Improve Operating Efficiency and
Reduce Installed Cost with
Altivar 212 Adjustable Speed Drives.
Make the most of your energy
SM
Applying AC drives on centrifugal pump and fan applications is an
excellent way to increase energy savings and reduce maintenance costs.
By eliminating air flow dampers, inlet guide vanes, and throttling valves,
and using an AC drive to control air and fluid flow, users have reduced
both energy and maintenance costs. Until now, AC drives from most
manufactures have provided similar rates of energy savings. The Altivar 212
has been optimized for efficiency to provide additional savings.
Schneider Electric has designed the new Altivar™ 212 variable frequency drive (VFD), which minimizes the
energy losses during power conversion to accurately control motors and reduced speeds.
To confirm the advanced performance of the Altivar 212 VFD, Schneider Electric contracted with an
independent third party to compare operating efficiency of the Altivar 212 VFD and other comparable products
currently on the market.
Maximize energy savings and lower facility energy bills.
By utilizing an Altivar 212 drive, you can achieve a 3 – 5 percent operating efficiency improvement over typical
AC drives on centrifugal loads. Based on typical duty cycle and energy costs, such an improvement can save
as much as $120 – $195 per year per drive when compared to typical AC drives on a 15 hp motor.*
Looking at Figure 1 below, you will see the estimated energy costs of the Altivar 212 drive compared to that
of a typical AC drive, and operation not applying an AC drive.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Testing was performed by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). See the Disclaimer.
Figure 2 illustrates the estimated reduction in energy costs of an Altivar 212 drive compared to typical AC
drives. Multiplying the savings by the number of motors shows the considerable annual savings offered by
the Altivar 212 VFD.
2
Improved design leads to better results.
Today, the Altivar 212 VFD includes critical design features that enable it provide marked improvement in
operating efficiency over typical AC drives used in pump and fan applications. These are:
•Unique, optimized power section
•Engineering of the motor control algorithm to provide stable operation even if the power line varies
within specification
The power section design optimization was accomplished by reducing the DC bus capacitance value to
approximately 3 – 5 percent of the capacitor value of an equivalent horsepower, typical AC drive. This results in
a reduction of total input current draw lowering input current harmonics and input line RMS current values. By
eliminating line reactors, swinging chokes, and DC bus chokes, the power section has less resistance, which
reduces energy losses and contributes to significant efficiency improvement offered by the Altivar 212 drive.
The engineering of the motor control algorithm and the powerful motor control processor are used to produce
a smooth, sinusoidal waveform to the motor. The motor control algorithm and processor are engineered to
manage DC bus ripple and produce a smooth, sinusoidal current waveform to the motor making it suitable for
powering motors on centrifugal pump and fan applications.
Integrated technology lowers energy bills, increases comfort, and cuts costs.
The Altivar 212 drive operates more efficiently and provides additional installed cost savings compared to
typical AC drives on centrifugal pump and fan applications. While there are AC drive solutions that provide
lower harmonic mitigation and provide longer voltage sag ride-through capability, they also have higher
installed costs and don’t operate as efficiently. The Altivar 212 VFD provides a solution that is uniquely
positioned to lower costs.
The technology designed into the Altivar 212 VFD provides equivalent harmonic mitigation without the use of
line reactors, swinging chokes, or DC bus chokes. By eliminating these components and the space needed to
mount them, the Altivar 212 VFD can reduce the installed cost by 4 – 6 percent in a typical installation.*
Another benefit of the technology used in the Altivar 212 drive is the reduction of the input line current when
compared to typical AC drives. This technology results in lower RMS input currents by reducing high peak
current during the charging cycle. The lower input line current allows wire size and overcurrent protection
devices to be smaller, often reducing the total installed cost by 2 – 4 percent compared to typical AC drives.
Figure 3
Figure 3 above shows input currents from several typical AC drives at different horsepower sizes and the
Altivar 212 drive having lower input line current values.
3
1.00
0.95
0.90
Power Factor
0.85
0.80
0.75
0.70
0.65
AC Drive B
Altivar 212
AC Drive A
AC Drive C
AC Drive E
AC Drive D
0.60
0.55
0.50
3
5
7
9
Nominal Power (HP)
11
13
Figure 4
15
The technology designed into the Altivar 212 VFD also
contributes to its superior operating efficiency with
improvements in the power factor when compared to
typical AC drives. The optimized design of the input
section, and reduced DC bus capacitance in the
Altivar 212 drive, converts AC power to DC power
more efficiently through the speed range, because
the current waveform is more in step with the voltage
waveform when compared to a typical AC drive design.
As shown in the graph, the Altivar 212 drive maintains
a high power factor through the speed/load range
encountered in centrifugal pump and fan applications.
The high power factor means that the Altivar 212
drive is operating more efficiently, minimizing losses,
improving electrical load power quality, and contributes
to providing a 3 – 5 percent operating efficiency
improvement over typical AC drives on centrifugal
pump and fan applications.*
In summary, the Altivar 212 drive provides the following benefits*:
•Harmonic mitigation equivalent to AC Drives with line reactors, swinging chokes, and DC bus chokes
reducing required panel space and installed cost by 4% – 6%
• Reduction of input line currents reduces wire size and overcurrent protection device cost, reducing the total
installed cost by 2% – 4%
• Operating efficiency improvement of 3% – 5% over typical AC drives due to an improved power factor
minimizing losses in both the drive and associated input power cables
The Atlivar 212 VFD is proven to be the best choice for pump and fan applications used in office buildings,
educational campuses, data centers, and other commercial facilities.
For additional information about:
•Altivar 212 drives and the independent, third-party testing, please visit products.schneider-electric.us/
products-services/products/ac-drives-and-soft-starts/
•Harmonic mitigation benefits of the Altivar 212 VFD and a comparison of harmonic mitigation techniques, see
Schneider Electric Product Data Bulletin 8800DB0702 at static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Motor%20Control/
AC%20Drives/Altivar%2021/8800DB0702.pdf
•Technology designed into the Altivar 212 VFD, refer to Schneider Electric Product Data Bulletin 8800DB1201 at
static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Motor%20Control/AC%20Drives/Altivar%20212/8800DB1201.pdf
For more information visit
www.schneider-electric.com/us
and enter key code p701v.
Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
8001 Knightdale Blvd.
Knightdale, NC 27545
1-888-778-2733
www.schneider-electric.com/us
Document Number 8000HO1219
Enter key code
Schneider Electric Canada, Inc.
19 Waterman Avenue
Toronto, ON M4B 1Y2
Tel: 1-800-565-6699
www.schneider-electric.com/ca
SE
TV
*Testing was performed by Electric Power
Research Institute (EPRI) in 2011. This is
not a guarantee of future performance or
performance in your particular circumstances.
June 2012
©2012 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks are owned by
Schneider Electric Industries SAS or its affiliated companies. • 998-1152777_US
•Altivar 212 VFD and the S-Flex™ Enclosed AC drive with optional bypass, go to products.schneider-electric.us/
products-services/products/ac-drives-and-soft-starts/