VFD, motor strategies for energy efficiency

John Yoon, PE, LEED AP, McGuire Engineers Inc., Chicago 02/03/2014

Learning objectives 1. n!ers"an! #hen "o s$eci%& '(Ds. 2. Learn #hich "&$es o% )o"ors re*uire '(Ds. 3. +no# ho# "o achie,e e%%icienc& #hen s$eci%&ing a '(D "o )ee" -oa! con!i"ions.

.he o$"i)is" sa&s "he g-ass is ha-% %u--, "he $essi)is" sa&s "he g-ass is ha-% e)$"&/ "he engineer sa&s "he g-ass is "#ice as -arge as i" nee!s "o 0e. .his 1o2e3s un!er-&ing "ru"h )a& see) s"raigh"%or#ar!, 0u" as engineers, #e o%"en -ose sigh" o% "hese "&$es o% 0asic gui!ing $rinci$-es #hen se-ec"ing e*ui$)en" %or a $ar"icu-ar a$$-ica"ion. 4o #hi-e #e #i-- o%"en s$eci%& ,aria0-e %re*uenc& !ri,es 5'(Ds6 %or )o"ors as a 7co,er8a--9 so-u"ion "o a-- our energ& e%%icienc& an! con"ro- consi!era"ions, "hose sa)e generic s"an!ar! $rac"ices o%"en ha,e a ra"e o% re"urn -ess "han e:$ec"e! or are 1us" $-ain ine%%ec"i,e in !oing #ha" #e "hough" "he& #ou-! !o. .o e%%ec"i,e-& s$eci%& a '(D, #e nee! "o go 0ac2 "o 0asics an! )e"ho!ica--& #or2 "hrough a %e# 2e& s"e$s;

n!ers"an! "he -oa! 5o$era"ing $o#er, "or*ue, an! s$ee! charac"eris"ics6 n!ers"an! !u"& c&c-e 5#ha" $ercen"age o% o$era"ion a" 100< -oa!, =0< -oa!, e"c.6 >nce &ou ha,e a so-i! gras$ o% "he "#o i"e)s a0o,e, "a2e a s"e$ 0ac2 an! !e"er)ine #ha" &ou3re "r&ing "o acco)$-ish 0& using a '(D 5energ& sa,ings, so%" s"ar", con"ro--a0i-i"&, e"c.6 .he ,a-ue o% "he re-ia0i-i"& o% "ha" '(D 4$eci%&ing an! con"ro--ing "he '(D "o $ro!uce !esire! resu-"s

Understand your load

n!ers"an!ing &our -oa! is "he %irs" s"e$ "o !e"er)ining #ha" &ou can gain 0& a$$-&ing '(Ds. (irs", a *uic2 re,ie# o% )o"or 0asics. In 0ui-!ing h&!ronic an! air s&s"e)s, "he )os" co))on "&$e o% )o"or $ro,i!ing $o#er "o a -oa! is a 38$hase ac in!uc"ion )o"or. .ha" )o"or has a charac"eris"ic s&nchronous s$ee! 0ase! on "he *uan"i"& o% 7$o-es9 in i"s !esign an! "he %re*uenc& o% "he e-ec"rica- su$$-&. ?u" in an ac in!uc"ion )o"or, "he ro"or s$ee! ne,er reaches s&nchronous s$ee!@"he ro"or a-#a&s s-igh"-& -ags "he %re*uenc& o% "he ro"a"ing %ie-!. .his conce$" is 2no#n as 7s-i$.9 As such, "he 0ase s$ee! o% a )o"or is !e%ine! 0& "he %o--o#ing e*ua"ion;

