Combined on a slim plug-and-play platform

ABB's new LV Titanium Variable Speed Motor offers the benefits of a high-efficiency motor and a variable speed drive in a single, compact, adaptable, plug-and-play solution. It enables industrial customers to minimize their energy consumption, save money, and reduce their CO2 emissions.

The LV Titanium is a simple and cost-effective way to equip pumps, compressors, and many other applications with IE5 ultra-premium efficiency. The variable speed motor is an easy replacement for line-operated induction motors (DOL) and a simple upgrade to a variable speed drive with a fast return on investment.

The innovative LV Titanium platform is far more than just a variable speed drive bolted onto a motor. Rather, it is a fully integrated concept with an advanced drive module designed from the ground up for optimal performance with a high-efficiency permanent magnet (PM) motor. This slim, streamlined design, with the axial drive mounted at the end of the motor, saves space and makes the LV Titanium ideal for applications such as vertical pumps. It is also extremely quiet in operation.

Another advantage of the LV Titanium is that it can be used across a wide speed and torque range and can deliver high torque even at low speeds.

"We developed the LV Titanium in collaboration with customers who asked us to help them save energy and reduce CO2 emissions without complicated installation," said Stefan Flöck, Division President of IEC Low Voltage Motors at ABB. "This variable-speed motor offers exactly that: advanced performance in a compact, user-friendly, variable-speed motor package, built on our decades of application experience."

Plug-and-play functionality means the LV Titanium requires no commissioning, as the fully integrated motor and drive combination is already commissioned and optimized to work together at the factory. This enables quick and easy installation without the need for control cabinets or electrical rooms, and without the need for specially trained personnel.

The LV Titanium features an intuitive control panel with analog and digital inputs and outputs (I/O). Connectivity options include the Modbus RTU communication protocol for easy integration with PLCs and other control devices.

Thanks to its compact design and high power density, the variable-speed motor is at least two frame sizes smaller than comparable induction motors, making it suitable for installations where space is at a premium, such as replacing older, inefficient motors.

The energy savings potential of using the LV Titanium is illustrated by comparing it with a conventional fixed-speed motor in a 7.5 kW centrifugal pump application—one of the key applications for the IE5 variable-speed motor. Annual electricity bill savings are estimated at more than €4,000, based on a typical European energy price of €0.21/kWh. At the same time, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 6,000 kg annually, based on the average European carbon intensity factor of 0.3 kg CO2 (source: ourworldindata.org/grapher/carbon-intensity-electricity).

The LV Titanium variable-speed motor is currently available in smaller sizes starting at 1.5 kW. In parallel, the platform is being expanded to cover applications up to 30 kW for a wide range of industrial sectors – from water treatment and chemical processes to the food and beverage industry. The motor is available in a single version and can be customized to meet specific customer requirements.

With its high efficiency, versatility, robustness and compact design, the LV Titanium is able to optimize industrial processes by providing a solution that not only meets current needs but also anticipates future industry requirements.