IDS are ABB Inverter specialists. We specify, install, commission, repair, service and hire variable speed drives.
Many ABB inverters have a feature called Safe Torque Off or STO, but what is it? Safe Torque Off is a function that prevents the inverter from generating torque in the motor. It ensures that no torque generating energy continues to act on the motor and that the motor cannot be re-started until the STO […]
Gearbox failure on cooling tower fan applications is eliminated with an ABB motor-drive package designed specifically for such hot and humid operating environments. A traditional cooling tower drive system consists of an AC motor, a gearbox, pillow block bearings and shaft couplings to achieve the air flow required. Any one of these mechanical components runs […]
New fieldbus options provide drives’ users with fast, accurate control of processes as well as access to large amounts of data on how the process is behaving. Some of the latest variable-speed drives from ABB offer two option slots for fieldbus modules. These modules can be of different types, allowing, for example, a PROFIBUS module […]
It is a commonly held view in industry that an AC high efficiency motor and inverter is better in so many ways that an older DC motor and drive. These are the main reasons: Increased efficiency leading to power and cost savings. Reduced maintenance cost – no brushes, carbon, commutators or tachos to worry about. Reduced production […]
A range of diagnosis and keypad display features from ABB cuts the time needed to investigate process interruptions in variable-speed drive applications. Drive trips occur to protect the driven machinery from faults that could cause damage and extended loss of production time. The diagnostic features and displays are designed to provide a highly effective set […]
If you have a new ABB general purpose drive ACS580 to install you maybe unsure as to how to do it. Below we have outlined a step-by-step guide for this installation: First, safety is essential when doing this so switch off the input power and wait for 5 minutes to ensure there is no electricity […]
The motor control platform, direct torque control (DTC) – used extensively in ABB’s variable-speed drives (VSDs) since 1996 – has been greatly improved to bring even higher accuracy in motor speed and torque control, as well as the ability to control more motor types. This fourth generation DTC provides enhanced performance in open and closed […]
In this article we focus on the tremendous safety features available with the ACS880 inverter and it’s lovely colour! ACS880 Integrated safety reduces the need for external safety components, simplifying configuration and reducing installation space. The safety functionality is a built-in feature of the ACS880, with safe torque off (STO) as standard. Additional safety functions […]
One of the more difficult relationships to understand with regard to applications using electric motors is that between torque, power and speed. We have all seen the data on a motor nameplate – power, current, speed in rpm and all of the rest. To get to the motor torque we have to convert them into […]
Direct Torque Control (DTC) is a method used in variable frequency drives to control the torque (and thus the speed) of three-phase AC electric motors. This involves calculating an estimate of the motor’s magnetic flux and torque based on the measured voltage and current of the motor. Power is nothing without control Inverter Drive Systems retrofit ABB inverters to motors in a multitude of applications including: pumps, AHUs, refrigeration, fans, hydraulic power […]
