Frequency converters are being used more and more widely, and have already been successfully applied in the escalator industry. Below, we will introduce some operational characteristics of escalators after being retrofitted with frequency converters, as follows:
1) When no one is using the escalator: Ensure the escalator automatically and smoothly transitions to energy-saving operation, running at 1/5 of its rated speed. (The function of automatically stopping the escalator when no one is using it can be selected).
2) When people are riding the escalator: Ensure that the escalator automatically and smoothly transitions to the rated speed at an energy-saving speed, which has been verified in actual measurements;
3) When the escalator is unloaded, it operates in energy-saving speed mode, and the current is only 1/3 of the rated speed operating current when unloaded.
4) During maintenance and operation: The escalator system runs at 1/2 of the rated speed, which facilitates maintenance and observation of the movement of the escalator mechanism and avoids the shortcomings of the original system's untimely stopping at rated speed.
5) Because the escalator operates at a very low speed when no one is using it, the wear and tear on the mechanical parts is greatly reduced, which relatively extends the service life of the escalator.
6) The adoption of frequency conversion technology greatly reduces the impact on the power grid when the escalator starts. The use of frequency converters can effectively improve the power factor of the power grid and reduce reactive power loss.
7) The renovation fully considered the coexistence of the frequency conversion system and the original system, which facilitates switching between them in case of system failure and does not affect the user's use.
8) The safety conditions of the original system were borrowed during the renovation, and the safety features of the frequency converter itself made the safety of the renovated system more reliable.
9) The equipment cost of escalator energy-saving retrofit is not much compared with the cost of electricity saving and mechanical wear and tear, and the investment can be recovered in a short period of time. Therefore, the successful development and application of escalator frequency conversion energy-saving and safety retrofit technology has significant economic and social benefits for improving the safety and energy saving of existing escalators.
