 |
Benefits
- Cuts electricity cost 5% to 35%
- Reduce expensive charges for peak demand
- Reduces motor temperature
- Extends life of motor
- Reduces maintenance costs
- Reduces strain on mechanical components
- Easily installed out of the box
- Payback is typically 9 months to 36 months
- Qualifies for rebates from many governments or utility companies
- Reduces carbon footprint of business
- Qualifies for LEED points (USA)
|
Key Features
- Controller installed external to a motor to reduce energy consumption
- Reduces energy consumption from 5% to 35%
- Provides soft start and soft stop function
- Provides over and under voltage protection
- Provides overload and under current protection
- Installed easily on new or old installations
- Protects against phase loss
- Connects to external inputs
- Controls external equipment with two relay outputs
- Multiple power ratings and packaging options
- Three year warranty
- World wide support
|
Description
The Power Knot intelligent motor controller (IMC) monitors the power being used by the motor, and when it senses that power is being wasted, the IMC reduces the voltage (and hence the power) to the motor. IMCs are available to operate with motors from 3.5 kW (5 HP) to 300 kW (400 HP).
The IMC is most effective when used with a motor that is operating at constant speed, but which runs lightly loaded for much of the time. The IMC cannot save money if the motor runs with a load of greater than 50% of its rated load for most of the time.
Energy Savings
IMCs will deliver efficiency gains of 5% to 35% with no sacrifice in performance. This is delivered on motors that are running at less than 40% load for most of the time.
Examples of constant speed, variable load applications that are good candidates for energy savings are:
- escalators and elevators
- conveyors and moving walkways
- presses and pumps
- saws and shredders
- injection molding machinese.
Installation
The IMC is connected to the ac power and the motor connects to the IMC. The installer selects a few switches and then the system is ready for use and to save energy.
Installation of the IMC requires no change in the process for using the motor.
If you have many motors, a technician can complete the installation of many IMC systems in a day.
How it works
Electric motors are less efficient when operating with light loads. This inefficiency results in energy being wasted as heat. The IMC reduces the power to the motor when it is operating with a light load. This reduces the heat dissipated by the motor and thus increases in the life of the motor.
The IMC continuously analyzes the voltage and current of the motor and delivers the precise amount of power required by the motor. The computer in the IMC monitors the phase difference between the current and voltage to determine the required power, and responds within 10 ms. This therefore robustly meets the changing demand of the application while running the motor more efficiently.
Because the computer in the IMC is looking at every cycle of the motor, it can protect the motor from potential failure. This ensures that use of the IMC results in a measurable reduction of energy as well as improving the motor life and reducing maintenance expenses.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is perhaps the most important technology businesses can use to reduce operating expenses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The USA Energy Information Administration states that motors consume over 40% of all electricity in the United States each year.
Nearly half of all motors used in industrial and commercial applications operate at less than 40% of full load, meaning they operate inefficiently. Efficiency of motors represents a major opportunity for businesses to reduce costs.
Global Features
Power Knot sells and supports its products worldwide. The IMC has been installed in thousands of systems; it is compatible with most motors in every country so it can save money globally.
Specifications
- Five frame sizes in three different housing standards
- Models support motors from 3.5 kW (5 HP) to 300 kW (400 HP)
- Shuts down if current is 150% of maximum
- Start and stop times variable to 10 seconds
- Two input controls: 24 Vdc and 110 ~230 Vac
- Two relay outputs
Physical and Environmental
- Operating temperature: –0°C to 50°C (–4°F to 158°F)
- Storage temperature: –20°C to 70°C (–4°F to 158°F)
- RoHS: Compliant
