45 kW VFD for pump and fan duty
The ATV21WD45N4C is a 45 kW Altivar 21 AC drive from Schneider Electric, designed for variable-torque loads like centrifugal pumps and fans.
Switching frequency and derating
The drive's adjustable switching frequency runs from 6 to 16 kHz, with a derating factor applied above 8 kHz. Running at 16 kHz quiets the motor whine for noise-sensitive installations, but the output current must be reduced to stay within the thermal limits of the power stage. For most pump and fan applications, the default 4 kHz carrier (implied by the 6-16 kHz adjustable range) is sufficient and avoids derating.
EMC and standards compliance
An integrated Class B EMC filter is built in, which simplifies panel design for residential and light commercial environments where conducted emissions limits are tighter. The drive carries CE marking and complies with IEC 61800-3 for EMC environments 1 category C1 (residential) through category C3 (industrial), plus IEC 61800-5-1 for safety. Pollution degree 3 per IEC 61800-5-1 means it's rated for industrial atmospheres with conductive contamination — typical for pump rooms and HVAC plant areas.
Building management integration
The drive supports optional communication cards for APOGEE FLN, BACnet, LonWorks, and METASYS N2, making it a natural fit for building automation systems where the VFD reports status and accepts speed setpoints over the fieldbus. The standard RS-485 port with Modbus RTU at 9600 or 19200 bps handles basic SCADA connectivity without an option card.
