EC_Nov2016_lores_with

COVER ARTICLE

FEATURES:

• Control systems+ automation

• Drives,motors+ switchgear

• Plantmaintenance, test+measurement

• Temperaturemeasurement

• Energy+ enviroFiciency

T

oday’s production facilities are often textbook examples of

optimisation. Speed control of motors according to changing

needs improves process control, which is essential to ensure

high quality of the product produced. Accurate control from a VLT®

drive has positive effects on efficiency, material usage, environmen-

tal emissions, and production yield. A recent major trend is towards

increasing user friendliness and drives dedicated to and optimised

for specific applications.

Digitalisation drives down operating costs

The era of digitalisation has long begun and our dependence on

data, analytics, and the cloud will develop dramatically in the com-

ing decades. For ac drives, the potential is enormous and includes:

• Predicting customer problems and solving them before they start

• Enabling OEMs to run their applications even better

• Leveraging data utilisation to reduce costs for the customer

• New services drawing upon analysis of big data

With digitalisation developments, ac-drive programmability is en-

hanced with improved connectivity, data gathering and analysis

abilities, moving towards more customisable solutions. Digitalisation

also brings data handling, intelligence, and learning as totally new

fields of ac-drive software functionalities; end-to-end communications,

device availability, interoperability, and security on a wide variety of

digital platforms including your mobile phone.

Energy efficiency drives development in new motor tech-

nologies

For each application, a different motor technology can provide the

optimal performance characteristics. When the ac drive is compatible

Process optimisation

for

accuracy, quality, and reliability

with all typical motor technologies, then the system designer is free

to choose the optimal motor for overall system efficiency. This adapt-

ability will become increasingly important with widening diversity of

new motor technologies.

Energy storage and hybridisation

The increasing development of hybridisation involves equipping

general processes and machines which with energy storage to up-

grade performance and efficiency. VACON ® drives contribute to the

advantages of energy storage which include:

• Peak shaving, removing the need to dimension systems to peak

power demand

• Optimising performance by operating at the optimum point,

avoiding over- and underload operation

• Back-up power, which removes the need for idle reserve running

Outlook

With their diminishing size, increasing capabilities, and growing intel-

ligence, variable speed drives have become indispensable for both

the industrial and domestic sectors. In the present economic climate,

reducing total lifecycle costs and optimising system performance,

without compromising on product quality, are now more crucial key

factors in the early stages of the design process than ever before.

Danfoss Drives is a world leader in variable

speed control of electric motors. We offer

you unparalleled competitive edge through

quality, application-optimised products and

a comprehensive range of product lifecycle

services. Our low voltage and medium volt-

age VLT® and VACON® drives are used

with all major motor brands and technologies

in power sizes from small to large.

For more information, please check

our local website: www.danfoss.ae