ABB has announced the launch of a low voltage AC drive, specifically targeted at pump and fan applications.
The new addition to the ABB standard drive family ranges from 0.37 to 22 kW.
ABB has designed a drive that is fast to install and commission for pump and fan applications with a powerful set of features which benefit pump and fan applications, along with advanced energy efficient functionality.
Built-in PID controllers are used to vary the drive’s performance in response to changes in pressure, flow or other external data, modifying the performance according to the needs of the application.
This can eliminate the need for an external PLC and helps to save energy.
A pump and fan control (PFC) feature modulates the speed of the main pump or fan and brings any auxiliary pumps or fans on line as necessary.
The drive can even manage switching between pumps or fans to ensure that they are all used to the same extent over the long term.
In addition, the drive includes soft pump and fan control (SPFC) which further reduces unwanted pressure peaks in pumps and pipelines.
Among the standard energy efficiency features is the energy optimizer that helps to make adjustments in areas such as noise and efficiency.
The drive’s internal fan is controlled by software to reduce losses, further improving energy efficiency.
Energy savings can be easily monitored using the built-in energy counter, which displays energy savings in kWh, or local currencies.
A short parameter menu view means that only the most used drive parameters are shown on the drive’s parameter view.
Complete parameter view can be changed by setting one parameter.
This saves time as the user can quickly see the most important parameters, thereby leading to fast drive commissioning.
The drive has pre-programmed application macros for common tasks.
The user is helped by an intuitive user interface with several assistant screens including start-up assistant to guide the user through all essential settings; a maintenance assistant that helps to set criteria for preventative maintenance; and a diagnostic assistant that finds the root cause of a problem.
A timer assistant offers help for setting timed functions while the PID assistant helps setting up sensor feedback.
The drive has embedded Modbus RTU interface as standard (RS-485 / RS-232). Well-known Modbus protocol, integrated and compact design simplifies the commissioning of the drive.
The drive is based on a robust hardware and software platform.
It is resistant to supply voltage drops and sags, improving the reliability of the application.
Flying start enables picking up a spinning load without waiting for it to stop.
Full output current is available at up to 50 °C ambient temperature.
Installation and commissioning is further speeded up with the help of a User’s Short Manual which provides basic information on the mechanical and electrical installation; start-up and control with I/O; and actual values and parameters in the short parameter menu view.