Through its world-class brand Telemecanique, a global power and control leader Schneider Electric has recently introduced new variable speed drives for the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) market.

Known as the Altivar 21 and Altivar 61, this new generation of ‘simply smart’ variable speed drives is specifically dedicated to pump and fan applications within the building HVAC market.
“Performance, robustness and ease of use are key features of Telemecanique’s Altivar 21 and 61. They are so well designed for HVAC applications that we are confident that these intelligent variable speed drives will be extremely well appreciated by the market,” says Khursheed Khan, product manager of Schneider Electric in Saudi Arabia.
This new offer enables control of three-phase asynchronous motors from 0.75 to 220 kW (1 to 350 hp) running on three-phase 200 to 240 volts AC and 380 to 480 volts AC power supplies. The multifunction Altivar 61 offer complements the optimised Altivar 21 offer for HVAC applications, he adds.
“Currently available in UL type 1/IP20 or UL type 12/IP54 versions, they are guarantee performance even in hostile environments.
“The Altivar 21 and Altivar 61offer provides the opportunity to reduce building rating costs by optimising energy consumption while improving people’s comfort,” says Laurent Belle-Perat, the public relation and communication manager of Schneider Electric.
Thanks to their evolutionary design, the new variable speed drives provide an ideal solution to all HVAC requirements in residential, commercial and industrial buildings,
Pumping and ventilation applications require specific functions, relating to safety, reduced pollution, continuity of service and energy savings, all of which have to be taken into account as standard. The drives feature:
• An integrated PI regulator for adjusting flow rates according to actual needs;
• Pump switching function, allowing autonomous management of a group of pumps in order to maintain constant pressure in hydraulic circuits;
• Smoke purge function that inhibits thermal protection functions of the drive and the motor in the event of fire;
• Fault management;
• Continuous service with immunity to voltage sags down to –50 per cent, resistance to installation “noise” provided by its RFI filters as well as ambient temperatures up to 50 deg C.
The electromagnetic compatibility and reduction of harmonics have been fully taken into account from the design stage of the drive, says Khan.
“With the reduced capacitor technology of Altivar 21, additional devices need not be used to reduce harmonics (DC choke, AC line reactor).

Performance and ease of use
“By using its macro-configurations and “Simply Start” menu, Altivar 61 is immediately operational for your applications and allows quick adjustments with the user-friendly dialogue interface,” says Belle-Perat. “With auto-tuning, Altivar 21 and Altivar 61 quickly adapt to the parameters of each motor and provide safely optimised dynamic performance. Customisation of the settings can be performed directly using the built-in keypad or from a remote keypad, which can be installed on an enclosure or panel door.
“The PC software workshop will allow to configure drive settings for advanced functions. Ready to use due to its ‘plug and drive’ design, Altivar 21 is operational as soon as it is connected.”

Open I/O and communications
The Telemacanique Altivar range features numerous configurable logic and analogue inputs and outputs in order to provide optimum suitability for all HVAC applications. Modbus and CANopen protocols are integrated to increase the performance of automation systems.
Open, Altivar 21 and 61 also support the main communication buses and easily integrate in HVAC building management systems via LonWorks, BACnet, Metasys N2, Apogee FLN option cards. On Ethernet, their Web server function offers worldwide accessibility to information, irrespective of time or place.
“Our new Altivar 21 and Altivar 61 range also comply to high international standards which include UL, CSA, CE, C-Tick and GOST. They have been developed according to the eco-design principle conforming to the new European directives of ROHS (Restriction of hazardous substances) and WEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment, regarding product recycling),” he claims.
With 25 years of local presence in Saudi Arabia, Schneider Electric manufactures and markets a comprehensive range of products and services for the residential, buildings, industry, energy and infrastructure markets through its world-class brands Merlin Gerin, Square D and Telemecanique.
Staffed by 92,000 employees and with operations in 130 countries, Schneider Electric generated revenue of Euro 11.7 billion ($14.09 billion) last year through 13,000 distributors outlets. It is actively present in the Saudi Arabia with key reference projects such as the grand mosque in Makkah and Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, among others.