Pumping efficiency into electrical motors

University of Adelaide researchers are using new magnetic materials to develop revolutionary electrical motors and generators which promise significant energy savings.They have used the new motors to develop patented highly efficient water pump systems with potential widespread application.

"In the developed world, more than 50% of all energy generated is used by electrical motors," says lead researcher Associate Professor Nesimi Ertugrul, from the University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. "This leaves a lot of room for efficiency gains."

The University of Adelaide researchers have used two emerging magnetic materials - called soft magnetic composite (SMC) and amorphous magnetic material (AMM) - and two novel production techniques to form the 'stator' within the electrical motor or generator. Both new techniques have been successfully developed and tested with small prototypes, showing substantial energy efficiency gains - up to 90% energy efficiency in small motors compared to 60-70% in conventional motors. 

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Picture: Guangzhou QIDA Material & Technology Co., Ltd