Motion Control & Drives


Rockwell Automation expands ­medium voltage motor control ­capability

August 2015 Motion Control & Drives

Since medium voltage motors are typically some of the largest consumers of power in heavy industries, implementing precise, smart motor control is an effective way of reducing power consumption and energy costs, along with significantly better process control. Since they were first manufactured in 1983, Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley medium voltage drives have earned a reputation for reliable, efficient motor control across the industry’s most demanding applications. The company recently extended this medium voltage range with the addition of the PowerFlex 6000, providing a cost-effective and fit-for-purpose drive.

The PowerFlex 6000 supplements the existing PowerFlex 7000 range in providing a motor control solution that is ideal for new and retrofit centrifugal fan and pump applications rated up to 10 kV.

Utilising the industry-accepted and robust cascaded 'H' bridge (CHB) voltage source inverter (VSI) topology, the PowerFlex 6000 drive provides low-input harmonics and near-unity power factor, ultimately reducing power system issues and maximising motor efficiency while providing simple use and maintenance requirements.

PowerFlex 6000 is an air-cooled drive designed exclusively for induction motors. Designed for smaller field applications, it supports motor cable lengths of up to 300 m and has a 7” WinCE colour touch screen. Supported protocols include Modbus-RTU RS-485, Modbus-TCP, Modbus-PLUS R-S485, Profibus R-S485 and EtherNet/IP communications protocols.

The PowerFlex 7000 remains the flagship PowerFlex product, offering multiple configurations and high-performance, customisable options for the diverse control needs of heavy industrial requirements. Utilising Active Front End (AFE) technology and a patented switching technique, the PowerFlex 7000 product line, rated from 2,4 kV to 6,6 kV, guarantees industrial applications the highest overall system efficiency whilst complying to stringent international standards. The drive achieves lower line harmonics and improved power quality through the AFE rectifier, which features a single rectifier bridge to maintain the lowest component count and system complexity.

A control solution for the future

Through the power of the Rockwell Automation networked control platform, the expanded Allen-Bradley PowerFlex medium voltage drive product line enables a high level of production optimisation, and increases information sharing across the enterprise. By empowering users to gain access to valuable performance and resource information from their systems, companies can attain higher asset availability, reduced energy and maintenance costs and enhanced asset and personnel protection.

All PowerFlex medium voltage drives are compatible with standard motors without derating and do not require an inverter duty motor. PowerFlex configurations have near-sinusoidal output current and voltage waveforms at all speeds and loads.

As the global economy continues to expand, constraints to growth arise as the demand for energy approaches – and in some instances exceeds – power generating capabilities. The Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Medium Voltage PowerFlex range enhances the performance of medium voltage motor control for the most efficient industrial enterprise.

For more information contact Henry Craukamp, Rockwell Automation, +27 (0)11 654 9700, [email protected], www.rockwellautomation.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Plastics improve machine performance and reliability
igus Motion Control & Drives
Engineered plastics from German polymer manufacturer, igus continue to revolutionise mechanical systems across various industries worldwide, with a pledge to ‘improve what moves’ by replacing moving steel components with polymer equivalents.

Read more...
Integrated solutions power the future of mining
ABB South Africa Motion Control & Drives
ABB has a diverse array of solutions that cater to multiple industry sectors, and especially mining. Mining companies across South Africa are embracing automation and control technologies.

Read more...
Keeping the ball rolling
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG’s Fluid Technology team has recently completed the design, supply and commissioning of an advanced lubrication system for a main bearing on a ball mill, which has been developed to optimise productivity and minimise maintenance requirements and downtime.

Read more...
Get your bearings right
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG’s Bearings Division offers a comprehensive range of bearings, which comprise ball, roller, and linear bearings ranging in size from miniature to extremely large units.

Read more...
SEW-EURODRIVE prioritises ecology and economy
SEW-EURODRIVE Motion Control & Drives
Committed to environmental sustainability principles, SEW-EURODRIVE has developed the ECO2 design to offer drives with uncoated aluminium, with no compromise in their performance and durability.

Read more...
A year of innovation and milestones for ISO-Reliability Partners
Motion Control & Drives
For ISO-Reliability Partners 2024 was a transformative year marked by innovation, collaboration and a steadfast commitment to advancing industrial reliability. Guided by CEO, Craig FitzGerald, the company has introduced cutting-edge technologies, expanded its product portfolio and strengthened its reputation as a leader in lubrication, filtration and tribology.

Read more...
The impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions
ABB South Africa Motion Control & Drives
ABB has released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.

Read more...
Global geared motors market
Motion Control & Drives
The global geared motors market experienced significant growth from 2021 to 2023, driven by market recovery following the pandemic in 2020, and high backlog levels in 2022.

Read more...
Innovative new products from maxon
DNH Tradeserve t/a DNH Technologies Motion Control & Drives
A series of innovative new products has been launched by maxon. These include a drive with a diameter of just 16 millimetres, a controller that can be easily integrated into even the tightest of spaces, and a robust and reliable robotic actuator.

Read more...
Effective dust control
Motion Control & Drives
BLT WORLD, in conjunction with the global ScrapeTec team, plays an important role throughout Africa by assisting companies, during conveyor handling, to manage dust emission and material spillage effectively.

Read more...