Understanding Electric Motors: Components, Functions, and Efficiency

It has a strong metal center and wires around the strong metal center. These wires are called coils. If you run alternating current through these coils you get a magnetic field. 

The stator is its stationary part of the motor. It too consists of wire wound in coils, but those coils are designed differently than the coils in the rotor. The coils in the stator generate their own magnetic field when electric current passes through them. 

They also reduce friction and heat, which helps keep the motor cool. This allows the motor to continue burning without frying.

How It Works – Breakdown of Electric Motor Parts

Coming up next, since we already covered the basic parts of an three phase electric motor, we will go into detail about what each part does and why!

First, we have the armature, which is another name for the rotor we've previously discussed. An armature is the part that is displaced when current flows through. Because that is the thing that generates movement within the motor. It needs the armature to spin; no armature, no spin!

Next, we have the commutator. It’s a small fragment of copper that rests on a side of the armature. That's super crucial because it inverts the flow of current going through the armature. The commutator switches direction so that the motor continues turning in the correct direction. That's the way the motor doesn't have to stop working.

The brushes come after the commutator. These are tiny lumps of carbon that press against the commutator. They assist in transferring that current to the coils in the rotor that are required for the motor to run. The brushes allow the power from the electricity to come through to the parts where it is needed.

Last but not least: the field coils. The stator we mentioned earlier? Field coils are coils of wire placed in the stator. The magnetic field which interacts with the rotor's magnetic field is produced by these coils. The rotor is spun and the motor worked by this interaction.

A motor that is too large or small for your needs will expend energy unnecessarily. A motor that is larger than the power requirements of the small toy, for example, can simply consume unnecessary electric energy when working, increasing energy bills. Selecting the right motor for your job can save you energy and money over the lifetime of the motor.

Selecting an 3 phase electric motor with a high power factor is another method to increase electric motor efficiency. In other words, the motor is more efficient at using electricity. When a motor operates at a low power factor it consumes more electricity than necessary, leading to invisible costs. 

Electric Motors — Saving Energy

Do you know that electric motors consume a lot of power? In fact, up to 60% of all electricity consumed in industries can be attributed to them! That’s a huge number! This affords several opportunities to save energy and reduce costs when using electric motors.

This is easily achieved through the use of variable frequency drives (VFD). They are special devices used to regulate motor speed. VFDs can significantly reduce energy usage by controlling the speed of the motor. “Resistant” is better for example, when a motor does not need to run at full speed, would get a slower speed, which would incur a lower energy cost.

In addition, there are energy-saving options like utilizing highefficiency motors. These types of motors consume less energy than normal motors.

They are used in many things from kitchen appliances to electric cars. As technology progresses, expect the electric motor to only get better and more common in the future.

Well, as you can see, there is a lot to learn about 15 hp electric motor! Knowing how they function, what they are made from, and how to use them appropriately enables you to make informed decisions regarding which motors to utilize. So, the next time you power on a toy, get in a car, or use any electric motor powered device, think about how these motors help us every day! Amen to those!