The WGM20’s advanced water jacket cooling system allows versatility in application and is designed for ease of maintenance.
Motor and drive manufacturer WEG has announced the new WGM20 line of water-jacket cooled electric motors. Intended for use in reduced space or aggressive environments and optimised to cope with demanding efficiency levels, the WGM20 is the result of intensive R&D by WEG’s engineering team, including numerical, static, dynamic, thermal and electromagnetic analysis, to optimise each component and their mutual interaction.
In the new design, water and air pass through the motor frame, a concept that eliminates the need for a separate heat exchanger and achieves compact overall dimensions. The advanced water jacket cooling system consists of longitudinal cooling channels where water flows in a zigzag circuit through the frame. The cooling system offers a high degree of protection that makes the motor suitable for aggressive, reduced-space or high-temperature environments. In addition, the thermal exchange of the motor does not depend on the environment, and allows several combinations of motor speed and torque.
Thanks to the design of the cooling system, the inspection and cleaning of the water circulation channels is easier, resulting in reduced maintenance costs. The cooling channels are capable of being operated with water treated in line with the majority of industry water specifications. The design allows operation with several water inlet temperatures and multiple types of additives, such as anti-freeze and anti-corrosion fluids.
The WGM20 has been developed to provide a very low noise level, with a tough structural frame for excellent performance at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +50°C, with minimal thermal dissipation to the environment. As standard, the motor is supplied fully suitable for VFD operation. Typical applications include fans, pumps, compressors, rolling mills, thrusters and hoists.
The reduced frame size makes the motor ideal for installation in small spaces, such as on boats and ships, and it can be supplied with marine certification that includes Lloyds, Bureau Veritas, ABS and DNV. Other industries where is expected to find applications include cement, mining, pulp and paper, petrochemical, water and wastewater, steel, sugar, and oil and gas.
Accessories are installed inside the motor for added protection, although they can be easily accessed for maintenance. Further features aimed at simplifying maintenance include a newly designed bearing re-greasing system and a terminal box that can be easily rotated.
The WGM20 is available with output power of 200 to 2,800kW (horizontal motor) or 200 to 2,000kW (vertical motor). Voltage options are available from 400 to 4,160V, with 4 to 8 poles, and 50 or 60Hz frequency.