Facts Worth Knowing about Frequency Converter 2014

Handbook | VLT® Frequency ConvertersFacts Worth Knowing about Frequency ConvertersPrefaceIn 1968, Danfoss was the first company in the world to commence mass production of Frequency Converters, for variable speed control of three-phase induction motors. Today FC’s are an increasingly important component for optimising motor operation, and the system attached to the motor. FC’s are now used in an expanding range of applications, with the following main objectives in mind: • Energy efficiency optimisation: Converting from fixed to variable speed in applications with varying load, delivers a step change in energy savings. In fact these days, modern motor technology always requires advanced control in order to run optimally at all speeds. • Factory automation: Continuously escalating demand for factory throughput leading to a higher degree of automation implies a growing need for variable speed solutions. • Process control and optimisation: Improved process control often requires variable speed motor control and leads to more precise control, higher throughput, or comfort, depending on the application. The fundamentals of FC technology persist, but many elements are also rapidly changing. Increasingly, software is embedded in today’s products, offering new functionalities and enabling the FC to play a larger role in the system. New motor types are appearing, placing additional demands on motor control. This in turn means the FC must be able to control an expanding variety of motor types, without burdening the end user with more complexity. In addition, new energy efficiency requirements lead to more variable speed applications, eventually making all motors variable speed and controlled by a FC. With this latest update of “Facts worth knowing about frequency converters”, we at Danfoss would like to continue the heritage from previous versions of this book. We are proud of what we do and are enthusiastic about FC’s. With this book we hope to convey some of this enthusiasm to you! If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact Danfoss. Jakob Fredsted Vice President, Research & Development Danfoss Power Electronics A/S© Copyright DanfossContent3ContentPage 0 Introduction