Energy efficiency analysis of fixed-speed pump drives with various types of motors

Abstract

The paper presents a comparative analysis of energy consumption by 2.2 kW electric motors of various types and energy efficiency classes in the electric drive of a pump unit with throttle control in a water supply system. Line-start permanent-magnet synchronous motors of the IE4 energy efficiency class and induction motors of the IE4 and IE3 energy efficiency classes of various manufacturers were considered (IE4 and IE3 are labels of energy efficiency classes of electric motors according to IEC 60034-30-1 standard). Energy consumption at a hydraulic load changing under a typical duty cycle was calculated based on the nameplate data of the pump and electric motors. The developed method shows that selecting an electric motor based on the IE energy efficiency class under the IEC 60034-30-1 standard (i.e., based on efficiency at a rated load) may not provide the minimum energy consumption of a variable flow pump unit over a typical duty cycle. In particular, the considered IE4 class line-start permanent-magnet synchronous motors do not provide significant advantages over IE4 class induction motors, and sometimes even over IE3 class induction motors when they are used in variable flow pump units.