Variable interest
With an eye on both energy efficiency and cost savings, all the signs point to a major shift towards the use of variable speed drives in a range of applications.
With energy saving top of the environmental agenda, the public is fast becoming aware that just by switching off the TV standby setting when not in use means a cut in electricity bills.
This same need to save cash has been the imperative behind the increased use of variable speed AC drives in many applications. Running units at full power is very wasteful and variable speed drives can save a lot of money.
The EU has recognised this and could soon be adopting legislation requiring users to install the most energy-efficient motor configurations possible, as the US Environmental Protection Agency has done.
A recent study on high-power AC drives by US-based Automation Research Council (ARC) confirms the growing popularity of variable speed drives, saying, 'The worldwide market for high-power AC drives is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.1 per cent over the next five years and is forecast to be nearly $7.4bn (around £4bn) in 2011.' A report covering low-power drives forecast similar figures for that sector.
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