Variable frequency drives for vacuum pumps
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Having your vacuum pump running at full load all the time could be costing you a lot of money. Employing variable speed drives to reduce the pump speed when full power isn't required will save energy, and so save money
Many vacuum pump applications run at constant speed, and so do not require speed adjustment, whereby flow or pressure can be controlled via a throttle or bypass valve. However, higher degrees of process automation and more complex energy-saving requirements mean that frequency inverters are increasingly being used for the purpose of motor control.
The advantage of employing frequency inverters is that pumps can be specified with maximum power requirements in mind, but in the knowledge that operation won't have to be at maximum capacity when not needed. In some cases, the maximum power requirements are only applicable on a few days of every year. So instead of operating the motors continuously at full load and using bypass valves or throttle valves to cancel out the excess power, a large amount of energy can be saved by using an appropriate means of speed control.
Drive solutions
Frequency inverters assist the control technology in the operation of vacuum pumps. For example, they are capable of handling all pressure control tasks independently on the basis of an integrated PID controller, which works in conjunction with a pressure sensor. The Lenze 8200 vector frequency inverter is a prime example of this.
As vacuum pumps often take the form of individual units, distributed drive components (such as Lenze's 8200 motec frequency inverter or starttec motor starter) are becoming increasingly common. These components can be mounted directly on the motor in place of the terminal box and away from the control cabinet.
If there is already a control cabinet, then the construction volume of the components will often be a decisive factor. That is why the 8200 vector and smd frequency inverters are of such a compact design.
14 July 2006
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