Reducing Energy Costs in Electric-Motor-Driven Systems: Savings Through Output Power Reduction and Energy Regeneration

Electric-motor systems convert nearly half of worldwide electric energy into the mechanical energy ultimately used in the final application or process. The integral optimization of electric-motor-driven systems (EMODSs), including the use of high-efficiency, well-sized components, is the key strategy to effectively maximize their overall efficiency. However, the largest energy savings potential in motor-driven systems is associated with the reduction of the power required by the driven equipment through speed/torque control and/or with the partial reuse of the energy stored in the system. In this article, the basic principles and some practical examples of output power reduction and energy regeneration in EMODSs are presented.