AC drives show their muscle in heavy industrial applications

摘要

AC motors and variable speed drives are gradually replacing older technology DC drives and single-speed ac motors in steel making and offshore platforms. When Corus steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, added a new continuous slab caster line, their first inclination was to follow tradition and use DC drives since these had been successful in other casting lines. But, looking to the potential benefits of reduced motor maintenance from a switch to ac, and the reduced downtime that this implies, the project team grasped the opportunity for increased efficiency. They decided to use Control Techniques' Unidrive SP and purchased about 60 of the ac drives for the project, and totally enclosed ac motors from CT's sister company in France, Leroy Somer.