Danfoss VFDs
Danfoss VLT AutomationDrives are designed for variable speed control of all asynchronous motors and permanent magnet motors on any industrial machine or production line. Built on a flexible, modular design concept, the AutomationDrives have standard, industry features out of the box. They can be expanded with plug-and-play options with additional features, field buses, positioning control, motor protection and safety functions such as STO, SLS, SMS, SSM AND SS1. They are proven performers in all industrial environments and grid voltages, including 690V.
Danfoss VLT Micro Drive FC 51’s compact size saves panel space and reduces installation costs, while the coated PCBs ensure reliable operation in demanding environments. The drives are supported by guided programming of specific functions and the use of a PC software tool for parameterizing.
Danfoss VLT AQUA Drives are designed specifically for AC-motor-driven water and wastewater applications. With a wide range of standard features, which can be expanded with performance-improving options, the drives are suited for new and retrofit projects.
Danfoss Midi Drive FC 280 is the evolution of the VLT 2800 drive and is designed specifically for use in the food and beverage, material handling and processing industries. The exterior dimensions, cable lengths, connectors and set-up software tools allow for easy retrofitting to an established drive panel.
Motor starters safely start and stop a motor in industrial applications. They are designed with a contactor, overload and circuit protection. They are used when basic motor control is required, where torque on the motor is not a concern and speed control is not needed. The advantages of motor starters include: lower cost, allows for remote operation, allows for monitoring of motor state (with the use of auxiliary contacts) and they are safe and efficient. The disadvantages include: high inrush current that can cause fuses to blow and breakers to trip if the inrush is too high, and the starter will allow a full torque to start the motor which can cause the motor to ramp up to full speed very quickly potentially causing the motor to wear and degrade prematurely.
Soft starters protect motors from inrush current by gently ramping up the motor to full speed. They provide all of the same functions as a traditional motor starter. The advantages of soft starters include: they are less expensive than a VFD when only startup control is needed, they are a smaller system than a VFD where space is a concern and they prevent unwanted torque upon startup, prolonging the life of the motor. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive than a traditional motor starter and they do not allow for full speed control.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) allow for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. They also allow for full speed control during the entire run cycle of the motor. VFDs provide the same functions as both the traditional motor starters and soft starters. The advantages of VFDs include: full speed control (start, stop and in-between), more custom control and monitoring, energy savings due to efficient motor usage and less wear and tear on the motors. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive and larger than other motor control options and they generate heat that may require fans or AC units.