Electric motors as energy converter
Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The engine drives a work machine and thus converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Depending on the voltage, DC and AC machines are used in practice.
Criterias for the selection of an electric motor
- Power requirement of the working machine
- operating time and switching frequency
- Current type, mains voltage and mains frequency
- Speed and direction of rotation
- Size type
motor as an energy converter
The power loss has several reasons:
- Friction losses in the bearings and eventually the brushes
- Iron losses due to eddy currents and hysteresis losses
- Loss of excitation due to changes in the magnetic field
- Loss of the motor winding (ohmic and inductive resistance)
The efficiency η of an electric motor is given by the ratio of the mechanical output power Pmech (P2) to the electric input power Pelectr. (P1).
ƞ = P2 / P1 and PV = P1 - P2
Four-quadrant operation of electric motors
An engine can act as a motor, when the torque acts in the same direction as the speed (CW or CCW). When torque and speed are opposite, then the motor acts like a brake. With appropriate electronícs, this braking energy can be fed back into the grid - keyword "Regenerative Braking".
