In the face of rapidly rising electricity costs in South Africa, Zest WEG has launched the new IE4 super‑premium efficiency motors. The new motors in the WEG W22 range are being phased in from April 2021. They offer customers savings on the bottom line and will help reduce the load on the national grid.
Fanie Steyn, Electric Motors Manager at Zest WEG, notes that 2021 will see local energy prices rising above R1/kWh for the first time. This makes it the ideal time for the introduction of WEG IE4-rated motors. The motors will be available in the size range between 37 kW and 375 kW.
Fanie Steyn, Electric Motors Manager at Zest WEG, demonstrates the energy savings of IE4 compared to IE1 motors.
“Unlike many countries around the world, South Africa has not regulated the use of energy-efficient motors at the level of IE2 or IE3,” says Steyn. “Nonetheless, we have taken this proactive step to make the IE4 level of efficiency available to customers, at no premium on the IE3 units.”
Some years ago, Zest WEG introduced its WEG IE3 motors to the country at little or no additional cost relative to its IE2 motors, with the same goal in mind: making customers and the country more energy-efficient.
Specified under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60034-30-1:2014 standard, IE1 refers to standard efficiency, IE2 to high efficiency, IE3 to premium efficiency, and IE4 is the rating for super-premium efficiency motors.
“The efficiency of 96.3% on an IE4-rated 110 kW motor, 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,” Steyn notes. He adds, “Not only will the new IE4 motors prove more cost-effective to run, they have been designed with a number of new features that bring additional benefits.”
Steyn emphasises that WEG IE4 super-premium efficiency motors meet IEC efficiency levels when running on 50 to 100% of load; efficiency is kept constant, which saves energy and ensures minimal losses through various loading points. The innovative frame design also allows maximum heat dissipation.
“Motor frame design plays a crucial role in thermal performance, as it is responsible for the outward transfer of heat generated inside the motor,” says Steyn. “Running cooler means the motors have an increased life span; this enables Zest WEG to offer a five-year guarantee on our WEG W22 electric motor range.”
The motors’ increased mechanical rigidity – achieved by integrating the front and rear feet sides – affords easier installation, higher mechanical stiffness and improved distribution of the mechanical thrust imposed by the load.
“As a first of its kind, the 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 oriented to the front, rear, top or either side of the motor.”
In addition to the benefits delivered by WEG super-premium efficiency motors, a substantial increase in energy savings can be reliably achieved using WEG Variable Speed Drives (VSDs), which comply with the European Extended Product standard EN50598. This enables the system efficiency of the motor and VSD combination. As an additional feature, WEG VSDs have energy-savings settings which can be user activated to achieve an automatic saving under any reduced load conditions.
“We are excited to build on the well established reputation of the existing WEG W22 range of electric motors with this even more efficient motor that is truly ‘next level’ state-of-the-art in electric motors, with the same rock solid quality and reliability,” Steyn says.
(Electricity + Control interviewed Fanie Steyn to find out more about the new super-premium efficiency motors. The full report will be published in the May edition.)
For more information visit: www.zestweg.com
