New technology from ABB is helping customers in the energy sector reduce costs, lower carbon emissions, and improve safety.
Whether it’s the rising cost of electricity, a tight labour market, or challenging regulatory approvals, energy projects around Australia face many challenges. Because the stakes are so high, many project operators are apprehensive to purchase new technologies, instead opting to run out the operational lives of existing assets. Although legacy technologies like older, lower-efficiency motors have been dependable in the past, they no longer represent the best or most efficient option. Upgrading to high-efficiency motors can provide substantial benefits in terms of performance and cost savings.
While the initial purchase price of new assets is often enough to dissuade operators from purchasing, these new technologies, like ABB’s IE5 SynRM Increased Safety motor, quickly claw back their value with a lower total cost of ownership.
When it comes to motors – critical components in every energy project – purchase price is just a drop in the bucket when compared to the energy required to keep each asset running, ongoing maintenance costs, and downtime. Energy consumption, in particular, can account for over 90 percent of the total cost of ownership for a motor.
Induction motors are traditionally used in many applications in energy projects, but they are gradually being replaced by higher performing models like ABB’s ultra-premium efficiency IE5 SynRM motor, which not only match the performance of traditional induction motors but also exceed them, achieving significantly higher energy savings and delivering even better results overall.
“Our IE5 SynRM motor reduces energy losses by up to 40 percent compared to commonly used IE3 motors,” ABB global industry segment manager Magdalena Tworus-Stępniak told Energy Today.
“The motor operates at cooler temperatures, enhancing its reliability, decreasing maintenance needs and extending its lifespan, therefore providing fast returns on investment and distinctive competitive benefits.
Paired with Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) that regulate and optimise their operation, SynRM motors deliver precise control and high efficiency across a range of speeds and loads. Their performance is particularly outstanding under partial load conditions.”
Not only does this translate to greatly reduced operational cost of the asset, but also less downtime – a factor which can typically account for a significant portion of a motor’s total cost of ownership.
Beyond cost of ownership, modern investors, regulators, as well as the general public have increasing expectations of the industrial sector to demonstrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibility. This kind of stewardship forms a core part of most modern business, and its importance grows every year.
Fortunately, higher efficiency motors like the IE5 SynRM can help project operators secure stakeholder approval.
“As electricity demand continues to rise rapidly, industries face increasing pressure to reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions,” Tworus-Stępniak said.
“As SynRM motors require less energy to run, this helps operators significantly lower their carbon emissions. By eliminating permanent magnets, this technology reduces the environmental impact related to the extraction and processing of rare earth elements, making it a more sustainable choice.”
While decarbonisation is a critical part of ESG, ensuring the safety of workers and communities is just as important.
To that end, ABB has recently unveiled the IE5 SynRM Increased Safety motor, a variation of the IE5 SynRM. With no hot surfaces, arcing or sparking in rated conditions, this more efficient Increased Safety Motor is the perfect workhorse for explosive environments.
“Certified for Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas, the Increased Safety motor is the ideal upgrade for standard induction motors in pumps, fans and compressors in industries where explosive gas, vapor or dust might be present, such as oil and gas,” Tworus-Stępniak said.
And never one to rest on its laurels, ABB has also developed a SynRM motor that achieves the anticipated IE6 hyper efficiency level, which has 20 per cent less energy losses than IE5, pushing performance and decarbonisation to even greater heights.
To find out more about reducing cost of ownership through efficiency upgrades, visit the ABB website.