(or A0 BC Dor"h A)erican e-ec"rica- su$$-ies, 0ase s&nchronous s$ee!s #i"hou" s-i$ are; 28 $o-e, 3A00 r$)/ 48$o-e, 1E00 r$)/ AF$o-e, 1200 r$)/ an! EF$o-e, G00 r$). As -oa! on a )o"or increases, "he a)oun" o% s-i$ #i-- a-so increase. 4-i$ #i-- "&$ica--& 0e 1< "o 3< o% "he s$ee!. I" shou-! a-so 0e no"e! "ha" 0ase! on "his e*ua"ion, "he s$ee! o% "he )o"or #i-- change $ro$or"iona"e-& "o an& e-ec"rica- su$$-& %re*uenc& change. .he a0i-i"& "o change s$ee! 0ase! on changes in "he e-ec"rica- su$$-& %re*uenc& is "he roo" conce$" o% '(Ds. >nce #e un!ers"an! #ha" "he 0ase s$ee! o% a )o"or is, #e can "hen a!!ress "he $o#er an! "or*ue "ha" can 0e !e-i,ere! 0& "ha" )o"or. Po#er !e-i,ere! 0& "he )o"or is !e%ine! 0& "he %o--o#ing e*ua"ion;

4o, %or a gi,en $o#er ra"ing, "he )o"or 0ase s$ee! is in,erse-& $ro$or"iona- "he e%%ec"i,e "or*ue ra"ing %or "ha" )o"or. (or e:a)$-e, se-ec"ion o% an 1E00 r$) ,ersus a 1200 r$) )o"or re!uces "or*ue 0& a "hir!. De$en!ing on "he Da"iona- E-ec"rica- Manu%ac"urers Associa"ion 5DEMA6 !esign "&$e, )o"ors ha,e !i%%eren" "or*ue8s$ee! re-a"ionshi$ charac"eris"ics. .he DEMA )o"or s"an!ar! MG81 !e%ines %i,e $ri)ar& s"an!ar! in!uc"ion )o"or "&$es, !esigns A "hrough E. .he -e""er !esigna"ion %or "hese !esign "&$es shou-! no" 0e con%use! #i"h )o"or #in!ing insu-a"ion "e)$era"ure ra"ing c-asses. .he charac"eris"ics o% each !esign "&$e are sho#n in .a0-e 1.

I% "he -oa!3s s"ar"ing "or*ue re*uire)en"s are 2no#n, "his 0asic un!ers"an!ing o% "he o$era"iona- charac"eris"ics %or each )o"or !esign "&$e can $ro,i!e 0asic gui!ance in se-ec"ing "he $ro$er )o"or DEMA !esign "&$e. >nce a -oa!3s s"ar"ing re*uire)en"s are !e"er)ine!, "he ne:" s"e$ is -oo2ing a" "he -oa!Hs running re*uire)en"s. In 0ui-!ing s&s"e)s, e:c-u!ing cons"an" horse$o#er an! cons"an" s$ee!/"or*ue -oa!s, "&$ica- -oa!s "ha" can "a2e a!,an"age o% '(Ds can genera--& 0e !i,i!e! in"o "#o $ri)ar& ca"egories; 1. 'aria0-e s$ee!, ,aria0-e "or*ue 5%ans, 0-o#ers, an! cen"ri%uga- $u)$s6 2. 'aria0-e s$ee!, cons"an" "or*ue 5$osi"i,e !is$-ace)en" -oa!s such as scre# co)$ressors, reci$roca"ing co)$ressors, or e-e,a"ors6. 4o "o su$$or" a charac"eris"ic -oa!, #e se-ec" a )o"or "o )ee" a s$eci%ic s"ar"ing re*uire)en" an! running ou"$u" $o#er, "or*ue, an! s$ee!. Bo#e,er, "hrough "he a%%ini"& -a#s, #e recogniCe "ha" "here are signi%ican" $o"en"ia- energ& sa,ings associa"e! #i"h re!ucing a )o"orHs s$ee! an!, 0& associa"ion, horse$o#er. 4o i% #e can !e%ine "he re*uire! change in )o"or s$ee! "o )ee" "he change in %-o# %or a cen"ri%uga- -oa!, "he change in re*uire! $o#er is $ro$or"iona- "o "he cu0e o% "he change in s$ee! %ro) one s&s"e) $oin" "o ano"her. .he change in re*uire! "or*ue is $ro$or"iona- "o "he s*uare o% "he change in s$ee! %ro) one s&s"e) $oin" "o ano"her. .hese re-a"ionshi$s can 0e e:$resse! "hrough "he %o--o#ing e*ua"ions;

