Plant Services - October 2007 - (Page 69)

WEB HUNTER Power to the prime movers Proper electric motor selection and installation can pay dividends W e’ve heard the bit that claims knowledge is “Energy Use Calculator,” which tabulates all the energy you equivalent to power. In our economic system bring inside the building envelope or burn up in vehicles. and field of endeavor, one must learn as much as possible about the business, art and science of maintenance Discussion group speaks lest we see our favorite technical discipline degenerate into Research this month uncovered a series of 14 motor-relatnothing more than another battered victim of rampant outed articles by Howard G. Murphy, P.E. He uses a modisourcing. It’s always been the philosophy of this publication fied Q&A format that includes a single question followed that you can never get too much education. When things go by answers that appear to have been provided by a discuswrong, if you don’t know the answer or can’t sion group. Topics include calculating mocome up with a solution, there’s someone out tor acceleration, the effect of 50 Hertz on there who can. 60 Hertz motors, regenerative braking and If nothing else, motor performance at low speeds. All this is Because electric motors are ubiquitous in be selective the manufacturing arena, they’re sometimes posted on the Web site operated by Rexel, taken for granted. Getting them right the Inc., an electrical parts distributor based in about which first time, though, is a worthwhile endeavor motors you send Dallas. Y’all just let your mouse mosey on because, conservatively speaking, a motor’s down to www.rexelusa.com and lead it to to be rewound. “News” to select “Archives” from the droplifetime operating cost can exceed its purchase price by an order of magnitude. The down menu. Click on “Motors & Drives” opportunity exists for you to keep the plant at the far left and you’ll be rewarded with from spending any more than it needs to spend. It takes a good read. By the way, Murphy authored a two-part a little learning. That’s why, this month, we’re digging article about drive harmonics that was published in Plant through the morass we call the Web in search of practical, Services in late spring of 1999. zero-cost, noncommercial, registration-free resources that can help you become one of the most motor-conversant New wires are good wires people in the building. Remember, we search the Web so There comes a time in the career of nearly every large elecyou don’t have to. tric motor when it needs a heart transplant that only your local rewind shop can provide. It’s primarily an industrial Northern approach malady as most of the smaller motors found in residential The U.S. isn’t the only entity on this side of the Atlantic with or commercial applications are simply discarded when they an interest in motors. Our neighbors to the north have their sicken and die. Office of Energy Efficiency, which is part of Natural ReIf you trek to www.energy ideas.org, you can find some sources Canada in Ottawa and is dedicated to making that information about motor repairs presented by EnergyIdeas country as energy efficient as possible. Part of the obligatory Clearinghouse, a service that helps Pacific Northwest busiWeb site addresses the topic for the month. Pay a visit to ness, industry, government and utilities implement energy http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca and click the following links as pages technologies and practices. The clearinghouse is operated load: “English,” “Industrial: Facilities and Equipment” and and managed by the Washington State University Exten“Technical Information.” If you then select “Energy efficient sion Energy Program in Olympia, Wash., and funded by the equipment” and its subcategory, “Electric Motors,” you’re Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Portland, Ore. poised to begin a six-part motor article. Heed the warnings So, if you click “Site map” near the bottom of the page, about speed and power factor differences between the old you can then scroll down to “Browse by Topics” and select and new motor that are listed under purchasing tips. As an “Motor Systems.” Finally, click on “Motor Repair” for acaside, select “Tools and Calculators” to take a look at the cess to the 10 relevant items currently on the site. The list October 2007 www.PLANTSERVICES.com 69 http://www.plantservices.com/voices/web_hunter.html http://www.rexelusa.com http://www.energyideas.org http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Plant Services - October 2007

Plant Services - October 2007 Contents Monetize It Letters Step into the Blogosphere What it Takes to be a Leader Up and Running Crisis Corner What Works From the Summit Treat Them Right Access Control Out of the Woods Show Me, Don't Guess Condition Assessment Made Easy The Air Above the Floor Power to the Prime Movers In the Trenches Illuminating Maintenance

Plant Services - October 2007

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