DOE Motor And Drive Assessment Leads To Energy Savings For Power Drive Systems

Petroleum and chemical refining, along with all other process industries, utilizes a large number of electric motors to meet power demands. This paper will discuss results of an assessment survey of installed motors and drives performed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) [1], A key finding was that there are energy savings available with the addition of adjustable speed drives (ASDs). The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is collaborating with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) and Cadeo Group to develop a prescriptive process to allow for rebates for Power Drive Systems (PDSs) consisting of a premium efficiency electric motor and an ASD. Most Efficiency standards NEMA MG 1 [2], or IEC 60034-301 [4] today focus on the efficiency of the components, with or without an ASD, rather than focusing on energy saving through optimized process management NEMA MG 10011 [3]. Organizations are now starting to instead look at the combined energy use of the PDS, especially on variable torque loads such as pumps, fans and compressors that are commonplace in process industries.