.his non-inear re-a"ionshi$ 0e"#een $o#er an! s$ee! can 0e e:$-oi"e! %or signi%ican" energ& sa,ings i% "he s$ee! o% "he )o"or can 0e change!. (igure 2 )ore c-ear-& i--us"ra"es "his re-a"ionshi$. (or $osi"i,e !is$-ace)en" -oa!s "ha" re*uire cons"an" "or*ue "hroughou" an o$era"ion s$ee! range, "he $o"en"ia- sa,ings resu-"ing %ro) re!uce! s$ee! is no" *ui"e as a""rac"i,e. Ii"h "hese "&$es o% -oa!s, "he change in re*uire! $o#er is !irec"-& $ro$or"iona- "o "he change in s$ee!. Ihi-e "he $o"en"ia- sa,ings is no" necessari-& as grea" as "ha" %or a cen"ri%uga- -oa!, "here is s"i-- $o"en"ia- "o signi%ican"-& increase energ& e%%icienc& 0& re!ucing )o"or s$ee!. Motor efficiency .he )os" e%%icien" )o"or is "he one "ha" ne,er "urns on. An! con,erse-&, "he -eas" e%%icien" )o"or is "he one "ha" !oesn3" "urn o%% #hen i" shou-! 0e o%%. As engineers, #e recogniCe "ha" e:ce$" %or cons"an" s$ee!/cons"an" "or*ue -oa!, "he #ors"8case !esign scenario usua--& re$resen"s a re-a"i,e-& s)a-- $ercen"age o% "he o,era-- o$era"ing hours %or an& gi,en 0ui-!ing s&s"e). In genera-, "he charac"eris"ic -oa! $ro%i-e %or "he )o"ors in an& gi,en s&s"e) can an! #i-- ,ar& !ra)a"ica--& !e$en!ing on 0ui-!ing usage an! #ea"her con!i"ions. '(Ds ha,e gi,en us "he ca$a0i-i"& "o change "o "he ou"$u" o% our )o"ors "o )ore c-ose-& )a"ch "he -oa! a" an& gi,en $oin". Bo#e,er, "his ca$a0i-i"& has a-so gi,en us a cru"ch in a--o#ing s&s"e)s 0ase! on o,ersiCe! e*ui$)en" "o re)ain %unc"iona-. Du)erous co)$u"er $rogra)s are a,ai-a0-e "o siCe B'AC s&s"e) co)$onen"s an! )o!e- hour-& energ& re*uire)en"s %or unusua--& co)$-e: s&s"e)s. Bo#e,er, 0e&on! a cursor& re,ie# o% a s&s"e) siCing su))ar& an! reco))en!e! e*ui$)en" se-ec"ions, ho# )uch "i)e is rea--& s$en" "r&ing "o un!ers"an! "he e:ac" -oa! $ro%i-e an! ho# "o o$"i)iCe "he e*ui$)en" se-ec"ions "o $ro,i!e "he 0es" e%%icienc& a" "he -oa! #here "he s&s"e) s$en!s )os" o% i"s "i)eJ Ihi-e i"3s recogniCe! "ha" "here3s ,a-ue "o "he s"an!ar! $rac"ice o% inc-u!ing sa%e"& %ac"ors an! re!un!anc& in a s&s"e) !esign, "here3s ano"her si!e "o "ha" s"or&. .o i--us"ra"e "his, here3s an e:"re)e e:a)$-e; Is o$era"ing a =0 h$ )o"or a" E0< -oa! going "o 0e )ore or -ess cos"8 e%%ec"i,e "han o$era"ing a 100 h$ )o"or a" 40< -oa!J Ihi-e "he !i%%erence in energ& cos"s )a& 0e )argina-, "he !i%%erence in ini"ia- ca$i"a- cos"s %or ins"a--a"ion is no". Bo# )an& $ro1ec"s ha,e 0een sen" 0ac2 %or ,a-ue engineering 0ecause "he !esign cou-! no" )ee" "he cons"ruc"ion 0u!ge"J

