How the water industry can save energy

The water and wastewater industry requires significant amounts of energy for the extraction and delivery of clean water and the treatment of wastewater. On average, energy accounts for 45 percent of water extraction costs. Companies in this sector are therefore increasingly seeking ways to improve their energy efficiency. ABB offers highly efficient drive solutions that reliably achieve the goal of lower energy costs, as well as innovative products and services that enable customers to noticeably increase the productivity of their water and wastewater treatment plants and sustainably reduce operating costs.

ABB offers a simple and cost-effective way to equip pumps, compressors, and many other applications with energy-efficient drive systems with the new LV Titanium Variable Speed ​​Motor. This compact, adaptable, plug-and-play solution allows users to minimize their energy consumption, save money, and reduce CO2 emissions. The LV Titanium combines an IE5 Ultra-Premium efficiency-class permanent magnet motor with a specially designed drive module that is axially integrated into the motor body. Ultra-premium motors reduce energy losses by up to 40 percent compared to standard IE3 efficiency class motors. Combined with variable speed control, the system consumes only the amount of power actually needed.

The LV Titanium is currently available in smaller sizes from 4 kW to 7.5 kW. The platform will be expanded later this year to cover applications from 1.5 kW to 30 kW. Thanks to its compact design and high power density, this variable-speed motor is at least two frame sizes smaller than comparable induction motors. It is therefore ideally suited for installations where space is limited, such as when replacing older, inefficient motors. With its IP67 protection rating, the LV Titanium can also be used in demanding operating conditions and harsh environments.

The ACQ580 frequency converter, specifically designed for the water and wastewater industry, reduces energy consumption not only through precise speed control but also through integrated functions such as automatic pump cleaning, which eliminates blockages and enables operation at the optimal operating point. Additionally, built-in energy optimization ensures maximum torque per ampere, resulting in further efficiency gains. Also available in IP66 protection class, the ACQ580 can be reliably used even under extreme conditions such as rain, heat, cold, dust, or salty air.

Power quality is also improved: In the Ultra-Low Harmonic variant, the ACQ580-31 reduces harmonics by up to 97 percent compared to conventional converters, thus contributing to stable power grids and high operational reliability. The harmonic reduction performance of the ACQ580-31 is evident compared to a regenerative frequency converter and conventional converters with passive filters or chokes, and without the need for additional components.

In combination with an IE5 synchronous reluctance motor, the ACQ580 can significantly reduce energy consumption compared to variable-speed IE3 motors. ABB synchronous reluctance motors of the IEC efficiency class "Ultra Premium Energy Efficiency" combine the performance of permanent magnet motors with the robust and low-maintenance design of asynchronous motors. Since no induction currents are generated in the rotor, there are no rotor losses, making them highly efficient.