Electric motor standards, ecodesign and global market transformation

Abstract

The use-phase cost of most industrial electric motors, namely the consumed electrical energy, dominates by far their overall life-cycle cost. Because electric motors use about 70% of the total industrial electricity use, they present attractive opportunities to save a huge amount of electricity in a costeffective way, and contribute to mitigate climate change. The lack of global efficiency classes has prevented the large-scale adoption of high efficiency motors in most countries around the world. This paper addresses the most relevant electric motor efficiency-related international standards, including minimum efficiency requirements and a new efficiency classification standard, which have a profound impact on motor market transformation, being a powerful tool to reduce electric motor systems consumption. Moreover, the final results and conclusions of a European study to identify and recommend ways to improve the life-cycle environmental performance of electric motors at their design phase are presented, focusing lifecycle cost assessment of standard and best available electric motor technologies. It was found that if high efficiency or premium class motors replace standard efficiency class motors, significant reductions in the environmental impact will be achieved.

Environmental considerations in lifecycle based optimization of electrical machines

“…Methodology Study for Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products (MEEUP) for the assessment of the environmental impact and ecodesign of energy-using products implies a comparison of different single-speed motor efficiency classes (defined by International Electrotechnical Commission 60034-30 Standard) [28], [29].…”

Ecoanalysis of Variable-Speed Drives for Flow Regulation in Pumping Systems

“…In terms of motor price distribution, the average list price of the standard efficiency class IMs ranges from 160 C (EURO 5 ) for a 0.75-kW motor to 15 000 C for a 200-kW motor [1], [10]. In general, the market is very competitive with large discounts offered to original equipment manufacturers.…”

“…An IM is normally repaired at least two times during its lifetime, but this can happen up to four times [1], [10]. Typically, the repair process includes rewinding and bearing the replacement.…”

“…In the referred study, a comparison of different singlespeed motor efficiency classes (as defined in International Electrotechnical Commission 60034-30 Standard) was carried out, whose main results are reported in [1] and [10]. The results of that study show that if high-efficiency motors replace the current IE1-class standard efficiency motors, a significant reduction in the environmental impact 3 will be achieved.…”

Status of High-efficiency Motor Technology and MEPS

“…[16] Although the efficiency of the motor is an important factor in order to save energy, it is just one of the elements that make up the entire system. As an example, in the case of the pump system which accounts for large part of the total electric energy consumption, the efficiency of the pump itself is expected to be about 30 to 85%, the motor is about 85 to 95%, and flow control is about 20 to 98%.…”