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Introduced to industrial applications in the 1880s, electric motors revolutionized the speed of industry. But for decades, they operated at only one speed. Later versions evolved to use mechanical systems like belts and gears to adjust speed—an improvement that still required a machine be stopped and rendered inactive while manual adjustments were made.
That all changed in the 1980s when variable frequency drives (VFDs) were introduced. Using an electro-mechanical drive system to change motor speed and torque, they allowed motors to be adjusted more effectively and efficiently than before. But with around 25% of the world's electrical energy consumed by industrial motors1, Eaton knew there was still room for improvement. And with increasingly strict government regulations for efficiency, the need to innovate was mounting.
By 2014, Eaton’s portfolio included a number of industry-leading VFDs. But what if they could take the best of each and create something new—and radically better? So a select group of engineers and designers from across Eaton came together to build a new VFD. And it would reimagine how a motor drive could function.
Innovation summits brought Eaton’s greatest minds together with their best customers to brainstorm fresh ideas, see what was needed and gather feedback. The result? A collection of “best of” features in one great general-purpose drive – the PowerXL DG1.
The PowerXL DG1 features Active Energy Control, a proprietary algorithm, originally created for HVAC applications, that offers management capabilities that reduce the input voltage and current requirements to maintain system speed and torque demands. The DG1 also features best-in-class short circuit protection and it introduced a dramatically improved user interface with an easy-to-use LED keypad and an array of commands, including a cut-and-paste feature that can store two parameter sets for quick commissioning between multiple VFDs.
With a smaller footprint for its class, the PowerXL DG1 takes up less space, meaning lower costs and extra room for more intelligent machines within the system. And with onboard communications, the drive is ready for hardwire set-up or Ethernet communications, allowing you to connect to a network without the expense of a separate communications interface.
Rising energy costs and increasingly strict regulations may have been the impetus for drive innovation, but some of the most valuable input came from listening—to both our best engineering minds and our best customers. The result is a best-in-class, customizable power management solution backed by experienced engineering, service and support. A solution that saves space and money, improves safety, increases compliance and works smarter. A solution that allows businesses to be more efficient and productive than ever before.
PowerXL VFDs are a prime example of the drive to innovate here at Eaton. It’s just one more way that Eaton is helping industry meet the increasing need for efficiency and intelligence.
Contact us to learn more about Eaton’s PowerXL DG1 variable frequency drive, and see how Eaton innovation is energizing customers’ business across industries and around the world.
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