Motors and drives are the longtime workhorses of the HVAC industry. These devices work long hours in tough conditions without complaint. And today’s motors and drives are not only tough, they’re smarter than ever and designed to enhance the comfort of indoor environments while operating at ever-higher efficiencies. Here’s a look at some of the latest motor and drive products now available on the market.

VLT^® Midi Drive FC 280

Danfoss’s VLT^® Midi Drive FC 280 represents the evolution of the company’s VLT 2800 drive. The drive has been designed for applications requiring high performance in a compact product at a competitive price.

The VLT Midi Drive FC 280 incorporates features designed to make installing, using, and maintaining the drive simple. It offers software features, such as sleep mode with boost, integrated PID, flying start, broken belt, compressor start, and the ability to do positioning (positioning reference for absolute or relative applications with homing). It allows for the use of a highly efficient permanent magnet (PM) motor or induction motor to meet the application need.

With the Modbus RTU standard on all products and the dual-port EtherNet/IP™, PROFINET, PROIFBUS, and CANopen choices designed as part of the control card, the VLT Midi Drive FC 280 is designed to communicate fast, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Other features include coated printed circuit boards, a built-in brake chopper, a dc choke for improved harmonic performance, reduced input currents, and protection against line fluctuations and voltage spikes. It can operate in a 113°F ambient climate at full load with no derating.

For more information, visit http://drives.danfoss.us/home.

Copeland Scroll Variable-Speed Compressor and Motor Control Drive

Copeland Scroll™ variable-speed compressors and motor control drives are designed to enable system manufacturers to achieve 25-plus SEER, 13-plus HSPF, and 29 IEER. According to Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., homeowners and small businesses have experienced significant annual energy savings and high indoor comfort levels when utilizing HVAC systems featuring Copeland Scroll variable-speed compressors. The product can be applied across many residential and commercial applications, including split air conditioners and heat pumps, packaged systems, rooftops, chillers, and geothermal systems.

For more information, visit www.emersonclimate.com.

Evergreen InTune wi-fi programmer

Genteq has introduced the Evergreen^® InTune™ Wi-Fi programmer, which provides wireless connection from a smartphone to Evergreen EM and CM retrofit indoor blower motors. These two constant-torque electronically commutated motor (ECM) model lines are available with horsepower ratings of 1/3, ½, ¾, and 1 with voltage ratings of 115, 208–230, 277, and 460 VAC for use in a wide variety of residential and light commercial HVAC applications.

Genteq says the Evergreen InTune app provides real-time adjustment and programming of the motor’s operating torque, direction, and off-delay values without internet service or connection to a website program list. According to Genteq, these features save time when it comes to adjusting airflow performance and allow for the selection of a precise and unique operating point from 600 to 1,200 rpm for up to five different system demands.

For more information, visit www.genteqmotors.com/products/aftermarket.

Direct-drive Motor for HSLV Fans

Hunter Industrial has developed a new direct-drive motor that has been built specifically for use with high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans.

According to Hunter Industrial, most HVLS fans operate using an ac induction motor, which requires both a gearbox and variable frequency drive (VFD) to control speed. The company says its innovative, gearless, direct-drive motor features a high-performance rotor that creates a magnetic field that is always present and eliminates the secondary losses found in induction motors; a 70 pole design that helps to eliminate energy losses associated with induction motors and greater speed control with no sacrifice to torque output; and by eliminating the gear reducer, the fan operates silently and without oil leaks/spills. Its gearless motor also minimizes energy losses and reduces maintenance associated with gearboxes, according to Hunter Industrial.

For more information, visit www.hunterindustrialfan.com.

VSD Series II Drive

Johnson Controls Inc.’s VSD Series II open and enclosed drives are specifically engineered for HVACR applications and are designed to easily integrate with building control networks using the latest building system network architecture. The unit’s hard-wired connections and enclosures are consolidated into a single unit for installation savings.

The Metasys^® building automation system can control the VSD Series II through BACnet^®, SA Bus, and N2. The series can be configured on an FC (field controller) or SA Bus (sensor actuator) network and can be operated and integrated using standard Metasys tools for high flexibility and controllability. The drives integrate with the Metasys Network Automation Engine (NAE) and Field Equipment Controllers (FECs) to operate as an integral part of the system. Multiple drives can be operated from one network.

According to Johnson Controls, the VSD Series II are compatible with current and future Johnson Controls network architecture; feature closed-loop control programming with engineering units for HVACR-specific applications; and offer communication cards for plug-and-play functionality with BACnet, SA Bus N2, Modbus, and LonWorks^®. Additionally, the units feature the patented Active Energy Control algorithm that requires no setup and enables the VSD to optimize the application’s volts/Hz curve, utilize multiple language options, and includes a multi-monitor display mode for troubleshooting.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/VSDSeriesII.

Rescue Select Motor Programming App 

The Rescue Select Programming App from Nidec Motor Corp. has been developed to streamline programming of the Rescue Select Truck Stock motor, which is an electronically commutated (EC), constant-torque, aftermarket motor developed for use in residential and light commercial blower motor replacement applications. Powered by a cloud-based web service, the Rescue Select Programming App can be accessed via any smartphone or compatible Wi-Fi-enabled device.

According to Nidec, the Rescue Select Truck Stock motor and programming app work in tandem to help service contractors identify an original blower motor’s horsepower ratings and operating parameters (i.e., torque load, fan speed, and rotation direction), and program an in-stock replacement motor to mimic that original performance profile. This allows a service contractor to stock a smaller range of aftermarket motors and use them to replace nearly any original blower motor. Programming and installation are streamlined directly at the point of replacement.

The Rescue Select Programming App is driven by a continuously updated database populated with thousands of motor profiles. In addition, the app provides service contractors with options to customize or develop new performance profiles that match special or unique application requirements.

For more information, visit http://www.nidec-motor.com/.

Q-SYNC PMSM TECHNOLOGY

QM Power’s Q-Sync permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) technology represents a giant leap forward in HVAC motor design. According to QM Power, the PMSM design utilizes significantly less power than electronically commutated motors (ECMs) and significantly less power than shaded pole motors while providing consistent power output and airflow. By using grid-supplied ac current without the need to rectify to dc, Q-Sync is designed to offer consistent operation with high power factors, high reliability, and long service life. Its universal mounting options fit virtually all existing configurations.

For more information, visit qmpower.com.

Z1000U HVAC Matrix Drive

The Z1000U HVAC Matrix drive from Yaskawa American Inc. is designed to provide extremely low harmonic distortion in a space-saving design. According to Yaskawa, this single-component solution achieves low distortion levels without the need for additional countermeasures, such as passive filters or multi-pulse arrangements. The Z1000U’s matrix technology creates a variable output by switching directly from the input power (no dc bus). Yaskawa adds that Z1000U provides the same user experience for those already familiar with commissioning and maintaining the standard Z1000.

For more information, visit https://www.yaskawa.com/pycprd/home.

Publication date: 12/5/2016

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!