Understanding the Motors in Your Equipment
There are differences in efficiencies from one motor standard to the next.
Every aspect of the economy is interwoven with the global economy, and that extends into the industrial world. All sorts of material handling equipment is put together with both imports and homegrown components, and each has different standards. The motors that run your equipment—from conveyors to fans, pumps, ASRS, sorters and more—are a prime example of these different parts and standards.
It’s important to understand the efficiency requirements for your region or country, so that you can understand the standards that apply to the motors in your equipment. In the United States, electric motors must follow the standards of the National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and on a global level, motors are generally manufactured to meet the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. The latter are the standards you should pay most attention to and understand.
In today’s sustainably focused world, you should be aiming for high efficiencies from your motors. The differences from one to the next might impact your monthly utility bills, sometimes by 15 percent or more. You also want to know what standard your motor adheres to in the chance you have a failure—when this happens, contacting your OEM will lead to a replacement of the same or higher efficiency, depending on when the original was made.
When choosing your equipment, it does pay, then, to understand what motor is used. Higher standards will lead to better efficiencies and better sustainability. The two most common standards you’ll find today in your motors are IE3 and IE5. Each has its pros and cons.
IE3 will generally be less expensive than an IE5 motor. The difference is that IE3 is an interior motor, whereas IE5 uses a wire induction that creates a magnet. While you might be tempted to go with the lower cost of entry, or the IE3, over the lifetime of the equipment, a motor that is made to the IE5 standard will cost less. It makes up for this due to its higher energy efficiency. Most OEMS test these efficiencies through their price per kilowatt hour, which leads to long-range savings. Be sure to ask your OEM about the motor standards and any efficiency testing they have applied to them.
You should also be looking toward the future. Eventually, IE3 will be phased out and replaced by IE5, so it’s likely to be the better bet for longevity. End users are also looking for greater efficiencies, and so their demands for IE5 are also helping to make it the more popular choice.
IE5 is a smaller motor and that makes it easier to install in equipment. It doesn’t require a fan to keep it cool, either, and that leads to a quieter running motor. When it comes to maintenance, there aren’t many differences between the two motors, so that shouldn’t be a factor in your decision making.
Source: Tom Franke, Sew Eurodrive
To learn more about MHI’s Conveyor and Sortation Solutions Industry Group: www.mhi.org/css
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