Product category:
Drives, motors and power transmission, couplings, clutches
News Release from: ABB Automation Tech (Drives and Motors) | Subject: Standard drives
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 December 2003
Standard drives designed for immediate
use
A new range of intuitive, easy-to-use standard drives, designed to be sold off-the-shelf with few optional extras, is targeted at standard applications, such as pumps, fans and conveyors.
A new range of intuitive, standard drives, designed to be sold off-the-shelf with few optional extras, has been launched by ABB ABB's class of standard drives is rated from 0.75 to 355kW, 200 and 400V
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 6 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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It is targeted at standard applications, such as pumps, fans and conveyors, and has been designed for easy use and accessibility.
The product has a range of innovative user support features, making it: "the easiest drive to install, commission and use" according to James Haigh, senior vice president, drives, at ABB.
Included is a start-up assistant that guides users through all essential settings without the need to access complex parameter lists.
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If a fault occurs, simply pressing the"help" button will suggest ways to fix the fault.
A total of nine different predefined settings are available, covering the vast majority of industrial applications.
If a parameter needs to be altered for the application, this can be done easily.
It is also possible to set up the application manually.
A maintenance assistant keeps track of the running time and gives a signal when maintenance is required, while a real time clock and calendar enables the user to cycle events according to the time of day, week or month.
New technology for control panel All the functions are accessed through a new development in control panel technology.
The control panel is similar in look and functionality to a mobile phone and features two soft keys, the function of which changes according to the state of the panel.
A built-in help button and a real-time clock assist in fault diagnosis.
This enables easy commissioning, fast set-up, simple configuration and rapid fault diagnosis.
Patent pending harmonics suppression - the harmonic signature of the drive has been reduced by patent pending; swinging DC chokes that suppress harmonics caused by the inverter so that the percentage of total harmonic distortion goes down when the load is reduced.
Normally, total harmonic distortion increases when the load is reduced.
This is because the impedance of a standard DC choke is optimised for a specific throughput, normally that used at full load.
ABB's swinging choke, in contrast, features a variable air gap, giving flexible impedance for a range of different load conditions.
EMC compliance built in - EMC filter to first environment is included.
With motor cables up to 30 metres (100 metres for large drives), the drive meets the requirements for the first environment.
With longer cables, it meets the requirements for the second environment.
Braking chopper included as standard - other standard features include an integrated braking chopper.
This absorbs braking energy, helping decelerate the load quicker.
The inclusion of a brake chopper saves valuable space, which can be a great advantage particularly in panel building, where space is at a premium.
The drive comes with two built-in motor control platforms.
The default setting is basic scalar control, however if the application requires a higher performance motor control, for instance constant torque loads, the user can select sensorless vector control.
Noise reduced - the new drive reduces noise levels with a noise optimisation feature, which increases the switching frequency of the drive when the motor load is reduced, thereby lowering motor noise.
Noise is further reduced through the higher switching frequency of the sensorless vector control platform.
A controlled cooling fan, running only when necessary, further reduces drive noise and also improves energy efficiency.
The fan is easily replaceable without disconnecting the drive.
In larger sizes, the fan can be replaced from the front.
Ready for fieldbus - the drives come with Modbus as standard.
High performance protocols such as ProfiBus, DeviceNet and LON Works can be added using adapter cards.
Further I/Os can be added the same way.
Easy to install and use - the new drive has been designed in close cooperation with users.
The most important point made by the users during the development work is that drives must become easier to use.
"Engineers in industry are not drive experts but have to cover a wide range of equipment, says Haigh.
"Most of them just want to fit a drive so that they can turn down the speed of their application and save energy.
The new drive has been designed to appeal to a wide engineering community." In keeping with the simple approach to drive selection, a fresh approach has been taken with the documentation.
There is a quick guide for initial power-up; an easy-to-follow User's Manual for commissioning; and an extensive Technical Reference Manual aimed at designers and technical support personnel.
The drive has flux optimisation to provide the right motor magnetisation for any given load, saving energy.
Large sizes are fitted using a pedestal arrangement for quick and easy installation.
The cables are first fitted to a base unit and the drive is then simply rolled in and positioned on top of the base.
ABB's standard drive is aimed at users purchasing drives through a local distributor for immediate installation.
It is manufactured in large volumes for central stocking and immediate availability and several thousand units will be stocked in the UK at any one time.
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