Motors

Downer's asphalt plant in Penrose is the company's largest in New Zealand and produces road and paving products for distribution in the Auckland area.

An energy audit identified an opportunity for cost reduction for their fans, by using more efficient airflow control.

Read the case study below to see how Downer replaced the baghouse fan outlet damper system with a variable speed drive (VSD) and reduced electricity use by 67,100kWh per annum.

Starting a motor without any control of the current and torque typically causes motor current more than six times the rated current and starting torque much higher than the rated torque of the motor.

The high starting torque creates high loads that can stress mechanical components such as couplings and shafts. With larger motors, high starting currents can lead to flickering lights and unacceptable voltage drops across a site.

Belt drive transmissions are a common way of transmitting power from a motor to a load such as a fan, pump or machine.

The transmission efficiency of a belt drive depends on a number of factors relating to the drive’s design, its condition and its operation.

Read the attached technical guide for further information on belt drive transmission efficiency.