Reduction of Energy Consumption by Proper Speed Selection in PMSM-Driven Roller Conveyors

This paper suggests using transport speed selection as a degree of freedom to reduce the energy demand of roller conveyors driven by permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) in the field of materials handling. A dynamic model of energy consumption of PMSM-driven roller conveyors is provided. Within the proposed model, a vector control strategy is used for motor speed control in addition to hysteresis trigger selection for the inverter. The relation between motor energy consumption, its desired rotational speed, and required torque for packet movement is analyzed. An optimum transportation speed is defined according to the load on the conveyor, and the resulting optimization method is qualified on a series of simulations and offers a potential saving margin for a pilot system. Applications of the proposed method during the planing and system operation are also presented.