Operation 24/7 under demanding environmental conditions

Glass manufacturing plants need a reliable supply of cooling air, so that the technology is running at the required conditions and keeps the highest safety. Any downtime of such equipment means unpleasant difficulties. This results in high demands on cooling fans and pipings.

LWN Lufttechnik GmbH has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing cooling systems, focusing on glass industry. Everything is designed and produced on their site in Wilsdruff, close to Dresden in Germany. However their scope of business is really global, more than 90 % of their projects are executed outside Germany.

Cooling fans, delivered by LWN Lufttechnik for glass manufacturing plants, are of various types, which defines the requirements on the motor portfolio. The power ratings extend from 22 to 450 kW, most of the motors are driven by a frequency converter. Typically, 2-pole motors are used for form cooling fans, while 4-pole and 6-pole motors are common in basin cooling fans.

LWN Lufttechnik, who runs an own photovoltaic plant on the roof of their building in Wilsdruff, is aware of the energy consumption of their cooling fans, running continuously at the end user sites. From this reason they search for highly energy efficient motors, exceeding the efficiency classes defined by local regulations. Apart from reduced energy costs, this brings another benefit in lower thermal losses of the motors. The glass manufacturing technology is creating a lot of heat by itself, it is not useful to add further heat losses from the cooling fan motors. 

Solutions and Products

Innomotics is offering a comprehensive range of Severe Duty low voltage motors up to 1000 kW power. These motors have a robust cast iron housing and feature multiple optional upgrades for harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme ambient temperatures, humid or corrosive atmospheres. The motors are designed for various supply voltages for both direct-on-line and converter operation, covering energy efficiency classes up to IE4. For a worldwide use, the product is offered with many standard and optional global certifications. This versatility makes Severe Duty motors completely fitting to LWN Lufttechnik project requirements.

The IEC 60034-30-1 standard defines energy efficiency classes for electric motors up to IE4. This highest level is currently required only for the 75 – 200 kW range in Europe, while in the other parts of the world the mandatory regulations do not reach IE4 at all. Nevertheless, LWN Lufttechnik is predominantly looking for IE4 motors in general, in order to deliver the most sustainable technology. This is enabled by the wide IE4 motor portfolio of Innomotics, covering 2.2 – 1000 kW power range, and including also increased power line motors with smaller dimensions, premium insulated motors for 690 V converter supply without output filter, motors with reduced starting current and further product variants.

Primary supplier of choice for many years

Previous deliveries have proven that Innomotics motors operate cooling fans in glass industry reliably. Together with the strong sales and service support, offered by Innomotics worldwide, LWN Lufttechnik GmbH is able to win further cooling systems projects.