AC Drives are used in industrial automation to control processes.

AC Drives - This is basically a unit that is able to control the rotational speed of an Alternative Current electromotor. With this ability it becomes possible to steer industrial automation processes, to make them more efficient.

The sine wave shaped power on the input side of the drive, is connected to the variable frequencycontroller. Via the operator interface, or via for example a higher controlling system, the variable frequency drive can be programmed. Next the variable frequency and the variable power are supplied to, for example a three-phase or a single-phase induction motor.

Variable speed drives are often used in combination with encoders. This makes it possible to give feedback to the higher controlling system, which then can use the received values to adjust the speed, according to the needs of the process. Application examples that come to mind are: synchronizing the speed of different production lines, to increase production levels; air conditioning controlling systems for large buildings, to save energy; controlling the speed of a pump in a chocolate factory, according to the level that the chocolate reaches.

AC Drives - Return to Industrial Automation Components page