#White Papers
The Engineer’s Guide to Driving 3-Phase AC Induction Motors with Inverters
This whitepaper provides background on three-phase AC motors and inverters, and what to consider when specifying a motor and inverter pair for optimal performance.
For many years, adjustable-speed motion control relied on DC motors — first brushtype, then later brushless. That began to change in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when advances in power electronics and microprocessors made inverters more compact, reliable and affordable. With lower maintenance requirements than brush-type DC motors, three-phase AC motors began to take hold in applications where variable speed was needed. Today, the adoption of three-phase AC motors paired with inverters continues to grow. As part of the broader shift toward IIoT and Industry 4.0, industrial systems are becoming more connected — and modern VFDs support enhanced communication protocols that make it easier to monitor motor parameters in real time.
