Ongoing Activities
SEEEM Initiative (Standards for Energy Efficiency of Electric Motor Systems)
The SEEEM initiative is aimed at developing a comprehensive market transformation strategy to promote efficient industrial electric motor systems worldwide, through harmonisation of test standards, introducing mandatory minimum performance standards and sharing international best practice. SEEEM was launched at the EEDAL conference in London in June 2006, and is now well established and enjoys participation from stakeholders around the world.
For further information or to join SEEEM see www.seeem.org
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
IEC 60034-30
The IEC has commissioned development of a new standard, ‘IEC 60034-30, Efficiency Classes of single-speed three-phase cage induction motors’.
The aim of this standard is to provide a globally harmonized set of performance labels categorizing energy efficiency classes of single-speed three-phase cage induction motors.
The scope of motors considered will be 3 phase cage induction motors at 50Hz or 60Hz that:
- have a rated power between 0.75kW and 200kW
- have a rated voltage of up to 1000V
- be rated for continuous duty - S1
- be protection rated IP4x or higher
The project commenced in October 2006 and is intended to be completed by the end of 2008.
For further information see: www.iec.ch
International Energy Agency (IEA)
IEA Workshop on Motor Systems (May 2006):
In its Proceedings, the IEA recommends that G8 governments consider engaging in and supporting initiatives to promote convergence on technical harmonization, as well as to share experience, derive best practice and coordinate measures to promote efficient motor systems, for example, through the SEEEM initiative: www.seeem.org/_data/Motor_systems_proceedings_070706.pdf
IEA Implementing Agreements
In March 2007 the IEA launched a new Implementing Agreement for Efficient Electrical End Use Equipment (4E).
Proposed within the agreement is a Motor Systems Annex; this is currently being drafted and is likely to be agreed in April 2008.
Interested country stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the drafting of this annexe, contact the ExCo Chair Ture Hammar (tha@ens.dk) for further information.
For general information see www.iea.org/Textbase/techno/ia.asp
European Commission (EC)
EU Energy using Products Directive (EuP):
In accordance with the requirements of the European Commission’s Energy Using Products Directive (2005/32/EC) preparatory studies are currently being carried out to assess the suitability of a number of products for the imposition of implementing measures that will result in a reduction in their environmental impact.
The Lot 11 study group is comprised of four product groupings, namely:
- Electric motors (1 – 150kW)
- Fans for ventilation in non residential buildings
- Water pumps (in commercial buildings, drinking water pumping, food industry, agriculture)
- Circulators in buildings
Early indications from the studies have shown that energy-in-use is the primary contributor to environmental impact and consequently energy efficiency is a key consideration. The studies were scheduled to conclude in December 2007; shortly after this the EuP Consultation Forum will convene to consider implementing measures, once agreed these are scheduled for adoption by early 2009.
For more information see www.ecomotors.org, and www.mtprog.com/EuP.aspx
Recent Events
Motor Summit 07 (10 -11 April 2007):
In collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Efficient Energy Use and the Swiss Energy Program, SEEEM hosted the first Motor Summit in Zurich, Switzerland. The international Motor Summit provided an excellent forum for 130 energy experts, government officials, energy agencies, motor manufacturers, and industrial motor system end-users from 20 countries to discuss strategies to promote high-efficiency motor systems globally.
For more information see: www.energieeffizienz.ch/e/IndexHaustechnik.html
EEMODS'07 (10-13 June 2007):
Held in Beijing, China the fifth major bi-annual conference of EEMODS, (Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems) was hosted by China and the International Copper Association in collaboration with the European Commission DG Joint Research Centre. This major conference provided a forum to discuss and debate the latest developments in the impacts of electrical motor systems on energy and the environment, the policies and programmes adopted and planned, and the technical and commercial advances made in the dissemination and penetration of energy-efficient motor systems. Over 250 experts from around the world attended, representing interests from governments, industry and academia.
For more information and to download presentations from the conference see: www.eemods.cn
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
IEC60034-2-1
In September 2007 the IEC published the revised standard IEC 60034-2-1 {Ed.1.0}. Rotating electrical machines - Part 2-1: Standard methods for determining losses and efficiency from tests (excluding machines for traction vehicles).
