Weg Delivers IE5 Ultra-premium Efficiency With New W23 Sync+ Motors
To address the growing demand for efficient and sustainable motors, Weg has released a lineup of synchronous electric motors that promise ultra-premium efficiency.
In operation for over sixty years, Weg has become a global supplier of industrial electrical components and devices. The company’s products include gearboxes and transmission distribution, motor drives, controls, safety devices, as well as electric motors—producing more than 21 million motors annually.
Recently, Weg released their most efficient synchronous electric motor to date, the W23 Sync+. The W23 Sync+ is designed to help reduce C02 emissions by being more efficient than motors with an IE4 or IE3 rating.
The W23 Sync+ is Weg’s most efficient synchronous electric motor, reaching an IE5 rating. Image (modified) used courtesy of Weg
Motor Efficiency Ratings
Electric motors have developed over the years to be more efficient, and with electric motors being used in various applications, replacing older efficient motors with new high-efficiency motors can help companies reduce their carbon footprint.
Since the 1960s, motor efficiency has grown from 88% to approximately 96%. The IEC 60034-30 standard categorizes electric motors into different efficiency ratings, with IE3 being premium efficient and IE4 being super-premium efficient at approximately 97% efficient.
Weg’s new W23 Sync+ motors promise to be even more efficient than the IE4 standard, reaching an “ultra-premium efficiency” IE5 rating.
Weg’s new W23 Sync+ motors are designed to be interchangeable with older, less efficient motors. Image used courtesy of Weg
W23 Sync+ Motors
Electric motors are used in many applications in industrial manufacturing, and Weg’s new W23 Sync+ motor is designed to replace most of them. The W23 IE5 motors are offered in the same frame size as IE3 motors so that old motors can be easily upgraded to the new IE5 versions. The available frame sizes are 80 to 450 IEC with an output range of 0.75 to 1250 kW. Each of the W23 models can be driven with a frequency inverter to help control and maintain specific speeds or RPMs.
The W23 series is designed for high performance and can operate at a constant torque without requiring forced ventilation—a feature that could save additional emissions and reduce maintenance costs. Weg has designed the W23 series to take advantage of a high power factor: the ratio of real power to apparent power. Lower power factor motors are prone to overheating, higher required maintenance, and wasted energy.
According to Weg, replacing a 500 kW IE3 motor with a similar-sized IE5 motor could reduce a company's C02 emissions by 182.88 tons based on standard service life.
With its new motor, Weg hopes companies can lower their costs and carbon footprint. Image (modified) used courtesy of Weg
Replacing Older Equipment
As technology advances, new equipment and devices are oftentimes made more robust and efficient. In some cases, newer, efficient devices are incompatible with the old ones, so companies can only upgrade to the latest efficient option if they also upgrade other devices within the system.
Weg has not only increased the efficiency of an already fairly efficient electric motor, but they have also ensured that the new models can directly replace older versions. This capability will allow factories, shops, and manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint without the cost and hassle of replacing additional system parts.