.here are cer"ain si"ua"ions #here using a '(D )a& no" resu-" an& energ& sa,ings an! )a& on-& ser,e "o increase "he cos" an! co)$-e:i"& o% an ins"a--a"ion. .he $ri)ar& 0ene%i" o% using a '(D is 0eing a0-e "o o$era"e a )o"or a" a re!uce! s$ee!. Per "he a%%ini"& -a#s, o$era"ing a" a re!uce! s$ee! resu-"s in a !ra)a"ica--& -o#er $o#er re*uire)en", an! 0& associa"ion, a re!uce! energ& usage an! o$era"iona- cos". Bo#e,er, i% a )o"or is ser,ing a -oa! -i2e a "oi-e" e:haus" %an "ha" o$era"es a-- o% "he "i)e a" a %i:e! s$ee! "o )ee" a )ini)u) co!e e:haus" re*uire)en", #ha" energ& sa,ings 0ene%i" !oes a '(D o%%er i% i" on-& o$era"es a" 100<J Mo"or e%%icienc& is a si)$-e ra"io o% "o"a- in$u" energ& "o use%u- ou"$u" $o#er. Mo"ors are no" 100< e%%icien", 0u" recen" %e!era- e%%icienc& s"an!ar!s ha,e resu-"e! in no"icea0-& increase! e%%iciencies %or )o"ors across "he 0oar!. .he Energ& Po-ic& Ac" o% 1GG2 5EPAc" 1GG26 an! "he su0se*uen" Energ& In!e$en!ence an! 4ecuri"& Ac" o% 200K 5EI4A6 )an!a"e )ini)u) %u-- -oa! e%%icienc& re*uire)en"s %or a-- genera- $ur$ose 38$hase )o"ors %ro) 1 "o 200 h$ ra"e! u$ "o A00 ' "ha" are )anu%ac"ure! or i)$or"e! in"o "he ni"e! 4"a"es. Co)$are! "o $re8 EPAc" )o"ors, "hese s"an!ar!s re$resen" incre)en"a--& increase! e%%icienc& across "he 0oar!, "he )agni"u!e o% #hich is "&$ica--& in "he )i!8 "o highFsing-e8!igi" $ercen" range. .he grea"es" e%%icienc& gains are "&$ica--& rea-iCe! in s)a--er8siCe! )o"ors 0e-o# =0 h$. As !e)ons"ra"e! in our o,er,ie# o% "he a%%ini"& -a#s, "re)en!ous energ& sa,ings $o"en"iae:is"s in re!ucing )o"or s$ee! an! $o#er. ?u" #as "his "he "rue ,a-ue o% "ha" re!uce! $o#er usageJ .a0-e 2 sho#s so)e si)$-i%ie! e:a)$-es o% e-ec"rica- cos" co)$are! "o e*ui$)en" cos".

