What is a variable speed drive?

Diagram of how a variable speed drive works: AC supply, rectifier, DC bus, inverter and AC motor

A variable speed drive (VSD) is a power electronic controller that sets the speed of an AC motor by varying the frequency and voltage it supplies, instead of running the motor at the fixed speed set by the 50 Hz mains. The same device is called a variable frequency drive (VFD), an AC drive or […]