Electrical Motors
As most motors are in operation for long durations, even a small increase in motor efficiency can result in significant gains. A motor that costs USD 2 000 may use USD 50 000 of electricity during its life span. In France in the early 1990s, for example, 88% of industrial compressors, 75% of pumps and 70% of fans ran for more than 4 000 hours per year, a rate typical for most regions. In the United States, the average operating hours for industrial motors across all sectors is approximately 5 000 hours, with motors larger than 150 kW operating 6 000 hours or more, on average. Consequently, energy efficiency of a motor plays a significant role in overall energy consumption and costs. New motor technologies, such superconductive motors, improved permanent magnet motors, copper rotor motors, switched reluctance drives and written pole motors offer additional energy efficiency opportunities (IEA, 2007, 221.)
Electrical MotorsTechnologies & Measures
| Technology or Measure | Energy Savings Potential | CO2 Emission Reduction Potential Based on Literature | Costs | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-Efficiency Motors | High efficiency motors have 20–30% less losses (IEA, 2007. p.221). | High efficiency motors may cost 10–25% more. Depending on the hour of operation, extra costs can be recovered in less than three years (IEA, 2007. p.221) | Commercial | |
| Proper Motor Sizing | If a motor runs at 25-50% of its capacity the energy losses may be between 4 and 8% (Worrell et al., 2008. p.54). | Commercial | ||
| Motor Management Plan | Commercial | |||
| Ongoing Motor Maintenance | Savings associated with an ongoing motor maintenance programme could be between 2 to 30% of overal motor system energy use (Worrell et al., 2010. p. 57). | |||
| Life Cycle Costing (LCC) | Commercial |
Electrical Motors Tools
MotorMaster+ International
The MotorMaster+International free online software tool includes many of the capabilities and features of MotorMaster+. However, users can evaluate repair/replacement options on a broader range of motors, including 60 hertz (Hz) motors tested under the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers(IEEE) standard, and 50 Hz motors manufactured and tested in accordance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. This tool allows users to:
MotorMaster+
MotorMaster+ is a free online National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Premium® efficiency motor selection and management tool that supports motor and motor systems planning by identifying the most efficient action for a given repair or motor purchase decision.
The Motor Systems Tool
The Motor Systems Tool is developed under Electric Motor Systems Annex (EMSA) program of Efficient Electrical End-use Equipment (4E) forum. The tool is intended to assist engineers, machine builders, machine component suppliers, energy consultants and others working on optimizing machine systems to benefit from reduced electricity consumption.