Considerations when applying ASDs in continuous processes

Proper use of adjustable speed drives in any application requires informed considerations of many issues. When the application is an integral part of a continuous process, in financial terms, many of those considerations can be greatly magnified. By definition in this paper, a continuous process is any process in which the product being manufactured flows through the manufacturing cycle with no interruption or intermediate storage or lag. Therefore, any interruption to that process will halt the entire manufacturing flow with implications ranging from just lost production to extremely costly implications like repair, re-string-up or removal of polymers that have “set” in piping, etc. Paraphrasing a real estate motto, applying ASDs in a continuous process the three most important factors are: reliability, reliability and reliability. The basis for the reliability issues along with “state of the art” potential solutions are presented