Feature motor selecyion: It pays to be choosy

摘要

Choosing the correct motor up front will save money in pumping applications by delivering energy efficiency and low maintenance. Steve Ruddell of ABB explains how it pays to get it right. Engineers typically devote a great deal of thought to deciding which pump best suits their application. But whatever-type of pump they choose, it will be driven by a motor and this can have an enormous impact on the efficiency of the overall process. Even so, optimising the drive system is something pump users too often get wrong. At a time when environmental taxes and fuel costs are both pushing up energy prices, many companies are looking to upgrade to energy efficient motors. But simply buying and fitting such a motor is not the end of the story. The intrinsic efficiency of the motor is only one of the factors governing the overall efficiency of the drive system. For example, the vast majority of motors in operation throughout UK industry are oversized and this is a significant source of wasted energy. Now more than ever, it's a mistake that most companies can ill afford to make.