At the recent Drives & Controls Show in the UK, Gefran launched a range of regenerative power supplies with active front-ends for its ADV200 vector inverters. The modular AFE200 supplies can return current to the mains power network and provide improved Cos Φ with a near-unity power factor for increased efficiency and cost savings.

The supplies have a harmonic distortion of less than 5% and offer enhanced system dynamics during drive and regeneration, with high load capacities, good DC bus stability under load changes, and the elimination of conventional braking systems and resistors.

The supplies are available in five sizes from 22–355kW for stand-alone set-ups, and from 400kW–1.2MW for parallel multi-inverter systems. They operate from 380–500V AC supplies and will typically be used with common DC bus versions of the ADV200 inverters.

The supplies include RS-485 serial ports and can be programmed with peer-to-peer or multidrop connections using the Modbus RTU protocol. Two option card slots are provided for fieldbus management cards for the main networks, as well as for I/O expansion cards.

The AFE200 is available in versions for heavy or light duty overload loads. Further options include input chokes, pre-load kits with resistors and contactors, and external EMI filters.

The matching ADV200 FOC (field-oriented control) vector inverters include four panel-mounting and six cabinet-housed models for constant torque power output applications from 0.75kW–1.2MW at up to 690V AC. They offer a choice of open-loop, closed-loop with speed feedback, or V/f control, and up to three front-mounting option card slots for combinations of encoder and fieldbus management interfaces, or I/O expansion cards.