Application of the Xinshida ME Series Low-Voltage Inverters in Rubber Tire Industry Compounding Systems
2025-06-05
Application of the Xinshida ME Series Low-Voltage Inverters in Rubber Tire Industry Compounding Systems
Project Background
The rubber compounding process is a major energy consumer in the entire tire manufacturing process. Improving the efficiency of rubber compounding and reducing its energy consumption have long been important research topics in the industry. The low-temperature one-step rubber compounding technology replaces the traditional multi-stage mixing process with a single-stage mixing approach. This technology enables continuous mixing production, allowing the final compounded rubber to be obtained in one step, with a high degree of automation and significantly improved production efficiency. It also reduces the number of operators required and ensures greater stability in rubber compound quality. Consequently, the low-temperature one-step rubber compounding system places extremely high demands on automated control and drive systems.
A large tire manufacturer in Guangdong has commissioned two low-temperature one-step rubber compounding systems. The ME series variable-frequency drives from Xinshida have been selected as the drive VFDs for these two systems thanks to their specialization, stability, and convenient communication features.
Customer needs
Improve rubber compounding efficiency and reduce energy consumption and emissions.
Xinshida Solution
Scheme advantages
The low-temperature one-step rubber compounding process involves first feeding the rubber compound discharged from the internal mixer into the No. 0 compounding unit, where it undergoes a brief mixing operation to cool down and form sheets, making it easier to transport. The compound is then automatically queued via a programmed sequence and conveyed to one of the units numbered 1 through 6. In this specific unit, the compound undergoes further cooling, mixing, sulfurization, refining, and finally is discharged onto an open-roll mill for sheet formation. Lastly, the rubber sheets are cooled and stacked on a dedicated cooling line, completing the entire compounding process for one batch of rubber. Throughout this process, after being discharged from the internal mixer, the rubber compound does not require any intermediate resting or holding stages—instead, it can directly proceed to the open-roll mill for final compounding. This system employs six sulfurizing compounding units, and by precisely coordinating the operating rhythms of each unit with those of the internal mixer, it ensures maximum production capacity.
Features of the open-mill driven by the ME500 low-voltage inverter:
● The ME500 low-voltage inverter employs advanced motor model control and utilizes open-loop vector control on-site, enabling rapid response to sudden load changes and meeting the load-drive requirements of open-mill machines.
● Precise rotor flux-oriented control capability ensures rapid response and stable operation even under sudden changes in load torque at 0 Hz.
● 0.1s full-load acceleration, fast torque response, minimal speed overshoot—boosting production efficiency.
● Communication bus control for more convenient operation and enhanced anti-interference capability.
Scheme Composition
This project utilizes 11 ME-series variable-frequency drives in its low-temperature one-step rubber compounding system: two drives are used for the internal mixer, and nine drives are used for the open mill. The system’s control bus adopts the Profinet communication protocol, which offers higher implementation flexibility. As an Ethernet-based bus protocol, Profinet can simultaneously transmit TCP or IT data, making factory automation easier to achieve.
Single-pass rubber refining drive configuration
Associated products
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Project Results
The ME-series dedicated frequency converters have been successfully applied to low-temperature single-step rubber compounding systems. The entire rubber compounding system achieves energy savings of approximately 10% to 15% compared to conventional DC speed-regulating systems, providing a new direction for factories to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
On-site commissioning of the inverter cabinet
Process System Diagram for Series-Type Internal Mixer and One-Step Open Mill (No. 0, No. 7)