This standard describes methods for determining electric motor efficiencies from tests, and also specifies methods of obtaining specific losses. It applies to d.c. machines and to a.c. synchronous and induction machines of all sizes within the scope of IEC 60034-1
For further information see: www.iec.ch
Upcoming Events
- Motor Summit, Zurich, Switzerland, Fall 2008
- EEMODS 2009, Nantes, France
Topical issues where views and opinions are invited.
1) AC induction motor test methods and compliance with minimum standards and labelling schemes
There are a number of motor test standards in force in different trading regions of the world, the newly published IEC test standard IEC 60034-2-1 {Ed.1.0} incorporates several different test methods derived from these standards and presents them as alternative methods together with a comparative indication of their accuracy (uncertainty) as follows:
- Low = most accurate
- Medium
- High = least accurate
As the standard incorporates different test methods employed in the different trading regions it has enjoyed widespread acceptance.
What is currently unknown however is the absolute accuracy of the different test methods and which is the ‘most accurate and repeatable’.
As motor efficiencies increase the need for accurate and repeatable testing becomes more acute, especially to distinguish between performance classes.
A general principle is that increasingly accurate test methods are more expensive to implement as they require either extra effort to carry out the tests or they require more costly test equipment such as torque dynamometers.
Manufacturers are looking for a test method that is cost effective to implement, whereas legislators or bodies enforcing compliance with minimum standards or other classification systems such as labelling schemes need confidence in the accuracy of the test method in order to arbitrate results.
Currently there are two initiatives planned where round robin testing of a sample of motors will be carried out at a number of motor test houses and these are described as follows:
a) IEC Technical Committee No2 – Rotating Machinery (call 2/1458/DC)
See www.iec.ch
This exercise aims to establish the following:
- Quantify the difference between test methods and also help establish the influence of testing tolerances
- Identify uncertainty introduced by variations in materials and manufacturing procedures
- Quantify the difference between test methods and help establish the influence of test facilities on uncertainty
b) AP6 ‘Motor Systems Subproject’
This exercise is designed to collate and provide information to the IEC initiative; taking part are Asian countries in the AP6 group and Australia.
In addition the exercise will provide capacity building and training for manufacturers in the Asia region in order that they will be able to confidently carry out motor tests according to the international test standards.
2) Comparing the performance of single speed AC induction motors with other motor types including those with variable speed capabilities
The efficiency of current best in class ac induction motors is relatively high, ranging from about 83% for small motors (1.1kW) to over 95% for larger motors (110kW); future efficiency gains for this type of motor are not anticipated to be significant. Other motor technologies such as those employing permanent magnets or switched reluctance motors offer potential for increased efficiency improvements, especially in the smaller motor size ranges.
As other motor technologies gain acceptance they will be competing for market share and there will be demand for equal comparisons between the technologies.
For consideration:
What are the issues to take into account when comparing different motor technologies and how may an equal comparison be achieved?
3) Performance classification of pumps and pumping systems
Classification of pumps:
Some standards exist where the performance of pumps may be classified, one example is the Chinese standard GBT13007-1991; in Korea there is also a classification scheme however information on this is limited. In addition the EuP study on water pumps may give rise to another method to classify the performance of pumps, and this is awaited.
The Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP6) ‘Motor Systems Subproject’ held a workshop on 4th December 2007 where an initiative was proposed to harmonise across these standards, the long term aim being an internationally harmonised pump performance and classification standard; work is likely to commence shortly.
Classification of pumping systems:
It is well accepted that the most significant energy savings associated with pumps is through measures applied to the whole pumping system. There are however very few metrics known that could be used to classify the performance of whole pumping systems, E.g. the motor, pump, pipe-work and associated controls.
This is due to the enormous diversity in pump system types and the potentially infinite range of duties across these systems.
For consideration:
How could performance metrics be developed that may be used to classify the performance of pumping systems and how may these metrics be carried across from one system type to another?
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