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Redesigned drives shrink by 73% to become ‘world's smallest’

01 February, 2017

Danfoss Drives claims to have produced the world’s smallest air-cooled, standalone drives, with the highest power density, by redesigning the E-sized enclosures for its VLT drives, and making then 73% smaller. As well as saving space, the new design is said to be easier to install, commission and service.

The new enclosures – available for Danfoss’ VLT AutomationDrive FC 302, Aqua Drive FC 202, HVAC Drive FC102 and Refrigeration Drive FC 103 drives in ratings from 315-800kW – use heat-pipe technology to maximise the power output.

A “unique” back-channel cooling system reduces the need for air-conditioning as well as the size of the control rooms, saving initial and operating costs. Cooling air is passed over the heatsinks with minimal air passing through the drives’ electronics, which are separated by an IP54 seal from the cooling duct.

According to Danfoss, this allows up to 90% of the heat losses to be exhausted outside of the enclosure, improving reliability and prolonging the lives of the electronic components by reducing their exposure to contamination and high temperatures.

Danfoss’ new E-size drive enclosures are up to 73% smaller than their predecessors

Despite the smaller size of the new enclosures, they are said to offer more space for cabling and fewer parts. The mains and motor terminals are on the same plane, making them easy to access and saving time during installation and commissioning. Built-in options such as fuses, brake choppers, regen terminals and RFI filters, save further costs and space, and eliminate the need for an extra cabinet when only the basic options are needed.

The drives, spanning voltage ratings from 380–480/500V and 525–690V, are available in standalone or cabinet-mounted versions.




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