Variable Speed Drives (http://www.vsdrive.com ) Induce Shaft Currents in AC Motors. Due in large part to an increased focus on energy savings, the use of pulse-width-modulated (PWM) variable speed drives to control AC motors has grown dramatically over the last few years. While they offer low operating costs and high performance, variable speed drives are not without their problems. Shaft currents induced by variable speed drives can lead to motor failures. Without some form of mitigation, shaft currents travel to ground through bearings, causing pitting, fusion craters, fluting, excessive bearing noise, eventual bearing failure, and subsequent motor failure.Types of Variable Speed DrivesMechanical Variable Speed DrivesVariable pitch drivesTraction drivesHydraulic Variable Speed DrivesHydrostatic drivesHydrodynamic drivesHydroviscous drivesContinuously Variable Transmission (CVT)Electric Variable speed drivesDC motor drivesEddy current drivesAC motor drivesSlip controlled drivesWhy Use variable frequency drivesSaving energyProcess controlSmoother operationAcceleration/deceleration controlDifferent operating speed for each process modeCompensate for changing process variablesAllow slow operation for setup purposesAdjust rate of process parametersAllow accurate positioningControl torque or tensionAssumes the need for Variable speedVariable outputSteady state conditionReduced capital expenditureSolid state electronic power conversion devicesReduced maintenance