VSDs:Quick guide to specification
November 1st 2011

The benefits of variable speed drives (VSDs) are proven in a wide range of manufacturing applications.Here Jeremy Salisbury, head of marketing at Brammer UK, offers advice on specification

Energy-saving capabilities for centrifugal and regenerative type loads, process improvements, production flexibility, and an increased life for mechanical drive train components due to lower stresses – just a few of the benefits afforded by VSDs. However, the specifier needs to be sure they are neither under nor over-specifying in terms of the exact type, size and capabilities of VSD for their requirement and, before even looking at VSDs, the full motor specification and its load requirements need to be understood to avoid sizing and selection errors which could result in poor system performance, nuisance drive trips and production downtime.

Constant torque or variable? The motor is a source of torque, which is relative to both power and speed, and the required torque/speed curves differ according to the application. The good news is that when selecting a VSD, most applications are suited to either a variable or constant torque drive.

Variable torque loads, which include centrifugal fans and pumps, rarely require much more than 100% overload on startup, although large fans with high inertias generally have long ramp times and so these drives tend to be rated for 110% overload for 60 seconds. The variable torque drive should have an adjustable parabolic v/f output to match the fan's torque speed curve requirements and thus maximise available energy savings.

It should also have a PI(D) input (again some drives offer further energy saving in PID mode) and where required the option for pump cascade control.

Constant torque loads feature generally in materials handling applications, such as conveyors, where the load remains constant across the speed range. It is important to know the overload requirements, as constant torque drives are rated differently between brands in terms of available power. Some typically list two or three options, for example 'light duty' of 100% or no overload, 'standard duty' at 120% and 'heavy duty' at 150% (based upon 60 seconds). If in doubt, go for a drive with 'heavy duty' overload which will give the best chance of keeping the motor running in potentially unforeseen and demanding conditions.

Staying in control The motor control mode should be understood to ensure correct drive selection.

In general, constant torque drives range from simple and cost-effective V/F drives – suitable for applications without wide speed ranges or rapid load changes – through to the high-performance Vector Control series which, even in SLVC, offer near 'closed loop' performance without needing an encoder.

Likewise, with regard to interfacing and controlling the inverter, consideration should be given to input/output requirements, for example, the number of digital I/O and functionality, analogue I/O, PI or PID control, PTC/KTY input and so on. Field bus requirements, likely to be an optional extra, should also be established. Generally, basic V/F drives have limited I/O while SLVC drives are better equipped. The controls needed are often likely to determine drive selection, and again onboard I/O varies between brands – sometimes with surprising omissions.

The method of stopping the motor can also have an impact.

For a controlled 'ramp to stop', the motor can usually be stopped in about the same time taken to ramp it up, without any special braking requirements. If rapid deceleration is required, DC injection braking may be needed, although the number of stops and the load's inertia should be considered to ensure this will suffice. Another option is dynamic braking where a brake chopper 'dumps' excess kinetic energy fed back from the load across a resistor.Without accurate inertia data, precise sizing of the resistor(s) is not achievable, but usually the standard manufacturer's brake resistor will have a reasonably high peak load rating and suffice.

Regenerative braking is becoming a popular solution for AC drives. This is a 'specialist' drive solution offering advantages over the traditional 4Q DC motor solution in terms of maintenance while still providing energy savings by returning the regenerative voltage back into the mains.

Harmonic and EMC requirements When AC drive inverters are operated, they have undesirable effects on the line supply.

This is caused by the non-linearity of the device and the high control frequency of the output transistors. The magnitude of these effects depends on factors including the characteristics of the line supply, point of common coupling, the type of inverter and power. And although the user is responsible for the quality of their supply and the network they are connected to, often they will not know much about their supply system, fault levels and existing harmonics, so without a power quality survey, specifying the right drive is often a matter of judgement.

In general, when specifying standard drives, I recommend an input choke, especially for 1AC drives 3kW or over and 3AC drives 37kW and over. To meet a specific EMC level a choke may be mandatory. The decision on whether an output choke is required will depend largely on the length of the motor cables (combined if more than one motor is being driven) and whether cable is shielded.

The user will often be able to specify whether an RFI filter is required. This is generally a must for 1AC fed drives.

Once selected, correct installation and commissioning is vital – indeed, any VSD will only perform as well as it is commissioned.

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