Which ABB Drive Should You Choose

ACS, ACQ, ACH – which drive should I choose? A brief guide to ABB drive model selection.

The ABB portfolio covers the complete spectrum of drives. From micro and machinery drives for machine building to industrial drives for controlling processing lines, all the way up to industry specific drives with purpose-designed features and functionality but should you choose an ACS, an ACQ or ACH?

Whilst many of the features of each model are similar when selecting which model of drive to use it is important to consider the application for which it will be used.

As a general guide the ACS drives are general machinery drives. ACH models are for use in the HVAC industry. ACQ models are used in the water industry. So what are the differences?

ACS drives – these are general purpose drives which suit many industry applications. These drives are ready to control conveyors, compressors, pumps, fans and mixers as well as many other variable and constant torque applications in industries such as Automotive, Food and Beverage, Printing, Agriculture, Material Handling, Rubbers and Plastics and Sawmills amongst others. These drives are relatively easy to commission, and stocks are readily available in wall mounted and cabinet installations from ABB AVPs. The software in the ACS drive is designed to meet the widest range of requirements from a diverse variety of applications.

ACH drives are used for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) applications and control any type of AC motor for HVAC including induction, permanent magnet and synchronous reluctance motors. They are simple to operate and efficient to run. HVAC assistants help support speedy set up and commissioning and the drive can operate with your existing management system to control your buildings climate. The ACH drive also has Firemans Overide which allows the extraction motors to run to destruction to clear smoke in the event of a fire.

ACQ drives are water and waste water industry specific drives tailored for simplifying pumping processes and motor control whilst ensuring energy efficiency. The drives are designed for pumping functions supporting single and multi-pump configurations. They can be configured to ensure the drive can efficiently control all applications for raw, clean and waste water treatment.

Micro drives – these are good value for money and are standard drives with no frills. The range consists of ACS55, 150, 310 and the new ACS480 drive.

As well as the above drive models other variants are available such as ATEX, Water Cooled, Regenerative and Ultra-Low Harmonic drives.

ATEX drives – These are used in explosive or hazardous areas. ABB are one of the few manufacturers who offer motors and drives packages under 2014/34/EU certification.

Water Cooled drives – these are used where space is a challenge.

Regenerative drives – these are used where there is a high regenerative load which can be diverted back to the mains whilst providing motor braking.

Ultra-Low Harmonic drives – ABB produces a range of ultra-low harmonic drives based on active rectifier technology. You can find out more about harmonic distortion here.

If you need support selecting the correct drive for your application please do not hesitate to contact us at Inverter Drive Systems Limited – 0115 9441036 or [email protected]