Inside Advanced Energy's Motor Test Lab
A quarterly publication for companies applying electric motors.

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David Berkowitz

919 857-9047
dberkowitz@advancedenergy.org

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Electric Motor Efficiency Standards Rise Again - This Time it Impacts OEMs and Therefore End Users

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was signed by President George W. Bush at the end of last year. This new legislation is vast in its scope and designed to “move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options.”  Included in the 310 pages of legislation is one very important page on electric motor efficiency standards that will have an impact on how machine designers select motors for their equipment needs.  

Specifically, the new regulation restates the definition of general purpose electric motors as defined in 10 CFR 431 from the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992 (EPCA) and classifies these motors as Subtype I. These motors “manufactured (alone or as a component of another piece of equipment)” will be required to have nominal full load efficiencies that meet the levels defined in NEMA MG-1 (2006) Table 12-12. This represents a significant increase in motor efficiency and for the first time requires OEMs to comply.  

In addition the law goes on to define a new category of general purpose motors, Subtype II, as motors incorporating design elements of a general purpose motors (subtype I) that are configured as:

• U-Frame motors
• Design C motors
• Close Coupled pump motors
• Footless motors
• Vertical Solid shaft normal thrust motor (tested in a horizontal configuration)
• 8 pole motors (900rpm)
• Poly-phase motors with voltage less than 600 volts (e.g. 575V, 460V, 230……)

Subtype II motors between one and 200 Hp manufactured alone or as part of another piece of equipment shall have a nominal full load efficiency that is not less than as defined in NEMA MG-1 (2006) Table 12-11. Each Fire Pump motor manufactured alone, or as a piece of equipment, must also comply with table 12-11.  NEMA Design B motors with horsepower ratings above 200 Hp and not greater than 500 Hp are required to comply with NEMA MG-1 table 12-11. The effective date for compliance for all these new regulations is three years after the enactment of this law, approximately January 2011. 

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a summary of this new legislation as well.  You may go to the following link www.nema.org/media/pr/20080327a.cfm  to review their summary.   

Advanced Energy took an active role in the development and execution of the first motor efficiency regulations found in EPCA 1992. This new law amends those regulations and raises the bar.  If you require assistance understanding or meeting the new regulations, please contact David Berkowitz at 919 857-9047 or dberkowitz@advancedenergy.org.

2008 Electrical Apparatus Service Association, Inc. (EASA) Convention
If you are planning to attend the 2008 EASA Convention in Dallas June 22 – 24, we invite you to visit with us at Booth 1522.  We will be featuring our PEV (Proven Efficiency Verification) Program, a unique quality assurance program for the motor repair process.

OEM test programs
For more information about Advanced Energy’s OEM test programs, visit www.advancedenergy.org, or contact David Berkowitz at 919 857-9047 or dberkowitz@advancedenergy.org.