Cost-effective ac drives have smaller footprint

Product Exclusive: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 750 series ac drives from Rockwell Automation offer new solution for applications 0.75 kW to 7.5 kW/1.0 hp to 10 hp at 400 V/480 V.

March 12, 2012

The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 750 series ac drive family from Rockwell Automation now offers new options designed for low-power applications requiring full-featured ac drives with an optimized size. The cost-effective PowerFlex 753 and 755 ac drives, with a power range of 0.75 kW to 7.5 kW / 1 hp to 10 hp (400 V / 480 V), offer the smallest footprint within the well-established PowerFlex 750 series. Although small in size, these new drives retain the valuable features that have made the PowerFlex750 series popular, including predictive diagnostics, safety options, simplified integration, and a flexible slot-based architecture.

“These new drives are ideal for applications where space is at a premium—for example, machines requiring multiple drives in a cabinet,” said John Cherney, global product manager, Rockwell Automation. “They’re about 20% smaller than other drives in the PowerFlex 750 series, yet they provide the same control features and options currently available in the larger PowerFlex 753 and 755 drives.”

Like other PowerFlex 753 drives, the new smaller version provides machine builders and manufacturers with the versatile motor control they need for general-purpose applications. Designed to meet global user needs, the drive supports multiple languages and complies with global standards and certifications. The PowerFlex 753 drive is suited for many industries and applications, including fans, pumps, and conveyors.

PowerFlex 755 drives, including the new offering, provide the added benefits of both induction and permanent magnet motor support as well as an embedded Ethernet port that allows users to easily configure, control, and collect drive data over EtherNet/IP networks. In addition, native instructions within Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 software provide simplified drive integration with the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system. The recently introduced RSLogix 5000 v20 provides an Automatic Device Configuration feature designed to help customers increase productivity through reduced downtime. With this feature, the Logix controller can automatically detect a replaced PowerFlex 755 drive and download configuration parameters without the need for manual reconfiguration.

The complete line of PowerFlex 755 drives extends up to 1500 kW / 2000 hp, and is well suited for a wide variety of applications ranging from simple variable speed and variable torque control to the most demanding systems requiring constant torque control. Target applications include: fans, pumps, mixers, compressors, conveyors, and extruders.

​Both of the new PowerFlex 750 series drives feature a slot-based mechanical architecture that allows customers to tailor the drive with as few or as many options as their application requires. Each drive has three option slots to accommodate modules for I/O, feedback, safety, additional communications, and an auxiliary power supply. Options are common for the PowerFlex 753 and 755 drives, minimizing inventory and spare-part requirements.

www.rockwellautomation.com

Rockwell Automation

This was a February 2012 Product Exclusive, introduced to Control Engineering subscribers in the February North American print and digital editions.