Motor drive output filters boost efficiency

New from Schaffner, the FN50x0 Series is the company's third generation of motor drive output filters, aimed at improving both the efficiency and working lifetime of motor drive installations.

New from Schaffner at Drives and Controls 2001, the FN50x0 Series is the company's third generation of motor drive output filters, aimed at improving both the efficiency and working lifetime of motor drive installations.

The first device in the series is the FN5010, a three-phase 400V sunusoidal output filter available for use with a wide range of inverter output ratings from 3.5 to 410A.

Schaffner pioneered the motor drive output filter with the introduction of the FN500 Series in 1992.

The latest generation builds on almost ten years of experience in the field, and its launch coincides with the introduction of the Climate Change Levy, with its emphasis on greater efficiency for motor drives.

The FN5010 addresses the fast rise-times of the output waveforms associated with higher frequency (and hence more efficient) inverter drives.

The non-sinusoidal waveforms can be damaging both to motors and motor cables, breaking down windings and insulation.

The filter limits these rise-times, producing a near-pure-sinewave output which is less stressful to the motor being driven.

Power consumption is immediately reduced by the reduction of eddy-current losses in the motor windings.

And as the filter reduces the wear on the motor, it maintains its mechanical efficiency, in turn reducing power consumption over time.

In addition to new applications, the FN5010 can provide substantial improvements to efficiency and reliability when retrofitted in existing installations.

The filters also virtually eliminate the harmonics produced in the inverter output which would normally manifest themselves as acoustic noise in the motor and as heat in both the motor and the cable between the drive and the motor.

Again, this improves the overall efficiency of the motor drive, but has the added bonuses of reducing the acoustic noise and allowing the use of longer cable runs between the inverter and the motor.

It can also save money, as in many cases cheaper unshielded cable can be used.

The FN5010 Series is available now from Schaffner EMC Ltd.

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