The problem of motor inefficiency

The problem of motor inefficiency

The test standards promulgated by the International Electrotechnical Commission IEC (hereinafter referred to as IEC) make it possible to evaluate the energy efficiency of motors. In the past 10 years, the motor market has developed rapidly, the international motor production level has been continuously improved, and the evaluation standards that match the technological development have also been improving over the years.

　　 Today's high-efficiency motors are no longer at the level of the year. The latest classification standard regards IE1 as general energy efficiency, IE2 as high-level energy efficiency, and IE3 is the most energy-efficient and energy-efficient. This standard division raises the overall energy efficiency level of the motor by one level.

　　 "IEC+MEPS"

　　As early as 10 years ago, the standards for evaluating the energy efficiency of motors have been proposed. At that time, there was still a lot of controversy between the United States and Europe on this issue, because they could not reach an agreement on the energy efficiency of motors. In the past 5 years, the situation has changed.

　　The earliest international standards are uniformly promulgated by IEC, and the classification of IE1, IE2, and IE3 has established a unified standard for the evaluation of international motor energy efficiency. However, the development situation of each country is different, and some unavoidable problems arise when a unified standard evaluation is used.

Conrad U. Bruner, chairman of the International Energy Efficiency Organization "Topten Energy Conservation Center", told the reporter of "China Economy and Information Technology" that in addition to the IEC standard, each country is formulating its own mandatory performance and efficiency standards, which are collectively called "MEPS" .

　　 "MEPS" means MinimumEnergyPerformanceStandards, the minimum energy efficiency standard. In the past five years, many countries have adopted the minimum energy efficiency standard model. "There are currently two or three such organizations in the world. The first group of countries includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, the second group of countries is represented by Australia, and the third group of countries is represented by Europe and China. The European standard was in 2009 Established and implemented in 2011, and China’s standards are almost the same time.

　　 The "IEC+MEPS" standard constitutes the entire international motor energy efficiency testing standard system. Under this standard, each country is constantly researching motor energy efficiency in its own field. But the implementation of this system has also encountered many resistances and problems.

　　The initial implementation of the standard was to regulate the market through laws and regulations. The regulation of the market requires three factors: the first is product registration, each model needs to be registered with the governments of various countries, and then divided into grades; the second is testing and certification, users buying a motor from the market must be carried out in the laboratory The measured value is obtained through the test to check whether the motor energy efficiency label is true; the third item is reward and punishment measures. If the measured value of the motor is different from the marked value, the manufacturer of the motor will be punished.

　　 The three-step measures of minimum energy efficiency standards are currently only available in Australia. Other countries only do more or less. Among them, there is only registration in the United States, but no inspection. Only when there is a report, the government will monitor it. In Europe, it was not done in three steps.

　　 China’s implementation is relatively complicated, and the current minimum energy efficiency standards have no final punishment. Now China is also making some legislative amendments to punish these non-energy-saving manufacturers. But since at the beginning, there were no laboratories that could do monitoring, and there was no similar internationally recognized standard, so China did not have its own testing and supervision mechanism at that time. However, as motors are included in the implementation of energy efficiency standards, this measure in China has gradually begun to improve.

　　 Improve user autonomy

　　 Although there are standard requirements and corresponding threshold restrictions on motor production, there are still problems with the promotion of high-efficiency motors in the market. Conrad analyzed: "In Switzerland, we investigated 4000 motors from 12 different factories. We found that 50% to 60% of 4000 motors are old motors. Too old means no Energy saving, so it needs to be replaced."

　　 High-efficiency motors can achieve savings with a very short payback period. However, as a user, you may not understand this situation, or if you know it, you will not act. This requires a transformation of the market, from inefficient to efficient.

　　 There are also obstacles to the international transformation. Some companies still refuse to purchase high-efficiency motors due to price constraints. Conrad thinks this is a very silly behavior, "Users who use motors can make money through high efficiency, and companies that manufacture motors can benefit from it, and the environment can be improved as a result."

　　 In order to smoothly promote high-efficiency motors, three measures should be taken to jointly ensure. The first is the minimum energy efficiency standard "meps", a mandatory government requirement; the second is financial support for the production of motors; the third is capacity building, soft power enhancement, through learning and using new software tools to do some specific calculations, and through some Soft things such as top products and standards drive the market. Conrad pointed out that my country's minimum energy efficiency standards are already in use, and tax policy stimulus has also begun to be implemented, but the soft power is still relatively weak.

　　 Not only the soft power is weak, most of the motor users in our country lack initiative, how to let users buy motors independently has become a big problem. Regarding this point, in some developed countries, the latest international motor standards will be learned through information disclosure, newsletter subscriptions, etc., so that users can grasp the information at any time, which ensures that users have a correct understanding of high-efficiency motors.

　　 In addition, the lack of initiative in China is largely due to the high price of high-efficiency motors. The price of a high-efficiency motor is 30% higher than that of ordinary motors. In the United States, the cost of high-efficiency motors has been reduced a lot, from a high of 30% a few years ago to about 10%, so there is basically no price barrier for users.

　　 There are many large motor factories in China, as well as many well-known motor companies. However, due to a late start, they have stopped at IE1 in the past 30 years. 50% of Chinese companies are still making inefficient products. In addition, the electricity bill for industrial electricity can enjoy subsidies, which has led to most Chinese companies not actively producing high-efficiency motors.

"If there is no subsidy policy for industrial electricity, the technology update in the Chinese market will be faster, so once the industrial electricity price goes up, the popularization of high-efficiency motors in China will be fast. In this area, Europe has done a good job, except for electricity prices. , Will increase the carbon tax." Conrad said.

　　 Many potential problems

　　 Generally speaking, the operation of China's high-efficiency motors is relatively slow. The three levels of energy efficiency in the international standard are not limited to these three levels. IE4 and IE5 also exist. IE4 studies permanent magnet motors, which are more efficient and use permanent magnet technology. Permanent magnet technology requires rare earths. China is the country that exports the most rare earths in the world, so it has an absolute advantage. However, most of China's rare earths are used for export, and they are not really put into research and development.

　　 In addition, there are still many problems and potential room for improvement in the motor market. Conrad believes that producers should upgrade from multiple aspects.

　　 First of all, focus on the production and use of frequency converters. ABB, Siemens and other companies are making motors and frequency converters, allowing electrical appliances to use frequency converters when there is no load, reducing the burden on the motor. This idea is worth learning.

　　Secondly, 50%~60% of the motors on the market are still IE1. Relative to the load, it is easy to form a large horse-drawn cart. Many motors are large in scale, but the actual load is not enough. This kind of operation is inefficient, and the energy efficiency of the motor cannot be fully utilized.

　　 again is the lack of thinking about "what happens under the control of no load". After z* is the transmission system, including the conveyor belt. For example, there are many transmission devices in a car, and the power transmission spends far more on the transmission system than the engine. The cost saved by using a good transmission device can even reach 10%.

　　 In addition, system integration and operation management also need attention. The above points can technically solve the embarrassing problems encountered by the motor. It can be used very well not only in foreign countries, but also in China. Conrad admits that there is still a big market for China's high-efficiency motors.