This has not been my experience. While I have installed 20,000 HP VFD's, they are extremely rare.
I would estimate more than 90% of the pumps and fans in chemical plants, pipeline pump/compressor stations and refineries do not have VFD's.
The chemical plants where I worked were full of them, even on small motors. They paid for themselves in power savings, control, and motor sizing.
I would estimate more than 90% of the pumps and fans in chemical plants, pipeline pump/compressor stations and refineries do not have VFD's.
They're wasting a lot of power.