While President George Bush's proposed energy policy lingers in the shadows of the Enron disaster, the use of more energy-efficient products and practices in the USA remains crucial to temper the nation's growing energy demand. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers-USA (IEEE-USA), a professional society of engineers, released its official position on energy efficiency in November 2001. It states, in part: "As the demand for energy continues to grow, new energy efficient technologies can play an increasingly important role in moderating the growth in new energy resources needed to meet that demand."
As reported in the last issue of Update, energy consumption is expected to increase at a rate of 1.4 percent annually over the next 18 years, according U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Switching to more-efficient motors, in the industrial sector as well as in the home, can make a significant contribution toward a more energy-efficient future in the USA. According to the IEEE-USA position statement, "through the proper application of energy-efficient technologies and processes, the United States will have greater resources available to compete in the global market while reducing environmental impacts and increasing energy security."
According to Dr. John Cowie, vice president of strip, sheet and plate at the Copper Development Association Inc. (CDA) and program manager of the copper motor rotor project, switching to premium-efficiency, copper motor rotors presents more opportunity for energy savings and efficiency than any motor available today, "By switching from a rotor with aluminum conductor bars to one with copper conductor bars, it is possible to create a 'super-premium' efficiency motor surpassing even the premium-efficiency line of motors currently available," he said.
The IEEE-USA position statement presents several ways through which higher levels of energy efficiency can be achieved. Listed on the next page are the objectives where motor efficiency is a factor and how the Copper Development Association. is helping to meet those objectives on a commercial level.
Energy User Awareness and Incentives IEEE-USA states:
"IEEE-USA recommends user awareness programs sponsored by government, utilities and organizations. . . . These programs have helped users realize the benefits and cost effectiveness of energy efficient technologies and processes."CDA is a sponsor of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency's Motor Decisions Matter SM Campaign, which aims to help businesses control costs through better motor management. Additionally, through intensive, hands-on seminars, the technological achievements of the copper motor rotor program are shared with businesses interested in utilizing this new process.
Generation, Delivery, Conversion IEEE-USA states:
"Power conversion processes, such as accomplished by electric motor systems, consume the largest share of electrical energy and provide one of the largest opportunities for energy efficiency."According to Cowie, the level of energy efficiency being achieved through the copper motor rotor project exceeds the efficiency of currently produced motors using aluminum rotors as well as any efficiency guidelines in place by the DOE.
Industrial Processes IEEE-USA states:
"Replacing older, less-efficient motors with new, high-efficiency motors will typically improve efficiency by three to eight percent. This type of change-out can achieve an estimated 18 percent of the total electric system savings opportunity in the industrial sector.""Independent tests on the copper motor rotors were performed by a motor company that replaced their existing motor rotors with copper," Cowie explained. "The motor sizes were 3kW, or 4 hp. The efficiency test results show a reduction in overall loss exceeding 20 percent, without even measuring stray load losses."
Cowie concluded, "As energy demand in the USA continues to increase, more energy-efficiency practices and processes are warranted. The technological advances made through the copper motor rotor project can play a significant role in controlling the overall energy demand of the USA." For more information on IEEE-USA and their policy, go to www.ieeeusa.org.