On-Demand Webinars
Introduction
VFD 101
Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are a commonly used piece of equipment across the industrial industry. This webinar will introduce what VFDs are and how they operate along with how they control electric motors. With a basic understanding of how VFDs control electric motors, this presentation will describe the positive effects a variable frequency drive can have on the system.
Understanding VFD De-rating
The term de-rating a drive implies that a VFDis intentionally oversized to be used in an application that requires less power. If a drive isn't properly oversized and de-rated when appropriate it can result in your your drive overheating or even pre-mature failure! In this webinar, you will learn the different reasons why you would de-rate a drive as well as guidelines on how much the drive should be oversized by to ensure your VFD will work in your application for years to come.
Basic VFD Troubleshooting
VFDs are more advanced than ever before, but they have never been easier to troubleshoot. But what happens when the control panel doesn't give you a clear indication of what is going on with the VFD? This presentation will cover basic problems and nuisance trips that may be encountered with VFDs. Safety comments and wiring tips will be covered as well.
Correctly Applying a VFD to a Motor
Selecting a VFD to a motor can be as simple as checking out the horsepower and the voltage of the motor - but when is it not so simple? Check out this webinar if to find out when you should be oversizing your drive (de-rating) and if output filtering is needed.
Motor Technologies & VFDs
Motors have come a long way since they were invented in 1832. Efficiency is the name of the game and is driving new developments. This webinar will cover the basics of standard induction motors and a run down of all the new high-efficiency motor designs like Permanent Magnet (PM) Motors and Synchronous Reluctance Motors (SynRM).
ACH580 & Applications
Drives & Fan Curves
This webinar focuses on providing a basic understanding of fan applications and the cost savings potential of using variable frequency drives (VFDs). Most fan applications are non-linear loads that follow the Affinity laws, or Fan laws, which means as you reduce the speed of the fan, the amount of your energy is reduced at a higher proportion. Running most fans at 80% speed will result in almost a 50% reduction in energy usage!
VFDs and Fan Arrays
A fan array uses many lower HP fans to move the same volume of air as one larger HP fan. The term “array” is used as usually the configuration is a rectangle or square consisting of rows and columns. In this webinar, Peter Wilder will walk through the different ways you can use a VFD to control fan arrays and the pros and cons of the different methods.
ACH580 Application Features: Motor Disconnect, ADC, Checksum, Custom Text & IPC
The ACH580 comes standard with many onboard features that provide ease of programming for common applications in the HVAC industry. This webinar is going to discuss in detail how to use Advanced Damper Control, various detection features, checksum, explanation of the event word, and the ability to customize the auto reset of a fault. These application features provide greater visibility to what is going on in an application and a reduction in startup time.
ACH580 Startup Assistant, E-Clipse Startup & Primary Settings
In this Short Stuff Session, we will be showing some of the features which speed up setting up your drive, monitoring the drive, and tweaking settings. Get your drive up and running in only a few short minutes by taking advantage of the Startup Assistant and learn how Primary Settings can be used to change multiple parameters at once by only changing a single setting! Short Stuff Sessions are meant to be 30 minutes or less in length.
Adaptive Programming
Use Adaptive Programming to program the drive to do something special. In this webinar, we help you get started with Adaptive Programming and go through all of the different function blocks available.
Advanced Damper Control
Easily program your drive to control your inlet and/or outlet dampers and use the onboard I/O to save you money when controlling remotely. ACH580 Feature sessions are meant to take 30 minutes or less.
Customizing the ACH580 Control Panel
The high-resolution screens found on the latest drives from ABB allow for more text to be displayed and easily read by the user. ABB has expanded the ability to customize faults, warnings, and contact info so that maintenance personnel are spending their time fixing the issue instead of trying to find out what is wrong in the first place. This How-To presentation will walk a user through customizing the ACH580.
Bluetooth Control Panel for the ACH580
What is Bluetooth? What products are compatible? Features and advantages of Bluetooth. What is Drivetune and how can it be used and help with your operation.
Constant Frequency Control with ACH580 using Separate Mode
The Constant frequency control with ACH580 Separate mode webinar provides an overview of typical Constant frequency applications along with three programming examples:
-- RTU with Constant frequency using the Separate mode
-- Refrigerant Leak Detection System using On-demand frequency control
-- Override mode with multiple Constant frequencies
There is a brief review of ACH580 hardware and firmware features. Including parameter features to support the Constant frequency programs. The individual examples include parameter lists and discussions around parameter choices and settings.
VFD Schedule Generator
The VFD Schedule Generator is a simple tool to help generate VFD Schedules for Mechanical Drawings. VFD Schedules are a great addition to the VFD Specification by allowing engineers to customize requirements for each drive more easily. Make sure each of your drives has everything required to work exactly as they need to!
