Speed Drive

Mechanical pumps can be controlled by varying the operating speed of the 

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Pig. 6. Lurgi pressure gasifier A = variable speed drive B = coal distributor C = rotating grate. HP = high pressure. 

Speed Devices. Many displacement pumps are connected by variable speed drives. When these pumps are used as a time device on a homogenizer, the setting is fixed, ie, the maximum speed is limited in order to meet the requirements of pasteurization. 

If the allowance for control can be reduced, it should be. One option is the use of variable-speed drives. This eliminates the control valve and its pressure drop and piping. Its best appHcation is where a large share of the head is required for friction and where process demands cause the required flow to vary. 

Other energy considerations for cooling towers include the use of two-speed or variable-speed drives on cooling-tower fans, and proper cooling-water chemistry to prevent fouling in users (see Water, industrial water treatment). Air coolers can be a cost-effective alternative to cooling towers at 50—90°C, just below the level where heat recovery is economical. 

A variable-speed drive is usually used on the feed and cross-belt drives to exercise control in separator operation, although the speed is not usually changed once the optimum operating condition is estabUshed. Feed rates and the selection of the number of magnetic poles are usually deterrnined by preliminary laboratory tests. The mineral types involved in the feed largely determine the number of poles selected. High intensity cross-belt separators are frequendy used in combination with induced-roU or electrostatic separators. 

V ri ble Frecjuency Drives. An important energy by-product of soHd-state electronics is the relatively low cost variable speed drive. These electronic devices adjust the frequency of current to control motor speed such that a pump can be controlled direcdy to deUver the right flow without the need for a control valve and its inherent pressure drop. Eigure 11 shows that at rated load the variable speed drive uses only about 70% as much power as a standard throttle control valve system, and at half load, it uses only about 25% as much power. 

Eig. 11. Power saving for variable speed drives. Power input for variable speed adjusts with flow to naturally match the frictional losses. FIC = flow... 

In addition to energy conservation, the variable speed drives offer better control because of a faster response, ie, reduced dead band. They are also sometimes chosen for safety reasons because of elimination of the control station and accompanying valving. The capital saved by use of a smaller motor and elimination of the control valve partially compensates for the cost of the drive. 

Most drum fUters operate at a rotation speed in the range of 0.1 to 10 r/min. Variable-speed drives are usuahy provided to ahow adjustment for changing cake-formation and drainage rates. 

Variable-speed drives on all shafts Screw, 64.4 Orbit, 2.2... 

Water-cooled worm and harrel, variahle-speed drive. 

The silicon-controlled rectifier with a dc motor has become predominant in adjustable-speed drives for almost all commonly used conveyors when speed adjustment to process conditions is necessary. The low cost of this control device has influenced its use when speed synchronization among conveyors is required. This can also be done, of course, by changing sheave or sprocket ratios. 

Alternating-Current Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors These motors are by far the most common constant-speed drives. They are relatively simple in design and therefore both low in cost and highly reliable. Representative prices are shown in Fig. 29-1 for various speeds and horsepowers. 

Compound-wound dc motors have both series and shunt fields. The addition of a small series field helps provide the proper amount of no-load to fuU-load speed regulation or droop. Shunt or compound-wound motors are apphed widely to many adjustable-speed drives. They are important for drives requiring accurate speed regulation and adjustment. 

The great flexibility of dc motors both through inherent design charac teristics and through the way in which they are operated makes them ideally suited to adjustable-speed drives, particularly regulated drive systems. 

One of the oldest adjustable-speed drives is the Ward-Leonard system. This consists of an ac to dc motor-generator set and a shunt or compound-wound dc motor. Speed is adjusted by changing the generator voltage. A functional equivalent of this drive uses an adjustable-voltage rectifier feeding a dc motor. This system has only one rotating machine in contrast to the three of a conventional Ward-Leonard system. 

Separate forced ventilation is required for some apphcations (for example, adjustable-speed drives which operate at low speed) these must depend on an external ventilation. This classification includes open externally ventilated machines, open pipe-ventilated machines. 

Direct-Current Motor Control Control for dc motors runs the gamut from simple manual line starters to elaborate regulating systems. Only the starting problems are considered here since variable-speed drives and regulating systems are discussed elsewhere. 

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