Posted to News on 8th May 2013, 17:29
Vacon's AC drives for efficient flow control with pumps and fans
Specifically optimised for efficient flow control with pumps and fans, AC variable speed drives in the new VACON 100 FLOW range offer easy set-up with dedicated application menus for water and other pump and fan segment applications, economy with integrated two-zone PID control, and versatility with multimotor control facilities provided as standard.
Available with power ratings from 0.55kW to 160kW, the company claims that VACON 100 FLOW drives allow substantial energy savings to be achieved compared with the use of fixed-speed drives. They are based on the proven technology used in Vacon's VACON 100 family of multipurpose AC drives, and provide an extensive range of features that make life easier and save money in pump and fan applications.
These features include dual-zone PID control, which allows two process parameters to be controlled simultaneously; integrated frost protection; start and sleep boosting; soft pipe filling, which runs pumps at low speed until the pipes are filled; and an anti-ragging function that detects when a pump is blocked and initiates a user-defined cleaning sequence.
VACON 100 FLOW drives also incorporate a real-time clock that allows pump duties to be rotated at preset times to equalise wear. The clock can also be used for other forms of scheduling and to generate time-stamped diagnostic information. In addition, the drives have a run-to-destruction fire mode, making them suited for use in sprinkler and emergency ventilation systems.
A start-up wizard and quick setup mode make it easy for users to select relevant operating parameters and monitoring values, while application menus guide the user through a quick and easy commissioning process. Built-in block programming facilities mean that the drives can be readily tailored to suit special requirements, a feature that it particularly useful in retrofit applications.
VACON 100 FLOW drives also support multimotor operation, which allows a single drive to control up to eight pumps. When used in this way, the drive controls the leading pump, but when the demand exceeds the capacity of this pump, the drive provides control signals that can be used to start additional fixed-speed pumps. Multimotor operation can be optionally configured so that, with up to eight drives, the lead pump duty is automatically rotated among the available pumps to help equalise wear and tear without the need of contactors.
A range of communications options
To facilitate the integration of VACON 100 FLOW drives with automation and building management systems, they feature an integral Ethernet and RS485 ports, complemented by support for a wide range of communications options, including Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP, Profinet IO, Profibus DP, Lonworks and BACnet. The Ethernet port also allows easy network access for commissioning and maintenance, using the VACON Live software package.
To help maximise operational safety, VACON 100 FLOW drives incorporate a safe torque off (STO) feature, and ATEX-certified motor over-temperature protection. To ensure long life and high reliability, they use environmentally friendly plastic-foil capacitor technology throughout.
For further information about the new VACON 100 FLOW drives range please visit www.vacon.com.
