Electric Motors

What goes around comes around

ENGI 10734
Industrial Systems
Sheridan College
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Recall!
• Pumps are responsible for moving fluids from one location
to another

• Pump action is linear or circular

• But even linear action is driven by a rotating mechanism

• Pumps supply energy to fluids

• Energy has to come from somewhere!

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Industrial Electricity
• Electricity used to:
• Drive motors
• Power equipment
• Power instruments
• Send information
• Keep the lights on

• Large equipment in chemical plants use

grid power

• Canadian grid is 600VAC, 3-phase, 60Hz

• USA uses 480V, 3P, 60Hz
• Europe/Asia use 400V, 3P, 50Hz
• Domestic electricity is 120VAC, 1-phase
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Electric Motor
• Converts electrical energy to
mechanical energy

• Produces torque that rotates a shaft

• Used to drive a machine to do work

• Highly versatile, efficient and

compact

http://www-mdp.eng.cam.ac.uk/web/library/enginfo/textbooks_dvd_only/DAN/motors/steady/steady.html
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Electric Motors in Industry

• Used to drive:
• Pumps
• Agitators
• Conveyors
• Milling machines
• Grinders
• Printing machines

• Range in size from

• >1 HP to 5000 HP
• 1 HP = 746 W
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Type of Motors
• DC Motors
• Developed in 1880’s; first type of motor
developed
• Not very common, but still in use
• Used when low power and wide range of
speed are required
• Elevators, machine tools, cranes, conveyors

• AC Motors
• Simpler and more common
• Electrical supply is usually AC, so AC motor
is the default choice

http://naijaphysicists41.altervista.org/introduction-to-ac-and-dc-generators/?doing_wp_cron=1583178577.3224248886108398437500
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Motor Enclosures
• Surround electric motors to protect
them from the environment
• But must allow for motor cooling

• Usually a fan connected to rotor

creates air flow
• Open motors allow air to cool the
motor coils directly
• Totally Enclosed motors do not allow
contact between coils and air

• Enclosures rated by NEMA for

Waterproof and Dustproof-ness
• Enclosure type chosen based on
ignition and explosion hazards on site
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgulhJeALDU/UJihI_X1zsI/AAAAAAAADFQ/wct3k80scF0/s640/Enclosure.JPG
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Motor Ratings
• Nameplate on a motor states the operational parameters and
electrical requirements
• Established by National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

• Motors are rated by

• Phase
• Frequency
• Voltage
• Current
• Speed
• Power
• Temperature
• Also torque, duty cycle,
service factor, efficiency
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Electrical Ratings - Phases

• Industrial motors often use 3-phase power
• 1-phase motors used for smaller applications

• Windings can be wired as star or delta

• Star gives higher torque, delta higher RPM

• Supply frequency tolerance is ±5%

• Supply voltage tolerance is ±10%

• Max rated current is called Full Load

Amps (FLA)
• Motor draws rated current when loaded to the
rated horsepower

https://www.electric-skateboard.builders/uploads/db1493/original/3X/e/2/
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Power
• Horsepower rating specified power
output at the rated speed
• 1HP = 746W

• A motor exceed its rated horsepower

• Service factor (SF) > 1.0 means motor can
operate at higher power for certain periods
of time

• Main power restriction: motor

temperature will exceed its design limit
• Resistance in the windings goes up with
temperature and current flow
• Air flow from fan for cooling does not
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Speed Ratings
• AC motors generally come in 1800
and 3600 RPM varieties

• Under heavy loads, slippage reduces

RPM
• Most motors are actually rated
~1700RPM or ~3500RPM

• 1800 RPM motors selected for low-

speed, high-torque applications
• Conveyor belts, PD pumps

• 3600 RPM motors are standard

http://dcknives.blogspot.com/p/we-could-use-single-phase-motor-right.html
Motor Efficiency
• Efficiency is a function of • Motor inefficiency tolerable
the load on the motor if sized properly and
• Max efficiency at the rated operated infrequently
horsepower
• At half load, efficiency
decreases ~10%
• At no load, efficiency is zero.

https://electricalacademia.com/induction-motor/three-phase-induction-motor-performance/
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Torque
• Torque is the force rotating the motor shaft
• A function of motor power (HP) and speed (RPM)
• Power is conserved, so less RPM = greater torque

• Torque at rated horsepower and speed (full-load torque)

can be calculated from the nameplate data:
• P is the power in HP 𝑇∙𝑆
• T is the torque in lb-ft 𝑃=
• S is the speed in rpm
5252
• 5252 is a conversion factor
5252𝑃
𝑇=
𝑆
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Variable Speed Drive

• Variable-speed drives
allow motors to run at
different RPM
• Variable Frequency Drives
(VFDs) for AC motors
• DC Drives vary DC voltage
output for DC motors

• For changing speeds of

agitators, fans, pumps or
conveyors

• Save power and $$

Variable Speed Drives
• Advantages
• Save power – only use what as much as you need
• Save money – less wasted electricity means less money
• Increased Control – More options to run equipment
• Safety – Alarms and electrical fail-safes protect people and
equipment
• Flexibility – Changing parameters allows multiple uses for
same motors

• Disadvantages
• Complexity – Requires more wiring and knowledge to use
• Cost – Upfront cost of VFD, shielded wires and installation
Variable Speed Drives - Pumps
• Use VFD instead of throttling valve to adjust pump output
• Does not eliminate the need to read a pump curve or select a pump
properly!
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Key Concepts
• Motors use electricity to generate torque and turn a shaft
• Often use 3-phase grid power at 600VAC, 60Hz

• Important motor rating information found on nameplate

• Totally-enclosed motors do not allow air to contact the windings

• Used in areas with lots of water, dust or explosion risk

• Torque is calculated as a function of RPM and power

• Variable speed drives (VFDs) change the electrical frequency

or voltage supplied to a motor and allow equipment to run at
multiple speeds