The ACH580 is only used in most HVAC applications with a simple start/stop and a speed reference, but for those more unique installations, this drive is jam-packed with features, some of which are listed in this technical article.

Basically, a variable speed drive (VSD) controls the flow of energy from the power supply to the process. Variable speed drives are located between the power supply and the motor. Power from the power supply is fed into a drive, which then regulates the power fed to the motor.

ABB drives are used to improve energy efficiency in a wide range of industries and applications, ranging from single-phase residential and commercial buildings to massive all-electric drive systems that power entire natural gas liquefaction plants and massive gearless mill drives that grind ore and minerals into smaller pieces at mines and processing plants.

ABB has been at the forefront of applying drive control to optimize HVAC systems. The ACH580 HVAC drive series offers performance, dependability, and energy savings. They are safe to maintain and simple to use. Some of the features of the ABB ACH580 range available at IPD include:

Timed Functions

Some applications may necessitate that a motor runs only during specific hours or on specific days. With four different timers, you can set separate weekday and weekend hours, as well as after-hours buttons. In small projects, this can eliminate the need for a BMS system, which can make or break the budget. Timed Functions are found in ACH580 Parameter Group 36.

Automatic Reset

When a fault occurs on the drive as a result of poor power quality or a known issue is causing sporadic faults, the ACH580 can automatically reset the fault and attempt to resume normal operation. It is important to note that this is only a temporary solution; the underlying cause of the problem must be identified and corrected. Once the cause has been identified, the automatic reset can be used to avoid time-consuming call-outs to simply reset a fault and verify that it has cleared, while also saving time for the end user. Automatic Reset is found in ACH580 Parameter Group 31.

Parameter Lock

The majority of drives are hidden behind locked doors in plant rooms, but some are visible to the public. When combined with the control panel's simple interface, users with no prior knowledge can easily change key parameters that could damage the plant or the process they control, such as positive/negative pressure rooms. By preventing changes after commissioning, the parameter lock can protect against this. Parameter Lock can be found in ACH580 Parameter Group 16.

Critical Speeds

When exposed to certain frequencies, a fan can become significantly louder. These resonance frequencies, which can be defined as a single point or a range, can be avoided using the critical speeds function. This is more noticeable in feedback-controlled systems, as constant-speed systems will quickly pass through these critical ranges. The Critical Speeds Feature is located in ACH580 Parameter Group 25.

Energy Savings

Energy savings are a major reason to use a drive, but some people prefer to be shown rather than told. The energy saving feature accomplishes this by entering a few values such as energy price and motor power when direct online. If you have managed to get one drive onto a site to demonstrate the savings to the client, this can be extremely useful. The Energy Savings Feature is set up in Parameter Group 45, and the actual savings are shown in Parameter Group 01 of the ACH580.

To learn how to configure your ABB VSD to your application contact the IPD Technical Support team on 1300 556 601.