Things To Consider When Choosing An Elevator Motor

by Yasin Eker

The elevator motor is the basic component that powers the elevator system. It converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, enabling the elevator car to move up and down. Simply put, the elevator motor is the heart and power source of the elevator. A powerful and reliable elevator motor ensures that the elevator system operates efficiently, safely and comfortably.

Types of Elevator Motors

Geared elevator motors: Geared elevator motors are low-efficiency motors with reducers compared to gearless motors. They require maintenance. A machine room is required for installation. They are more cost-effective than gearless motors.

Gearless elevator motors: Gearless motors are high-efficiency magnetically excited synchronous motors. They are quieter and more comfortable. Post-installation maintenance costs are very low. They do not require a machine room and are typically installed inside the shaft.

Belt-driven elevator motors: Belt-driven motors are similar to gearless machines in terms of efficiency and comfort. The only difference from gearless machines is that they require less energy due to their lower drive diameter. They provide energy savings.

The parameters to consider when selecting a motor during the elevator’s design phase can be listed as follows: Carrying capacity, cabin speed, travel distance (number of stops), use of a balance chain depending on the number of stops, static load and energy efficiency. 

Carrying capacity: The most important criterion in motor selection is the carrying capacity. Selecting a motor with low capacity will cause the system to malfunction in the short term because it will not be able to pull the load or will operate under extreme conditions. Selecting a motor that is larger than necessary will also result in unnecessary costs and energy loss. Therefore, it is important to select the motor according to project conditions.

Car speed: Elevator car speed affects motor power; higher-speed elevators require more powerful motors. When selecting a motor, the motor power must be chosen according to the speed from the manufacturer’s specifications.

Travel distance: Manufacturer catalogs specify that for projects with a travel distance below a certain threshold (e.g., 30 m or less), products can be selected directly from the catalog. For travel distances within a certain range (e.g., 30-45 m), products can be selected from the catalog using a balance chain. For higher travel distances, consultation with the manufacturer is mandatory. The use of a balance chain is employed to balance dynamic loads in high-rise buildings, as the weight of the rope increases and acts as a load on the machine. It is necessary to use it for the machine to operate more comfortably and without failure for an extended period. It is used based on the principle of counterweighting the rope’s weight. It does not benefit static loads, and the weight of the balance chain will also act as a static load on the machine.

Static load: The static load is the total weight of all components connected to the elevator motor shaft. When selecting an elevator motor, it is essential to verify from the manufacturer’s catalog whether the motor can handle the total static load.

Energy efficiency: Energy-efficient elevator motors should be preferred to reduce energy costs and minimize environmental impact. Gearless motors are generally more energy efficient.