Schneider Electric Altivar Process variable speed drive with embedded services

Schneider Electric has announced the Altivar Process - a range of drives for process applications. Said to be the first variable speed drive available with embedded intelligent services, the product is suitable for the water, oil and gas, mining metals and minerals, and food and beverage industries, enabling improved life-cycle asset management and optimised energy consumption.

Through advanced system and equipment condition monitoring, the device ensures that applications are performing at optimum efficiency at all times. Compared to conventional drives, it is said to deliver an additional 8% reduction due to its ability to instantly detect efficiency drifts and to monitor motor power with a high level of accuracy. This enables the automation system to immediately make adjustments, thereby minimising a negative impact on the bottom line. It is also said to reduce downtime by 20% due to predictive, condition-based maintenance and an innovative user interface with easy-to-understand graphs.

Integrating both architecture and business systems, the product provides process visibility and transparent access to enriched data at both the factory and asset level. Embedded ethernet and advanced web servers provide consistent and secure access to this information. The embedded web server allows users to select which information to view and which to store. Key performance indicators and alarms are automatically monitored and can generate alerts to system operators of any performance irregularities.

Compact, modular and flexible, the device fits any application and is simple to install and integrate, whether in new installations, retrofits or upgrades. Designed for critical applications, it integrates process, grid and installation into a complete solution that reduces maintenance requirements and total cost of ownership.