DC Drives: Function and Benefits
What are the basic functions and benefits of DC drives? For almost a century now, DC motors have been the “tried and true” motors used in heavy duty industrial applications. These are used to power large machinery such as extruders, web handling machines and many others. And while AC motors have become quite popular in use for fixed speed requirements, DC motors and their accompanying dc drives are often used for more complex needs, such as applications that require wide speed range, ease of control, lightweight and compact motor size, reliable speed regulation, straightforward design and installation, and of course, low cost.
How is control achieved? The speed of a DC motor is controlled by the applied armature voltage. The torque, however, is controlled by armature current. Where does the DC drive fit in the operation? It controls/regulates the conversion of AC power to DC power and controls the DC output voltage and amperage based on feedback signals.
If you’re a distributor offering AC drives, it can be beneficial for your business to also sell DC drives. Some manufacturers (such as Carotron) are still making new innovative DC drives that have advanced, modern features, but also have the same simplistic, rugged design that industrial facilities have grown to know and appreciate. Even if you own or manage a plant or similar facility, determine if you would benefit from replacing just the DC drive instead of the entire DC motor with an AC motor. Doing so might be more cost effective in the long run. DC drives still play an important role in industrial settings when used appropriately in those tough or heavy-duty applications.