Delta Compact Drive Achieves Stable Variable-frequency Operation and Energy Savings for Preconditioned Air Units

In recent years, a rising demand for international air travel has increased the operational requirements of ground personnel. Cabin air exchange utilizing a preconditioned air unit (PCA) is a mandatory procedure for an airplane's preflight operations. Delta's compact drive optimizes the efficiency of PCAs, which results in variable-frequency operation based on the machine's operating capacity. Delta's motor drive products can be flexibly integrated into an existing system, achieving high-efficiency, stable driving operation, and energy savings for cabin air exchange and humidity control.

A PCA also provides a heating and cooling system used by airplanes while landing. The unit circulates fresh air to ensure cabin air quality, and filters, pressurizes, dehumidifies, and heats air based on operating requirements. Traditional PCAs are large pieces of equipment requiring diesel fuel to generate electricity, which consumes a great amount of fuel with poor energy efficiency. Delta has recently transformed an existing diesel-consuming PCA into an electricity-based PCA for a Brazilian airline customer. The new PCA integrates variable-frequency technology into various parts of the system, including condensing systems, fans, compressors, and blowers, to achieve energy savings and reduced cost.

For driving PCAs, Delta's Compact Drive MS300 Series drives both inductive and permanent synchronous motors applied to compressor and blower components in the equipment. For driving condensing unit and fans, this solution is matched with Delta's Sensorless Vector Control Compact Drive VFD-E Series, which adopts a built-in EMI filter to effectively reduce electromagnetic interference on the equipment for stable drive efficiency. The MS300 Series and the VFD-E Series both support Modbus communication, and can stably adjust each component's capacity and speed based on environmental parameters signaled by the system controller during operation to save unnecessary energy consumption for enhanced efficiency and quality.

After application, the Compact Drive MS300 Series and the Sensorless Vector Control Compact Drive VFD-E Series provide the following benefits to our customers:

Electricity-driven equipment for energy savings: This solution transforms the existing diesel-consuming equipment into an electricity-based PCA, with electric power supplied by the airport. With the integrated variable-frequency automated technology the revamped PCA becomes an energy-saving system.

Stable variable-frequency capability: Within variable environmental factors, Delta's motor drive products ensure a consistent temperature and humidity in the cabin without affecting the load change, achieving highly stable and reliable capabilities.

System status monitoring: This solution adopts Modbus communication to achieve system control and status monitoring

Delta's Compact Drive MS300 Series and the Sensorless Vector Control Compact Drive VFD-E Series provide a significant upgrade to the quality and efficiency of our customers' PCA equipment. The refurbished PCAs enhance cabin air exchange capacity and stability, reducing electricity energy consumption and labor cost, while enhancing overall competitiveness for the airlines.