ABB Australia have launched a low voltage AC drive, specifically targeted at pump and fan applications. The new addition to the ABB Australia’s standard drive family ranges from 0.37 to 22 kW.
ABB Australia have designed the low voltage AC drive that is fast to install and commission for pump and fan applications. The low voltage AC drive features advanced energy efficient functionality. Built-in PID controllers are used to vary the drive’s performance in response to changes in pressure, flow or other external data, modifying the performance according to the needs of the application. This can eliminate the need for an external PLC and saves energy.
A pump and fan control (PFC) feature modulates the speed of the main pump or fan and brings any auxiliary pumps or fans on line as necessary. The low voltage AC drive can manage switching between pumps or fans to ensure that they are used to the same extent over the long term. In addition, the AC drive includes soft pump and fan control (SPFC), which reduces unwanted pressure peaks in pumps and pipelines.
Among the standard energy efficiency features is the energy optimiser that makes adjustments in areas such as noise and efficiency. The AC drive’s internal fan is controlled by software to reduce losses, improving energy efficiency. Energy savings can be easily monitored using the built-in energy counter, which displays energy savings in kWh, or local currencies.
A short parameter menu view means that only the most used drive parameters are shown on the AC drive’s parameter view. Complete parameter view can be changed by setting one parameter. This saves time as the user can see the most important parameters, thereby leading to fast drive commissioning.
The AC drive has pre-programmed application macros for common tasks. The user is helped by an intuitive user interface with several assistant screens including start-up assistant to guide the user through essential settings. A maintenance assistant helps to set criteria for preventative maintenance and a diagnostic assistant finds the root cause of a problem. A timer assistant sets up timed functions while the PID assistant sets up sensor feedback. The AC drive has embedded Modbus RTU interface as standard (RS-485/RS-232). Modbus protocol, integrated and compact design simplifies the commissioning of the drive.
The AC drive is based on hardware and software platforms. It is resistant to supply voltage drops and sags, improving the reliability of the application. Flying start enables picking up a spinning load without waiting for it to stop. Full output current is available at up to 50°C ambient temperature. Installation and commissioning is speeded up with the help of a user’s short manual, which provides basic information on the mechanical and electrical installation, start-up and control with I/O and actual values or parameters in the short parameter menu view.
The AC drive is designed for easy integration, combining compact size and low weight with unified height and depth, enabling economical use of the cabinet space. Units can be mounted side-by-side without any particular need for airflow. The AC drive can be configured before start-up, using ABB Australia’s FlashDrop configuration tool. This feature is useful for serial manufacturing, where time per unit is critical.
The AC drive has the following functions for pump installations:
- PFC, soft pump and fan control functions for controlling pumps in parallel
- Supervision of inlet/outlet pressure conditions
- Soft start and stop (pipefill function) to reduce mechanical stress and water hammer effect
- Detection of underload and overload
- Pump cleaning sequence for prevention of pump jamming
The motor control software features a tool to analyse the loading of the drive, so that users can accurately dimension the drive and motor for the specific application. This load analyser tool comprises an amplitude logger and a peak value logger. The data of both loggers must be able to restore itself if there is a power failure and the data is usually stored within a Flash memory. In addition, the AC drive features software controlled phase inversion, which provides an easy way to change the phase order of motor rotation, thereby saving time as there is no need to change the output cable manually.
The AC drive is EMC compliant to second environment as standard. First environment compatibility is available as an option. AC output chokes enable use of long motor cables. AC input chokes reduce total harmonic distortion, making the drive compliant with EN61000-3-12.
The AC drive is available from 0.37 to 11 kW for 200/240 V, three-phase supply and from 0.37 to 22 kW for 380/480 V, three-phase supply. The enclosure class is IP20 with UL Type 1 (NEMA 1) kit available as an option. The interface has five digital and two analogue inputs, accompanied by one digital and one analogue output. The drive features a relay extension module that offers an extra three relay outputs, providing improved I/O interfaces. The AC drive also has embedded Modbus RTU with RS-232 and RS-485 connections.