Yaskawa frequency inverters for the largest and tallest Ferris wheel in the world

Synchronization, connectivity and high availability

With a diameter of 250 metres, the new “Ain Dubai” is the largest and highest Ferris wheel in the world. With the world’s first concave loading conveyor belt from Sunkid, around 1,750 visitors per hour can enjoy the view over Dubai. The Austrian manufacturer Bruckschlögl GmbH is a world market leader in the supply of small ski lifts and chose frequency converters from Yaskawa for this challenging task.

Named after the Arabic word for “eye,” “Ain Dubai” is a magnificent attraction in the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE’s) largest city: more than 11,000 tons of steel were used in its construction. Each of its spokes is longer than a football field. And each of its 48 luxuriously appointed cabins is larger than two double-decker buses.

Another feature of this record-breaking Ferris wheel, which towers over the Ferris wheels in Las Vegas, London and Singapore: its special loading conveyor belt can move up to 30 percent faster and thus increase capacity by 30 percent. Furthermore, the loading conveyor belt is also designed as part of the emergency evacuation route.

First U-shaped loading conveyor belt

Bruckschlögl GmbH, headquartered in Bad Goisern in Upper Austria, developed and produced both the belt and the entrance gate. The company is the most important innovation and design location of the Sunkid family of companies. Conveyor belts from Sunkid (Sunkid Moving Carpet), which were originally developed as ski conveyors and have since proven themselves a thousand times over in passenger transport, are now also used in the amusement park industry and a wide variety of other applications worldwide.

The loading conveyor created for “Ain Dubai” is one of the highlights of the company’s solutions so far: it is the first to feature a concave U-shape that follows the specific design of the platform. Meanwhile, the design of the antistatic link chains ensures the highest safety standards, silent operation and slip resistance. The chain tension eliminates vibrations. Last but not least, a special cleaning function effectively counteracts the local climatic conditions in Dubai, including heat, dust, wind and salty sea air. The entire system complies with the conveyor belt standard EN 15700.

Challenges for drive technology

Since the Ferris wheel is continuously rotating, the loading conveyor optimally adjusts the speed difference between the rotating gondolas and the static platform to achieve the necessary safety level and the maximum achievable capacity. For this purpose, the standalone control for the loading conveyor communicates with the control for the Ferris wheel and the entrance gate. The normal speed is 0.2 m/s.

Three frequency inverters from the Yaskawa GA700 series control the drive. There were three main reasons for this decision: firstly, the frequency inverters are synchronized with each other via an internal bus system (Modbus) and also ensure perfect synchronization between the movements of the wheel and the belt.

Secondly, they offer a high degree of connectivity. They provide interfaces for all common fieldbuses to enable integration into different system environments. Specifically, these are: Ethernet/IP, Profibus, Profinet, EtherCAT, Powerlink, CANopen, DeviceNet, CC-Link and the Yaskawa bus MECHATROLINK. The inverters also have an integrated RS-485 interface, allowing them to be connected to each other. Up to five inverters can be controlled with a single option card, which reduces the number of cards required and thus reduces installation costs.

Thirdly, these robust and reliable devices meet the high demands for availability, even under particularly challenging climatic conditions: they tolerate operating temperatures of up to at least 50°C without derating. In addition, Yaskawa offers on-site service and stocks spare parts in Dubai, as well as in many other markets worldwide.

GA700 – the versatile industrial frequency inverter

The GA700 is Yaskawa's versatile frequency inverter for industrial applications. The GA700 series is available in a power range up to 355 kW and is distinguished by an excellent level of user-friendliness in addition to global standards and maximum reliability. High flexibility, small dimensions and built-in functions make it easy to integrate into almost any application. Intelligent tools such as the start-up wizard, data logging, the DriveWizard mobile app and many more help you with setup, start-up and troubleshooting, saving you valuable time.

Functional safety features such as SIL3-compliant STO (Safe Torque Off) inputs and an integrated EMC filter complete the basic equipment of the GA700 frequency inverters. The STO function allows emergency stops to be implemented easily and safely. All model variants are designed in protection class IP20 and are accordingly robust, thus meeting the usual high Yaskawa standards of quality and reliability. They are especially designed for ten years of maintenance-free, continuous operation.