HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTRIC MOTORS

Respect for the environment and economic savings for the user

In the context of a Community policy to respect the environment and to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, the European Directive 2005/32 / EC introduced a general eco-design methodology for energy-using products.

This document also applies to electric motors, whose energy performance definition has been regulated at Community level.

Regulation (EC) N.640 / 2009 applicable to electric cage induction motors, single-phase and three-phase, with frequency 50 or 60 Hz, from 2 to 6 poles and installed power between 0.75 kW and 375 kW, sold individually or installed in other equipment, establishes the requirements, identifying four classes of energy efficiency (increasing with the associated index):

• IE1 (corresponding to the previous classification Eff.2);
• IE2 (corresponding to the previous classification Eff.1);
• IE3 Premium Efficiency (corresponding to NEMA premium 60 Hz American);
• IE4 of future production, with efficiency further increased compared to IE3.

Time limits are set for the introduction and use of increased efficiency motors:

• June 16, 2011: obligation to use engines with IE2 minimum efficiency level;
• January 1, 2015: obligation to use, for engines with installed power included between 7.5 and 375 kW, a minimum level of efficiency IE3 (or IE2 if associated with an inverter);
• January 1, 2017: obligation to use, for engines with installed power between 0.75 and 375 kW, a minimum level of efficiency IE3 (or IE2 if associated with an inverter).

Electric motors with the following characteristics are excluded from the above prescriptions:

• installed power less than 0.75 kW;
• number of poles exceeding 6;
• rated voltage greater than 1000 V;
• engines designed to operate entirely immersed in a liquid;
• engines completely integrated into a product for which it is not possible to test the energy performance independently of the product;
• self-braking engines;
• engines designed specifically for operation:

a) at altitudes above 1000 m.s.l.m .;
b) at temperatures above 40 ° C or lower than -15 ° C;
c) at maximum operating temperatures above 400 ° C;
d) in potentially explosive atmospheres (Directive 94/9 / EC ATEX).

The use of increased efficiency motors is also a source of economic savings for the user, since higher yields are associated with lower energy consumption.

Below are some examples showing the annual savings resulting from the use of high efficiency engines (calculation performed for average use of 2400 h / year):