Three-phase motor, on which applications should they be installed?

Three-phase asynchronous motors are installed in all types of industrial, domestic, and agricultural applications. We find them in your factories, on your machine tools, and in agricultural operations. Three-phase motors account for approximately 70% of electricity consumption by users in industry. There are many manufacturers, models, and types of motors, and they can be installed in all types of applications.

What applications are suitable for a three-phase electric motor?

The three-phase motor can be installed in an industry, an agricultural operation, a maintenance workshop, a car garage, or even a building open to the public. It can be powered by a frequency converter, an electronic starter, or directly, depending on your application. It can equip an asynchronous machine such as a compressor, a pump, a fan, a grinder, a reducer, or even equipment installed on a boat. Simply put, it can be installed on all types of machines.

Our range of three-phase motors is available with several mounting options. We offer three-phase electric motors

• Foot-mounted B3
• Flange-mounted with tapped holes B14
• Flange-mounted with plain holes B5
• Foot and flange-mounted with plain holes B35
• Foot and flange-mounted with tapped holes B34.

The mounting must be correctly selected to integrate and install properly on your machine. The 380V electric motor is offered in several speeds; we offer different rotation speeds such as the 3000 rpm three-phase electric motor and the 1500 rpm three-phase electric motor. This type of motor will be suitable for main industrial applications. We can also offer 1000 rpm and 750 rpm electric motors for more specific applications with lower rotation speeds.

Why is the three-phase electric motor the most commonly used?

The three-phase motor is the most commonly used because it has many advantages. It is economical, reliable, easy to install, and requires very little maintenance. The only wearing parts are the ball and roller bearings, as well as the felt or nitrile seals. It requires very little maintenance; good lubrication, dust removal, and checking the supply voltage, current, and heating will ensure proper operation.

Furthermore, its high efficiency, IE2 or IE3, will allow it not to consume much energy and thus generate savings on your electricity bills.

How to wire my three-phase asynchronous motor?

Wiring your three-phase motor is extremely simple; for applications with a single-speed motor, the electrician will simply need to select the correct coupling (star or delta) according to the electrical supply of their network.

For example, if your electrical network is three-phase 400V and you have a three-phase motor with a voltage inscribed on the nameplate of 230/400V, your coupling should therefore be in star. Conversely, if the voltage inscribed on your motor's nameplate is 400/690V, your coupling will therefore be in delta.

You will need to be vigilant if you notice that your motor does not have a coupling bar, as it may have two speeds or a star/delta coupling. It is also possible, on older installations, that the electrical supply of your network is three-phase 230V. For 230/400V three-phase motors, you will therefore need to couple it in delta. You will not be able to order a motor with a 400/690V supply voltage.

Which brand of three-phase motor to choose?

Many manufacturers of industrial electric motors exist on the French and international market. The oldest are Gamak, Leroy-Somer, Abb, Siemens, Vem, Almo, WEG, and SEW. There are also many machine manufacturers or distributors who replace nameplates to inscribe their own brand.

At Dymatec Industries, we have partnered with Gamak, one of the largest electric motor manufacturers in the world. They manufacture three-phase and single-phase asynchronous motors from 0.06 to 3500 Kw. We distribute the brand throughout France and offer a very high-quality electric motor, readily available, with very high efficiency that will help reduce your energy consumption.

We work with industrialists, machine builders, distributors, maintenance companies, and agricultural operations.

We also offer the Cemer brand because it has many advantages: it is reliable, the range is vast, its design is standardized, its efficiency is high, and its price is competitive.

Our range of asynchronous motors can replace all brands without any modification. It can equip machine tools, assembly machines, dosing equipment, bulk handling machines, food processing equipment, woodworking machines, special machines…

What are the energy efficiency standards for electric motors?

Since July 1, 2021, three-phase asynchronous motors have been subject to European standard EU2019/1781, which obliges all manufacturers to follow strict ecodesign specifications. The electric motors concerned are the following:

• Motors from 2 to 8 poles (3000 to 750 rpm)
• Having single-phase or three-phase voltage
• Having a power between 0.12 and 1000 Kw
• Having a nominal voltage between 50 and 1000 V
• Having continuous duty S1 and direct power supply.

Energy efficiency is expressed in international energy efficiency classes (IE). The lowest efficiency class being IE1 and the highest being IE5. In accordance with current regulations, electric motors must achieve IE2, IE3, or IE4 efficiency. This efficiency will be selected according to the power and type of your application. However, the standard will be IE2 efficiency for motors from 0.12 to 0.55Kw and IE3, IE4, or IE5 efficiency for powers between 0.75 and 1000Kw.

This standard already stipulates that from 2023, machine manufacturers will be required to install motors with a minimum IE4 efficiency for powers between 75 and 200 Kw.

However, not all asynchronous electric motors are concerned; it is important to inform yourself about the exceptions.

Electric motors not covered by standard UE2019/1781.

Specifics regarding the application:

• Motors in S3, S4, S5, S6… 75% or lower duty
• Motors completely immersed in a liquid
• Motors fully integrated into another product

Geographical specifics:

• Motors installed outside the European Union
• Motors installed at altitudes greater than 4000 meters above sea level
• Motors at ambient temperatures above +60°C and below -35°C.