A new super premium efficiency motor is being introduced in an effort to help motor users save costs and reduce the load on the national grid.

Zest WEG is phasing in its IE4 motors in its WEG W22 range and is also making the IE4 level of efficiency available to customers at no premium on the IE3 units.

According to Zest WEG electric motors manager Fanie Steyn, 2021 will see local energy prices rising above R1/kWh for the first time and the company sees this as the ideal time for the introduction of WEG IE4-rated motors, which will be available in the size range between 37 kW and 375 kW.

Specified under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60034-30-1:2014 standard, IE1 refers to standard efficiency and IE2 to high efficiency, while the IE3 and IE4 ratings are for premium efficiency and super-premium efficiency motors respectively.

“The efficiency of 96.3% on an IE4-rated 110 kW motor, when compared to 94.1% on an IE1-rated motor, can save users hundreds of thousands of rand in energy costs over a 10 year period,” says Steyn. “Not only will these IE4 motors be more cost effective to run, but they have been designed with a number of new features that bring considerable benefits.”

Features and benefits of the IE4 motors include:

• Meet IEC efficiency levels when running on 50% to 100% of load
• Efficiency is kept constant, saving energy and ensuring minimal losses through various loading points
• Innovative frame design allows for maximum heat dissipation
• Increased lifespan
• Easier installation

The motors’ increased mechanical rigidity is achieved by integrating the front and rear feet sides, designed to enable easier installation, higher mechanical stiffness and improved distribution of the mechanical thrust imposed by the load.

“As a first of its kind, our flexible terminal box mounting means reduced inventory and quicker modification,” he says. “The terminal box can be rotated in 90° increments to facilitate supply cable connection orientated to the front, rear, top or either side of the motor.”

The company states that further energy savings can be achieved by using WEG variable speed drives (VSDs), which comply with the European Extended Product standard EN50598, aimed at ensuring system efficiency of the motor and VSD combination. As an additional feature, WEG VSDs have energy savings settings which can be user activated, achieving an automatic saving under any reduced load conditions.