In any industry, the induction motor plays an important role due to its low cost and simplicity.

By implementing a monitoring and control system for the speed of motor, the induction motor
can be used in high performance variable speed applications. In number of industries, motors
must satisfy very strict speed requirements, both with respect to the range and smoothness of
control and also with respect to economical operation. The control of equipment has been
performed through the use of computers. Most equipment's use programmable logic
controllers (PLC) to connect with computers to monitor each load and electricity consuming
devices.

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The various factors which make the microcontroller based system attractive are, 1. Improved
reliability and increased flexibility. 2. Simplicity of implementation in variable speed drives 3.
Low cost and high accuracy 4. Possible to change torque speed characteristics of drive by
software modification.

There is an increasing trend of using space vector PWM (SVPWM) because of their easier digital
realization, better dc bus utilization and output voltage is more closed to sinusoidal wave.

A number of Pulse width modulations (PWM) scheme is used to obtain variable voltage and
frequency supply from an inverter, such as Sine wave Pulse Width Modulation (SPWM), Third
Harmonic Pulse Width Modulation (THPWM) and Space Vector Pulse Width
Modulation(SVPWM).

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A VFD drive controls the motor speed. The VFD can be controlled remotely by using PLC/DCS
systems.

The PLC has to give set point for VFD drive to control the motor speed, this can achieved either
automatically from the PLC or by the operator action from the HMI.

According to set point value, PLC will control the drive speed and VFD drive finally controls the
motor speed.

For controlling - we use PID controller - so according to set point it will automatically control
drive speed.

For example, if the setpoint for drive from the PLC is 50RPM, then PID controller will maintain
the speed as per setting. According to set point PID will generate output and the VFD drive
receives the PLC input and maintains the required motor speed.
Here we are considering 4-20mA signal for VFD drive input (required speed setpoint from PLC)
and feedback from the drive is also 4-20mA which in-turn connected to PLC to display the
actual speed in HMI.

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In drive application we need to operate drive in multiple speeds using different speed
reference. This function is possible using PLC. For example here there is one drive and it needs
to be operated with different speed reference. We will operate drive with three different
speeds.

Consider three reference buttons which can select speed as per requirement. First select
momentary button so drive reference will be moved in analog reference of the drive. When
reference is moved and start button is pressed, drive will run as per the moved speed.

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The SVPWM technique is the generality main technique used for controlling the voltage source
inverter, which is used to supply the AC motors like the induction motor, because of the space
vector pulse width modulation mechanism generate less THD in the VSI and utilizes DC bus
voltage over efficiently. This inverter consists of three legs with six controlled switches.

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A VFD is an electrical device used to control the rotation speed of an alternating current
(AC)electric motor by adjusting the frequency of the electrical power supplied to the motor. It is
also called pulse-width-modulated drive (PWM drive), adjustable-speed drive (ASD), adjustable-
frequency drive (AFD), AC drive, inverter drive, or variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF)
drive. Most VFDs used in HVAC applications are inverters using sine-coded PWM technology.
As shown in Fig.1, a VFD works by converting the incoming AC power to DC power using a
diode bridge rectifier, then passing the filtered, smoothed the voltage onto the inverting section,
and finally controlling voltage and frequency sent to the motor by high-speed bipolar transistors.
The output voltage is adjusted by changing the width and number of the voltage, whereas the
output frequency is varied by changing the length of the cycle.

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A complete VFD machinery system can be divided into two major subsystems—electrical and
mechanical—as shown in Fig. 2. The electrical–mechanical subsystem interface is the electrical
motor. The electromagnetic torque is generated inside the motor due to electromagnetic
interactions, and the motor rotor is part of the mechanical system.
The three-phase ac voltage source provides electric power to the entire system. This voltage is
applied to the input of a rectifier stage which converts the ac power to dc. Capacitors/ inductors
and filters are implemented on the dc bus to smooth the voltage/current by filtering harmonics.
The inverter converts dc voltage/current into ac with the desired amplitude and frequency by
utilizing PWM techniques controlled by switching signals from the controller, which determines
the trigger sequence and time intervals based on the control algorithm. A mechanical system is
composed of inertias, shafts, couplings, bearings, gears, etc.
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The motor can be operated both in open loop and closed loop condition. In closed loop condition
the feedback signal is obtained through encoder connected to motor output shaft which makes it
possible for the actual speed of the motor to catch the set speed. However, in open loop the
actual speed cannot catch the set speed due to lack of feedback signal.