Ihi-e "hese e:a)$-es use genera-iCe! cos"s %or e-ec"rici"& an! e*ui$)en", "he& ser,e "o !e)ons"ra"e as an or!er o% )agni"u!e es"i)a"e, "ha" "he &ear-& cos" %or e-ec"rici"& can easi-& a$$roach !ou0-e "he cos" o% "he )o"or i"se-%. Ihi-e "he e:ac" e*ui$)en" cos" an! "he u"i-i"&

ra"es can a%%ec" "he resu-"s in ei"her !irec"ion, i" shou-! 0e re)e)0ere! "ha" "he "&$ica- ser,ice -i%e %or a genera- !u"& "o"a--& enc-ose! %an8coo-e! 5.E(C6 )o"or is a$$ro:i)a"e-& 20 &ears. Gi,en "he -oa! $ro%i-e, !oes a!!ing a '(D )a2e senseJ Does "he '(D ha,e an acce$"a0-& shor" -eng"h o% "i)e %or re"urn on in,es")en"J '(Ds asi!e, "he in"erna- e%%icienc& o% a )o"or changes #i"h -oa!. Pea2 e%%icienc& %or )os" )o"ors a" a %i:e! s$ee! is ac"ua--& a" a0ou" K=< -oa! ra"her "han a" ra"e! horse$o#er. Bo#e,er, "he !i%%erence in e%%icienc& 0e"#een K=< an! 100< -oa! is neg-igi0-e, "&$ica--& 0e-o# 1<. Mos" e-ec"ric )o"ors are !esigne! "o o$era"e a" =0< "o 100< o% ra"e! -oa!. As "he )o"or siCe ge"s s)a--er, ho#e,er, "his e%%icienc& !ro$ o%% #i"h -o#er -oa! ra"ings )a& 0e so)e"hing "o consi!er. Ii"h )o"ors 0e-o# 2= h$, i"3s no" unusua- "o see u$ "o a =< "o 10< !i%%erence in e%%icienc& 0e"#een 2=< an! K=< -oa!.

VFDs arent black boxes Co)$are! "o a '(D, )o"ors are 0ig, !u)0 hun2s o% iron, co$$er #ire, an! insu-a"ion. I" shou-! ne,er 0e %orgo""en "ha" '(Ds are %air-& so$his"ica"e! $o#er e-ec"ronics consis"ing o% nu)erous !iscre"e co)$onen"s. Ihi-e "he ser,ice -i%e o% a )o"or is !e$en!en" $ri)ari-& on "he con!i"ion o% "he ro"or sha%" 0earings an! insu-a"ion s&s"e) %or "he #in!ings, "he ser,ice -i%e o% a '(D is !irec"-& re-a"e! "o "he re-ia0i-i"& o% "he in!i,i!ua- '(D co)$onen"s@an& o% #hich can cause "ha" '(D "o %ai-. De$en!ing on "he siCe an! age o% a '(D, i" is o%"en )ore cos"8e%%ec"i,e "o re$-ace "he en"ire '(D ra"her "han a""e)$" "o re$-ace in!i,i!ua- %ai-e! co)$onen"s. Bis"orica--&, "he %ocus has 0een on )ini)iCing )o"or %ai-ures #hen !esigning an! s$eci%&ing e*ui$)en" #i"h '(Ds. .his is no" unusua-, gi,en "he nu)erous horror s"ories o% )o"or %ai-ure a%"er shor" $erio!s o% "i)e !ue "o a -ac2 o% consi!era"ion "o $ossi0-e har)%u- in"erac"ion 0e"#een "he )o"or an! '(D. .hese issues o% re!uce! )o"or -i%e cause! 0& '(D o$era"ion can 0e $ar"ia--& )i"iga"e! "hrough se,era- )e"ho!s; 0& use o% "rue in,er"er !u"& )o"ors "ha" con%or) "o DEMA MG18200A Par" 31, sha%" groun!ing rings, con!uc"i,e 0earing -u0rican"s, an! 2ee$ing )o"or %ee!er -eng"hs shor". Bo#e,er, a %ac" "ha" is o%"en o,er-oo2e! in "his e)$hasis on ensuring "he re-ia0i-i"& o% "he )o"or is "ha" "he cos" o% "he '(D can a$$roach "he cos" o% "he )o"or. Iha" !o #e !o "o ensure "he re-ia0i-i"& o% "ha" '(D an! $ro"ec" "ha" in,es")en"J Jus" -i2e )o"ors, '(Ds are no" 100< e%%icien". .he rec"i%ier8!c 0us8in,er"er !esign o% a "&$ica- '(D is no" "o"a--& -oss8-ess. Mos" '(D e%%icienc& ra"ings are in "he )i!8G0< range. .he -osses in a '(D are $ri)ari-& a""ri0u"e! "o con!uc"ion 5e-ec"rica- curren" %-o#ing "hrough "he !e,ice6 an! s#i"ching -osses 5"he $o#er "ransis"ors on "he rec"i%ier in$u" an! in,er"er ou"$u"6. Ihi-e higher carrier %re*uencies in a $u-se#i!"h )o!u-a"ion sche)e genera--& resu-" in 0e""er '(D ou"$u" #a,e%or) sha$ing, "here is a !o#nsi!e. '(D con!uc"i,e -osses are %air-& consis"en", 0u" s#i"ching -osses are !irec"-& $ro$or"iona- "o "he carrier %re*uenc& a" #hich "he "ransis"ors o$era"e. A signi%ican" $or"ion o% "he in$u" $o#er "o "he '(D is #as"e! as hea". .ha" sa)e hea" an! "he a0i-i"& "o $ro$er-& )anage i" has a !irec" e%%ec" on "he aging o% "he '(D3s e-ec"ronic co)$onen"s. ?u" e,en #i"h $ro$er "her)a- )anage)en", "he use%u- ser,ice -i%e %or a '(D can s"i-- 0e signi%ican"-& -ess "han "ha" %or "he )o"or i" ser,es. Man& cri"ica- '(D co)$onen"s

