Dave Hawley, general manager for ABB's motors and generators in the UK, explains that the company's latest range of low-voltage ac electric motors is fully WIMES 3.03 issue 6 (Water Industry Mechanical and Electrical Specification) compliant.
"ABB has worked with The Pump Centre and water utilities in the development of WIMES 3.03 issue 6 dated October 2014, designed to address the requirements of low voltage electric motors," states Hawley.
"ABB has produced a range of motors for the water and wastewater industry that exceed the standards set out by WIMES and provide public and private utilities, OEMs and our authorised value providers with fully compliant motors."
The new motor are available in cast iron frame sizes from 80 to 450 and aluminium frame sizes from 80 to 180, rated from 0.75 to 1,000kW. The totally-enclosed fan-cooled motors come in IE3 premium efficiency and IE4 super premium efficiency variants.
A new range of medium voltage motors for the water industry is also available from 200 to 2,000kW power range, in frame size from 355 to 560.
Hawley says that greater protection against conditions found in the water and wastewater industries is now built in – with a frame made from high-grade cast iron and treated to C3M corrosion tolerance in line with ISO 12944-2: 2007. V-ring seals and labyrinth seals are also used to protect the shaft and internal components.
PTC thermistors are contained within the windings of the motor to protect against overheating, with cooling fans optimised for low noise levels protected by a steel fan cover to guard against impact damage.
Larger motors are fitted with PT100 temperature sensors in the windings to give additional preventive protection, as stipulated by the WIMES specification.
The winding insulation is also suitable for frequency inverter applications (415 V), with insulated bearings where required.