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Variable Frequency Drives - are they worth it? Beau McLeod, P.E., Chief Engineering PLLC Running a 100 horsepower motor for a year at full speed can be costly. Installing a variable frequency drive (VFD) can result in big savings, with payback periods often measured in months, particularly when utility company rebates are considered. A VFD controls the speed of a motor by varying the frequency and voltage of its power supply. Motors required to meet varying demand by operating with a throttled-down output are good candidates for VFD operation. Ultimately, three things help determine if a VFD is right for the application:
Let’s use an example to determine if a VFD is suitable for a certain application. The following table shows input power percentage vs. flow percentage controlled by a VFD and an internal vane damper. Now, let’s assume that the fan specifications include the following:
To determine if a VFD is financially feasible for the application, a detailed financial analysis will need to be performed to calculate the payback period to cover the initial cost of the equipment. According to the example above, if the application only utilizes an 80% airflow load every year, the VFD will have an annual energy savings of $6,704.10. By dividing those savings from the capital cost of the VFD itself ($35,000), the result is an approximately 5-year payback period. If the VFD service life is 25,000 hours and the fan is operating 2,295 hrs./yr., then the lifetime of the VFD will be approximately 11 years. In this case, a VFD does make sense for this application and will receive ~$40,225 in VFD savings ($6,704.10 x 6 yrs.) after capital costs have been recuperated. Even though VFDs are expensive, they can be a huge money saving device served in the right application. So, are VFDs worth it? Yes, in the right circumstances. Follow the exercises above to determine if a VFD makes sense for your application. If you need help with an application regarding fan sizing and performance, contact a professional engineer at Chief Engineering or visit our website at www.chiefengineering.us. References:
http://www.sustainableplant.com/assets/Baldor/Baldor-0411-Pump-Energy-Savings-with-VFDs.pdf https://www.prismengineering.com/resources/calculators http://www.vfds.org/variable-frequency-drive-for-constant-torque-loads-337002.html https://library.automationdirect.com/vfd-or-not-vfd/ https://www.waterworld.com/articles/print/volume-24/issue-3/departments/pump-tips-techniques/when-should-variable-speed-drives-be-used-to-save-energy.html https://www.buildings.com/article-details/articleid/9345/title/roi-from-vfds-cutting-costs-with-variable-frequency-drives https://www.controleng.com/single-article/combine-variable-frequency-and-fixed-speed-drives-for-better-economy/adc588521448f4908e77aadbe45d61ef.html
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September 2020
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