GEFRAN is launching new GRM-H series power controllers. The ultra-compact devices are based on the scalable GRx platform for managing electrical loads in industrial heating applications and feature integrated diagnostic functions. They are equipped with an IO-Link interface, so that extended functions in the sense of Industry 4.0 are also possible. The devices feature a wide current range of 15A – 120A as well as easy installation. In addition, they enable the control of linear and non-linear loads (MoSi2, SiC SWIR, graphite and transformers).
"The GRM-H series power controllers meet the requirements of a wide range of applications, especially when high performance temperature control is required: for example, in the heat treatment of metals, in glass manufacturing, in the processing of plastics, or in applications in the semiconductor, food and pharmaceutical industries," said Paolo Buzzi, Marketing Manager Controllers & Power Controllers at GEFRAN. "The new series combines the features of a power controller with the dimensions of a solid-state relay (SSR)."
The GRM-H series offers single-phase power controllers that, in a master/slave configuration, also allow the control of three-phase loads. Equipped with all major modes of operation (zero crossing, burst-firing, half-wave and phase angle), the control can be adapted to the different characteristics of the heating elements. In addition to the soft-start feature, the controllers offer feedback algorithms that make them a source of changeable setpoints for voltage, current or power. This is advantageous for certain heater types such as silicon molybdenum, silicon carbide or graphite.
Another special feature of the GRM-H series is its IO-Link connectivity. The series includes the world's first power controllers to use this protocol, enabling digital communication from the field to the control level. In addition to cyclic, they also provide acyclic process data such as operating hours, current and temperature peaks, and temperature for predictive maintenance of the plant.
The most important parameters can be set quickly thanks to the intelligent configuration via the GEFRAN NFC app (Android and iOS), and diagnostic data can also be read out in this way. The interface allows multiple devices to be configured or the data to be sent to customer service for remote analysis and adjustments, if necessary.
