Need of Energy Conservation In Induction Motor

Need of Energy Conservation In Induction Motor

Q. Explain the necessity of energy conservation in electrical motors.

1. India is a growing economy and the economic growth of any country largely depends on industrialization and energy consumption.
2. The growing cost of energy due to limited stock of energy sources calls for power saving at each possible step in an industry.
3. The three-phase induction motors consume about 70% of the electricity used in an industry Hence the running cost of these induction motors is the real challenge Earlier, induction motor design and fabrication was based more with the initial cost of the motor rather than how much energy it consumes.
4. The materials such as aluminium or copper wires and steel laminations, were selected to meet the performance requirements of the motor. 
5. Hence induction motors have low power factors , more losses and low efficiency. After 90’s the cost of energy starts increasing which directly affected the motor cost as the motors were less efficient.
6. This leads the customers to search for other more energy efficiency options.
7. Therefore the manufacturers started to figure out different methods to increase the efficiency of motors.. 
8. To achieve these, manufacturers started use of good and thin steel lamination materials having low losses and more number of copper wires in windings to increase the efficiency of induction motor.
9. The standard induction motors in a process plant consume large amount of energy due to low efficiency.
10. To save energy consumption in a process plant, the use of energy efficiency motors are chosen over standard induction motor.
11. Energy efficient motors have better efficiency and power factor than standard induction motors.  
12. The use of energy efficient motors reduces energy consumption of the plant. The payback period for energy efficiency motors is very less as compared to standard motors. 
13. “The motors having high efficiency, good power factor and fewer losses are called energy efficient motors”. Energy efficient motors have efficiency 2-3 % more than standard motors. 
14. In the improvement of energy efficient motors, different technologies are made. 
15. The changes in slot shape increase the efficiency and thus reduce the internal motor losses.
16. The use of energy efficient motors offers the utilities for possibility of achieving sustainable energy and demand reduction.

Need of energy conservation can be summarized as need of energy conservation is felt because : 

1. Cost of electricity is increasing so conservation methods to motors be provided.
2. Motor must work at higher efficiency so provisions of reducing losses be provided.
3. Inefficient motors need large power for the same work output.
4. To save power, therefore energy efficient newly designed motors be provided (replacing old design motors). 
5. Good quality materials for core and windings be used by the manufacturers to improve efficiency by conserving energy. 
6. New design changed the shapes of slots to get more efficiency.
7. Saving in cost of operation compels us to go for modern designed energy efficient motors. working at lower losses higher efficiency and hence conserving the energy.

Factors affecting the motor efficiency and minimizing motor losses in operation
Power Supply Quality : 

• Motor performance is affected considerably by the quality of input power , that is the actual volts and frequency available at motor terminals vis-a-vis rated values as well as voltage and frequency variations and voltage unbalance across the three phases.