One of our 'Premier League' North East engineers headed off to a well-known football ground this week to install and commission a 7.5kW ABB ACH580 variable speed drive.
On the ball, he set to work setting the drive to run the under-soil heating system. This is a crucial component of modern, professional pitch management - ensuring surfaces remain playable in winter conditions, preventing ground frost and snow accumulation (as well as promoting grass growth).
ABB drives have a solid history in Premier League pitch management, the classic example being Arsenal's Emirates Stadium pitch, where an ABB VSD powers a large fan in a reversible air system: forward for aeration, reverse for pulling moisture downward/away from the surface. When no action is needed, the drive powers down to save energy.
With ABB and EDC NE this installation proved to be a game of two halves with the football club being the ultimate winner of the silverware for energy efficiency and pitch control.