)a& re*uire re$-ace)en" in a "i)e s$an as shor" as = "o 10 &ears. .hese co)$onen"s inc-u!e coo-ing %ans, con"ro- 0oar!s, $o#er ca$aci"ors, an! )ore. Le$-ace)en" o% so)e co)$onen"s )a& re$resen" a !is$ro$or"iona--& -arge $ercen"age o% "he cos" o% "he '(D.

.he 2e& "o re-ia0-e '(D o$era"ion is "o )a:i)iCe "he -i%e e:$ec"anc& o% "he in!i,i!ua- co)$onen" 0& con"ro--ing "e)$era"ure, hu)i!i"&, an! !ir"/!us" in "he -oca"ion #here "he '(D is ins"a--e!. '(D %ai-ure )o!es cause! 0& $oor o$era"ing con!i"ions are nu)erous. (ans an! %i-"ers can c-og #i"h !us" an! !ir". Co)$onen"s can corro!e !ue "o high hu)i!i"&. Poor $o#er *ua-i"& issues can %r& con"ro0oar!s. .he !ri,e can o,erhea" #i"h no air circu-a"ion in high a)0ien" "e)$era"ures. .he -is" goes on, 0u" "he $ri)ar& en,iron)en"a- consi!era"ion is a-#a&s hea" 5see (igure 36. Ihi-e '(Ds are !esigne! "o o$era"e in u$ "o a 104 ( a)0ien" "e)$era"ure, "he o$"i)u) a)0ien" "e)$era"ure %or $o#er e-ec"ronics is =G "o EA (. .he "&$ica- ru-e o% "hu)0 is "ha" %or e,er& 1K ( re!uc"ion in o$era"ing "e)$era"ure, "he -i%e o% "he !e,ice !ou0-es. .his ser,es "o e)$hasiCe "ha" "he $er%or)ance an! o,era-- re-ia0i-i"& o% "he s&s"e) can 0e !ra)a"ica--& i)$ac"e! 0& so)e"hing as si)$-e as ensuring "ha" "here is a!e*ua"e air%-o# aroun! "he '(D 5see (igure 46.

