To help businesses reduce energy usage, Fairford have developed a range of energy optimising products.

With rising energy costs, products offering energy savings are becoming increasingly important.

The vast majority of electric motors in use today are fixed speed, fixed voltage AC induction motors. These motors consume two thirds of the total electricity used in industry.

With this in mind, using a technology that could save energy on fixed speed induction motors should be a consideration when replacing motor starters or designing new systems.

Fairford Electronics has patented its Energy Optimising system which is used within many of its Soft Starters. This technology could save up to 40% of the energy consumed by a lightly loaded motor.  

How it works

Fairford’s energy optimising system works by reducing the current and iron losses of a motor not running at full load. The energy savings will depend on a number of factors including the efficiency of the motor and the load.

Fairford soft starters will also save businesses money by reducing the electrical and mechanical strain placed on applications – resulting in less ‘down time’ and maintenance cost on electrical circuits, gearboxes, belts and associated mechanical components.

An example of the energy savings that could be made using Fairford’s energy optimising system is shown below : 

20kW Motor Running at 20% Load 

This diagram shows a 20kW motor that is running at 20% of its full load capacity. The application is calculated to be losing 0.6kW per hour through the heat generated

in the motor windings, plus an additional 2.6 KW per hour through iron losses in the motor. The total efficiency of the application is shown as 54%  

20kW Motor Running at 20% Load with a FE Optimising Soft Starter 

Saving 1.8kWh every hour while on part load!  

This example shows how the Fairford energy optimising system reduces the energy consumed. Once the optimising process takes place, the heat generated is reduced to 0.4kW per hour and the iron losses of the 

motor reduced to 1 kW per hour. The total efficiency of the application is shown as 71%.

In this example, Fairford’s optimising system would produce a saving of 1.8 kW per hour.  

Savings Calculator 

The annual savings amount that could be achieved for a 1.8 kW per hour reduction is shown in this table.

The price of electricity is calculated using a value of £0.13 per kWh 
 

The above is a worked example; every application is different and will generate different levels of savings. 

Please contact Fairford with your specfic requirements and we will be happy to help.