New Industry Products

Single-Phase-to-DC Power for Variable Frequency Drives

December 22, 2017 by Paul Shepard

The Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America, Inc. is pleased to introduce the Single Phase Converter (SPC) which converts single-phase-to-dc power for use by Yaskawa’s variable frequency drives. The SPC is the solution for the most significant problems facing business owners that power medium-sized motors in rural areas.

They can be faced with high costs to run three-phase power, limited single-phase motor options, and a wide range of quality issues. The Single Phase Converter’s active power regulator ensures minimal stress on the power grid, boasting less than 10% current distortion and 0.99 power factor at rated load.

Combining a low harmonic solution with a soft starting variable frequency drive typically allows the opportunity to downsize transformers and decrease installation costs. The SPC utilizes the same components found in a variable frequency drive, which significantly reduces maintenance time and expenses.

Enabling rural applications such as agriculture, lumber mills, and oil & gas pumping to utilize three-phase variable speed control offer a host of new possibilities to their businesses. Three-phase motors are typically more efficient than their single-phase counterparts and more readily available.

Block diagram of a single-phase-to-dc system (click on image to enlarge)

 

Adding variable speed control of three-phase motors offers a host of advantages: improved process control and quality, minimized energy consumption, and reduced maintenance.

Three phase power is scarce in many parts of rural America, but the need for three phase motor control is real. Many solutions exist such as static phase conversion, rotational phase conversion, and derating standard three phase variable frequency drives.

Each of those solutions comes with trade-offs such as frequent tuning, reliability issues, or harmonics stressing transformers. Yaskawa's Single Phase Converter eliminates those problems by combining digital drive technology and Yaskawa quality.

Jason Wellnitz, the product manager for Yaskawa’s Single Phase Converter and pump drives, had this to say, “We are proud to continue with Yaskawa’s history of introducing innovative products to motor control applications.  We listened to our customers and hope we delivered on their needs.” The SPC is available in 240Vac models from 20- to 40-HP and 480Vac models from 30- to 60-HP.