Explaining the difference between motor types for saving power.
Energy efficiency for commercial refrigeration motors varies depending on the manufacturer, power rating and each application’s conditions. As a general rule of thumb, shaded pole motors range from 15-25% efficiency, permanent split capacitor motors range from 30-50% efficiency, and EC motors achieve 60-75% efficiency.
After the compressor, refrigeration fans are one of the highest energy consumers in an HVAC or refrigeration product so improving motor efficiency by using EC motors is one of the most cost-effective “bolt on” efficiency upgrades that you can make. It offers a similar advantage as changing to LED lighting from more traditional lighting technologies.
On a typical glass-front upright self-contained (plug-in) cabinet, upgrading to EC motors from a shaded pole motor improves overall system efficiency by 20-25%.