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Energy Efficient Electric Motors
June 2008 | Link | John Herbert
Energy is a common thread for every industrail process, a process
energy audit optimises the process based on the energy model, lowering your costs
that in turn improves the bottom line, and additionally provides you
with a hidden competitive advantage.
Globally,
electric motors consume 3/5th of the all the electricity generated,
therefore improving the efficiency of motors is high priority
for everyone.
But there is more to the story than just
efficiency, optimizing the usage of the
electrical motors to met the actual load provides more opportunities to
lower you operating costs, and lower pollution that electricity
generation creates.
Motor Efficiency
First,
we must ask what is efficiency and then what is high efficiency? We
need to ask the question since everyone has a efficient view of
hi-efficiency.
It is worth repeating that the cost of preventing pollution (entering the environment) is very much lower than the cost for remedial work to remove polluants from the environment after contamination. This is the p2e2 principal, gain the benefits of energy efficiency, lower energy biils, and lessen the environmental impact today, before the cost of remediation hits your profits tomorrow.
The Hong Kong
Code of
Practice for Energy efficiency clause 5.4.1 Motor Efficiency states:
"Except
for motors which are components of package equipment, any polyphase
induction motor having an output power of 5kW or greater that is
expected to operate more than 1,000 hours per year should use
"high-efficiency" motors tested to relevant international standards
such as IEEE 112-1991 or IEC 34-2. The nominal full-load motor
efficiency shall be no less than those shown in Table 5.1.
| Table 5.1: Minimum Acceptable Nominal Full-Load Motor Efficiency for Single-Speed Polyphase Motors | |
| Motor
Rated Output (Power) | Minimum Rated Efficiency (%) |
| 5kW<P<7.5kW | 84.0 |
| 7.55kW<P<15kW | 85.5 |
| 15kW<P<37kW | 88.5 |
| 37kW<P<75kW | 90.0 |
| 75kW<P<90kW | 91.5 |
| P>90kW | 92 |
So that is
clear right? I am sure I am not alone noticing the "escape" clause for
package equipment. However, at present the HKCOP for electrical
installations is not complusory. They is still plenty of confusion in
the industry regarding what is and what is not an energy efficient
motor, partially caused by the standards themselves. Many buyers
believe that high efficiency motors are fitted as the "standard" in all
equipment, however as indicated above reliance on a standard for
packaged equipment can be deceiving.
Engineers,
industry, equipment
manufacturers, and specifications need to avoid these abstract terms
like "high efficiency" and actually state real values.
Electric Motor Applications
Electric motors are ubiquitous,an
integral part of modern life, they are used everywhere, in most
appliances, manufacturing processes, air conditioning units, fluid
handling, and the like. They are relatively inexpensive when compared
to their operating cost. Typically, an electric motor will consume
enough electricity in the first nine - twelve of months of operation,
exceeding its initial capital cost. That's important because operating
in-efficient motors every year after year just wastes energy. Replacing
an in-efficient motors is a sound investment.
Variable Speed Drives and Controls
It is critical to match
the motive
power to the actual load.Even in the 21st century, we still see over
sized motors wasting energy. Often motors are running at full speed
during periods of part load, where as this was difficult in the past to
control, modern Variable speed drives can easily lower the operating
speed in real time to match the actual load. In most applications,
including fans, lower the speed lowers the power consumption
significantly, and reduces operating cost due to extending operation
life of the motor.
Process Audit
Kelcroft
process audits create the right strategies to save you money,
and indirectly helping to reduce your environmental footprint too.
Energy
Let our energy expertise help you lower your costs, ever
wondered why one production facility has lower costs than another? we
help your business gain a hidden competitive advantage.
Kelcroft energy audits track down and identify
waste, often saving
20-40% of your energy usage, for you that translates into lower costs,
improved profitability, and also lessens environmental footprint
impact.
Most production processes have a significant
energy component, reducing
it
lowers your expenses, increasing profit.
Competitive Advantage
Alternately, you might pass those capital savings to your
customers, helping to earn more business - your competitors will never
know how you managed to significantly lower costs .
If your competitors are delivering lower cost
products, energy
management strategies lower your base cost, opening opportunities to
generate more business.
Further Information
For further information regarding Kelcroft's services, call today, our Hong Kong office telephone: +(852) 2335 9830, send us a fax +(852) 2335 9862, or send us an email message