Severe Duty Motors

More Information about Severe Duty Motors

Toshiba Severe Duty Motors are designed to keep specific applications and equipment running, such as pumps, vacuum systems, farm equipment and HVAC systems. The motors feature cast iron construction, stronger bearings, more torque, reduced vibrations, burnout resistance and covered housings to provide increased protection against weather, moisture and dirt. They are dust tight with a moderate seal against water and meet the requirements of the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and exceed the motor market needs.

Baldor-Reliance Severe Duty motors are designed to provide exceptional performance and long life in harsh industrial processing applications such as petrochemical plants, waste management facilities, mines, foundries, rock crushers, pulp and paper plants and chemical industries. They include features designed to protect against contamination, moisture, vibration and demanding duty cycles. Super-E electrical designs are available on Severe Duty motors to create a packaged solution that reduces energy consumption and handle the punishment of the application.

FAQs

What do severe duty ratings protect against?

Severe duty ratings indicate that the motor is constructed with specific features and safeguards to provide enhanced protection against various factors that could potentially affect its performance and lifespan. These include: dust and debris, moisture and humidity, high temperatures, vibration and shock, chemical exposure and heavy loads and frequent starts.

Motor Starters, Soft Starters and VFDs

Motor Starters

Motor starters safely start and stop a motor in industrial applications. They are designed with a contactor, overload and circuit protection. They are used when basic motor control is required, where torque on the motor is not a concern and speed control is not needed. The advantages of motor starters include: lower cost, allows for remote operation, allows for monitoring of motor state (with the use of auxiliary contacts) and they are safe and efficient. The disadvantages include: high inrush current that can cause fuses to blow and breakers to trip if the inrush is too high, and the starter will allow a full torque to start the motor which can cause the motor to ramp up to full speed very quickly potentially causing the motor to wear and degrade prematurely.

Soft Starters

Soft starters protect motors from inrush current by gently ramping up the motor to full speed. They provide all of the same functions as a traditional motor starter. The advantages of soft starters include: they are less expensive than a VFD when only startup control is needed, they are a smaller system than a VFD where space is a concern and they prevent unwanted torque upon startup, prolonging the life of the motor. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive than a traditional motor starter and they do not allow for full speed control. 

VFDs

A Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) allows for the slow ramp up of a motor during startup and the slowing down of the motor during shutdown. It also allows for full speed control during the entire run cycle of the motor. VFDs provide the same functions as both the traditional motor starters and soft starters. The advantages of VFDs include: full speed control (start, stop and in-between), more custom control and monitoring, energy savings due to efficient motor usage and less wear and tear on the motors. The disadvantages include: they are more expensive and larger than other motor control options and they generate heat that may require fans or AC units.