Ie o%"en $u" )o"ors an! '(Ds in -oca"ions "ha" are $oor-& sui"e! "o ensuring "heir re-ia0-e o$era"ion. n%or"una"e-&, !ue "o "he na"ure o% "he -oa!s "ha" #e a$$-& '(Ds "o, "here are o%"en -i)i"e! o$"ions as "o #here "he '(D can 0e -oca"e!. .his )a& )ean $u""ing a '(D in an uncon!i"ione! $u)$ house, on "he roo% in a $ac2age! air han!er. Ihi-e "hese "&$es o% si"ua"ions )a& re$resen" a co)$ro)ise! !esign, i" shou-! 0e un!ers"oo! #ha" e%%ec" "his has on "he re-ia0i-i"& o% "he !esign an! #ha" a!!i"iona-e,e-s o% re!un!anc& in "he !esign are a$$ro$ria"e "o accoun" %or "his re!uce! -e,e- o%

re-ia0i-i"&. Is a #ra$8aroun! 0&$ass across8"he8-ine con"ac"or, or a se$ara"e s"an!0& '(D %or e)ergenc& s"ar"ing a$$ro$ria"e %or "he a$$-ica"ionJ Scalar and vector control Assu)ing "ha" #e $ro$er-& charac"eriCe! our -oa! "&$e, %oun! "he righ" )o"or %or "he -oa!, an! !e"er)ine! "ha" "he -oa! $ro%i-e o% "he -oa! )a2es a '(D use%u-, ho# !o #e con"ro- "ha" '(DJ .here are "#o $ri)ar& "&$es o% '(D con"ro- sche)es; M'o-"s $er Ber"CM 5a-so 2no#n as '/BC, or sca-ar con"ro-6 an! ,ec"or con"ro-. 4ca-ar is "he si)$-er 5an! chea$er6 con"ro- )e"ho!o-og&. .he $u-se #i!"h )o!u-a"ion use! 0& )o!ern '(Ds "o s&n"hesiCe a sinusoi!a- ou"$u" can 0e use! "o change no" on-& %re*uenc& 0u" a-so ,o-"age. I% "he ra"io o% in$u" ,o-"age "o %re*uenc& is 2no#n 5e.g., 4A0 '/A0 BC N K.AK6, )ain"aining "he '(D ou"$u" a" a %i:e! ,o-"age "o %re*uenc& ra"io "heore"ica--& can a--o# consis"en" "or*ue o,er "he en"ire o$era"ion s$ee! range o% a )o"or. A" ,er& -o# )o"or s$ee!s/%re*uencies, i% "he ,o-"age a$$roache! Cero, "he "or*ue ou"$u" o% "he )o"or #ou-! a-so a$$roach Cero. .o a!!ress "his, a %i:e! ,o-"age 5,o-"age 0oos"6 is a!!e! "o "he $rescri0e! '/BC ra"io "o )ain"ain "or*ue. As "he s$ee! is increase!, "he ,o-"age 0oos" is re)o,e!. In genera-, "he $ri)ar& 0ene%i" o% "his con"ro- )e"ho!o-og& is "ha" i" is ,er& si)$-e an! !oes no" re*uire !irec" )o"or %ee!0ac2. I% )u-"i$-e )o"ors are connec"e! "o a sing-e '(D, "his #ou-! 0e "he -i2e-& con"ro- )e"ho!. Bo#e,er, "his -ac2 o% %ee!0ac2 "o "he !ri,e is a-so one o% i"s $ri)ar& !isa!,an"ages. sing a se" '/BC ra"io an! no !irec" )o"or %ee!0ac2, s$ee! an! "or*ue regu-a"ion %or a -oa! 0eco)es 70es" guess.9 4ca-ar !ri,es are genera--& reco))en!e! %or "urn!o#n ra"ios o% no )ore "han A;1. >"her !isa!,an"ages inc-u!e re!uce! a0i-i"& "o o,ers$ee! a )o"or, $oor 0rea2a#a& "or*ue charac"eris"ics, an! $oor -o# s$ee! "or*ue@e,en #i"h ,o-"age 0oos" %ea"ures. Ii"h ,aria0-e s$ee!/cons"an" "or*ue -oa! "&$es, "hese !o#nsi!es can o%"en 0e !ea- 0rea2ers.

