Applications of Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)

The AC drive has been around only since the 1970s. The growing popularity of AC drives is due chiefly to their ability to provide adjustable speed control with standard NEMA B design squirrel cage motors.

Other names for AC drives are variable frequency drive (VFD) and variable speed drive (VSD), but we’ll just call them AC drives.

How do AC Drives work?

A variable frequency drive (VFD) is a type of motor controller that drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage of its power supply.

The VFD also has the capacity to control the ramp-up and ramp-down of the motor during start or stop, respectively.

Applications of Variable Frequency Drive

In this post, we will have a look at some general target industries and applications where the VFD is used.

Some of the industries are mentioned below where we use variable frequency drives.

 

Automotive Industry

The VFDs are used for the following machines.

  1. Conveyors
  2. Tool Changers
  3. Transfer Lines
  4. Boring / Cutting Machines
  5. Feeders
  6. Pressers
  7. Welders
  8. Shears
  9. Parts Positioning
  10. Hoists
  11. Pumps
  12. Ventilating Fans
  13. Grinders
  14. Deburring Equipment
  15. Wind Tunnels

 

Food and Beverage Industry

Following is the equipment that we use VFD in the food industry.

  1. Conveyors
  2. Filling Machines
  3. Capping Machines
  4. Labeling
  5. Wrapping
  6. Pumps
  7. Cutting Process
  8. Fans
  9. Transporters for Freezing Tunnels
  10. Screw Pumps
  11. Crunchers
  12. Mixers
  13. Dough Machines
  14. Agitators

 

Chemical Industry

Here is the list of equipment used with AC drives in the chemical industry.

  1. Centrifugal Pumps
  2. Fans
  3. Dosing and Metering Pumps
  4. Granulators
  5. Mixers
  6. Container Handling
  7. Agitators
  8. Packaging Machines
  9. Dosing Conveyors
  10. Crunchers

 

Textile Industry

The following are the machines used in the textile industry with variable speed drives.

  1. Bobbin Winder
  2. Texturing Machines
  3. Gear Pumps
  4. Mixers
  5. Extruder
  6. Twister and Doubler
  7. Drawing Roller
  8. Washers
  9. Conveyors
  10. Beam Wrappers
  11. Carding Machines
  12. Presser Frames
  13. Knitters
  14. Weaver’s Loom
  15. Dryers
  16. Picking Machines
  17. Flocking Machines
  18. Printing Machines
  19. Scrappers
  20. Bag Handling Machines
  21. Screw Pumps
  22. Sewing Machines
  23. Cutting Machines
  24. Washing Machines
  25. Dry Cleaning
  26. Ironer
  27. Transporters

 

Paper Industry

A short list of machines used with VFDs in the paper industry.

  1. Feeders
  2. Crushers
  3. Centrifugal Pumps
  4. Dryers
  5. Winding / Unwinding Rollers
  6. Coating Machines
  7. Conveyors
  8. Cutting Machines
  9. Unwinding Machines
  10. Glue Pumps
  11. Packaging Machines
  12. Cutting Machines
  13. Ink Pumps
  14. Printing Press
  15. Assembling Machine
  16. Folders

 

Wood Industry

Some more list of equipment in the wood industry used with the drives.

  1. Saws
  2. Ventilating Fans
  3. Pumps
  4. Chip Conveyors
  5. Transfer Cars
  6. Grinders
  7. Saws
  8. Conveyors
  9. Washers
  10. Oven Conveyors
  11. Material Conveyors

 

Metallurgy Industry

The applications of VFDs in the metallurgy industry are mentioned below.

  1. Injectors
  2. Crushers
  3. Conveyors
  4. Pumps
  5. Fans
  6. Wire Drawing Machines
  7. Steel Rolling Machines
  8. Press and Cutting Machines
  9. Plastic Covering Machines
  10. Metal Finishing Treatment
  11. Stitch Seam Welding Machines

In this way, we understand some general applications of VFDs in industries.

Source: <https://instrumentationtools.com/applications-of-variable-frequency-drive-vfd/>