PowerFlex 400 Selection Guide
Allen-Bradley/Rockwell automation has been providing the best industrial automation solutions for decades that have made industrial processes feasible and efficient. They have provided the solution to almost every problem or in other words, industrial automation. Power Flex 400 is one such example. Allen-Bradley has designed the Power Flex 400 AC Drive which helps regulate the speed and torque of industrial fans and pumps and provides exceptional speed control. This is achieved by Sinusoidal PWM and Volts/Hz control methods. There are many designs of the PowerFlex 400 series that provide a wide range of power and current output. It can deliver power output ranging between 3 HP (2.2 kW) to 350 HP (11kW).
Product Features
- It is a cost-effective solution.
- It can regulate the speed and torque of fans and pump applications.
- It has a Human Machine Interface (HMI) that allows the user to set the desired magnitudes of parameters.
- It allows the user to adjust the maximum frequency and minimum frequency.
- It allows the user to adjust the current. Users can also adjust the overload current.
- It allows the user to adjust the input voltage and the output voltage. Users can also adjust the break voltage.
- Users can adjust and set the PWM frequency.
- Users can also specify the current limits.
- Users can select the start source and the stop mode.
- It allows the user to set the acceleration for all speed increments.
- It allows the user to set the deceleration for all speed decrements.
- There is a wide range of power output between 3 HP-350 HP. Users can buy depending on their system requirements.
- There is a wide range of current output. Users can buy depending on system requirements.
- There are different frame sizes for the PowerFlex 400 series. Users can select the frame size based on their system requirements. PowerFlex 400 series comes in C to H-sized frames.
- PowerFlex 400 series drives are also embedded with a damper control logic, and this reduces the cost of hardware and software that would be used for external control.
- PowerFlex 400 series drives have a built-in RS-485 communication port.
- Each PowerFlex 400 series drive has an integrated HMI to enable programming and control for the user.
- PowerFlex 400 series drives have 7 digital inputs and 2 analog outputs.
- PowerFlex 400 series drives have one built-in PID control loop that regulates the motor speed and torque based on the feedback.
- PowerFlex 400 drives come with A, N, or F-type enclosures. A and N-type enclosures are panel-mountable, whereas F-type enclosures are flange-mountable.
- For the smooth operation of PowerFlex 400 drives, DC Bus inductors and AC line reactors are used at input and output ends.
- There are several user-installed options and accessories.
- PowerFlex 400 drives have various communication kit options available.
- PowerFlex 400 drives have various HMI kit options.
- PowerFlex 400 drives also have an auxiliary motor control mode.
Model Classification
There is a definite classification criterion for Power Flex 400 series. Each letter/number corresponds to a specific parameter. Consider the following example:
22C-D038A103
- 22C: Generic code for PowerFlex 400 series drives.
- D: Gives information about voltage rating i.e. D signifies 480V and B signifies 240V.
- 038: Gives information about current rating. 038 corresponds to 38 Amperes. Some models have the catalog number ‘22X- X XPX XXX’ i.e., 22X- X 6P0 XXX, 6P0 shows that the output current rating is 6.0 Amperes.
- A: Code for the enclosure. It can be either A, N, or F.
- 1: 1 is the indication for HMI
- 0: Shows details for EMC i.e., 0 for not filtered and 1 for filtered. (EMC is the label for filters that are low pass filters)
- 3: Gives information for version.
Henceforth, models with desired specifications can be identified using this information.
Working Environment
PowerFlex 400 drives have specific working environment conditions. There are general working conditions including the ambient temperature, operational/non-operational shock, humidity conditions, etc.
The working environment conditions are given below:
- Temperature: Temperature range is between -40°- 85° Celsius or -40°- 185° Fahrenheit.
- Humidity: Humidity is between 5-95% with non-condensing condition
- Altitude: 3300 ft max altitude without derating. Altitude higher than 3300 ft, 3% derate for every 1000 ft increase
- Shock (Operating): 15G peak operational shock for an 11-millisecond duration
- Vibration (Operating): 1G peak within a frequency range of 5-2000 Hz
- Atmosphere: Drives should be installed in the area where the atmosphere does not contain any corrosive or volatile gases, dust, or vapors
Control Algorithms
The PowerFlex 400 series has different control algorithms. Other PowerFlex series i.e., PowerFlex 520 and PowerFlex 700 have slightly different control algorithms. This comparison is shown below:
- PowerFlex 400 Series: Sinusoidal PWM, Volts/Hz
- PowerFlex 520 Series: Sinusoidal PWM, Volts/Hz, SVC
- PowerFlex 700 Series: Volts/Hz, SVC, Vector control
Some PowerFlex 400 drives also have Slip compensation type control algorithms/methods. Therefore, users can select the PowerFlex 400 series by reviewing the control algorithms for PowerFlex 400 series as other PowerFlex series will have different control algorithms.
