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Smart VFDs for a Smart BACnet Network
May 06, 2018A building automation system (BAS) is only as smart as the devices that are connected to it. It should come as no surprise that when providing comfort in a building, a variable frequency drive, or VFD, has kept pace. This comes in the form of connecting to a BACnet network and providing the plethora of information that it contains over the network. Whether the information is transferred over an Ethernet connection, BACnet/IP, or serially, BACnet MSTP, it can be easily passed along.
At is core, a VFD provides the ability to adjust the speed of a motor, resulting in the ability to vary the speed of the fan that is attached to the motor. When compared to the older traditional methods of air flow regulation, e.g. dampers, a VFD can provide more energy savings. The keys to its energy savings capability revolve around its topology and ability to take advantage of the affinity curves for fans.