EC: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 AC Drive

Motion Control - Drives: The compact Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 ac drive helps machine builders and end users simplify equipment design and operation, and speed installation and configuration. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice award winner.

By Control Engineering October 17, 2013

The compact Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 ac drive represents the first in the next generation PowerFlex 520-series of compact ac drives from Rockwell Automation. The PowerFlex 525 drive helps machine builders and end users simplify equipment design and operation, and speed installation and configuration. The drive features a modular design in power ranges from 0.5 to 30 hp or 0.4 to 22 kW at 100 to 600 V input.

Suitable for a wide range of applications, including conveyors, material handling, compressors, fans and pumps, the drive provides a variety of motor control options to accommodate open- and closed-loop applications.

The PowerFlex 525 ac drive offers time-saving application sets, which are groups of pre-defined parameters for common drive applications that users can apply "as is" or customize for a machine. Using a standard USB connection, machine builders can easily download the completed configurations and share with multiple drives, which greatly speeds up commissioning time.

Removing the control module from the power module further reduces startup time because configuration and installation can be done simultaneously. Rockwell Automation MainsFree programming through a USB connection removes the need for main power during drive configuration, as well as the need for special adapters to communicate between the drive and the programming tools.

Embedded EtherNet/IP connectivity optimizes integration with programmable controllers to deliver more application flexibility. Optional dual-port EtherNet/IP connectivity supports device level ring (DLR) topology, providing a robust network infrastructure.

An SIL2/PLd-certified, embedded safe torque-off feature helps prevent drive restarts after a safety circuit is tripped, ultimately helping to protect personnel and equipment, and minimize production losses. The drive’s economizer mode helps optimize motor energy consumption by monitoring an application’s current demand and automatically refining operating parameters accordingly.

https://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Drives/Compact 

https://ab.rockwellautomation.com/Drives/PowerFlex-525 

Rockwell Automation