Tokyo, Japan, September 28, 2011 - NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Norio Otsuka) today announced that it has developed energy-saving bearings for high-efficiency motors that halve the friction loss of rolling bearings used in conventional products. The new bearings will contribute to a reduction of electric power consumption desired by users of high-efficiency motors. NSK is aiming for annual sales of the new product of 7 billion yen by 2016.
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Press Release
NSK Develops Energy-saving Bearings for High-efficiency Motors
Increasing motor efficiency by cutting friction loss in half
Development background
Reducing CO2 emissions and saving energy have become increasingly important in recent years as global warming countermeasures. Because motors account for 75% of industrial power consumption, efficiency regulations for motors are in place around the world. In 2008, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) created global standards for motor efficiency. Nearly 90% of motor efficiency issues are caused by iron loss, copper loss, circuit loss, and windage loss, whereas mechanical loss related to bearing friction accounts for only about 10%. In coming years, as the efficiency level for motors progresses to IE3* and IE4*, the demand for bearings with low friction loss will increase.
* IE3, IE4: Efficiency levels set by the IEC. IE1 (standard efficiency), IE2 (high efficiency), IE3 (premium efficiency), IE4 (super premium efficiency).
Product features
- ◆Extremely low friction loss: half the friction loss of conventional products
- Optimization of bearing design has made it possible to reduce friction loss by half.
Product benefits
- 1. Contributes to increased efficiency and better energy-savings for motors
- Conforms not only to JIS motor efficiency standards but also to the extremely demanding IE3 and IE4 efficiency standards of the IEC. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of industrial motors.
- 2. Increased reliability
- Reduced bearing friction loss means bearings operate at lower temperatures, which increases the reliability of motors and other devices.
