A Lifetime Of Efficiency: Improving Motor Specification To Boost The Efficiency Of Submersible Wastewater Pumps

Electric motors in industrial applications, including those used in pumping systems, consume 30 to 40 percent of the world’s electricity. For the past two decades, equipment manufacturers, users and regulators have been tackling excessive energy consumption. This has led to the development of higher efficiency standards for motors and the adoption of variable speed drive (VSD) technologies to better match energy use and demand.

For motors designed for running in continuous duty applications (S1 operation), the International Electrotechnical Commission standard IEC-60034-30:2014 defines minimum energy efficiency specifications for four classes of motors: IE1, Standard Efficiency; IE2 High Efficiency, IE3 Premium Efficiency and IE4 Super Premium Efficiency. Each step up the IE efficiency ladder is associated with around a 20 percent reduction in motor losses, which translates directly into significant operating cost-savings.