ABB, a manufacturer of automation machinery, has developed a 56 megawatt synchronous electric motor for a steel plant in India, achieving an energy efficiency rating of 99.13 percent. The company states that this performance surpasses its previous high of 99.05 percent set in 2017. The motor will be used in an air separation unit (ASU) to produce pure gases for steelmaking.
According to ABB, the improved efficiency is expected to result in electricity cost savings of approximately USD 5.9 million and reduce energy use by about 61 GWh over a 25-year lifespan. The estimated payback period for the investment is slightly over three months. ABB also projects that the efficiency gains will help avoid around 45,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the same period.
“This initiative helps our customers boost profitability since electricity costs are, by far, the largest component in the total cost of ownership (TCO) of this type of motor, at the same time they are also cutting their carbon emissions,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Motion.
The motor is part of ABB’s Top Industrial Efficiency (TIE) initiative, which focuses on designing motors and generators that exceed current energy efficiency benchmarks. According to the company, the average efficiency for this category of synchronous motors typically ranges between 98.2 percent and 98.5 percent.
ABB is a technology company headquartered in Switzerland, operating in the fields of electrification and automation. It employs around 110,000 people globally and specializes in robotics, industry, motors and generators, drives, and more.