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Altivar AC drives meet the strictest standard for energy efficiency
Electric motors are major consumers in industry when it comes to energy consumption. As much as 70% of the electricity produced goes to electrically driven systems. For heavy industries, this can be as much as 90%. Since 2009, the EU has been setting minimum energy efficiency requirements for new electric motors from 0.75 to 375 kW with the Ecodesign Directive 640/2009 in order to encourage manufacturers to bring more energy-efficient products to market. This directive states that electric motors must have at least an IE3 classification. For electric motors with frequency control, this is at least IE2. IE stands for International Efficiency and indicates how energy-efficient an electric motor is. The higher the number, the higher the efficiency.
New directive for electric motors and frequency converter
On 25 October 2019, the EU member states tightened the minimum energy efficiency requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives within the EU directive 2019/ 1781. This new directive replaces the existing Regulation 640/2009 and will come into force on 1 July 2021. The new directive covers all induction motors for continuous use that have two, four, six or eight poles and an output of between 0.12 kW and 1,000 kW. Electric motors with an output of 0.12 kW to 0.75 kW will have to comply with energy efficiency classification IE2 and electric motors between 0.75 kW and 1,000 kW with classification IE3 from this date. The minimum IE2 classification for electric motors with frequency control will expire. As of this date, separate energy efficiency classifications apply for frequency converters.. The minimum energy efficiency requirements for electric motors and frequency converters will be further tightened in subsequent phases as of 1 July 2022 and 1 July 2023.
Energy efficiency classifications for frequency converters
The energy efficiency of frequency converters and drive systems is specified in standard IEC61800-9. From 1 July 2021, frequency converters will be marked with an IE0, IE1 or IE2 classification. This classification indicates how energy-efficient a frequency converter is, with IE1 being the benchmark as set by the Ecodesign Directive. Frequency converters with an IE0 rating are 25% less energy efficient and frequency converters with an IE2 rating are 25% more energy efficient. Frequency converters that are suitable for electric motors of 0.12 kW to 1,000 kW nominal voltage between 100 and 1000 VAC must meet the IE2 classification as of 1 July 2021.
Altivar Efficiency Calculator Tool
Altivar AC drives of the Altivar Machine, Altivar Process and Altivar Building series comply with the most stringent requirements of the IEC 61800-9 energy efficiency standard and are classified as IE2. Schneider Electric has developed a handy tool for its partners and customers. It demonstrates that the losses of the various models in each possible configuration comply with energy efficiency classification IE2. In addition, tests also show that the AC drives comply with the IEC/EN 61800-9-2 regulation, which shows the maximum power losses for CDM (Complete Drive Modules) and PDM (Power Drive Systems: combination of motor with AC drive).
Five steps
In five steps, the user can see whether an AC drive is satisfactory and what level of energy efficiency it achieves. In the first step, the user selects the drive reference and is shown the technical specifications of the product. Next, the user selects the type of motor for which the AC drive will be used. After this step, the user gets directly all the data on energy efficiency: the Altivar Efficiency Tool shows at product level the different losses according to the eight points covered by the regulation EU 2019/781, which relate to the torque to speed ratio. Finally, the user receives an analysis of the losses of the drive and motor together at the same eight predefined points. The test results of the tool can be saved by the user as a pdf file, proving that the components used comply with the latest standard.
For more information, please visit https://altivar-efficiency-calculator.se.app.
