Electricity + Control March 2021

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR

Soft starts are also increasingly common on pump ap- plications and they dramatically reduce the energy used when starting a motor. They are also common on convey- ors, where the smooth start prevents objects from falling. As an alternative to a motor starter resistor or a VSD, they can be more profitable, but only if the application is as- sessed correctly in the first instance and the device is sized appropriately. Move away from mass production Inevitably it’s important to address the availability of the motor at short notice in the event of a replacement being required. Of course, if spares are kept in stock this may not be necessary and so, ironically, the harder to get hold of mo- tors are sometimes the best option. This is not because they are scarce, but rather because they are not mass produced and are normally of higher quality. Consequently, while a re- placement may not always be easy, a repair often is. In this context, when choosing the service provider to do the repair, always go to a specialist. If you select a compa- ny that has not carved out a niche in, say, servo motors, you will likely find that they will simply subcontract the repair to a specialist; increasing the bill in the process. Another factor to consider is the environment in which the motor is going to be used. Chemical engineering is a harsh environment, from inorganic industrial plants to ex- plosives. Go for a more complex drive that can be boxed away. Regulations for the industry may demand this any- way, but the added bonus is that the motor and drive are protected from ingress and damage. Just implementing a few of these tips will result in a re- duced energy expenditure on running motors, and in all likelihood other associated equipment. If you implement all of them, you will find it much more effective than trying to negotiate a lower kilowatt hour price for electricity. □

At a glance  As a first step, fitting the right size of motor for the respective application will deliver ongoing savings in operating costs.  Timing devices offer a cost-effective way of saving energy on non- continuous use applications.  Availability of the motor at short notice is an important consideration, but harder to get hold of motors are sometimes the best option.

start to alter the speed. Equally, it may be that an extremely high precision motor is needed for a particular application. Timing devices can be hugely underused in the chemi- cal industry yet they are a very cost-effective way of saving energy on non-continuous use applications. Often, pumps and ventilators run constantly, even if there are times of day when there is no need for them to do so. By not running a motor unnecessarily, you are not only saving energy but also extending the life of the system. For example, the hydraulic pumping efficiency of cooling sys- tems will experience less degradation over time and remain optimally efficient for longer. It comes down to how much flow capacity is possible with a given amount of energy.

The less complex the motor the better, but simplicity is not always top priority.

For more information visit: www.cpaltd.net

DRIVES, MOTORS + SWITCHGEAR : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

480 V version in servodrive and motor pairing

The Rockwell Automation Kinetix 5100 servo drive and Kinetix TLP servo motor standalone motion solution is now available in

offering for flexible, standalone machines. Using the Kinetix 5100 servo drive, OEMs can create a motorised or automated system that can help speed up changeovers. Additionally, with built-in safe torque off, users can remove motor torque without removing power from an entire machine. This allows a machine to restart faster after it has reached a safe state. Dual-port Ethernet/IP also supports device-level ring (DLR) topologies. For more information contact Rockwell Automation. Email: mjunius@ra.rockwell.com Visit: www.rockwellautomation.com

480 V for use in a wider range of OEM applications – in packaging, converting, print and web, machine and assembly,

and life sciences.The Kinetix 5100 servo system meets growing demand for more product variety by providing a market-competitive motion-control

The new servo drive and servo motor standalone motion solution extend potential OEM applications.

14 Electricity + Control MARCH 2021