AHUs: one equipped with 2
poles, and other equipped with 4 poles motor:

Fan FC Minimum Minimum

Motor Revolutions Airflow reduction ratio
Airflow impeller frequency allowed airflow at
number at 50 hz [Frequency shift / Minimum
[m3/h] size to the frequency 20 Hz
of poles [RPM] allowed frequency]
[mm] motor [Hz] [Hz] [m3/h]

5220 500 2 2880 30,1 20 3 468 1,51

5220 500 4 1440 60,2 20 1 734 3,01

The unit equipped with 2 poles motor can decrease it’s performanc down to about 3 470 m3/h, while
the 4 poles one, can reduce the airflow even down to 1 750 m3/h.

Or… The 2 poles option allows us to decrease the airlow only 1,5 times from the nominal, while the 4
poles – gives us a possibility to reduce the airflow 3 times !!!

Above calculation and arguments point the 4 poles motor option as giving us much better
performance flexibility, followed by higher energy savings capability !!!

The motors… Important Note

Many local brands on Indian theritorry specify the maximum frequency range for 3 phase
asynchronous motor up to 60 Hz. If those motors were used in VENTUS Air Handling Units, the
performance range of our fans wouldn’t be so wide. The specification shown in the beginning of this
manual presents the 2 and 4 poles motors limitations manufactured in the European theritorry.

Thanks to this, the VTS company guarantees the proper operation of our fans working on wide range
of revolutions per minute.