What is a drive, types and purpose

The actuators of most machines and mechanisms (from toys to heavy vehicles, construction equipment, production lines and other automation) create one or another mechanical movement - the rotation of wheels and shafts, the translational movement of pistons, rods and pushers, the rotation of various doors and shutters, up to the most complex movements of manipulators created in the image of a human hand. They feed on other types of energy - from the combustion of chemical fuels or nuclear reactions, liquid or steam pressure, etc. But the most common (cheap, convenient, safe, environmentally friendly) source is electricity. Devices that convert other types of energy into mechanical energy (movement with the necessary direction, speed, effort) are called drives. They find the widest application in any technique, and are divided according to

• the nature of the created movement and its mechanical parameters;
  
• the energy carrier used and its characteristics;
  
• control capabilities (discrete/proportional); 
  
• type of control signal;
  
• installation dimensions and degree of unification (for executive bodies of various types and manufacturers).
  

Drives in ventilation systems Ventilation is no exception to the vast list of systems that use mechanical movement and require the corresponding conversion of other forms of energy. Strictly speaking, any electric motor is already a drive. For example, a fan motor (at least in a fan coil unit, even in a chiller or just in an air duct) is the drive of its impeller. But since such motors are our main products, presented in detail in other sections, now we are not talking about them. Consider two other applications of actuators in ventilation.

1. Air flaps

Directing and/or blocking airflow dampers (swivel plates or multi-blade louvres) are part of any fan coil unit, as well as many simpler supply ventilation systems, the output units of which do not contain other devices than these louvres and decorative grilles (the latter can be combined: louvres -lattice). In connection with the placement of fan coil units or duct outlets, as a rule, at high altitude, remote control is usually used to move the plates - wired, via an IR transmitter / receiver, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. In any case, it is necessary to provide mechanical movement with the help of electricity, that is, a drive is required. Moreover, proportional or multi-position discrete in order to accurately set the flow direction. For maximum control convenience, the speed of the proportional drive is chosen so as to provide a full stroke (between extreme positions) of the guide plates within 5–7 seconds.

2. Hydraulic valves.

When ventilation serves not just to replace the air in the room, but also heats / cools it, heat exchangers are used - as part of fan coil units or as separate units. Like almost any hydraulic system, they contain various valves. Some (for example, reverse, protective) do not need to be controlled. And for supply or exhaust ventilation of a two-way or three-way fan coil valve or a separate heat exchanger, you need to buy a drive. Many actuators (for example, from today's inexpensive and reliable thermoelectric actuators), depending on the control scheme, can provide both bistable and arbitrary position of the actuators, and if the installation dimensions and mechanical characteristics match, they can be used both in hydraulic valves and for directing / blocking air . Therefore, our company makes it possible to purchase drives separately, and engineers will check the issues of their mechanical and electrical compatibility with any equipment.