![\"Hazardous](\"https:\/\/www.publiteconline.it\/inmotion\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WEG02-1.jpg\" "\\"Hazardous")
New electric motors put energy savings first<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The design of electric motors has seen improvements to maximise on energy saving opportunities. Now, the European Commission\u2019s (EC) ecodesign committee has approved a new, stricter version of the ecodesign requirements, which take effect from July 1, 2021. Previously, the scope of the regulations only covered 3-phase motors ranging from 0.75 kW to 375 kW, leaving motors outside this power range excluded. From 2021, this will no longer be the case. The impending regulation requires all new 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-pole motors in the power range of 0.75-1000kW to meet IE3 efficiency class. The previous legislation allowed for an IE2 motor to be used provided it was controlled by a VSD, but this will no longer be valid. Sizes from 0.12-0.75 kW will need to meet IE2 class. Special purpose motors, such as explosion-proof or flame-proof motors were exempt from the previous regulation, out of precaution for the higher-risk environments they were used in. From July 2021, new ATEX motors entering the supply chain must be rated IE3 or higher with increased safety motors Ex eb being the exception. These motors will need to be at least IE2 efficiency level by 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decades of experience in the field of motors for hazardous environments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Energy efficient motors for hazardous environments have been available from WEG for decades, but with no obligation to implement high levels of energy efficiency in hazardous environments, some businesses opted for low efficiency motors, possibly due to the cheaper upfront costs.
WEG\u2019s hazardous area motors meet the new energy efficiency standards – and have done long before these regulatory changes were announced. What\u2019s more, the WEG range of IE3 Hazardous area motors are manufactured to IEC standards. WEG also has a super-premium range of safe area and hazardous area IE4 motors. This will prove useful as from 2023, safe area motors between 75kW and 200kW that are not brake motors or hazardous area motors will be required to meet efficiency class IE4. In energy-intensive industries, such as chemical, pharmaceutical or oil and gas, thousands of motors often operate 24 hours a day. Even a slight improvement in efficiency, extrapolated over the sheer volume of motors and hours of operation, will benefit the businesses\u2019 bottom line. Energy costs for electric motors account for 95 to 97 per cent of total life cycle costs, depending on the application. Investment in energy-efficiency drives and motors, even if it\u2019s not through choice, usually provides a very short return on investment. Take the IE3 W22Xd series of explosion-proof motors from WEG for example. The lower operating costs of these induction motors can reduce costs by 20 to 40 per cent compared with conventional approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n