A successful energy management tools that are applied to HVAC systems would be the variable frequency drive (VFD). for decades, VFDs already have been installed successfully on pump and fan motors in different load applications. Energy savings also vary from 30 – 50% compared to the conventional constant speed applications, which then results in a good return on investment from several months to 2 years.
Though the applications that are suitable for the early generation drives were only limited based on the horsepower of its motor, the drives today could be installed in any of the HVAC applications that can be found in both institutional and commercial buildings. Click here now to get more info. The systems also could be operated in higher voltages compared to those that were used in earlier generations, which results to off the shelf systems of motors that are up to 500 horsepower.
The early generation systems, in fact, have suffered from the low power factor. The low power factor actually has taken off the facility of electrical distribution capacity and resulted in cost penalties that were imposed by the electrical utility companies. The systems nowadays operate in almost a constant power factor than the whole speed range of the motor.
Another issue which was corrected by the systems today would be operational noise. When the output frequency of the drives has decreased in response with its load, the vibrations that were induced in the motor lamination that were generated noise which was transmitted easily through motor mounts on the interior of the building. The drives nowadays are operating in high frequencies, which results in the associated noise that was above its audible range.
Energy Savings
The benefit of using VFD would be with its energy savings. Through matching the system capacity on its actual load throughout the whole year, big savings in the system motor energy use were then achieved.
Reduced Wear and Tear
When its induction motor is started, this will draw high currents during its normal operations. Click to learn more about Variable Frequency Drives. Such inrush current, in fact, could be 3 times the full-load operating current on the motor, which generates both heat and stress in motor windings and on other components. Motors that start and stop frequently, it contributes to early failures on the motors.
When motors that were connected to VFDs start, the VFD will apply low frequency and low voltage towards the motor. Both of them are ramped up gradually at a controlled rate to the normal operating conditions, which would then extend the motor life.
Precise Levels of Control
Another benefit of VFDs is that it provides precise levels of control applications. High-rise buildings actually uses booster pump systems on domestic water supplies in maintaining adequate water pressure in all levels in the building. The conventional pump controls in such type of application could maintain the pressure in a certain range, but the VFD based systems are able to maintain precise control in different ranges of flow rates and reducing energy requirements and pump wear. Learn more from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7jFGOn6xfU.
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