Getting IE3-ready; thinking outside the motor
05 July 2015
The second stage of the EU motor efficiency regulations took effect at the start of this year. Until now, the industry has mainly focused on electric motors, but that is not enough. To optimise the efficiency of machines and systems, other control elements have to be taken into account, says Stuart Greenwood.
In the UK electric motors are estimated to account for almost two-thirds of industrial electricity consumption1. However, according to GAMBICA, if variable speed control was added to the motors of relevant applications which are not currently using it, savings of around 25,000GWh of energy could be achieved2 (roughly the output of 6,000 medium-sized wind turbines) with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions.
This is the goal of the EU energy related products (ErP) directive. Within this context, the commission regulation for motors 640/2009/EC prescribes minimum efficiency classes for three-phase low-voltage induction motors. The first stage of the regulation, which stipulates efficiency class IE2 as the minimum for new motors, took effect in mid-2011.
As of January 2015, machinery and system manufacturers using new motors with a rated output power between 7.5 and 375kW are required to achieve at least efficiency class IE3. IE2 motors may be used as an alternative, but only in combination with a variable speed control. From 1 January 2017 this stipulation will also apply to motors with rated output power of 750W or more.
In response to this development, manufacturers of electric motors have been working for some time now to improve the efficiency of their products. This has been accompanied by increasing awareness of energy efficiency in the industry. Machine manufacturers are faced with the challenge of having to redesign their systems that they are shipping today and that are not yet equipped with IE3 motors or variable speed drives.
However, simply replacing IE2 motors with IE3 motors is not enough to make machines and systems more energy efficient. To ensure safe and reliable operation, the entire drive system must be analysed and the effects of design changes on the application must be considered.
Switchgear for IE3 motors
To improve the energy efficiency of electric motors, manufacturers have altered the designs of their products. These alterations also affect the electrical profile, resulting in higher starting currents for high-efficiency motors. This situation also impacts on protection devices and switchgear.
Possible consequences include unwanted shutdown due to circuit breaker tripping from higher starting currents or contact bounce due to higher current levels leading to contact burning and reduced lifetime or even contact welding in the worst case. This sort of contact melting can be dangerous as well as leading to machine downtime and additional servicing.
Eaton has studied the behaviour of motor protection devices in detail in practical tests. As part of this study, the company’s DIL series of contactors and PKZ and PKE series of motor protection circuit breakers were checked for compatibility with IE3 motors from various well-known manufacturers. The results showed that the values stated in the currently applicable standard for motor starters (EN 60947-4-1) are not valid in practice for IE3 motors. Work on a draft amendment to update the standard is in progress. Meanwhile, Eaton’s current ‘IE3 ready’ product families ensure reliable operation of both IE2 and IE3 motors.
Pumps and fans
Selecting the right products is only part of the answer to meet the requirements of the ErP directive. It is also necessary to analyse entire processes and systems in order to comply with the required minimum efficiency levels. Regulations regarding pumps and fans also play a role as with conventional mechanical flow regulation devices, such as valves or dampers, it is often difficult to meet efficiency requirements.
Variable speed control is usually necessary to reduce losses. However, a variable speed drive (VSD) is often functional overkill for many simple applications. These devices are usually complex and demand a sound knowledge of drive engineering. Up until now, the only alternative available to designers for driving electric motors has been motor starters. Although they have the advantage of being easy to use, their functionality is limited.
For applications involving fixed speeds or low operating cycles, motor starters in combination with IE3 motors are still the most energy-efficient approach. However, if the aim is to improve the energy efficiency of existing systems that run at constant speed but less than full rated load, there is now a third option in the form of variable speed starters (see panel item).
Variable speed starters and IE3-ready switchgear, enable system builders to implement simpler, more compact and lower-cost machines and systems that are also more reliable, safer and energy-efficient.
Stuart Greenwood is product marketing manager, Industrial Control & Automation, Eaton
References:
1Carbon Trust – Motor and drives – Technology Overview
2GAMBICA – VSDs help energy consumption targets
A new device type: the variable speed starter
Variable speed starters launched under the PowerXL DE1 name bridge the gap between motor starters and variable speed drives. They are as easy to use and as reliable as conventional motor starters, with the added advantage of variable speed control. Additionally they can be put into service straight from the box.
They also support user configuration with a plug-in module that allows the default values of key parameters to be individually adjusted with a screwdriver, with no need for a keypad, software or a manual. Compared with conventional methods, this approach reduces configuration effort by as much as 70 percent.
Eaton has published white papers on the topics discussed in this article.
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