Reducing Energy Consumption in the Oil Industry by Using Domestic Drives
A group of our nation’s top talents joined forces and, by synergizing their abilities, took a significant step in the production of industrial drives, freeing the country from unnecessary and costly imports.
According to "Energy Emrooz," from the Communication and Information Center of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, dedicated domestic specialists have been collaborating since 1990 to utilize their knowledge and expertise in designing and producing motor speed controllers, or Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). Their efforts have borne fruit, making Iran self-sufficient in the production of industrial drives and eliminating the need for imports.
Over the years, Pertosanat Company has upgraded its drives in accordance with the latest technologies. Its drives, with power ratings up to 400kW and equipped with Vector Control technology, are competitive with European products, have been well-received internationally, and are exported to countries such as Turkey and the UAE.
Kazem Dowlatabadi, CEO of Pertosanat Company, referring to the company’s knowledge-based status, states: “The company holds a knowledge-based certification from the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology for all of its products and has participated in the Ministry of Oil’s ‘10 Domestic Product Items’ project. Additionally, it is listed in the vendor lists of companies such as the National Iranian South Oilfields Company, National Gas Company, Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (SPEK), Oil Distribution and Refining Companies, Oil Products Company, Oil Pipeline & Telecommunication Company, and many other subsidiaries of the Ministry of Oil.”
He further emphasizes: “Focusing on R&D with the goal of acquiring up-to-date knowledge and technology has always been the company’s approach. With this strategy, we have successfully met the needs of domestic industries, such as oil and gas. By leveraging our skilled engineers and talented graduates, we have transformed knowledge into technology and subsequently into commercialization, thereby creating added value and employment in Iran, and laying the foundation for a knowledge- and technology-based economy.”
The products manufactured by the company have successfully obtained B certificates as well as the CE Certificate of the European Community from “Electrical Power Industry Laboratories” (E.P.I.L) for their export products.
The inverters produced by the company are installed and operational across various industries, including the oil and gas sector. With an annual production capacity of 40,000 units and a facility covering over 4,000 square meters in Parand Industrial Town, Tehran, the company is the largest drive manufacturer in the Middle East.
In fact, drives are responsible for controlling motor speed. They are capable of continuously adjusting the motor speed from zero RPM up to several times the motor’s rated speed.
Drives are devices that convert input power with a fixed voltage and frequency into output power with variable voltage and frequency. It should be noted that a motor’s speed depends on the frequency of its power supply. Therefore, a drive first converts the mains electricity into DC voltage and then, using an inverter, converts it back into AC voltage with variable frequency and voltage.
In a low-voltage drive, the inverter section consists of power switches that generate the desired output frequency through periodic switching. These switches have undergone significant technological advancements in recent years.
With the introduction of power switches such as IGBTs, which combine the capability to operate at high power with high switching speeds, the foundation was laid for designing more efficient and cost-effective drives.
The advantages of using drives include reduced energy consumption and consequently lower electricity costs, reduced starting current leading to extended motor life, the ability to vary motor speed, the ability to reverse motor direction, protection against overload, operation under fluctuating input voltage, remote control capability, achieving speeds higher than the motor’s rated speed, and programmable motion control.
