Siemens launches wide-power range Sinamics drives in North America

Sinamics drives are complemented by Siemens’ engineering tools common to all sizes of drives in the family.

Calling it “the first family of ac drives that operates on one, standard platform,” Siemens Energy & Automation Inc . introduced its Sinamics line of ac drives to North America via media presentations on March 7 and 8, 2005, in Chicago. A notably wide power range of 120 W to more than 1 MW opens these drives to wide applications and diverse industries. Modular, scalable Sinamics ac drives feature an interchangeable architecture, which reportedly simplifies their application, startup, and integration into new and existing systems.

“With Sinamics, Siemens has made a tremendous investment in the next generation of drives technology,” says Aubert Martin, president and CEO of Siemens E&A. The Sinamics family of drives is firmly incorporated into Siemens’ “Totally Integrated Automation” architecture. User-friendly tools, called Sizer and Starter , are designed to easily select and configure a drive solution from the most basic operation to complex motion and servo control functions, explains Martin.

Actually, the Sinamics line (not to be confused with Siemens Simatic programming software and controller lines) comprises an evolving family of drives designated as G models (for general to high-performance, stand-alone drives applications) and S models (for coordinated drives with servo functions). Here’s a rundown of performance and power-handling characteristics of presently available models.

Sinamics drive family lineup (as of March 2005)

Sinamics model
Power range, hp
Input, V
Applications, performance
Features

G110
1/6-4
200-240 (1-phase)
Comm. & light industrial CT, VT. Pumps, conveyors, fans.
Low-cost, single-phase input; V/Hz control.

G130
500-800
380-480
Std. general-purpose VT. Pumps, fans, compressors.
Modular, high-power. For OEM-built enclosure.

G150
150-800
380-480
High-power, gen.-purpose. Mixers, extruders, mills, compressors, pumps, fans.
Two versions: Ready to install drive & MCC mounting. 500-600 V input, coming mid-2005.

100-1,100
660-690

S120
Up to 125 (in bookshelf form factor).

Higher power chassis format units coming.
380-480
Vector or servo control modes in same drive; Printing, packaging, paper, converting, and plastics.
Bookshelf drive is multi-axis. Expansion to 800 hp (single-axis) and up to 1,600 hp (multi-axis) coming later at higher inputs: 480, 600, 690 V.

S150
150-1,250
380-480
Test stands, centrifuges, elevators, cranes. Various regenerative applications.
Small footprint, high-performance drive. IEC style enclosure; NEMA 1 or optional NEMA 12 encl. coming later in 2005.

Up to 1,500
660-690

CT- Constant torque; VT- Variable torqueSource: Data from Siemens compiled by Control Engineering.

Sinamics drives are also geared to the U.S. marketplace. Some models are available here; full launch of the product line is May 2005.

—Frank J. Bartos, executive editor, Control Engineering, fbartos@reedbusiness.com

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