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Elevator
AC drive’s (inverter’s) Soft Start and Soft Stop function is essential for the comfortable ride of elevators installed anywhere in daily life, such as in houses, office buildings, stations, airports, and commercial facilities. If these facilities equip a AC drive (inverter), it can start moving slowly so that the users don’t feel the speed, and can freely set acceleration and deceleration, therefore they can go up and down comfortably.
Escalator
Escalators are installed in shopping centers, stations, and other facilities to support convenient lifestyles. When there are no people, the escalators are stopped by human sensors to save energy. However, if a passenger starts to move suddenly the next time he/she gets on, his/her balance will be lost and he/she may get injured, which is dangerous. AC drive’s (inverter’s) Soft Start and Soft Stop function, like an elevator, allows people to adjust the acceleration and deceleration, allowing them to start and stop slowly and safely.
Air-conditioning fan
AC drive (inverter) is used for air conditioning and other air-conditioning equipment essential for creating comfortable spaces. In air conditioning equipment, the volume and flow of air are controlled by fans, but in the past, the air flow had to be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the air resistance through a valve called a damper. But with this mechanism, even if the air volume is reduced, the amount of electricity used won’t decrease much. With AC drive (inverter), the power consumption of the motor can be greatly reduced because the air flow is adjusted by controlling the motor speed. AC drive (inverter) saves energy by not operating machines more than necessary.
Conveyor
In food factories, cosmetics factories, and factories that produce home appliances, there is a serious shortage of labor force and automation is rapidly in progress. Conveyors are used to control the production process by flowing products. In recent years, the rapid increase in online shopping has led to the construction of new logistics warehouses, and the introduction of conveyors has also increased. AC drive (inverter) is indispensable to the field of moving things sideways like this. AC drive’s (inverter’s) soft start and stop movement, which starts and stops at a low speed, and acceleration/deceleration setting at an arbitrary time, support smooth transportation such as prevention of load collapse. In addition, by reducing the starting current, the load on the power supply side is reduced and the power supply equipment can be reduced.
Pump
Industries that use large amounts of water for cleaning or cooling purposes, such as electric power, steel, and chemical plants, have water and sewage systems. AC drive (inverter) pumps are used in these facilities to achieve energy conservation by optimizing machine operation. In the past, it was common for pumps to adjust the flow rate with a valve, but the motor used to run at full capacity, consuming extra power. Therefore, by using AC drive’s (inverter’s) motor speed control, the flow rate can be adjusted and the power consumption of the motor can be reduced.
Food machine
AC drive (inverter) is also active in food factories.
AC drive (inverter) can easily change the rotation direction by simply changing an external signal (rotation command). In addition, it can smoothly accelerate and decelerate with a small current, without passing a large starting current like a commercial power supply, so it can be used for frequent start and stop. The function can also be applied to food machines.
For example, in a machine that makes whipped cream, which is essential for making cakes, a skilled craftsman can program the whipping cream as it is kneaded, and AC drive (inverter) controls the direction, rotation speed, and driving time. By doing this, even machine is able to make good whipped cream stably.
Crane/Automatic warehouse
In addition to construction sites where cranes are used in harbors, AC drive (inverter) is also active in automated warehouses.
AC drive (inverter) has the advantage that the direction of rotation can be easily controlled by simply changing an external signal by rotation command. Unlike commercial power supply, it does not carry a large starting current, and can be smoothly accelerated/decelerated with a small current, so it can be used for frequent start and stop.
Taking advantage of this feature, Yaskawa can move objects as an operator wants in cranes and automated warehouses that move rapidly up and down, left and right, and back and forth. In the case of cranes and automated warehouses, by combining AC drive (inverter) with a power regeneration device, the power generated by the motor at the time of winding down so called “regenerative power” can be returned to the power source, or the battery can be charged, and the power can be reused in the next winding up operation, resulting in significant energy savings.
Oil & Gas
Shale oil and shale gas is fossil fuel taken from a layer of sedimentary rock called shale, and is energy that can be extracted from organic matter, such as plankton and algae, that accumulates and is chemically transformed by geothermal heat and pressure into oil and gas.
In the past, drilling technology had not been well-established and the cost had not been met. However, in the United States, drilling technology was deployed in the 2000s, and shale oil and gas production began in earnest. AC drive (inverter) is also used in line to drill for shale oil and gas.
