Applications involving electric motors make up a huge proportion of the overall energy used in the industrial sector. In order to drive the environmentally compatible design of electric motors, promote sustainability and minimise CO₂ emissions, the European Union has specified a series of minimum requirements for energy efficiency in three-phase asynchronous motors. Consequently, all motors with an output between 75 kW - 200 kW will be required to have an energy efficiency rating of IE4 from July 2023 onwards. BOGE will start exclusively using IE4 motors in all of the screw compressors in its S-4 series in the 110 kW - 160 kW power range from 1 June this year. All screw compressors in the lower performance classes will be modified over the coming months, ensuring the compressor manufacturer remains ahead of all legal requirements when it comes to the more efficient, environmentally friendly IE4 motors.

IE4 motors as standard

The energy efficiency of an electric motor is a measure of the ratio between the mechanic power output and the electrical power input. There are currently a total of 5 international energy efficiency classes (IE) which are determined according to standardised measurement procedures, with motors in efficiency class IE1 being the least energy efficient. “IE4 motors used to be available as an optional extra in our S-4 series, but they’ll now come as standard,” explains Frank Hilbrink, Product Manager at BOGE. “Our aim is to achieve energy savings of between 0.6 and 1.5 per cent”. Companies with energy costs in the six figures will find the savings considerable. To give an example, for a 110 kW compressor operating for 8,000 hours/year, a reduction in electricity consumption of around just 1 per cent will result in yearly savings of €1,500. Although the changeover to IE4 motors does not affect the overall dimensions of the screw compressors, it certainly improves the effective free air delivery, as this can also be increased by up to 1.6 per cent. Ultimately, by using more efficient motors, BOGE is not only helping to reduce its customers’ electricity bills, but will also be making a significant contribution to fighting climate change thanks to the reduced CO₂ emissions coming from its devices. www.boge.com.au