Schneider Electric VFDs
Schneider Electric offers the Altivar product line, which is part of its global supply of energy management and automation solutions. The variable frequency drives (VFDs) that make up the Altivar product line provide precisely controlled operations for electric motors in a variety of industrial processes and commercial applications. Motor control means more than just turning motors on and off; it also involves controlling their speed—and this is exactly what VFDs do.
Altivar drives offer some advanced protection features for motors: overload protection, phase loss detection, short-circuit protection, and thermal protection—ensuring that connected motors operate safely and don't run amiss. These protection mechanisms also help prevent equipment damage at all stages of their lifetimes.
The drives support many communication protocols, like Modbus and Ethernet. They talk to each other seamlessly, ensuring systems can communicate in a way that's both efficient and reliable. Leveraging these protocols enables developers to design seamless systems that work together.
Products
Motor Starters, Soft Starters and VFDs
Motor Starters
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
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.
VFDs
A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) allows for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. It also allows 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.