.here are "#o %or)s o% ,ec"or con"ro-, !irec" an! in!irec". .here are "#o su0se"s o% in!irec", c-ose! -oo$ 5%ee!0ac26 an! o$en -oo$ 5sensor-ess6. A-- use "he sa)e 0asic conce$". ?& sha$ing "he '(DHs ou"$u" ,o-"age an! %re*uenc&, #e can se$ara"e-& a!!ress "he )agne"iCing curren" 5re%erre! "o as "he 7!9 ,ec"or co)$onen"6 an! "or*ue $ro!ucing curren" 5re%erre! "o as

"he 7*9 ,ec"or co)$onen"6 in "he )o"or3s s"a"or. Ihereas sca-ar con"ro-s use a %i:e! '/BC ra"io, "he a0i-i"& "o !ecou$-e "hese co)$onen"s an! in!e$en!en"-& a!!ress "he) o$ens a grea"er $ossi0-e range o% "or*ue an! s$ee! con"ro-. Bo#e,er, as "he )o"or in"erac"s #i"h a !&na)ic -oa!, "he '(DHs )icro$rocessor nee!s so)e %ee!0ac2 re%erence signa- "o ensure "ha" "he )o"or is $ro,i!ing s"a0-e s$ee! an! "or*ue "o "he -oa!. Ihen %ee!0ac2 is $ro,i!e! "o "he )icro$rocessor, i" can ca-cu-a"e changes on "he %-& "o "he '(D ou"$u" "o 0e""er regu-a"e "he )o"or s$ee! an! "or*ue. In !irec" ,ec"or con"ro-, &ou #ou-! #an" "o !irec"-& )easure "he )o"or air ga$ %-u: #i"hin "he )o"or. Bo#e,er, "his is no" ,er& co))on !ue "o "he -e,e- o% accurac& an! cos" associa"e! #i"h "he a!!i"iona- sensors nee!e!. In c-ose! -oo$ in!irec" ,ec"or con"ro-, a sha%" enco!er is a!!e! "o "he )o"or "o "e-- "he '(D e:ac"-& #ha" "he $osi"ion an! s$ee! o% "he )o"or sha%" is. 4ha%" enco!ers are "&$ica--& )oun"e! on "he non8!ri,e en! o% "he )o"or. In o$en -oo$ in!irec" ,ec"or con"ro-, "here is no sensor on "he )o"or. La"her, "he '(D co)$ares i"s ou"$u" curren" "o "he )o"or an! co)$ares "his "o a )a"he)a"ica- )o!e- o% "he )o"or "o !e"er)ine i% a!1us")en"s "o "he ou"$u" are re*uire!. 4ince "his is on-& an a$$ro:i)a"ion o% s$ee! 0ase! on a )o!e- an! no" a !irec" )easure)en", s$ee! regu-a"ion, an! o,era-- o$era"iona- s$ee! range, is no" as goo! as #i"h c-ose! -oo$ con"ro-. 'ec"or con"ro- )e"ho!o-ogies are "&$ica--& use! "o acco))o!a"e high "urn!o#n ra"ios 5,er& #i!e o$era"iona- s$ee! range6 or #here $recise "or*ue con"ro- is re*uire!. Ihere a )o"or is re*uire! "o $ro!uce ra"e! "or*ue a" Cero s$ee! an! 7ho-!9 a -oa! %or a $erio! o% "i)e, "here is "&$ica--& no choice 0u" "o use a ,ec"or !ri,e.

John Yoon is the senior staff electrical engineer for McGuire Engineers. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the design of electrical distribution systems. His project experience co ers a broad spectrum! including high"rise building infrastructure rene#al programs! tenant build"outs! mission critical data centers! good manufacturing practice $GM%& cleanroom facilities! and industrial facilities.