ORLANDO, Fla. — Inside HVAC forced-air and hydronics systems alike, motors are hard at work blowing air, circulating water, cooling compressors, and more. And, while there are still a significant number of single-speed motors still in operation, many OEMs are making a concerted move toward variable-speed equipment in order to meet a growing demand for higher efficiency. To help OEMs meet their goals, and to meet increasingly stringent motor efficiency regulations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), motor and drive manufacturers have introduced their smartest, most efficient products yet.
For many decades, the single-speed PSC (permanent split capacitor) motor was the industry standard, and it still exists in a great number of installed HVAC systems in the U.S. today. However, as consumers have demanded higher efficiency — and as regulatory bodies, like the DOE, have mandated it — manufacturers have developed new variable speed motors and variable frequency drives to help meet those expectations.