Electric Motors
Electric Motors
Electric Motors
R PARAMAN
rparaman@devkienergy.com
Index
• Major Opportunities
• Motor Efficiency and Power Factor
• Motor Shaft Load vs Current
• Motor failures & Rewinding
• Motor Replacement
• Impact of Voltage unbalance on Motor
• Motor Sizing
• Soft Starters – Any Savings?
• Transmission Efficiency – Gear Train
• Transmission Efficiency - Belt
• Motor Losses
• High Efficiency Motors
• Case Study – High Efficiency Motor
Major Opportunities
A Note of Caution:
• High efficiency motors have lower slip and hence these operate at slightly higher
speeds. Hence in the case centrifugal pumps and fans, this may lead to slightly higher
flows and some increase in power. Hence for these applications, use of high
efficiency motors should be done carefully to ensure that the increased power
requirement does not neutralise the reduction in motor losses.
• Measures like change in pulley ratios or trimming of impellers may have to be done
to maintain the flow at existing levels.
Case Study: Replacement of Old 15 kW Rewound IE1 Motor
by Higher Efficiency IE2 Motor
A 15 kW motor was being used to drive an air-conditioning compressor. This
motor had been rewound a few times. The normal load current was 32.5 A.
Since this was higher than the rated current. The no load current (after
removing the belts) was observed to be 24 A (85% of the full load current)
and the no load power loss was 2.334 kW, which is very high. The operating
efficiency of the motor was estimated to be about 76%. This motor was
replaced by a new High Efficiency Motor.
Existing Motor: Make: Bharat Bijlee, Rating: 15 kW/20hp, Voltage: 415V,
Current: 28A, Speed: 1445 rpm
New Motor: Make: Bharat Bijlee, Rating: 15 kW/20hp, Voltage: 415V,
Current: 26.1A, Speed: 1450 rpm, Efficiency: 90.8%, Power Factor: 0.88
The new no load current was 6.6 A and the no load power was 0.873 kW.
The saving in no load power was 0.873 kW. The saving in no load power itself
was 1.461 kW. Ignoring the reduction in copper losses, the minimum saving
for about 6000 hours operation is 8766 kWh/annum i.e. Rs. 35,000/- per
annum. The payback period was one year.
Case Study: Replacement of 3.7 kW Under-loaded IE2 Motor
by Higher Efficiency 2. 2 kW IE4 Motor in a Flour Mill
• A 3.7 kW, 6 pole (950 rpm) motor was driving a Screw Conveyor in the
Wheat Cleaning section of a Flour Mill. This motor was operating at a
steady load, consuming 1.053 kW, implying that the motor was grossly
under-loaded (< 20% of rated shaft load).
• In discussion with the plant team, it was decided to replace this motor
with a 2.2 kW (1500 rpm synchronous speed) Permanent Magnet IE4
motor, with rated efficiency of 89.5%. The pulley ratios were changed to
ensure that the screw conveyor continued to operate at the original
speed. The average power consumption was measured to be 0.812 kW,
implying a saving of 22.9%.
• Considering operating time of 8,000 hours/year and electricity price of Rs.
9.00 per kWh, the annual energy savings are expected to be 1928
kWh/year i.e. Rs. 17,350 per annum. The investment for the new electric
motor was Rs. 18,000/-
Case Study: Replacement of 2.2 kW Under-loaded IE2 Motor
by Higher Efficiency 1.5 kW IE5 Motor (with VFD) in a Flour Mill
• A 2.2 kW, 4 pole (1405 rpm) motor was driving a Elevator in the Wheat
Milling section of a Flour Mill. This motor was operating at a steady load,
consuming 0.638 kW, implying that the motor was grossly under-loaded
(< 25% of rated shaft load).
• In discussion with the plant team, it was decided to replace this motor
with a 1.5 kW (1500 rpm) IE5 motor, with rated efficiency of 90.6%. A
Variable Frequency Drive was also installed to ensure that the screw
conveyor continued to operate at the original speed. The average power
consumption was measured to be 0.451 kW, implying a saving of 29.3%.
• Considering operating time of 8,000 hours/year and electricity price of Rs.
9.00 per kWh, the annual energy savings are expected to be 1496
kWh/year i.e. Rs. 13,464 per annum. The investment for the new electric
motor was Rs. 16,000/- and Rs. 12,000/- for the VFD. The total
investment of Rs.28,000/- is expected to payback in 2.1 years.