DC drive `needs half the cabinet space`
Parker SSD Drives has announced a compact DC drive which, it claims, requires less than half of the cabinet space of some rivals. The Frame 6 extension to SSD’s DC590+ family has a far smaller footprint than SSD’s previous models, making it one of the smallest systems on the market.
The drives are supplied as separate power and control modules that mount directly onto cabinet backplates. Each drive can be wired with a top or bottom AC power supply input, and left or right DC exits. There is a choice of three current ratings (1,250, 1,600 and 1,950A) with voltage ratings from 380–690V AC, and power ratings from 600–900kW.
The drive modules are said to weigh much less than traditional large packaged drives, and can thus be shipped around the world at a lower cost.
The drives have been designed for high reliability and efficiency. For example, their cooling fans are switched on only when needed, and are constantly monitored for rotation, eliminating unexpected downtime if the drive gets too hot. Similarly, built-in snubbers ensure reliable operation, even when there are mains disturbances.
Communications options include Ethernet, ProfiBus, ControlNet, DeviceNet and CANopen. The drives are supplied with dedicated function blocks for applications such as winding/unwinding, dancer control, PID, and load control. This reduces the need for external PLCs.
