What Are the Common Applications of VFD Drives

A variable frequency drive (VFD) is a device that controls the speed of an electric motor. It does this by changing the frequency and voltage of the input power supply, thereby regulating the motor’s speed and output power. To put it simply, a VFD first converts standard power (such as fixed 50Hz/60Hz) into adjustable power, then outputs the appropriate frequency and voltage based on actual requirements. This works similarly to how a car’s accelerator controls speed, allowing the motor to speed up or slow down as needed.
Common Applications of VFD Drives

Why Use VFD Drives?

1.Slash Energy Costs by 50%

Energy-saving VFD drives match motor speed to actual load. No more wasting power at fixed speeds. Example: Pumps running at partial load cut energy use 35%+ (DOE data).

2.Reduce Equipment Stress

Benefits of VFD drives include:
  • Soft start/stop: Eliminates belt/gear shock (e.g., conveyor jams).
  • 40% fewer part replacements in mining machinery.

3.Extend System Lifespan

Gradual acceleration prevents motor burnout. HVAC plants using VFDs report:
✅ 92% fewer failures
✅ 30% lower maintenance costs 

4.Enable Smart Automation

Energy-saving VFD drives integrate with controls for:
  • Demand-based speed adjustments
  • Predictive maintenance (↓30% downtime)

Common Applications of VFD Drives

Industry

Application Scenario

Core Function

Usage Ratio

HVAC System

Control fan and pump speed

Regulate airflow/water flow as needed, saving 30% energy

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Industrial pumps

Pump speed control in chemical and water treatment

Stable flow/pressure, preventing pipe bursts

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Conveyor Systems

Factory conveyor belts, logistics sorting lines

Flexible speed control to match production rhythms

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Compressor

Factory air compressors, refrigerant systems

On-demand air supply, reducing idle power consumption

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Machine tool

CNC machine tool spindle speed control

Precise speed control to improve machining accuracy

⭐ ⭐

Elevator/Escalator

Control elevator start/stop speed

Smooth operation, reducing the discomfort of sudden stops

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Agriculture

Irrigation pumps, feeders, speed control

On-demand water/feed supply, saving electricity and water

⭐ ⭐

1.HVAC systems
  • ​Scenario​: Air conditioning fans and cooling water pumps in shopping malls
  • Function​: Automatically increases air volume in summer and decreases it in winter to avoid “full power operation,” saving energy and maintaining a more stable room temperature.
2.​Industrial pumps
  • ​Scenario​: Liquid transfer pumps in chemical plants
  • Function​: Regulates flow like a “water tap switch” to prevent leaks caused by excessive pipe pressure.
3.Conveyor Systems
  • ​Scenario​: Conveyor belts in automobile assembly lines
  • Function​: Slow speed during part assembly and accelerated speed during empty return trips, like an “intelligent variable speed conveyor belt.”
4.Compressors
  • ​Scenario​: Air compressors in food factories
  • Function​: Full load air supply during peak production and low speed standby during rest periods to avoid “dry burning electricity costs.”
5.Machine Tools
  • ​Application​: CNC lathes for metal processing
  • Function: Accelerates during hard metal cutting and decelerates during polishing, like a “variable-speed drill” to improve processing quality.
6.Elevators/Escalators
  • Application: Office building elevators
  • Function: “Gently accelerates” during startup and “softly brakes” during stops, eliminating “elevator dizziness” for passengers.
7.Agriculture
  • Application: Smart irrigation systems for farmland
  • Function: Automatically pumps water at high speed when the soil is dry and switches to low speed when moist, saving water and electricity while preventing seedling flooding.

How to Select a VFD for Your Application

Match Motor Specs & Power

Key action: Refer to the  rated voltage  (e.g. 480V) and  HP/kW rating for the motor.
Critical note: Oversize by 20% to avoid overload (15HP motor = 18HP VFD.)

Analyze Load Type

Select VFD according to torque:
Constant torque  (such as conveyors, compressors): Requires 150% overload ability.
Constant torque  (e.g., conveyors, machine tools): Requires control consistency.

Assess Environment

VFD selection guide for harsh conditions:

Factor​

Requirement

Dust/Debris​

IP54+ enclosure

Humidity

<85% non-condensing

Temperature

-10°C to 40°C operating

Check the Protocols of Communication

Enable IoT integration with:
Modbus RTU/TCP  for the PLC network.
For example, packaging lines use ~EtherCATIP’ for real-time control.
The automotive industry has standardised on CANopen for robotic devices.

Real-World Examples of VFD Drives Applications

1.VFD Pump Retrofit: Chemical Plant Cooling System (Shanghai)​

​Operational Challenge
  • 4 fixed-speed centrifugal pumps (160kW each)
  • Throttling valves caused 35% energy waste + frequent motor overload trips
VFD Solution
  • Installed our company’s ​220kW VFD​ (160kW motor + 20% safety margin)
  • Dynamic control logic:
    • ↑ Cooling demand → ↑ Pump speed (maintain 1.2MPa pipe pressure)
    • ↓ Night load → ↓ Speed to 30Hz

Metric

Pre-retrofit

Post-retrofit

Reduction

Annual power

2.88 GWh

1.92 GWh

​33.3%​​

Motor failures

7/yr

1/yr

85.7%

Chemical Plant Cooling System
220Kw(295HP) VFD Drives Control Cabinets
185 250kw1 2 - What Are the Common Applications of VFD Drives

2.Conveyor Precision Control: E-commerce Sorting Center (Hangzhou)​

Mechanical Issues​
  • Gear-driven system caused violent starts (5% package damage rate)
  • Max capacity capped at 12,000 units/hour
VFD Implementation
  • Deployed ​our company’s 75kW VFD​ (55kW motor drive)
  • Multi-speed programming:
    • Light-load zone: 0.8m/s → 55kW output
    • Scanning area: 0.5m/s → 22kW output
Performance Gains​
  • ​Throughput: 12,000 → 14,700 units/hour (​+22.5%​)
  • Start-stop energy loss: Reduced by 62%
Conveyor Precision Control
75Kw(101HP) VFD Drives Control Cabinets
Three Phase,132kW,380V,EV510A-1320G/1600P-T4

3.Air Compressor Group Control: Textile Plant Pneumatics (Suzhou)​

Energy Waste​
  • 6 screw compressors (132kW each)
  • Unloaded operation >40% of runtime
VFD Cluster Strategy​
  • Retrofitted 3 units with ​our company’s 160kW VFDs
  • ​Smart pressure management:
    • Pressure >0.75MPa: Reduce VFD speed to 40Hz
    • Pressure <0.65MPa: Start fixed-speed units

Parameter

Pre-retrofit

Post-retrofit

Unloaded runtime

40%

8%

Specific energy​

0.112 kWh/m³

0.081 kWh/m³

​Annual savings​

—

886,000 kWh​

Air Compressor Group Control
160Kw(215HP) VFD Drives Control Cabinets
Three Phase,160kW,380V,EV510A-1600G/1850P-T4

FAQ About VFD Applications

Question

Answer

Where are VFD drives most used?

HVAC, pumping, conveyors, machine tools.

Can I use a VFD on any motor?

Only on compatible AC motors, typically 3-phase induction motors.

Do VFDs require programming?

Basic setup via parameters; advanced functions may need programming.