Q. What are the general performance concerns of
motor?
Rated current, speed, starting current, starting torque, efficiency,
power factor, noise and vibration. Above all is the temperature rise
of the motor in accordance with operating environment and class
of insulation.
Q. Why is the consideration for efficiency growing ?
Higher efficiency means lower kW power drawn from electric
supply and hence, lower electricity bills. Further, energy efficient
operation has been a top social obligation from an environmental
and global viewpoint.
Q. How are efficiency and power factor
correlated?
Due to continuous innovations made in the designs of motors,
over the years, values of efficiency and power factor in standard
motors have reached an optimum level. Thus here onwards,
unless an entirely new series of motors are made, improvement in
one adversely affects other. That is, in standard motors, an
attempt to improve efficiency normally results in lower power
factor and vice-versa.
Q. What is efficiency based design (EBD) and
what is power factor based design (PFBD) ?
Around the world, in standard series motors, there are two design
philosophies. One is called "Efficiency Based Design (EBD)" and
the other is called "Power Factor Based Design (PFBD)". In the
former case, the basic design including stamping designs are
optimised for maximising efficiency, while retaining power factor
to reasonably acceptable level. Where as in the latter case, it is
otherwise.
Q. What is the difference in electromagnetic
parameters in case of the above two designs?
EBDs are based on lower losses and hence lower resistances.
Lower resistance in the circuit could lead to lower power factor.
Where as PFBDs have higher rotor resistances.
Q. How EBDs and PFBDs compare on other
performance parameters?
Since EBDs have lower rotor resistances, the starting torque
could be lower. To compensate this, flux level might go up leading
to higher magnetic current.
Q. How about starting current?
Starting current is dependent on stator and rotor leakage
reactances and resistances. Since leakage reactances and
resistances are lower for EBDs, the starting current is likely to be
higher as compared to the case of PFBDs.
Q. What is no-load current and why is one
concerned about it?
No-load current is a quality control parameter used to check
health of motor as per design and manufacturing practice. It is a
normal practice to provide this data to the customer for each
motor, so that the motor could be subjected to routine test, as and
when required.
Q. What is the normal value of no-load current?
There is no standard value of no-load current. It depends on the
design philosophies and manufacturing practices. This parameter
is in-fact manufacturer specific and its value varies widely from
manufacturer to manufacturer. Further, pole number and size of
motor greatly influence values of no-load current. Value of no-load
current can vary from 20% of full load current for 4 pole motors to
80% for 8 pole motor. Similarly, in smaller motors the value of no-
load current as a percentage of full load current is much higher as
compared to larger motors. In smaller motors of higher pole
numbers, there are cases where no-load current is higher than full
load current.
Q. How is no-load current related to the design
philosophy?
Since EBDs use magnetic circuit more optimally than electric
circuit, the magnetising current could be higher as compared to
PFBDs. This could lead to higher no-load current in EBD designs.
Q. Is there any adverse effect of higher no-load
current on the motor?
No, if the motor is designed for higher no-load current, it would
have no effect on its declared performance and life.
Q. Does higher no-load current design affect
other performance parameters?
Only in a few cases, the rated current of EBD motors could be
slightly higher than that of PFBD motors. Since the motor is
designed for the rated current, declared performance is
guaranteed. But in terms of input kW, EBD motors would result in
lower electricity bills. After all it must be understood that no-
load current is a quality control parameter and not a
performance parameter.
Q. Why EBDs are more popular than PFBDs ?
Both efficiency and power factor can be built into the motor. But
once the motor is built, efficiency can not be improved by external
measures, though, power factor can be improved by using
capacitors. Hence, the usual practice is to maximise the motor
efficiency at design stage and improve power factor at operational
stage i.e. by capacitors. A case study of benefits in energy saving
by employing EBD motor is illustrated below for 3 number 30kW
/4pole motors in a pump application.
Parameter PFBD EBD
motor motor
Efficiency, % 90 92.5
Power factor 0,89 0.83
Ampere= Rated kw/(sqrt(3)xVxEffxPower factor) 52 54
Input power=Rated Power*100/Eff, kW 33,333 32.432
Pdiff=Difference in Input Power, kW 0.901
Energy saved/year, kWh=Pdiff x No. of hours/yr
when each pump runs 8 hr/day 7081
kWh = Pdiff x 7860
Saving in Rs., @ Rs.3.50/- per kWh 24784
Frequency asked questions
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