Technology company ABB is claiming to have achieved almost 100 per cent energy efficiency with a synchronous motor.
Tests carried out on a 44-megawatt six-pole synchronous ABB motor shortly before delivery showed an efficiency 0.25 per cent greater than the 98.8 per cent stipulated in the contract, resulting in the world record for electric motor efficiency.
This efficiency improvement could save approximately $500,000 in electrical energy costs over the course of a 20-year lifetime for each motor, ABB said.
“With electricity costs being, by far, the largest component in the total cost of ownership of such a motor, savings like these have a significant impact on profits,” Sami Atiya, president of ABB’s robotics and motion division, said.
“In addition to extremely high efficiency, synchronous motors are renowned for their proven quality and reliability.
“Their robust design ensures reliability through cool operation temperatures and low vibration.”
The world record efficiency was reached by optimising the motor’s electrical and mechanical features, based on ABB’s application knowledge.
The world's demand for energy today is nearly twice what it was 30 years ago. By 2030, it may have risen by over 50 per cent again, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency.
