Glossary · Motion control and drives
Regenerative drive
Also known as: Regenerative inverter, Active front end drive
German: Rückspeisefähiger Antrieb
In electric drives, a regenerative drive is a drive that can feed energy generated during braking back into the supply network, usually through an active front end or a regenerative supply unit, instead of dissipating it in a braking resistor.
- Motion control
In one sentence
A regenerative drive feeds braking energy back into the supply network instead of burning it off in a braking resistor.
Example
An elevator test tower uses regenerative drives so the energy of lowering the load returns to the plant grid.
How it applies
- Engineering: Regenerative drives pay off where braking is frequent or long, for example in hoists, centrifuges and test benches. They also reduce heat in the cabinet.
- Commissioning: Grid conditions and the behavior on grid failure must be checked: if the grid fails during braking, the energy can't be returned and the drive needs a fallback.
- Operation: Power quality (harmonics, grid filters) is part of the design.
- Documentation: Describe what happens to braking on power failure and how the machine stops then; the answer affects stopping distances. In the maintenance section, cover line filters and capacitors that may remain charged.
Regenerative drive vs. braking resistor
A braking resistor converts braking energy into heat. A regenerative drive returns it to the grid. Both allow Four-quadrant operation.