Understanding “VFD
Variable Frequency Drives
Xubair khan
19092
(BE)-Electronics
Contents
• Introduction
• Block Diagram
• Building blocks
• Modes of operation
• VFD Parameters
• Braking Technique
• Start/Stop Command methods
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)
Energy Usage
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.
– 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?
What is a VFD?
– Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
– Equation of motor speed
Speed= 120 x f /P
• P=No. of polesConstant
=50Hz
• F=Line Frequency
– How to change line frequency?
FD Fundamentals
Block Diagram
AC DC AC
RECTIFIER INVERTER
(AC - DC) (DC - AC)
50 Hz Power
50 Hz Variable Frequency
ABB
VFD
To
Motor
Variable Frequency
Electrical Energy
VFD
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.
Rectifier
• Basic Building blocks of rectification
– Diodes (Uncontrolled)
Thyristors
Gate
• Controlled Pulse
Conductio
n after
Gate Pulse
• Output voltage can be controlled
Three Phase Rectifiers
Output Voltage
•
• Output Voltage (dc) = x
– Vm=Peak Value of voltage
– A= Firing Angle
• Firing at zero gives maximum output
dc voltage
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
Inverter Action
• Switching DC voltage ON and OFF
will make it AC
• Filtered output from DC bus is sent to
inverter in VFD
How switching can convert
DC into AC?
Positive
+
DC Bus
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER
Positive
+
DC Bus
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER
Positive
+
DC Bus
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER
Positive
+
DC Bus
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER
Positive
+
DC Bus
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER
Pulse width modulation
• Such a waveform is not acceptable
– Nowhere near Sine wave
• Contains harmonics
– Multiples of fundamentals
• Solution
– Pulse width modulation
How Often You Switch From Positive
Pulses To Negative Pulses Determines
The Frequency Of The Waveform
Positive
+
DC Bus
Voltage
Negative
-
DC Bus
RECTIFIER INVERTER Frequency
Area Under the Curve
VFD Control Mode
• Scalar mode
• Vector mode
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 Vector
Solution
Control
Load increase
Moto
Drive r
Speed Speed at no
setting=50% load=50%
No idea
what is
happening
Moto
Drive r
Speed Speed=40%
setting=50%
Vector Control Mode
• Vector control with sensor
– Feedback through encoder
– Better speed regulations up to 0.01%
– Faster response to load variations
Vector Control Mode
Drive
INC/DEC
Speed
Accd Fb ..
Encoder sensor
Moto
Drive r
Feedback
VFD input Parameters
• Max./Base frequency setting
• Motor rated output
• Motor rated voltage
• Motor rated current
VFD input Parameters
• Frequency Reference setting methods
• Stop Command method
• Start frequency
• Stop frequency (DC Braking starts)
• Torque Boost
Frequency Reference Setting
Methods
• Potentiometer
• 0-10V input voltage
• 4-20(mA)
Frequency Reference Setting through
Potentiometer
Max
Frequenc
y
Min
Min Max
Main Control Panel
Potentiomet
er
VFD drives ……….
Stop Command methods
• Coast to stop
• Ramp to stop
Coast to stop
Frequen Motor speed
cy
Coast to Comman
Stop d is
removed
Run
Command
Ramp to stop
Ramp to
Frequen
Stop
cy
DC
Brake
Run Comman
Command d is
removed
Auto Tuning
• Drive familiarizing itself with motor
VFD I am M
here
Auto Tuning
Torque
DC
Leakage
Primary
Slip
Brake
Boost
compensation
resistance
reactance
Voltage
Moto
Drive r
Start of Auto
tuning
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
Resistive Braking
Dynamic Braking
Electrical
Energy
Utilize Discard
Regenerative Resistive
Electric grid Elevators
Braking resistor
VFD
Brakin
g Unit
Thank you…….
Engineering garage v=ir