Optional Communication Protocols
PowerFlex 400 series provides the user with various communication types/modes. These are either integrated, embedded, or supported with PowerFlex 400 series drives. The information below shows the various communication types/modes that are integrated, embedded, or supported with the PowerFlex 400 series drives:
- DeviceNet: Supported
- Metasys N2: Embedded
- Modbus RTU: Embedded
- LonWorks: Supported
- BACnet: Supported
- RS 485: Integrated
- P1-FLN: Embedded
- Ethernet/IP: Supported
- PROFIBUS DP: Supported
Stop Modes
There are multiple programmable stop modes for PowerFlex 400 series drives. These are:
- Ramp mode
- S - curve
- Coast
- DC Brake
- Ramp-to-hold
These stop modes are common in almost all PowerFlex drives.
Electrical Parameters
Power Output:
Unlike the PowerFlex 520 series, the PowerFlex 400 series has higher power output. The power output ranges from 3 HP to 150 HP at 240 Volts AC and 3 HP to 350 HP at 480 Volts AC. Therefore, users can select the Power Flex 400 drivers based on their power output specifications for their system to operate and achieve desired power output.
Voltage:
PowerFlex 400 drives have voltage ratings at which they deliver power output ranging from 3-150 HP at 240 Volts AC and 3-350 at 480 Volts AC.
Phase:
- PowerFlex 400 series drives operate on a 3-phase voltage.
- Some PowerFlex Series have variants that also operate on a single phase.
Current:
The PowerFlex 400 drives have different current outputs. The output current rating can be identified from the catalog number. The code of the catalog number is already explained.
HMI
- PowerFlex 400 series drives have Human Machine Interface (HMI) embedded in them.
- The PowerFlex 400 series drives are programmed through the integrated HMI.
- This allows the user to set and adjust the parameters manually. The integrated HMI has a two-line keypad and a 16-character LCD.
- There are LEDs for function and fault indication.
- The parameter names would be displayed as text to the user.
Enclosures
Consider the following PowerFlex 400 drive with the catalog number 22C–D038A103
‘A’ indicates the type of enclosure. Users can select the PowerFlex 400 drives based on their enclosure specifications. The following information shows the details of enclosure specifications being used in PowerFlex 400 series drives:
- 'A' - Panel Mount-IP 20, NEMA/UL Type Open
- 'N' - Panel Mount-IP 30, NEMA/UL Type 1
- 'F' - Flange Mount-IP 20, NEMA/UL Type Open
PID
The PowerFlex 400 series supports PID. It has a built-in PID control loop. The PID control loop is used to maintain the processes being conducted by giving feedback and reference values to the drive.
User-installed Options/Accessories
As the name suggests, there are multiple user-installed options and accessories. This provides more options for the users to modify the system according to their application requirements and improve their experience with PowerFlex 400 drives. Details for kits and accessories associated with the PowerFlex 400 drives are given below:
Communication Optional Kits:
PC-to-drive communications can be done through multiple adapter and cable options. The PowerFlex series allows for a variety of optional kits for this purpose. The details for these are given below:
- 1203-USB: USB
- 22-RJ45CBL-C20: DSI Cable
- AK-U0-RJ45-SC1: Splitter Cable
- 22-COMM-B: BACnet MS/TP RS-485 Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-C: ControlNet Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-D: DeviceNet Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-E: Ethernet Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-L: LonWorks Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-P: PROFIBUS-DP Communication Adapter
- 22-COMM-P: PROFIBUS-DP Communication Adapter
- AK-U9-FLSH1: Serial Flash Firmware kit
- AK-UO-RJ45-TB2P: Terminal Block
- AK-UO-RJ45-SC1: Splitter Cable
- 22-XCOMM-DC-BASE: External DSI Communications kit
- 1203-SNM: Null Cable Converter
HIM Option Kits and Accessories:
The HMI includes an LCD panel, a control panel, and a cable. The HMI optional kits and accessories are also available for PowerFlex 400 HMI.
Spare Parts:
Accessories such as spare parts are also available for PowerFlex 400 series. Like the frame covers, spare parts also include the fan replacement kits.
Line Reactors:
Like always, Allen-Bradley, along with its industrial solutions has also provided the tools for the problems that these solutions could face while operating. The 1321-3R series line reactors are used for the smooth functioning of PowerFlex 400 drives. These line reactors are used for different purposes during the input at the drive and the output between the drive and the motor/pump/fan:
-
At input:
- It eliminates tripping.
- It improves the true power factor.
- It reduces voltage notching.
- It reduces harmonic distortion.
-
At output:
- It reduces surge current.
- It reduces motor noise.
- It reduces motor terminal peak voltages.
- It reduces and regulates motor temperature.