VIDAR, an ITT Inc. company, has introduced a new type of smart motor that embeds variable-speed intelligence directly into the motor to achieve new levels of performance, reliability, and simplicity in industrial applications involving pumps, fans, and fluid process systems.
VIDAR lowers energy usage and CO2 emissions, reduces costs, increases equipment lifespan, and enhances process controls, decreasing utility bills, maintenance expenses, and downtime.
VIDAR’s benefits stem from its patented AC-Link technology, which replaces conventional AC-to-DC-to-AC Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology with a streamlined AC-to-AC approach. By removing the DC stage, bulky capacitors are eliminated, shrinking the VFD by 60 per cent and enabling the motor and VFD to be combined into a single, compact solution. This design allows VIDAR to fit seamlessly into the footprint of a conventional motor. It eliminates the need for special wiring, additional enclosures, or extra space required with traditional VFD and motor setups.
VIDAR is purpose-built for industrial facilities. It uses a high-efficiency synchronous reluctance magnet-assisted motor designed using IEEE-841 specifications. It meets CSA Class 1 Division 2 for hazardous areas and IEEE-519 power quality standards for dependable performance even in the most demanding environments.
“VIDAR’s innovative design unlocks energy and cost-saving potential by addressing common barriers to efficiency and reliability that have impacted the industry in the past,” Dan Kernan, Vice President and General Manager of VIDAR, said. “VIDAR makes the advantage of adjustable speed over fixed speed motors available to more customers of pumps, fans, and fluid process systems through a simplified, combined solution that’s easy to install and simple to operate.”
By embedding variable-speed intelligence directly into the motor, VIDAR eliminates the need for inefficient and failure-prone mechanical controls, such as throttled valves or dampers. By using exactly the amount of energy required for the task, VIDAR reduces energy use and CO2 emissions by up to 50 per cent compared to a fixed-speed motor and mechanical control. Cutting energy waste and operating at optimal speeds prolong the life of the equipment, lowering maintenance costs and reducing downtime.
VIDAR’s precise motor speed control also ensures consistent flow rates, improves product quality, and seamlessly adapts to changing workloads for greater operational flexibility and cost-efficiency scalability.
VIDAR’s performance capabilities were evaluated and assessed through thousands of hours of rigorous testing in a variety of harsh industrial environments. In one example, replacing a single fixed-speed motor on an industrial pump with VIDAR enabled the control valve to open at 100 per cent, up from 35 per cent, slowing the pump to about 75 per cent of its maximum speed. This decreased power consumption by 52 per cent and is equivalent to powering 30 average U.S. homes for an entire year – all while delivering the same flow as before.
“VIDAR is the culmination of listening to customers and collaborating with world-class researchers,” Mr Kernan said. “VIDAR does more than power pumps and fans—it transforms industrial plant operations.”
For more information about VIDAR, please visit www.vidarmotors.com.
