Inverter optimised for water and pumping applications

30 October 2012

Mitsubishi Electric has upgraded its FR-F700-EC range of inverters with functions that meet the specific needs of water and pumping applications.

The new functions include a pre-charge function, built-in PLC functionality, expandable I/O and a unit calculator for PID control. These enhancements are said to increase the capability, flexibility and scope of the FR-F700-EC, offering improved control and reducing the cost and complexity of drive installations in many applications by eliminating the need for additional components.

A key issue within many pumping applications is water hammer. Aside from the noise of water hammer, the vibration can quickly compromise system life and ultimately lead to break down of pipeline systems. The new pre-charge function of the inverter is designed to eliminate the problem of water hammer, extending system life by gradually filling the pipeline. Flexible adjustment options enable the end of the pre-charge cycle to be controlled by feedback level, terminal input or set time.

The FR-F700-EC now also includes built-in PLC functionality, making the drive suitable for standalone use in pumping and water applications and eliminating the need for a separate PLC for sequence control operations. The built-in PLC offers a program capacity of 4,000 steps, and the PLC function supports 32-bit instructions to handle 32-bit data. The inclusion of two option ports on the drive enables the I/O to be expanded with analogue and digital inputs and outputs, as well as relay outputs. This enhanced I/O can be used to provide feedback inputs for the PLC and control outputs to valves and other components. For security in the field, the program can be password protected.

The new control keypad supports the ability to display PID values in engineering units allowing for easier set up and monitoring. There are 32 different unit settings available, for example, Pascal (Pa), litres per minute (L/M), cubic meters per minute (CM/M) or bar.


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