Considerations when applying ASDs in continuous processes

Proper use of adjustable speed drives (ASDs) in any application requires informed considerations of many issues. When that application is an integral part of a continuous process, the implications of those considerations, in financial terms, can be greatly magnified. By definition, in this paper, a continuous process is any process in which the product being manufactured flows through the manufacturing cycle with no interruption or intermediate storage or lag. Therefore, any interruption to that process will halt the entire manufacturing flow, with implications ranging from just lost production to extremely costly implications like repair, re-stringup, or removal of polymers that have "set up" in piping, etc. The requirement for the high level of reliability, along with state-of-the-art potential solutions dealing with power quality issues, is presented.