Hamburg:

K. Jopp, Special correspondent, redaktion@stahleisen.de

Electric drives are the most large electric power consumers in the industry. Frequency transformers and high-production electric drives could rise substantially power efficiency of motors, pumps and valves. Optimal conditions of pump operation with variable productivity is observed. It is shown that usage of drives with adjusting number of revolutions can be accompanied with power saving up to 70 %. Even usual mechanical adjusting of indicated pump capacity can save up to 20 % of electric power. New European directive guidelines in the field of power efficiency state new strict requirements to electric drives and in this case many customers are afraid of necessity to install more expensive drives. In this connection, ABM Greiffenberger Antriebstechnik GmbH has developed the new construction (Sinochron) for solving the problem of operating stability. Experience of Siemens AG in creation the new organizing structure for meeting the requirements of customers of drive systems is observed. Efficient operation of the new plant of ThyssenKrupp Steel in Calvert, Alabama, USA, is considered as the example of high efficiency of applying drive systems. Possibilities of improvement of efficiency parameters at more old production facilities are analyzed on the base of Tata Steel works in Llanwern, UK. It is concluded that extremely high power efficiency and specific capacity of ABB new electric drive systems can be explained by innovative rotor construction and optimization of control systems.