Electric motors. Environmental guideline requires rethinking the use of asynchronous motors

Variable rotation drives and high efficiency motors can save up to 120 T w-hr/yr. It is estimated two-thirds of the energy used in industry is to the account of drives engineering. For these reasons electric motor manufacturers study new approaches to develop electric motor drives. Starting on June 16, 2011, Europe will make another contribution to climate protection. The EU regulation 640/2009 will apply to all electric motor manufacturers. In the European economic community they will supply a large number of asynchronous motors in efficiency class IE2 only. Most manufacturers and many users are already prepared for this change. The discussion covers introduction; scope; EFF2 and EFF1 will become International Efficiency IE1 and IE2; motors of the same dimensions but more efficient; software determines cost effectiveness; and changes starting in 2015. The new regulation No. 640/2009 will apply to 2, 4, and 6 pole 50 Hz and 60 Hz motors of all shapes of 0.75-375 kw outputs and nominal voltages of up to 1,000 v that operate in S1. For machine manufacturers this means that from June 16, 2011 asynchronous motors for S1 service are to be built with Quality IE2 or higher built into their machines and facilities. The same applies in Brazil since December 8, 2009 and for example from July 1, 2011 in Switzerland and China. The USA is more strict because since December 19, 2010 motors with efficiency Nema Premium (comparable to IE3) must be produced, and the same in Canada since the start of 2011. The energy saving Siemens motors benefit from the calculation for economic viability at no cost using SinaSave software. The software uses calculation to relate the efficiency of individual motors to amortization time. Individual quantities such as pressures, flow rates, delivery heads, densities, load profile, and more are considered. As an example a design change at an aluminum melt furnace at a Siemens motors plant has led to savings. In the area of flue gas filtration at the aluminum melt furnace an energy saving motor in IE2 that can save 535 euros/yr has replaced a standard 45 kw motor.