Definite purpose medium-voltage drive introduced by Danfoss

Within these industries there are similar applications and similarly driven equipment as in the Low-Voltage (LV) drives market, but with a greater need for power. These applications are amongst others propulsion, pumps, blowers, fans, conveyors, ball mills, compressors, extruders, mixers, centrifuges, excavators, test stands and soft starters for large DOL motors.

In these industries, energy-saving awareness is also growing, which increases the use of both LV drives and MV drives, and the industries represent an estimated $2.5bn market value. To meet the demands of these industries for high performance MV drives Danfoss has developed the VACON 3000.

The VACON 3000 is designed to meet the specific needs of industrial applications between 3300-4160V, and is a modular drive solution that enables the complete customisation of the enclosure to serve the needs of a variety of applications, including those with limited space and stringent, harsh conditions. It is currently available in powers up to 6MW.

As an easy-to-integrate drive solution, the VACON 3000 features a simplified pre-charge unit design: a compact solution for space-sensitive applications that needs no pre-charging resistors and limits the inrush current for fast, safe start-up.

With flexible front-end configuration options, including a diode front-end-based 12-pulse configuration and an Active Front End (AFE) option for regenerative braking and low harmonics, the VACON 3000 is a familiar, fully-graphical user interface (same as the VACON 100 INDUSTRIAL drive) for faster setup and use, and with the latest technology built in and a wide choice of control options.

Also featuring passive components for the drive system, including L, C and common mode filters for AFE variants, DC chokes for 12-pulse variants, and output du/dt filters, the VACON 3000 is simple to build in, easy-to-handle inverter units that are compact, robust, and liquid-cooled, making it suitable for adverse ambient conditions. Single-phase modules with grounded heatsink simplify the solution’s serviceability.

Additionally, modules can be connected in parallel to provide the user and system integrator with design flexibility.

Ensuring that customers receive the quality systems that meet specific system design requirements, as well as support in planning, construction, commissioning, and maintenance, Danfoss will work closely with system partners in a MV Partner network.

Danfoss also supplies ready-made cabinet design templates for partners, allowing partners to provide deeper system integration than ever before. It provides this reference cabinet design to partners for use as a template for their designs, which utilises the VACON 3000 concept, creating a compact and service-friendly MV drive.

Based on Rittal TS8 enclosure system it ensures that components are globally available. Dedicated variants for IEC and UL markets are available, based on same concept.

President and CEO Niels B. Christiansen commented: "Our committed efforts to lift growth pay off. The strong earnings and high cash flow pave the way for further strengthening of the core business through acquisitions and investments in our digital transformation."