Energy conservation in industry: motor drives

A significant proportion of electrical energy generated is utilised in industrial motor drives in addition to it being used for electric lighting and heating. Also, oversized and under-utilised motors in the industrial sector are a common occurrence in Sri Lanka as a result of poor design and inappropriate replacement of equipment. These provide great opportunities for energy savings in motor drives particularly due to the fact that modern designs offer improved energy efficiencies in motor drive systems. This paper examines the present electricity consumption levels in motor drives used in the industrial sector and explores the opportunities for improvement by analysing data obtained through an industrial consumer survey carried out by personal visits to different industrial installations. The paper concludes with estimates of energy savings in the industrial sector as a result of possible energy efficiency improvements in industrial motor drives