Variable speed AC drive with Vector control

Rockwell Automation introduces the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 700 with Vector Control, an easy to use variable speed drive, providing high-performance speed and torque regulation yet is small in size

To meet the tight torque and speed regulation requirements of some of the most challenging industrial automation motor control applications, the new PowerFlex 700 with Vector Control is equipped with patented Allen-Bradley Force Technology for field-oriented control.

This enables the drive to regulate motor speed to an accuracy of 0.001 percent over a wide operating speed range while also offering industry leading torque regulation.

Vector control featuring Force Technology means that the PowerFlex 700 is able to offer the sort of low speed power and performance only previously available from DC drives.

With the ability to hold full torque at zero speed and still maintain precise speed control across the speed range, the drive can be used in processes requiring very tight speed control.

These include drawing copper tubing at high speeds, in which consistency of speed maintains ideal product size and where high starting torque is also required.

The vector control drive helps eliminate wall thickness variations, while maintaining maximum throughput.

Other examples of applications requiring tight speed control include extruders, mixers, centrifuges, bottling lines and fillers, as well as applications requiring tight torque regulation, like winders, lifts, hoists, palletisers and web handling.

Available in ratings from 0.37 kW to 110 kW and voltage ratings from 230 to 600 V, the new drive is around half the size of similar products of equivalent power ratings.

The PowerFlex 700 with Vector Control further increases panel space savings with Zero Stacking, a feature that allows drives to be mounted side-by-side.

An integral electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filter reduces the drive footprint when complying with stringent European standards (CE) while integral common mode cores on the output further reduce noise.

A built-in brake eliminates the need for external choppers and dynamic braking modules.

For added flexibility, Rockwell Automation has added an additional analogue output and two high-speed analogue inputs.

For example, users can take advantage of one output for a meter to monitor speed and the other could be used to provide process information to another drive.

The two high-speed analogue inputs are ideal for users seeking very fast torque and speed response.

In particular, these high-speed inputs are required for use with motion controllers where a quick response is critical.

The PowerFlex 700 with Vector Control features a control cassette that houses the main control board and I/O.

This cassette, removable from the power structure, is the same for all drive ratings and greatly simplifies training, installation and maintenance for the entire product line.

Like all products within the PowerFlex family of drives, Rockwell Automation engineers designed the PowerFlex 700 AC drive with Vector Control to meet worldwide power ratings and packaging requirements for out-of-the-box performance.

The PowerFlex family of AC drives offers significant commonality across multiple platforms, including networks, operator interface, programming and hardware.

This commonality is designed to help users feel comfortable with the programming and start-up features available with any PowerFlex AC drive.

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