Variable speed air compressor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Variable Speed Drive (VSD) Air Compressor [1] is an air compressor that takes advantage of Variable Speed Drive technology. This type of compressor uses a special drive to control the speed (RPM) of the unit, which in turn saves energy compared to a fixed speed equivalent.
The most common form of VSD technology in the Air Compressor Industry is a Variable Frequency Drive, which converts the incoming AC power to DC & then back to a quasi-sinusoidal AC power using an inverter switching circuit. The variable-frequency drive article provides additional information on electronic speed controls used with various types of AC motors.
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[edit] Benefits
The benefits of this technology included reducing power cost, reducing power surges (from starting AC motors), and delivering a more constant pressure. The down side of this technology is the heavy expense associated with the drive, and the sensativity of these drives - specifically to heat and moisture.
[edit] Industry
Typically, a fifth of a factories electricity bill is attributed to the production of compressed air. The majority of modern factories are heavily involved in cutting costs, and energy awareness should be a key concern. For example, 10-12% of all power generated in the UK is dedicated to the production of compressed air, and a portion of this power is wasted energy.
Large electrical cost savings be achieved by installing a variable speed drive compressor in place of an existing rotary screw or piston machine. Because of this, many governments, including the US & UK, are pushing the industries to move towards this technology in hopes of reducing wasted energy. Governments offers various incentives, such as tax rebates or interest free loans, to cover the upgrades.
A professional air audit is the best way to see if a VFD compressor is right for your application.[2] These audits are available from various compressed air specialists, which can tell you how much your company can save by installing a variable speed drive compressor. [3]
[edit] See also
- Variable Speed Drive
- Variable Frequency Drive
- Rotary Screw Compressor
- Air Compressor
