Government gives away software to assess industrial motors

Natural Resources Canada is providing a free software tool to help engineers and others assess the energy efficiency of three-phase electrical industrial motors.<br>
Industrial induction motors account for 10-20 per cent of Canada’s electricity consumption, and between 50-75% of the electricity consumption in an average industrial plant. Consequently, the government has developed the program as a means for reducing significant greenhouse gas emissions.<br>
The software, named the Canadian Motor Selection tool, or CanMost, allows users to compare the costs and energy savings of buying more energy efficient industrial motors. It compares three specific scenarios: making a new purchase, repairing versus replacing a motor, and replacing an inefficient existing motor before the end of its useful life.<br>
The tool is designed for utility auditors, energy consultants and industrial end users, according to the press release. It features 43,000 European and North American motors, ranging from 1 to 2000 hp. <br>
It also has a bilingual user interface.<br>
BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro and Hydro-Quebec helped develop the software, providing beta testing and translation assistance. They also plan to promote the software through their web sites and on CDs.<br>
It was featured at the Electrical Apparatus Service Association Convention in Washington, DC last June.<br>
The software is available free of charge from Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency at http://oeee.nrcan.gc.ca/egi<br>