Improve power efficiency of motors by moving to variable speed solutions

The only viable solution for reducing energy consumption of domestic-use motors is to increase their efficiencies. Induction motors (IM), workhorse of the electric motor driven systems, are designed to operate at a rated speed dictated by the input power frequency and number of poles. Adding multiple windings that operate at a higher slip but at the cost of lower efficiency usually lowers motor speed. Controlled Induction Motor (CIM), IM with control electronics, allows the motor to run at lower frequencies with higher efficiency compared to an IM using multiple windings. However, to achieve the best possible efficiency, IM needs to be replaced by an inverter driven higher efficiency variable speed motor, such as, Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM), Interior Permanent Magnet motor (IPM), Synchronous Reluctance Motor (SynRM), or, Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM).

Applications such as home appliances, HVAC, spa and pool pumps are all moving to variable-speed motor solutions.