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How are Optidrive Variable Frequency Drives helping to create renewable energy production?
Renewable energy is helping to reduce a large amount of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere and the world's dependence on fossil fuels. Biogas production through anaerobic maturation has always been an environmentally friendly energy source that helps generate green electricity.
Biogas production is on the increase thanks to several specialists in the construction of renewable electricity production units, who use Optidrive frequency inverters from Invertek Drives.
There are several biogas systems built, using animal and vegetable waste to produce gas through anaerobic maturation, which in turn is converted into electricity.
One of the latest projects began operating in Kefalovrysos, Trikala, in central Greece, in October 2022.
Pumping and mixing for optimum gas production
Animal and food waste is broken down into microorganisms inside two special oxygen-free storage units. Here, pumps ensure the right amount of material before it is mixed to help create gas.
The gas is converted into electricity when it passes through two cogeneration units. These generators produce 3MW per hour. The electricity is then fed into the grid.
Both the processes for pumping animal and vegetable waste into reactors and for mixing use the Optidrive E3 series frequency inverters. In this particular case, with IP20, 3PH enclosures, from 4kW up to 37kW.
The plant's Technical Director said that the 18 Optidrive E3 frequency inverters used are a fundamental part of the overall project and ensure that the optimum amount of gas is created by controlling pumping and mixing.
“The whole procedure depends on the pumping and mixing processes, each of which requires frequency inverters for precise control of the amount of waste entering and leaving and the mixing speed during the process. The material is pumped into tanks one and two where it is mixed to produce the gas.”
He added that: “After a while, the pumps are used to transfer the material from these tanks to a third one where it will undergo centrifugal treatment, also using the frequency inverters.”
PID functionality ensures precise flow and mixing
Optidrive E3 frequency inverters are used to control mixers and pumps using PID functions to ensure precise material flow and mixing, depending on the material.
“Optidrive frequency inverters are easy to install and program. All the frequency inverters were connected to the PLC via the Ethernet/IP protocol. The PID function of the drives was used for pumping control. The whole process, combined with our expertise, ensured the optimum gas levels, which were produced by ensuring the correct motor and pump speed,” he added.
The Optidrive E3 frequency inverters are part of Invertek Drives' range of easy-to-use and easy-to-set-up products. The Optidrive E3 includes simple commissioning, with 14 basic configuration parameters, and standard configurations, with 50 parameters available for flexible use.
It includes an intuitive keyboard and application macros to switch between industrial, pump and fan modes, depending on the application to be controlled.
For more information, contact REIMAN specialized team.
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Sustainability
