Gefran GFX Controller GFX4-IR

Overview

The GFX4-IR, is an advanced power controller with hardware and software functions specifically designed for IR (infrared) heating elements of any wavelength. Functions such as zero crossing mode, manages and balances individual half waves and controls radiation stability to eliminate flickering. IR lamps, especially in the short wave range, have a very long reaction time and non-linear behaviour between cold lamp and lamp at working temperature. If the heating elements are not correctly controlled, there is risk of flickering, which generates non-stable temperature on the product and shortens the life of the element.

GFX4 is a compact unit bounding different technological elements like:

• controller
• solid state relay
• current transformers
• fuses-holders (option)

The final result is a cost saving in terms of space and cabling. The GFX4-IR is managed by a microprocessor that independently controls the four control loops and also runs functions specifically designed to manage singlephase and 3-phase loads, with low and high temperature coefficient, medium and short wave infrared lamps, and transformer primary circuits.

The multiple activation methods are all software-configurable, and include:

• Zero crossing with constant cycle time for conventional loads
• Burst firing with variable cycle time for systems with low thermal inertia, medium wave IR lamps
• Single cycle for short wave IR lamps with reduced flickering (half single cycle)
• Phase angle control with current limit for short wave IR lamps, transformer primaries, with assignment of soft start up and soft stop down options with limitation of max. rms current.

GFX4IR runs complete diagnostics of current, voltage, and temperature levels:

Current

• Total and partial interrupted load alarm
• Teach-in” function for self-learning of alarm threshold for interrupted load
• SCR in short circuit alarm
• Load in short circuit or in overcurrent alarm
• Unbalanced 3-phase load alarm

Voltage

• Phase loss in case of 3-phase configurations
• Check of correct phase sequence alarm

Temperature

• Overtemperature alarm

Various feedback functions in the absence of PID control have been developed for complete control of loads in all types of applications:

• Voltage feedback (V) with current limit
• Current feedback (I)
• Power feedback with maximum power limit

Configuration is changed by setting simple parameters with a software tool that guides the user to a correct and safe configuration. GFX4-IR dialogs with the operator terminals according to the most popular protocols: from the simple and efficient Modbus to (via a second optional fieldbus communication) the by-now indispensable Profibus DP, CANopen, DeviceNet, Modbus RTU, Ethernet Modbus TCP, Ethernet IP.

The product comes with a standard configuration that is simple and quick to modify, for example, to assign different functions to outputs.

Description

Ideal for control of IR lamps, 30, 60, 80 kW in monophase and triphase

• Controller
• 30, 60, 80kW solid state relay
• Current transformers
• Fuses-holder (option)
• 4 universal main inputs
• 4 heat/cool independent PID
• 4 main output internally wired to the SSR
• 4 auxiliary analog inputs (option)
• 4 configurable output (option):
  relay / logic / TRIAC / continuous
• 2 configurable relay alarm output
• 2 digital inputs
• Standard digital communication:
  Modbus RTU
• Optional Fieldbus communication:
  Profibus DP, CANopen, Euromap66,
  DeviceNet, Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP,
  Ethernet IP
• DIN rail or panel mounting