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Understanding VFD

Variable Frequency Drives

Xubair khan
19092
(BE)-Electronics

Contents

Introduction
Block Diagram
Building blocks
Modes of operation
VFD Parameters
Braking Technique
Start/Stop Command methods

Introduction

A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is a type

of motor controller that drives an electric


motor by varying the frequency and voltage
supplied to the electric motor. Other names
for a VFD are variable speed drive,
adjustable speed drive, adjustable
frequency drive, or an AC drive.
Frequency (or hertz) is directly related to the

motors speed (RPMs)

Energy Usage

Electric Motor Facts


Electric motors account for more than
two-thirds of all energy used in industry
63% of the energy consumed is linked to
air & liquid flow
A typical 50HP industrial motor, with an
efficiency of 90%, costs over $25,000 to
operate continuously over a year.

Standard motors are constant speed and

when they are energized they run at a


100% speed no matter the load.

What if the speed of the driven machine

(Fan, Pump) is to be changed?

What is a VFD?

Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)

Equation of motor speed


Speed= 120 x f /P

P=No. of polesConstant
=50Hz

F=Line Frequency
How to change line frequency?

FD Fundamentals
Block Diagram
AC

DC

RECTIFIER
(AC - DC)

50 Hz Power

INVERTER
(DC - AC)

Variable Frequency

50 Hz

VFD
ABB

To
Motor
Variable Frequency
Electrical Energy

VFD

AC

VFD Explored

First, the Converter (usually a diode rectifier) converts three-phase


AC power to DC power.
Next, the DC Bus stores and filters the DC power in a large bank of
capacitors.
Last, the Inverter (usually a set of six IGBTs) switches or inverts the
DC power in a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) AC waveform to the
motor.

Rectifier

Basic Building blocks of rectification


Diodes (Uncontrolled)

Thyristors

Controlled

Gate
Pulse

Conductio
n after
Gate Pulse

Output voltage can be controlled

Three Phase Rectifiers

Output Voltage

Output Voltage (dc) = x


Vm=Peak Value of voltage
A= Firing Angle
Firing at zero gives maximum output
dc voltage

Is it a perfect Direct Current?

Conversion of AC into DC a perfect


process?
Ripples

How to eliminate the ripples?


Filters
DC bus in
VFD

Inverter Action
Switching DC voltage ON and OFF
will make it AC

Filtered output from DC bus is sent to


inverter in VFD

How switching can convert


DC into AC?

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Pulse width modulation


Such a waveform is not acceptable
Nowhere near Sine wave
Contains harmonics
Multiples of fundamentals
Solution
Pulse width modulation

How Often You Switch From Positive


Pulses To Negative Pulses Determines
The Frequency Of The Waveform

Voltage

Positive
DC Bus

Negative
DC Bus

RECTIFIER

INVERTER

Frequency

Area Under the Curve

VFD Control Mode

Scalar mode
Vector mode

V/F Control Mode


Scalar mode
Drive is unaware of what is happening in
the motor
Example:
A 400V scalar drive is told to run a 400V, 50 Hz
motor at 50% speed Following V/F pattern,
Voltage applied by the drive will also be half.
Perfect when at no load.
After loading, motor will run at less than 50%
speed
Vector
Drive
is
unaware
of
it
Solution
Control

Load increase

Drive
Speed
setting=50%

Moto
r
Speed at no
load=50%

No idea
what is
happening

Drive
Speed
setting=50%

Moto
r
Speed=40%

Vector Control Mode

Vector control with sensor


Feedback through encoder
Better speed regulations up to 0.01%
Faster response to load variations

Vector Control Mode

Moto
r

Drive

Feedback

Encoder sensor

Drive
INC/DEC
Speed
Accd Fb ..

VFD input Parameters


Max./Base frequency setting
Motor rated output
Motor rated voltage
Motor rated current

VFD input Parameters


Frequency Reference setting methods
Stop Command method
Start frequency
Stop frequency (DC Braking starts)
Torque Boost

Frequency Reference Setting


Methods

Potentiometer
0-10V input voltage
4-20(mA)

Frequency Reference Setting through


Potentiometer

Frequenc
y

Max

Min
Min

Max

Main Control Panel

Potentiomet
er

VFD drives .

Stop Command methods

Coast to stop
Ramp to stop

Coast to stop

Frequen
cy

Run
Command

Motor speed

Coast to
Stop

Comman
d is
removed

Ramp to stop

Ramp to
Stop

Frequen
cy

DC
Brake
Run
Command

Comman
d is
removed

Auto Tuning
Drive familiarizing itself with motor

VFD
here

I am M

Auto Tuning

Torque
DC
Leakage
Primary
Slip
Brake
Boost
compensation
resistance
reactance
Voltage

Drive
Start of Auto
tuning

Moto
r

DC Injection Braking
No mechanical Contact
DC is applied at the stator winding
DC causes stator to be become a magnet
with constant field
A voltage is induced inside the rotor
causing current to flow
According to Lenss law, this current will
cause rotor to stop

Resistive Braking

Dynamic Braking

Electrical
Energy

Utilize

Discard

Regenerative
Electric grid

Resistive
Elevators

Braking resistor
VFD

Brakin
g Unit

Thank you.

Engineering garage v=ir

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