SEW-Eurodrive has successfully supplied Movitrac LTP-B Eco HVAC drive units to DSV Healthcare in Meadowview, Johannesburg. This is the first application of the new technology in South Africa and was designed and engineered specifically to optimise fan and pump performance in HVAC applications.
The new HVAC drives are an integral part of DSV Healthcare’s facility-wide building management system from Johnson Controls. Maintenance manager, Peet van der Linde explains that the Medicines Control Council, which regulates the Medicines and Related Substances Act for the manufacture, distribution, sale, and marketing of medicines, requires the facility to maintain a constant humidity of 60% and a temperature of 22°C. “If the humidity and temperature level of our facility go out of range, it becomes a reportable deviation after 24 hours. This means we end up with critical stock that cannot be distributed. Therefore it is vital that the internal environment be maintained within the prescribed parameters,” van der Linde comments.
DSV Healthcare decided to opt for the Movitrac LTP-B Eco HVAC drive units following lightning damage to existing competitor units. Mechatronic sales engineer, Hendri Oosthuizen says that despite heavy storm conditions following the successful installation, the drive units have performed flawlessly. “These units were supplied to run the centrifugal evaporator fans for the client’s building air conditioners. They offer exceptional reliability and longevity due to the fact that they are supplied with built-in line filters,” he adds. The design specifications were three-phase 400 V supply with 15 kW HVAC drives, while the installation requirements were IP55, analogue setpoint control and relay feedback for running and alarm status.
The main advantage of the new HVAC drive is that it is designed for maximum motor control efficiency. Efficiency is improved by up to 4% compared to standard AC drives, while also reducing supply current total harmonics distortion (iTHD), improving the Real Power Factor, and reducing total input current. This leads to installation cost-savings through reduced cable and fuse ratings and smaller supply transformer rating. The drives are also manufactured in accordance with RoHS, the European Union product directive applying to electronics manufactured within the EU or imported from other countries.
Additional features include intelligent standby. This parameter defines the time period whereby if the drive operates at minimum speed for greater than the set time period, the LTP-B HVAC output will be disabled and the display will show ‘standby’. This parameter can be customised according to customer requirements. Another feature is the energy saving function.
When enabled, the inverter automatically reduces the applied motor voltage at light loads. This inverter is also EN 61000-3-12 compliant and has a wall mounting design, an OLED multi-language plain text display and interfaces for BACnet IP, EtherCat, DeviceNet, Profibus DPV1, Modbus TCP and ProfiNet. The drive also has a programmable service-interval parameter for routine drive or system maintenance alerts, with the diagnostics menu including a handy read-only ‘time to service’ parameter. The OLED display flashes an indicator whenever a service is due.
Meanwhile, the drive outputs are configurable for ‘service due’ indication, followed by a simple service ‘reset’ procedure. The VSD service procedure is as recommended by SEW-Eurodrive, with published checks for increased product life. Other features include fire mode, fan-belt break detection, a PID sleep/standby function and a bypass control.
Adopting the Movitrac LTP-B Eco HVAC drive is part of a longer term plan to standardise on SEW-Eurodrive products at the pharmaceutical distributor, as its automated pick-and-place and sorting system, including cranes and conveyor belts, already uses gearmotors and drives from the German OEM. “In the automatic retrieval area alone, which has 16 levels and is 28 metres high, we have about 40 drives from SEW-Eurodrive,” Oosthuizen says. “The main benefit of standardising on SEW-Eurodrive products, apart from the quality and cost-effectiveness, is the aftermarket service and support that is offered,” he continues. In addition, the HVAC drives are extremely user-friendly in terms of installation and startup, with a text-based screen guiding the user through the parameters.”
While a qualified electrician is required in terms of the wiring, SEW-Eurodrive is can assist clients with startup if required. The inverters on the new HVAC drives boast an array of smart features to assist with maintenance and service intervals for pumps and fans.
For more information contact Jana Klut, SEW-Eurodrive, +27 (0)11 248 7161, [email protected], www.sew.co.za
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