Posted to News on 16th Apr 2008, 10:33
High-performance motor costs 80 per cent less to run
Lafert is introducing a new high-performance motor intended for the OEM market that offers significant savings on running costs and space requirements and can be engineered to match customer applications. The company claims that savings on operating costs can amount to more than 80 per cent while the motor's superior output enables significant frame size reductions plus weight savings.
The new Lafert high-performance motor combines the technology of both brushless permanent magnet motors and conventional AC induction motors. The ability to do this is facilitated by the fact that the Lafert Group has both servo and AC induction motor knowhow in-house.
By combining these technologies, Lafert claims that substantial efficiency advantages over conventional AC induction motors are achieved. This is manifested by constant and superior efficiency across the whole speed range and under variable loads.
As with the brushless, permanent magnet motors, the rotor of the Lafert HP motor has no losses. Also, stator currents are lower, consequently generating lower losses due to low current demand (Joule effect), which in turn results in reduced temperature rise for both the windings and bearings. These low temperature rises can go on to eliminate the need for a cooling fan and its related losses. Ultimately, the sum of these minimised heat gains provides the options of higher running speeds or extended bearing life.
The performance characteristics of the HP motor also permit Lafert to offer smaller frame size products and weight savings of around 50 per cent.
Applications involving pumps, fans and compressors are therefore substantially more compact, lighter in weight and less expensive to run.
The high-performance motors from Lafert are available for both single- and three-phase supply with ratings of 0.75-2.2kW, 200-240V 50/60Hz and 0.75-22kW, 380-480V 50/60Hz, respectively.
The high-performance motor can be used with a standard servo drive when fitted with an appropriate transducer but it should ideally be used in conjunction with a sensorless drive developed by Lafert Drives to maximise the motor's performance and efficiency for the specific application.
