Drive systems
Time to act
CO2 emissions will become more and more expensive, which makes efficient operation much more important. Electric motors consume 70 percent of the overall energy used in industry – and that represents an enormous energy-saving potential. The latest electric motors and converters enable users to optimize their processes and access new dimensions of efficiency.
With efficiency of over 96 percent, Simotics IE4 and IE5 motors are already very energy-efficient, and so they’re optimally designed for use on the grid. Using motors in the very high efficiency classes IE4 or even IE5 makes savings of electrical energy up to six percent possible. Energy savings of up to 30 percent can be achieved, and in some cases even more, by using perfectly matched motor and converter systems for the variable-speed operation of pumps, fans, and compressors. However, the real key to greater energy efficiency lies in the overall system. Savings of up to 60 percent can be realized in the system network through the interaction of all the individual measures: from more efficient motors with variable-speed control and digital system components and tools to the use of electrically buffered energy in the motor network.
Digitalization will therefore be making a strong contribution to increasing the energy efficiency of motor-driven applications. There’s now a new feature for the established Analyze MyDrives Edge application – which makes the energy consumption of the entire drive system transparent – that calculates all data with no need for additional sensors and special measuring devices. The app shows users how efficiently the drive is running, the energy consumption and operating costs, and the carbon footprint that the drive leaves behind. Drive settings can now be optimized even more to meet customer requirements.
Efficient use of energy
In terms of hardware, Siemens has launched the Sinamics DCP 250 kW, a compact DC-DC converter that’s available immediately. This means that a total of three compact DC-DC converters are available for connecting batteries or ultracapacitors to industrial drive systems. With output voltages of up to 1,200 V, Sinamics DCP 250 kW meets the high requirements in the automotive industry and is ideally suited for use in test benches for electric vehicles. DC controllers offer additional energy-efficiency advantages: in the system network, energy storage devices like batteries can be used to smooth the load absorption from the grid. In particular, this eliminates peak loads. Braking energy can also be made available in the DC system. With an appropriate system design, DC controllers require fewer conversion steps. Another advantage is the simplified infeed from renewable energy sources like photovoltaics.
