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ABB Launches HVAC drive for simple use and installation
A dedicated variable speed drive for the HVAC industry has been launched by
ABB. With an intuitive interface and few optional extras, it has been
designed specifically to run fans and centrifugal pumps in applications such
as air handling units and chillers.
ABB's class of standard drives for HVAC is manufactured in IP 21 and IP 54,
rated from 0.75 to 355 kW, 200 and 400 V and will be manufactured in large
volumes for off the shelf availability. The series is aimed at users
purchasing drives through a local distributor for immediate installation.
The product has innovative user support features, making it "the easiest
drive to install, commission and use" according to james Haigh, senior vice
president, drives, at ABB. Included is a start up assistant that guides
users through aft essential settings without the need to access complex
parameter lists. The software is driven by macros defined by their
application, such as "extract fan", "supply fan" or "cooling tower".
Selecting a macro sets up the drive for the expected duty. The user can also
access individual parameters if any need to be altered.
If a fault occurs, simply pressing the "help" button will suggest ways to
fix the fault.
"End users as well as OEMs and system houses want a drive that is easy to
set up," says Mike Carman, sales manager, HVAC at ABB. "They have to deal
with equipment from many different manufacturers. As the programming is
normally the difficult part, we have put a lot of effort into improving the
user interface."
Control panel with new technology
All functions are accessed through a new development in control panel
technology. The control panel is similar in look and functionality to a
mobile phone and features two soft keys, the function of which changes
according to the state of the panel.
Mini BMS included
The drive features a real time clock with calendar function, enabling users
to schedule activities for different times of the day or week. The timer
function also enables the drive to be used as a small BMS system as the I/Os
can be used to control other devices. Any faults within the system are
recorded with the time and day. A kilowatt calculator enables easy
monitoring of energy consumption. Users can set limits for running hours or
motor rotation, so that the drive gives an alarm when the Emits are reached,
enabling preventative maintenance at regular intervals.
The small physical size of the drive saves valuable space, particularly
useful for third party suppliers budding drives into panels.
EMC compatibility built in
The drive has EMC protection for the first environment, the highest class of
EMC protection, which means it can be used on a supply network shared with
domestic users.
The drive is delivered with flux optimisation enabled, to provide the right
motor magnetisation for any given load, optimising any energy savings
automatically.
Patent pending harmonics suppression
Patent pending, swinging DC chokes that suppress harmonics caused by the
inverter, reducing total harmonic distortion by up to 25% at partial loads,
comes as standard. Under the Electricity Association's recommendation G5/4,
users have a responsibility to keep harmonic pollution within certain Emits.
With an increasing number of switching devices that produce harmonic
currents being installed in buildings, ABB's new HVAC drive will help end
users meet their obligations.
Ready for fieldbus
ABB's HVAC drive is ready to connect to a fieldbus. It comes with protocols
for Modbus, Land'
is Staefa FLN and johnson Controls N2 as standard Plug in units are
available for other protocols, such as LON Works, ProfiBus, DeviceNet and
Trend fieldbus controller. The plug in units can be installed by the user in
about five minutes.
"Fireman's Override" for emergencies
A" Fireman's Override" enables the drive to be used for emergency smoke
extraction. This will normally be activated by the fire brigade in the event
of an emergency from a central panel in the building's reception area. With
the" Fireman's Override" activated, the drive will run the ventilation at a
pre set speed, normally full speed, ignoring any alarms or other commands,
until destruction.
Less noise
The new drive reduces noise levels with a noise optimisation feature, which
increases the switching frequency of the drive when the motor load is
reduced, thereby lowering motor noise. Noise is further reduced through the
higher switching frequency of the sensorless vector control platform. The
onboard cooling fan, runs only when necessary, further bringing down drive
noise and also improving energy efficiency.
Reduced maintenance
The maintenance period has been increased to 90,000 hours for the fan (11
years of continuous duty) and 60,000 hours for the capacitors (7.5 years of
continuous duty). The fan is fitted in a cassette for easy removal and
cleaning. Standard HRC fuses are used instead of semiconductor fuses,
reducing installation costs.
The new drive offers roved security with keypad and parameters password
protected. On the IP54 models, the lid covering the keypad can be physically
locked with a padlock.
30 months warranty
ABB's HVAC drive comes with 30 months warranty It will be stocked in large
volumes for easy availability by ABB's 10 HVAC partners, at ABB's warehouse
in Telford and by ABB's central stock in Germany. Service, commissioning and
after sales support is available from the HVAC partners, backed up by ABB's
18 in¬house service engineers.
Designed by international HVAC experts
The new drive has been designed in cooperation with a group of HVAC
engineers from both ABB and other companies, such as HVAC distributors,
system integrators and OEMs, from around the world.
"This drive is designed by HVAC engineers and built by ABB," says Carman.
"The design group has particularly looked at ease of use as well as the
needs for the future, where harmonics is set to become a major issue."
In keeping with the simple approach to drive selection, a fresh approach has
been taken with the documentation. A lot of effort has gone into producing
an easy to follow User Manual. The manual has many step by step pictures
guiding the user through installation and drive set up. The manual is
supported by a Technical Reference Manual.
ENDS
Note to Editors: ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and
automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to
improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB Group of
companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.
The Automation Technologies division serves the automotive, budding,
chemicals, consumer, electronics, life sciences, manufacturing, marine,
metals, minerals, paper, petroleum, transportation, turbocharging and
utility industries. Key technologies include control, drives, enterprise
software, instrumentation, low voltage products, motors, robots and
turbochargers. These offerings are supported by field maintenance and asset
management services and are sold both directly and through channel partners.
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