Drives of the future

4th Quarter 2009 Electrical switching & drive systems & components

Varispeed has introduced Yaskawa’s A1000 top-of-the-range drive, designed for flexibility, reliability and energy efficient power transfer. Incorporating tomorrow’s technology today, the A1000 is one of the smallest drives in its class to feature:

* Vector control technology.

* Next generation energy saving control.

* Standard hardware base block functionality.

* Removable terminal block with parameter backup function.

As well as being dual rated for normal (pumps and fans) and heavy duty applications.

The drive is the latest release from Varispeed and provides a powerful drives solution on both 400 and 500-600 V applications up to 630 kW. Units rated up to 1500 kW at 690 V are soon to be introduced.

Other attractions include:

* Induction motor and permanent magnet motor control incorporating open loop position control without feedback, 200% rated torque at 0 rpm and power loss recovery.

* New safety features and communication with Safety Torque Off (STO) according to EN954-1 safety category 3, stop category 0; EN ISO 13849-1 PLC; IEC EN 61508 SiL2,

* Improved drive design and functions. This drive is compact with side-by-side mounting now possible, dual rated for cost and space saving with long performance life and over-excitation braking to reduce stopping time.

* Enhanced efficiency with advanced energy saving functionality. Unique PWM function to reduce audible noise and minimum power loss in normal duty rating.

* Easy start-up and reliable operation with significant reduced installation and operation costs.

* Application parameter presets, removable control terminals with parameter backup and online tuning capability.

* Application software library and performance life diagnostics for all major inverter components.

The Yaskawa drives are able to operate with most induction motors and also synchronous IPM and SPM motors with high performance open and closed loop vector control. Positioning is now possible without motor feedback using IPM motors. The advanced kinetic energy buffering (KEB) power-loss ride-through function ensures that the application is brought to a controlled stop quickly by preventing the motor from coasting to a stop during a power outage.

All standard models are equipped with a Parameter Copy function that allows parameter settings to be easily copied from the drive or uploaded for quick setup using the keypad. A USB copy unit is also available as an even faster, more convenient way to backup settings and instantly program the drive.

Designed for maintenance-free operation, the cooling fan, capacitors, relays and IGBTs have been carefully selected and designed for a life expectancy up to ten years running 24/7. Braking transistors are now built-in up to 30 kW making faster stopping possible, even without a braking resistor.

All major communication protocols are supported. RS422/485 Modbus at 115,2 Kbps is standard on all models, and options are available for CANopen, Profibus, DeviceNet, Mechatrolink and CC-Link.

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