Variable Frequency Drives

VFD- Variable-Frequency Drive

• Is a type of adjustable-speed drive used in Electric Motor

• To control speed and torque

• By varying motor - input frequency and Voltage.

1
 Electric Motor
• Electromechanical device that converts electrical energy to
mechanical energy

• Mechanical energy used to e.g.

• Rotate pump impeller, fan, blower
• Drive compressors
• Lift materials

• Motors in industry: 70% of electrical load

Three types of Motor Load

2
 AC Motors – Synchronous motor
• Constant speed fixed by system frequency
• DC for excitation and low starting torque: suited for low load
applications
• Can improve power factor: suited for high electricity use
systems
• Synchronous speed (Ns):

Ns = 120 f / P F = supply frequency

P = number of poles

AC Motors – Induction motor

Three-phase induction motor

• Three-phase supply produces magnetic field
• Squirrel cage or wound rotor
• Self-starting
• High power capabilities
• 1/3 to hundreds HP applications: pumps,
compressors, conveyor belts, grinders
• 70% of motors in industry!

3
 Efficiency of Electric Motors
Motor part load efficiency
• Designed for 50-100% load
• Most efficient at 75% load
• Rapid drop below 50% load

Variable-frequency drive

• A VFD is a type of an adjustable-speed drive (ASD).

• By extension, a VFD also controls horsepower.

• Horse Power = 2

4
 VFD System

Motor and Starter

5
 Motor and VFD

VFD Output Variation (V)

6
 VFD Output Variation (F)

VFD Output Variation (PWM)

7
 VFD Diagram

• Thyristors
• GTOs
• IGBT

Pulse Width Modulation Technique

• If torque is maintained,
then applied voltage
must be decreased in
same ratio to frequency
• Usual method for
adjusting motor voltage
is pulse-width
modulation (PWM)

8
 Block Diagram of Electric drive

Available VFD Power Ratings

• Low voltage 110 v to 690 v

• ¼ hp to 1000 hp
• Medium voltage Up to 3000 v @ 50 Hz
• Up to 5000 hp
• Some applications use a transformer between low
voltage drive and medium voltage load

9
 MAJOR APPLICATION AREAS OF VFD
• FANS
• PUMPS
• COMPRESSORS
• CRANES
• CONVEYORS

VFD for Boiler ID fan

• Controls speed of Induced Draft fan
– to exhaust flue gases from
furnace.
• To avoid explosion of furnace &
excess steam heating.
• Maintains furnace pressure at the
normal level.

10
 Is a VFD Right
• Varying process conditions better control
• Fine tuning of process
• Control surges
• Frequent start-stops of equipment
• Need to control energy costs
• Automatic control
• VFDs limit inrush current by up to 50%
• Auxiliary power consumption will be reduced

Use of Variable Speed Drives

• Saving energy
• Process control & Smoother operation
• Acceleration/deceleration control
• Different operating speed for each process mode
• Compensate for changing process variables
• Allow slow operation for setup purposes
• Adjust rate of process parameters
• Allow accurate positioning
• Control torque or tension

11
 Thank you

Principle of VFDs
• The basic function of the VFD is to act as a variable
frequency generator in order to vary speed of the motor
as per the user setting.
• The rectifier and the filter convert the AC input to DC
with negligible ripple.

Components of a Variable Speed Drive

The VFD's basic principle of operation is to convert the
electrical system frequency and voltage to the frequency and
voltage required to drive a motor at a speed other than its
rated speed. Variable speed, depending upon the load
requirement, provides significant energy saving.

 RPM = (f x 120) / p
Need for VFD
 Torque α speed2
 Power α speed3

12
 Potential area for VFD
• Pumps/Fans
• Change in Flow /Head requirements
• Over capacity pumps
• Check for all Pump/Fans where ever Damper control is used
Presently.
• VSD proved economical even at flow requirement is75 to 85 % of
rated capacity. ( Operating Hours )
• The same Induction motor can be used.

Use a VFD Speed control

• energy savings achievable for the 4
principle methods of flow control
• Damper control – absorbs 93% motor
power
• IGV control – absorbs 70% of motor power
• Eddy current coupling control – absorbs
67% of motor power
• VSD control – absorbs 51% of motor power

13