AC & DC DRIVE

What is AC Drive?

AC drive (alternating current drive) converts the AC supply to the DC using

converter circuits based on rectifier and invert it back to the AC from DC using
inverter to control the speed of electric motors especially three phase motors.

AC Supply → Converted to DC → Again Inverted to AC → Electric Motor

AC drive is also known as VFD (variable frequency drive), VSD (variable speed
drive) or ASD (Adjustable speed drive).
The different types of AC drives operate on the same principle i.e. they convert
the fixed amount of input voltage and frequency into the variable voltage and
frequency output to control the motion of AC motors. Below is the basic block
diagram of AC drive.
What is DC Drive?

A DC drive (direct current drive) is a DC motor speed control system which

convert the input AC supply to the DC using converter circuit based on rectifier
(diodes and thyristors) to control the speed of DC motors.
Earlier, the variable DC voltage was generated by DC generators to control the
speed of a DC motor. Nowadays, thyristors are used to convert the AC to the DC
while mercury arc rectifier and thyristor converters are also used for the same
purpose.
There are additional two types of DC drives viz:
• Analog DC Drives
• Digital DC Drives
 Comparison between AC and DC Drives:

Characteristics AC Drives DC Drives

AC drives (also known as

VFD) convert the AC DC drives only convert
supply to DC using the input AC supply to the
Definition converter (rectifier) and DC using converter circuit
invert it back from the DC based on rectifier to run
to the AC using inverter to the DC motors.
run the AC motors.

AC drives control AC DC drives control DC

Control
output from AC input. output from AC input.

AC Drives run by AC DC Drives run by DC

power supply i.e. single power supply i.e. Batteries
Main Supply & Voltage
phase and three phase AC and supplies sources of
voltages. DC voltages.

Self Start Not self-starting Self-Starting

The circuit design of AC

The circuit design of DC
drives is little bit complex
drives is less complex due
due to the inverter and
Circuit Design to the single power
converter which convert
conversion i.e. It converts
AC to DC and invert back
AC to DC only once.
DC to AC then.

AC drives power and

DC drives power and
control circuits are
Power and Control control circuits are simple
complex in design as
Circuits in design as compared to
compared to the DC
the AC drives.
drives.

The breaking and

The breaking mechanism
acceleration mechanism of
of DC drives can be
Breaking / Acceleration AC drives can be
control by applying
controlled by changing the
resistance at rotor side.
supply frequency (FS).
 Speed control is done by
Speed control is done by
Speed Control changing the supply
armature and field control.
frequency.

The speed is limited

Maximum speed can be because of commutator
Speed Limitation
achieved. used in the motors for
commutation.

Motor Speed in RPM Up to 10k RPM Up to 2.5k RPM

~1% speed regulation is 1% speed regulation is not

Speed Regulation achievable in motors run possible to achieve in
by AC drives. motors run by DC drives.

It is complex to adjust the

Speed Torque It can be achieved easily.
speed torque curves.

Starting Torque Low High

DC drives have converter

AC drives have both
Inverter / Converter and chopper circuits. It
inverter and converter.
doesn’t need an inverter.

No need of commutation No slip rings but

Commutator and Slip
but slip rings in AC Commutation is needed in
Rings
drives. DC drives.

No need of rectification
Rectification Rectifier circuit is must.
circuit.

AC drives won’t be
connected directly to the DC drives can be
batteries as some connected and run directly
Battery Operation
additional components through batteries
and circuits are needed to (providing DC voltage).
do so.

AC drives can be directly

In DC drives, transformer
connected to the
Transformer is needed at voltage higher
transformer (mains
than 100V.
supply).
 AC drives consume less DC drives consume more
Power usage power as compared to DC power as compared to AC
drives. drives.

Brushes Life span High (about 10k hours) Low (about 3k hours)

Operation of AC drives is Operation of DC drives is

Noise
noisy. less noisy.

Inverter used in AC drives

Converter used in DC
produces harmonics on
Harmonics drives doesn’t generate
both sides i.e. supply and
harmonics.
load.

AC drives are spark free DC drives can’t be used in

Spark and can be used in wet wet areas due to generated
environment. spark in the burses.

Dynamic Response High Low

Maintenance Less More and frequent

Size, Weight & Power

Large Small
Rating

AC drives are more

DC drives are less
expensive while the
expensive while the
Cost motors used in AC drives
motors used in DC drives
are less expensive e.g.
are little bit expensive.
squirrel cage motor.

AC drives used in almost DC drives are used in few

General uses all areas with vast areas as compared to AC
applications. drives.

Generally, AC drives used Normally, DC drives used

for AC motors. They are for DC motors. They are
Applications
used to control the speed used to control the speed
of AC motors. of DC motors.
Advantages of AC and DC Drives:
Advantages of AC Drives:
• They are low cost as well as conventional.
• They need less maintenance in case of AC motors.
• AC motors are commonly available and less expensive. They are lighter
in weight in smaller in size as compared to the DC motors.
• High speed due to no brush and commutation problem
Advantages of DC Drives:
• DC drive technology is efficient, reliable, cost effective, operator
friendly and relatively easy to implement as compared to DC drive
systems.
• DC drives are less expensive and complex due to the single conversion
i.e. AC to DC conversion.
• DC drive provides many advantages over AC drives, especially for
regenerative and high-power applications.
• DC drives have been widely used in industrial drive applications in order
to offer very precise control
• Less noisy operation as compared to the AC motors.
• DC motors are self-starting machines with high starting and accelerating
torque.