Provaglio d’Iseo, July 2012 – Gefran has recently developed its line of GFW power controllers for a wide range of applications. The line features an innovative Electronic Fuse function: the state of the art for industrial electrical heating control.

In many industrial processes (such as heat treatment of metals, glass flat tempering, material sintering , etc.), technological demands require the use of enhanced electrical heating systems.

Based on the required temperatures, these systems use heating resistors with peculiar physical properties that need power controllers with very specific  control algorithms.

These control algorithms allow functions such as Soft Start, current limitation, compensation of voltage variation, current and power feedback, and diagnostics that combine the needs of the process with protection of the heating elements. The power controllers can be integrated in automation architectures via fieldbus.

In consideration of the electrical environment, the power controllers have to be equipped with extra-rapid fuses to protect them against short circuits, which may occur for a number of reasons (such as loss of insulation of the resistor, material in movement, operator error, current spikes, etc.)

The electronic fuse function on Gefran’s GFW controllers – for which a European Patent has been requested – reacts to a temporary or permanent short circuit on the load and toward the ground, opening the power junction in a few microseconds, zeroing the current flow, and thereby safely going into a waiting state.

The main benefit for the user is a significant reduction in down times while searching for the appropriate fuses, with the precise characteristics for the specific control unit, and replacing them (embedde on  the unit or mounted in the electrical panel), which requires trained personnel. Therefore, the electronic fuse function on Gefran’s latest-generation controllers guarantees fast, reliable, safe, and maintenance-free internal protection.

The GFW controller operation can be reset by a push button on the front panel, by remote control via Fieldbus or can be  automatic, without the presence of the operator, and with a number of attempts settable via parameter.

The main advantages include simplicity of reset, unlimited protection against breaking of the junction, automatic reset from temporary shorts and arcs without the presence of the operator.