VFD Submittals for Engineers & Contractors
The presentation will take a look at a sample project, starting at the one-lines. We will discuss how to read a one-line, with respect to identifying VFD information. We will discuss how VFD specifications and schedules come into play and recommendations for how Engineers provide that information to those who are bidding on a project. This will also include a brief strategy discussion for how to handle harmonic mitigation requirements. Then we will transition to reviewing a VFD submittal, and identifying those key items within the submittal that an Engineer needs to look out for, and what a Contractor needs to confirm proper coordination of their scope. We will also spend some time on VFD electrical schematics, showing how to read a schematic to identify hardware such as bypass contactors and confirm basic control logic. The webinar will use a typical HVAC project as an example. However, the concepts and information are also applicable to the Water & Waste Water industry and certain Industrial applications that you a plan & spec approach to the design and procurement of VFDs.
ACH580 and E-Clipse underload detection
With no additional hardware, VFDs can sense a loss of load a broken belt, broken coupling, dead heading, and other loss-of-flow scenarios in fan and pump applications. Configuring the drive to monitor Torque is more reliable than monitoring current. For bypass packages, the E-Clipse bypass can also monitor for these conditions. This presentation reviews various loss of load conditions, current versus torque sensing methods, along with how to determine key data points to configure the VFD.
Active braking technology in VFDs
Tunnel applications for smoke evacuation often require quick braking and then reversing of fan direction. There are multiple ways to brake and reverse a fan motor quickly. This presentation will describe those methods along with a focus on the Active Front End drive solution.
PID control for HVAC drives
This webinar walks through setting up a PID using the ACH580 Primary Settings. This settings-based configuration does not rely on memorizing parameters. Instead the configuration is intuitive with no need to use the user manual for assistance. This presentation is targeted toward VFD Start-up Technicians and Controls Contractors. However, Engineers and Owners will also find value in this webinar, as it shows the ease of use of modern VFDs... which ultimately leads to more design flexibility and potential cost savings.
Communications & Protocol
Proper BAS Integration to VFDs
Communication is key! Building Automation Systems (BAS) are widely used to control the climate in commercial buildings. This webinar will go over the different ways to control the drive through the BAS - whether it's through hardwire I/O or over a communication protocol like BACnet MSTP. Learn what to expect based on the way you want to connect and control the VFD.
BACnet Basics
BACnet is the number one HVAC communication protocol. This presentation is intended for those who would like to learn more about BACnet. The presentation is done from a VFD's perspective of BACnet. The following are examples of questions that will be answered... What is BACnet? Why did the industry move to BACnet? What are some tips and tricks for technicians to properly integrate a VFD onto a BACnet network? What type of information can BACnet provide? Why is BACnet key to an intelligent Building Automation System?
BACnet integration to ABB VFDs
This webinar focuses on integrating BACnet into VFDs. While the example VFD in the presentation is an ABB ACH580, the concepts and suggestions covered are applicable to all VFDs. The presentation will start with a brief refresher on building automation systems and BACnet. Then proper wiring practices are reviewed. If you think running shielded twisted pair wire is enough for BACnet MS/TP to a VFD, then you should watch this presentation. We'll also cover which objects to monitor and why, talk about taking advantage of BACnet services, how to program a VFD for BACnet, and wrap up with troubleshooting steps.
Ease of setting up BACnet and Modbus on a base drive and E-Clipse
When integrating a VFD into a building automation system there are a variety of protocols that can be used to transmit information to and from a VFD. This presentation is going to focus on configuring BACnet MSTP & BACnet/IP as well as Modbus RTU & TCP. Examples will be provided for both base drive installations as well integrating the E-Clipse bypass
Harmonics
Harmonics 101
This presentation will explore power line harmonics caused by variable frequency drives operating in building electrical networks. At the end of this webinar, you will have a better understanding of the causes of harmonic distortion, what is IEEE-519, and the different types of harmonic mitigating strategies and how to effectively use them to meet IEEE-519.
Harmonic Estimation Tool
The Harmonics calculator tool was designed for engineers to easily estimate the total harmonics in their system and select the appropriate harmonic mitigating solutions to create a cost-effective design that meets IEEE-519 requirements. This webinar walks users through the basics of how to use the Harmonics Calculator.
Advanced Harmonics: Drive Selection to Comply with IEEE-519
Building on the Harmonics 101 webinar we review different mitigation strategies available to achieve compliance with IEEE 519 including strategies for drives operating with Emergency generation. We cover... why we need to design for harmonic mitigation and look at designing solutions for desired outcomes and discuss effective use of specifications and VFD schedules.
Harmonic mitigation - AFE vs Passive Filter
There are a variety of solutions for mitigating harmonics. This presentation provides a quick overview on harmonics and then focuses on two specific harmonic mitigation solutions – Active Front End Technology and Passive Filters. Both solutions have their positives and we will review the features and characteristics to help determine which may be the best fit for your specific application.
Harmonic Mitigation Strategies: Choosing between an Active Front End vs Active Filter Solution
There are a variety of ways to mitigate harmonics caused by variable frequency drives (VFDs). After a quick overview on harmonics, IEEE 519, and an assortment of mitigation techniques, this webinar focuses on comparing an Active Front End (AFE) drive to an Active Filter (AF) strategy. AFE drives are considered a decentralized mitigation strategy and the harmonics are taken care of at the VFD. In HVAC applications, Active filters are most often applied in a centralized mitigation strategy and the harmonics are taken care of at one point in the system. Both strategies have their own unique advantages. After attending this webinar an Engineer will have a better understanding of when to apply which strategy.