2004-07-06 - ABB’s standard drive for HVAC now features a maintenance assistant. This helps the user schedule maintenance of the drive and its associated equipment in stand-alone applications where no BMS system is installed, improving the performance and reliability of the HVAC system.
The maintenance assistant can prompt users to commission maintenance within specific time intervals, after a set number of running hours or when equipment fails to meet performance criteria.
An air-handling unit will for instance draw more current as dust builds up inside. If the unit normally draws 35A with a clean filter, the maintenance assistant can prompt the user to replace the filter when the consumption reaches 42A.
The maintenance assistant can also keep track of bearing and drive belt replacement intervals, as well as lubrication intervals for the driven equipment, either by monitoring the motor running hours or the number of motor revolutions.
Dust may also build up inside the drive itself, obstructing airflow, which can cause components to overheat. It is therefore prudent to clear out the dust a few times a year, which the maintenance assistant can prompt the user about.
“Filter replacement in air-handling units is sometimes overlooked, reducing the quality of the indoor air over time,” says Nick Thorne, sales manager for HVAC drives at ABB. “The replacement intervals can now be monitored by the drive, whereas previously, a BMS system would have been required to do the same thing.”
“Maintenance of the drive itself is something that many users ignore until the day the drive overheats and trips,“ Thorne continues. “To prevent a total shutdown of the air conditioning system on a hot summer’s day, it is a good idea to give the drive some basic maintenance.”
ABB recommends that the drive is serviced once about every twelve months, depending on the amount of dust in the atmosphere where the drive is fitted. The cover should be removed and dust extracted with a vacuum cleaner. All electrical connections should be checked for tightness and the fan established to be in working order before the cover is put back on. It is also a good idea to have a note of the original drive settings and ensure that these have not been changed.
Regular replacement of filters in air-handling units prevents the spread of airborne contaminants. Blocked filters reduce the airflow, enabling the build-up of dirt and microbes inside the ventilation ducting. It is estimated that bad indoor air causes 30% of all allergic diseases and 15% of all sick leave*.
The maintenance assistant in ABB’s new HVAC drive is extremely easy to set up, with an operator interface that can be navigated as simply as a mobile telephone. The detachable, multi-lingual alphanumeric control panel features two soft keys, the function of which is shown on the display, depending on the panel status.
Should the user lose their way at any point, a built-in “Help” button brings on-screen advice. The ABB standard drive is the first on the market to carry this feature.
The panel can be used for copying parameters between some of the ABB standard drives range.