Motor Drives form one of the essential components of an automated system. Motor drives have been widely used in industries for various applications. Various companies like Siemens, Mitsubishi, Honeywell, etc. design and manufacture motor drives for use within the automation industry. It is essential to know about motor drives and to design a robust system. This blog discusses about the two types of drives-AC Drive and DC Drive.
Applications of automation include all those components which reduce manual labor and simplify the work. If you have ever visited an automated process plant you might have come across components like Conveyor system, hoist cranes, fork lifts, pumps. These automated systems are found in residential areas like elevators, escalator, etc. These components are powered by motor drives.
Motor drives consist of DC/AC motor as the main prime mover. The motion characteristics and control is achieved with the help of electronic circuitry which forms an integrated component of the motor drive.
Having the knowledge of motor drives is essential to the successful design of an automated system. PLC and motor drives training, along with HMI form the complete automated system.
It is thus inevitable that the next generation automation engineer must be well versed with motor drives so that they can provide sustainable solution to their customers.
In this blog we will look at the various types of motor control drives used in the industry and their defining characteristics.
AC Drives: An AC Drive is that component of the system which converts fixed frequency and voltage to an adjustable frequency and AC voltage source .AC drives are used for controlling the operation and performance of AC motors.AC drives are also known in the industry by other names such as adjustable speed drives, adjustable frequency drives, etc.
Advantages:
• Versatile
• Energy Savings
• Performance
• Reliability
• Size
Applications: Conveyors, Belts, machine tools, etc.
DC Drives: The DC motor drives are used mainly for good speed regulation, frequent starting, braking and reversing
Advantages:
• Wide speed range
• High starting torque
• Very precise speed control
• Reliability and simple control
• Lower cost
Applications: Robotic drives, printers, machine tools, process rolling mills, paper and textile industries, etc.
Knowledge of successful implementation of AC and DC drives enables the engineer to deliver robust service as per client’s specifications. For hands on training in Motor Drives you can contact Advanced Engineers AB limited. AEAB is a leading automation training company in Delhi that provides hands on experience with the design and interfacing of motor control drives.