LTP-B Eco HVAC drive helps save energy and cut costs in a range of sectors

6th September 2018

With a large footprint and customer base in food-and-beverage, automotive, and mining, drive and automation specialist SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa is now targeting niche sectors such as Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) in order to ensure sustained growth.

In this regard, its LTP-B Eco HVAC drive is starting to make inroads in this market thanks to its combination of innovative technology and easy-to-use features.

High energy efficiency makes the LTP-B Eco HVAC drive ideal for applications as diverse as large buildings, hospitals, and even mills. Sectors range from commercial to residential and industrial. “Energy-saving is a major focus in HVAC. Our drive caters for this with an advanced ‘sleep’ and ‘wake’ function that maximises energy efficiency by only switching on a pump, for example, when it is required,” SEW-EURODRIVE SA Regional Sales Manager Clive O’Reilly explains.

Maximum operating efficiency is guaranteed thanks to an automatic pump-cleaning function, along with additional features such as the fact that the drive allows for the operation of multiple pumpsets, for example, without any need for a costly PLC. Instead, a built-in PLC function allows customised applications to be programmed directly into the drive.

Pump maintenance requirements are reduced dramatically due to blockage detection and run-dry protection. A built-in energy consumption meter has a clear display, which means that end users can calculate energy savings quickly. A motor preheat function allows for smooth start-up every time, without any internal condensation forming inside the drive if the ambient temperature is low.

The LTP-B Eco HVAC drive is available in single-phase variants (220 V) from 0.75 kW to 2.2 kW. This allows for added flexibility in applications where three-phase power is unavailable, a major constraint in Africa. Three-phase variants (440 V) range from 075 kW to 160 kW. A 525 V range (0.75 kW to 11 kW) is available specifically for mining-industry applications.

The drive is available in IP20, IP55, and IP66 ingress protection ratings. The latter, for example, can be supplied with an optional built-in isolator that is integrated with the drive for maximum functionality. The range of IP ratings makes the drive ideal for demanding operating conditions from food-and-beverage to hazardous environments.

Of particular interest to the building industry is the drive’s fire-detection capability, which means that ‘fire run’ mode can be activated in the event of any fire. This allows for the normal safety features to be bypassed, and for the fan to keep running for as long as it takes to extract any smoke in the immediate vicinity.

O’Reilly reveals that the LTP-B Eco HVAC drive has already been used successfully in a range of large building projects in Cape Town, which represents a very active market in terms of HVAC. It is for this reason that the drives are stocked aggressively nationwide not only is training provided for all end users, but a 24/7 back-up service and technical support ensures maximum reliability and uptime.

“What gives us the competitive edge in the HVAC market is our capability to supply additional products, such as our electronics and IE3 DRN motor series, which means we can offer our clients complete solutions. Having a single point of contact reduces the risk, while standardisation and modularity reduces costs significantly, and allows for a very competitive return-on-investment,” O’Reilly concludes.