Legislation
To achieve CO2 savings legal measures are taken worldwide. Since a large savings potential is seen
in electric drives, they are already subject to many legal regulations.
In the European Union the so-called ErP directive is the legal frameworks for implementing these
measures.
ErP = Energy related products (Directive 2009/125/EC)
Includes not only power plants but also energy-related products such as insulation. These do not
require power to operate, but contribute with their properties to energy savings.
Two important ErP regulations for the HVAC area concern fans and motors, but also in other areas
such as pumps such regulations apply. Common to all is that they need to be reviewed some time
after inforcement and changed if necessary.
Energy efficiency of fans
In the EU, the Regulation No. 327/2011 declares binding efficiencies for fans valid from 01.01.2013.
The required efficiencies are dependent on the fan design (axial, radial, tangential, forward, backward
curved, ...) and are in the power range from 125W to 500kW. From the 1/1/2015 requirements
are further increased.
Energy efficiency refers not only to the fan but to the entire system consisting of impeller fan,
clutch, engine and drive if necessary. This means that efficiency is not influenced by a single componenet, but the interaction of the entire system.
More about Optimum System Efficiency
Minimum efficiency performance classes for motors
Starting in the summer of 2011, three-phase asynchronous motors are subject to mandatory minimum efficiency performance standards (MEPS) in the EU. EU regulations provide for increasingly strict motor
efficiency requirements in a staged process extending to 2017. The limits of these classes are in part
comparable to those of the eff classes widely used in Europe.
Efficiency classes IE1–IE3 are defined in international standard IEC 60034-30. The eff classes are based on a voluntary agreement between the EU and the CEMEP in 1998.
Compliance with EN 50347 mounting dimension specifications
Synchronous three-phase motors conforming to classes IE2 and IE3 are often larger than motors
with lower efficiency. This can lead to problems in the replacement of older motors.
It is currently expected that class IE2 and IE3 synchronous three-phase motors will not
be able to conform to the mounting dimensions defined in EN 50347.
Motor technology plays a crucial role in the described guidelines. Besides the proven three-phase
asynchronous motors PM motors (permanent magnet) are becoming increasingly important.
More about EC/PM Motor Technology