Oil Well Pump Motors
Oil well pump motors are made to be tough because they mostly work under "severe duty" conditions, found in the oil field. Seldom seen or heard even by motors of the same name in other industries, the well pump motor is uncommonly called upon to meet drastic conditions that few other motors are capable of handling.
Motors that drive oil well pumps that pump oil are designed for high performance and long life. Those motors run hot. Some rely on a cooling system to keep their temperatures down to a level that all but prevents internal failure. They are banking on cooling for maintaining performance and for achieving a really long life. Most of what distinguishes an oil well pump motor from, say, an ordinary motor one might use in a workshop, lies in the cooling system. And the most common choice for a cooling system today is a system that totally encloses the motor and uses a fan to keep it cool—hence, motors in the Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) system.
FAQs
Are oil well pump motors made with cast iron frames and enclosures best for oil well beam pumps?
Yes, oil well pump motors with cast iron frames and enclosures are best for oil well beam pumps due to their durability and ability to withstand the harsh environmental conditions typical of oil field operations.
Does the NEMA design of oil well pump motors allow for high torque at full load?
Yes, the NEMA design of oil well pump motors allows for high torque at full load, ensuring reliable performance in demanding oilfield pumping applications where consistent power and durability are required.
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.