PFC And FV Technology For Research And Development

GYS, a welding gear and battery charger manufacturer, has invested in Power Factor Correction (PFC) and Flexible Voltage (FV) technology across a range of MMA for its research-and-development centre. PFC technology offers the user a range of benefits, including a reduction in power consumption. The requirement for less power also allows the user to weld at higher levels on a lower power supply. Using GYS's PFC-equipped MMA machines will allow high-duty-cycle welding at 160A (sufficient for 4mm rods) on a regular 13A power supply.

Normally, a 160A machine without PFC is capable of welding only 3.2mm electrodes at 125A using a 13A fused plug. Inside electrical cables, energy travels at various frequencies. In the UK, we use energy at 50Hz, but up to 25 per cent of that energy travels at either higher or lower frequencies called diffractions. Mathematical models show that all of these diffractions add to each other for certain frequencies (also called harmonics) and a significant amount of energy travels at these frequencies.

Welding equipment without PFC technology can only draw the energy at 50Hz, which is not very efficient, while equipment with PFC technology is able to draw all the energy that is available from all the frequency levels. GYS is also equipping machines with FV technology. FV machines can operate at any voltage from 85V to 265V. Suitable for 110V applications and whenever there is a likelihood of variations in voltage, for example, on site with a generator and maybe with long extension leads, the combined technology of PFC and FV welding performance can be enhanced where there is only a suboptimal power source available.

For instance, the GYSMI 196 FV is capable of welding 3.2mm electrodes on 110V on very long extension leads. These technologies are currently incorporated into the GYS range of inverter MMA. TIG and plasma machines include the GYSMI195, a 230V 160A MMA machine; the GYSMI 196FV, a MMA machine and Master 200FV, a 200A PFC and FV MMA/TIG inverter; the TIG200DC HF FV; TIG 207AC/DC HF FV TIG machines; and the 31FV plasma cutter.