1st Quarter 2012Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Omron’s solution for right-sizing pump applications.
According to Omron, when engineers select a pump for an application most opt for a built-in safety factor. However, this safety factor leads to system inefficiencies when over-pressure or high flow rates are encountered. Traditionally, the way an over-pressure problem is handled is to throttle back on the valve to lower the pressure in the system. This solves the pressure problem, but the motor and pump are still running at full speed (akin to driving a car with your foot on the brake).
Omron solves this problem through the use of its variable speed drive units, which allow users to control system pressure and flow by varying the speed of the pump motor, thus eliminating the need to throttle a valve.
A closed loop system is installed in order to achieve water and power savings. The closed loop is obtained by installing a pressure measuring sensor in the system that gives feedback directly to the VSD, allowing it to maintain a constant desired pressure by automatically controlling pump speed to compensate for changing system dynamics.
An example of the system at work: if a pivoted system that requires two bar pressure at the end of a pivot starts moving uphill, the pressure sensor will call for more flow and the motor will automatically speed up to maintain the two bar pressure. Likewise, if the pivot starts moving downhill, the motor will decrease its speed dropping the flow to maintain the system pressure. Power is saved over the time the motor is running below full speed ie, for every 10% speed change, the power changes by 27% as it is proportional to the cube of the pump speed.
An added benefit of this approach is the reduced starting current when compared to on-line and star-delta techniques. Also, acceleration and deceleration curves are controllable, which eliminates mechanical strain on the system during start-up reducing wear in the pump and motor. Water hammer is eliminated by controlling the deceleration.
Read more...PC-based control for additive machine tools Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
IRPD is a specialist in additive machine tools. Development is heavily focused on high system throughput and consistently high process quality. This goal was achieved with the help of PC- and EtherCAT-based control and drive technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...Major software release for Parker PSD servo drives Parker Hannifin - Sales Company South Africa
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Parker Hannifin has released its PSD servo drive family delivering new control modes, advanced synchronisation functions and performance optimisations designed to improve throughput, accuracy and system efficiency in demanding industrial applications.
Read more...Beckhoff expands economy drive system Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Beckhoff’s new AM1000 servomotor joins the company’s economy drive system. The compact, powerful motor and the AX1000 servo drive provide users with a perfectly coordinated, cost-optimised drive system.
Read more...Moving next-generation monopiles
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Wind turbine sizes are increasing at an unprecedented rate. The bigger the turbine, the more power it can generate and the fewer are needed per wind farm. Mammoet has been ahead of the curve in coming up with ways to make the movement of even XXL monopiles faster and more cost-effectively.
Read more...PC-based control for flat wire motors for electric vehicles Beckhoff Automation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Special machine manufacturer, ruhlamat Huarui Automation Technologies has unveiled the second generation of its mass production line for flexible stators with bar winding (pins). This enables an extremely short production cycle and line changeover times, supported by PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...New generation surface drill rig
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Epiroc South Africa is launching a new and improved PowerROC T45. This new generation surface drill rig offers increased fuel efficiency and high availability, and is a welcome addition to the PowerROC family.
Read more...Rip-and-ship solution speeds up nuclear decommissioning project
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
When removing steam generators from decommissioned nuclear reactor buildings, the most economical method is to remove them in one piece. Mammoet was commissioned by Framatome to support with the removal of four steam generators from PreussenElektra’s Nuclear Power Plant Unterweser in Germany.
Read more...OMRON simplifies safety verification for SA manufacturers Omron Electronics
Other technologies
OMRON’s NX Safety platform, Online Safety Functional Test Verification is a feature built into the Sysmac Studio engineering environment. This intuitive tool allows safety verification to be carried out digitally, with step-by-step guidance and full traceability, all from a single workstation.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version