EPIC Newsletter - December 1997 Energy Office EPIC Update Energy Products Information Council Energy Efficient Facts for the Facility Pro Vol. The single greatest source of energy savings potential for induction motor systems lies in motor controls. VSDs reduce the starting inrush current and starting torque. VSDs also maintain motor speed at a rate proportional to the load.
Many applications require modulated output from a motor-load system.
These systems are sized to provide the maximum output under the worst operating conditions, but seldom require this much flow. The excess energy is wasted. Additionally, motors are often oversized for their loads. This oversizing causes not only reduced efficiency but also reduced power factor. Power factor is a measure of the electrical current actually being used to that portion of the current being wasted by the motor.