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Case Study by SmartD - Clean Power VFD
When Failure Isn't an Option. Motor control in a remote environment with the Clean Power VFD
On Haida Gwaii — a remote archipelago about 130 km from the nearest major service center — a municipal booster station supports drinking water and fire protection. Out here, reliability isn’t about preventing every failure; it’s about making sure one never escalates. Conventional VFD upgrades would have added filters, wiring, and bigger panels — each a new failure point where every service call is costly.
After 25+ years on its original drives, the station was retrofitted with two SmartD Clean Power VFDs. With filtering built into the drive, they deliver a clean sine-wave output with no external filters — a compact, drop-in retrofit that keeps the system simple and reliable.
Restoring Clean Power. From stray voltage to stable milking vacuum with the Clean Power VFD
At Orleans Poverty Hill Farms, a dairy operation in Albion, New York, upgrading to three-phase power introduced stray voltage and electrical noise on the lines. In a milking parlor — where cows, water, grounded steel stalls and vacuum equipment share one environment — that noise travels through the grounding system and disturbs both the animals and the milking process. The previous drives were noisy enough that they had to be removed.
The farm retrofitted with SmartD Clean Power VFDs, which clean the power on both sides of the drive — a 3-level Active Front End on the line side and a pure, filterless sine wave on the motor side — with no external output filters. Since installing them, the electrical noise no longer returns to the system, vacuum at the cows’ teat ends is more consistent, and the farm’s overall electrical behavior is back to expected levels.
The Cooling Tower Dilemma: Fried Motors or Rooftop Headaches?
Traditional VFD installations in cooling tower systems force operators into a difficult trade-off—either risk motor damage from long cable runs or expose equipment to harsh rooftop conditions. Both approaches lead to higher costs, maintenance challenges, and reduced system reliability.
This case study highlights how SmartD’s Clean Power VFD eliminates that compromise. By delivering a pure sine wave output, it enables long cable runs without filters while protecting motor health.
In a real-world deployment at Énergir’s energy plant, the solution reduced vibration by 95%, cut voltage spike energy by 87%, and eliminated bearing failures entirely—demonstrating a safer, more efficient approach to motor control.
Seamless Pump Station Retrofit with the Clean Power VFD
Faced with the objective of cutting energy, operational, and maintenance costs, the city os Saint Sauveur chose to replace its existing contactor with a Clean Power VFD.
This seamless retrofit delivered immediate, game-changing results:
35% Reduction in Energy Consumption
- An astounding 15dBA quieter operation.
- Enhanced pump reliability and extended motor lifespan thanks to a pure sine wave output.
The Clean Power VFD’s compact design and easy 4-wire setup made installation effortless, and its built-in Modbus interface ensured seamless integration with the city’s existing control systems. The result? A high-performance, quiet, and reliable pump station that exceeded expectations.
Metal, Minerals and Mining Operations with the Clean Power VFD
To overcome challenges like harmonic distortion, harsh environmental conditions, and continuous 24/7 production demands, Finkl Steel implemented SmartD’s Clean Power VFD.
This solution minimized power quality issues with an active front-end (AFE), ensured smooth motor performance in extreme heat and dust, and eliminated the need for external filters.
The Clean Power VFD’s simple installation, reliable operation during power outages, and remote app setup proved invaluable, reducing costs and downtime.
A 1400-Foot Retrofit Success with the Clean Power VFD
Stratford Clean-Water Pump Case Study – Discover how SmartD’s Clean Power VFD enabled a 1,400-foot long-cable retrofit on a 50 hp submersible pump in Stratford, Ontario, eliminating VFD faults and filters, cutting energy use by over 40%, and achieving reliable, quiet operation with zero infrastructure changes.
Ending Motor Bearing Failures at Energir with Clean Power VFD
Energir CCU was experiencing recurring motor bearing failures caused by excessive vibration and electrical stress from conventional VFDs. After retrofitting SmartD’s Clean Power VFD into the existing installation, vibration acceleration was reduced by 94.8% and spike energy by 87.2%, with no motor or bearing failures reported since installation. The solution eliminated the need for external filters while improving long-term system reliability.
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| Title | Segment | English | French |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improving power quality and operational continuity | Minerals and Metal Mining |  Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
| Seamless Pump Station Retrofit | Water and Wastewater | Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
| A 1400-Foot Retrofit Success | Water and Wastewater | Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
| Ending Motor Bearing Failures at Energir | Ending Motor Bearing | Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
| The Cooling Tower Dilemma: Fried Motors or Rooftop Headaches? | HVAC and Cooling Towers | Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
| Reliable Motor Control in a Remote Environment | Water and Wastewater | Download the PDF | télécharger le PDF |
Looking to optimize your operations Our sales team is ready to help you discover how SmartD’s Clean Power VFD can transform your system’s efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Contact us today to explore tailored solutions and take the first step toward smarter, cleaner power!
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