Industrial power considerations for variable speed drives (VSD´s)

It is argued that electronic variable speed drives (VSDs) are the preferred choice for industrial AC-motor speed control. Offering advantages over their mechanical counterparts, the VSDs can provide improved efficiency and flexibility, enhanced product quality, a higher degree of accuracy and computer compatibility. However, they are more sensitive to power line disturbances such as transients, harmonics, voltage variations and momentary interruptions. These concerns must be addressed at the time a VSD installation is designed and installed in order to avoid future problems with both the VSD and other plant electronic equipment