This document discusses variable frequency drives (VFDs) which vary the frequency and voltage supplied to electric motors to control their speed. It describes the key components of a VFD including the rectifier, DC bus, and inverter. The rectifier converts AC power to DC, the DC bus stores and filters it, and the inverter converts it back to AC of variable frequency to control motor speed. VFDs can operate in scalar or vector control modes, and their parameters like frequency and voltage settings must be configured for the specific motor. VFDs allow controlling motor speed without a mechanical transmission and provide braking methods like DC injection to slow motors.
4. Introduction
– A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is a type of motor
controller that drives an electric motor by varying the
frequency and voltage supplied to the electric motor.
Other names for a VFD are variable speed drive,
adjustable speed drive, adjustable frequency drive,
or an AC drive.
– Frequency (or hertz) is directly related to the motor’s
speed (RPMs)
6. Electric Motor Facts
• Electric motors account for more than two-
thirds of all energy used in industry
• 63% of the energy consumed is linked to air &
liquid flow
• A typical 50HP industrial motor, with an
efficiency of 90%, costs over $25,000 to operate
continuously over a year.
7. – Standard motors are constant speed and when they
are energized they run at a 100% speed no matter
the load.
– What if the speed of the driven machine (Fan, Pump)
is to be changed?
8. What is a VFD?
– Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
– Equation of motor speed
Speed= 120 x f /P
• P=No. of poles
• F=Line Frequency
– How to change line frequency?
Constant
=50Hz
9. Block Diagram
VFD Fundamentals
50 Hz Power
Electrical Energy
ABB
Variable Frequency
To
Motor
VFD
RECTIFIER
(AC - DC)
INVERTER
(DC - AC)
AC DC AC
VFD
Variable Frequency50 Hz
10. VFD Explored
First, the Converter (usually a diode rectifier) converts three-phase AC power to DC
power.
Next, the DC Bus stores and filters the DC power in a large bank of capacitors.
Last, the Inverter (usually a set of six IGBTs) switches or inverts the DC power in a
Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) AC waveform to the motor.
14. Output Voltage
• Output Voltage (dc) =
3× 3×𝑉𝑚
∏
x cos 𝐴
–Vm=Peak Value of voltage
–A= Firing Angle
• Firing at zero gives maximum output dc
voltage
15. Is it a perfect Direct Current?
• Conversion of AC into DC a perfect process?
– Ripples
• How to eliminate the ripples?
– Filters
DC bus in VFD
16. Inverter Action
• Switching DC voltage ON and OFF will make it
AC
• Filtered output from DC bus is sent to inverter
in VFD
22. Pulse width modulation
• Such a waveform is not acceptable
– Nowhere near Sine wave
• Contains harmonics
– Multiples of fundamentals
• Solution
– Pulse width modulation
26. V/F Control Mode
• Scalar mode
• Drive is unaware of what is happening in the motor
Example:
• A 400V scalar drive is told to run a 400V, 50 Hz motor at 50%
speed Following V/F pattern, Voltage applied by the drive will
also be half.
• Perfect when at no load.
• After loading, motor will run at less than 50% speed
• Drive is unaware of it
Solution
Vector
Control
29. Vector Control Mode
• Vector control with sensor
– Feedback through encoder
– Better speed regulations up to 0.01%
– Faster response to load variations
41. Auto Tuning
MotorDrive
Start of Auto tuning
Primary resistanceLeakage reactanceDC Brake Voltage
Torque Boost
Voltage
Slip compensation
42. DC Injection Braking
• No mechanical Contact
• DC is applied at the stator winding
• DC causes stator to be become a magnet with
constant field
• A voltage is induced inside the rotor causing current
to flow
• According to Lens’s law, this current will cause rotor
to stop