With 45% of the world’s electricity used to power electric motors in buildings and industrial applications, the cost to run them is projected to reach $900 billion annually by 2030, according to ABB. The company said this “significant energy demand presents a substantial opportunity for efficiency improvements, contingent upon favorable market conditions and advancements in motor technologies.”
Related to this motor energy use news, ABB announced that its ABB Baldor-Reliance EC Titanium motor has been recognized with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2024 Energy Star Emerging Technology Award. The EC Titanium motor is designed to be paired with a variable speed drive and is optimized for energy management and sustainability and ideal for fans, pumps, blowers, compressors, vacuum pumps, HVAC systems and other variable speed applications. Thirteen EC Titanium models, from 7.5 to 20 HP (5.5 to 15 kW) meet the technical requirements for the award.
According to ABB, EC Titanium is a highly efficient motor that combines synchronous reluctance and permanent magnet technologies. The rotor design incorporates non-rare earth elements, resulting in a motor that is highly efficient, quiet, reliable and easy to operate. It is available as a motor only or with an integrated motor drive unit.
Beyond its energy efficiency, ABB noted additional EC Titanium benefits of:
- improved partial load efficiencies compared to NEMA Premium (IE3) efficiency motors
- over-speed constant power operational range to 4,000 RPM
- a high-power factor that reduces motor full-load amps and allows for a smaller drive to be used
- lower current draw and smaller power converter
- power-dense, drop-in-replacement NEMA frames
- shaft grounding brush for extended bearing life
- Class F insulation with Class B rise decreases motor thermal stress and increases motor life
- IP54 motor enclosure with shaft seal.
