Agave's Smart-Drive technology optimizes a motor's energy efficiency in real time while maintaining motor speed and workload conditions. In data center applications, this means that the electricity used by fans and blowers for heat removal can be minimized while the mechanical work required by them is maintained. As the mechanical work demand for heat removal changes, the efficiency optimization gets continuously updated. Additional benefits of Smart-Drive technology include reduced motor vibration.
The pressure airflow curve (PQ curve) of a cooling fan relates the pressure difference between the outlet and inlet of a fan to the air flow through the fan. There is a seperate PQ curve for each rotational speed, and is determined by the fan's physical geometry. The system impedance curve is a mathematical model of the environment seen by the fan, such as a computer server enclosure. For any given fan speed, the intersection of these two curves yields the fan's pressure and airflow operating point. The mathematical product of pressure times airflow is the mechnical output power of the fan.
If the mechnical output power of the fan equals the electrical power supplied to it, then the efficiency of the fan will be 100%. Agave Smart-Drive techology modifies in real time how electric power is delivered to the fan motor while maintaing the mechanical workload, until the motor efficiency is optimized. Although the energy efficiency can never reach 100%, energy savings of up to 80% are possible depending on the fan's operating point.
The AGV8009 provides all the features required for 3 or 4 wire fan control. Closed loop feedback allows for precise control of the motor's RPM under varying supply and load conditions. Soft start reduces inrush current at power on. Current limit, locked rotor and thermal protections are also provided. The 40V MOS output pre-drivers can source or sink 100mA.