--- title: Plant Engineering writes about how VFD driven washdown systems save energy and extend equipment life description: Plant Engineering writes about how VFD driven washdown systems save energy and extend equipment life image: https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/csm_PLE1803_MAG_SOLUTIONS_VFD_Washdowns_MI_1B-slider_13a6c87434.jpg --- [![Electro Static Technology](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/electro-static-technology.svg "Electro Static Technology")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) [![Aegis](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/public/images/Aegis.svg "Aegis")](https://www.est-aegis.com/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) - [Products](https://www.est-aegis.com/products/) - [AEGIS® SGR – for motors under 500 HP/375 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr/) - [AEGIS® uKIT – for common NEMA/IEC frame size](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/sgr-ukit/) - [AEGIS® RPPR – for reactor recirculating pumps](https://www.est-aegis.com/rppr-resources/) - [AEGIS® EV and EVO Rings - for electric vehicles](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/ev-evo-rings/) - [AEGIS® PRO Series – for motors over 300 HP/225 kW](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/pro-series/) - [Shaft Voltage Testing and Accessories](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/mounting-accessories/) - [Online Product Catalog](https://catalog.est-aegis.com/) - [AEGIS® 2-Year Extended Warranty](https://www.est-aegis.com/product/extended-warranty/) - [Applications](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/) - [Electric Vehicle Solutions](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/electric-vehicle-solutions/) - [Food & Beverage](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/food-beverage/) - [HVAC](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/hvac/) - [Industrial & Chemical](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/industrial-chemical/) - [Other Industries](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/other-industries/) - [Power Generation & Renewable Energy](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/power-generation-renewable-energy/) - [Transportation](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/transportation/) - [Water Treatment](https://www.est-aegis.com/applications/water-treatment/) - [Bearing Protection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/) - [Shaft Voltage & Bearing Currents](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/shaft-voltage-and-bearing-currents/) - [Fluting & Bearing Inspection](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/fluting-and-bearing-inspection/) - [Best Practices & Installation](https://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection/best-practices-and-installation/) - [Resources](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/) - [AEGIS® Bearing Protection Handbook](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/handbook/) - [IEEE-841, Hazardous Locations, & AEGIS®](https://info.est-aegis.com/technical-codes-and-ieee-841-standards) - [Recorded Webinars Library](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/recorded-webinars/) - [Installation Instructions](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/installation-instructions/) - [Videos](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/videos/) - [Technical Papers](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/technical-papers/) - [Case Studies](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/case-studies/) - [Specifying AEGIS®](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/specifying-aegis/) - [Request Training](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/training/) - [Product Sheets](https://www.est-aegis.com/resources/product-sheets/) - [About](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/) - [News](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Tradeshows](https://www.est-aegis.com/about/tradeshows/) - [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) - [Where to Buy](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/) - [Distributors](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/distributors?type=Distributor) - [Trained Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Installer) - [Explosion Proof Installers](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/installers?type=Explosion%20Proof%20Installer) - [Motors & Seals with AEGIS® Installed](https://www.est-aegis.com/where-to-buy/oems-with-aegis/) [Contact Us](https://www.est-aegis.com/contact/) - [+1 866-738-1857](tel:+1%20866-738-1857) # Plant Engineering writes about how VFD driven washdown systems save energy and extend equipment life [Home](https://www.est-aegis.com/) » [Blog](https://blog.est-aegis.com/) » Plant Engineering writes about how VFD driven washdown systems save energy and extend equipment life [AEGIS](https://blog.est-aegis.com/author/estaegis) Apr 23, 2018 ***In the article "Full speed in washdown? Not so fast!***" Ron Crutchfield and Gary Jacott of [Motion Industries](https://www.motionindustries.com/) explain the advantages of using variable frequency drives (VFDs) to provide a better way to manage energy and water in washdown systems.  Published in the 03/21/2018 edition of [Plant Engineering](https://www.plantengineering.com/). #### In this excellent article Ron and Gary discuss: - How plants are finding ways to conserve water and energy by using VFDs - How controlling the flow rate can also extend equipment life - Real world examples of wash-down scenarios - How flexibility to provide the volume and pressures can be beneficial through the use of VFDs   [![](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/csm_PLE1803_MAG_SOLUTIONS_VFD_Washdowns_MI_1B-slider_13a6c87434.jpg?width=299&height=216&name=csm_PLE1803_MAG_SOLUTIONS_VFD_Washdowns_MI_1B-slider_13a6c87434.jpg)](http://Ron%20Crutchfield%20has%2035%20years%20of%20experience%20as%20a%20pump%20engineer,%20and%20is%20currently%20senior%20project%20engineer%20for%20Motion%20Industries%20Process%20Pumps%20and%20Equipment%20in%20Omaha,%20NE.%20Gary%20Jacott%20has%20spent%2030%20years%20as%20an%20electrical%20engineer,%20including%2020%20years%20specializing%20in%20the%20industrial%20automation%20niche.?hsLang=en-us) Image from Plant Engineering article   **Ron Crutchfield** has 35 years of experience as a pump engineer, and is currently senior project engineer for [Motion Industries](https://www.motionindustries.com/) Process Pumps and Equipment in Omaha, NE.  **Gary Jacott** has spent 30 years as an electrical engineer, including 20 years specializing in the industrial automation niche. #### Selecting the Right Motor - Reliability Built-in: One important aspect that was not specifically discussed in the article was the selection of the motor used in the washdown application.  Motors operated by VFDs should have both inverter rated Class F or H winding insulation (NEMA Premium has Class F at a minimum), and [shaft grounding rings](http://www.est-aegis.com/shaft-grounding-products2.php) installed to prevent electrical discharges in the bearings. Whenever a motor is operated by a VFD, the voltage to the motor is a pulse width modulated series of positive and negative pulsed which cause a common mode voltage to be capacitively coupled to the motor's shaft and can result in [bearing discharges](http://www.est-aegis.com/bearing-protection-EDM-fluting.php).  These discharges can also result in catastrophic bearing failure from "fluting" damage, shortened motor life, and expensive repairs and downtime. | ![](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Pitting-Discharge-Event630px-150x150-2.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Pitting-Discharge-Event630px-150x150-2.jpg) |   ![](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Bearing-Race-Pitting_forHB630px-e1518125924641.jpg?width=160&height=135&name=Bearing-Race-Pitting_forHB630px-e1518125924641.jpg) Shaft Voltage Arc in the Bearing   |   ![](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Inspection630px-150x150.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Inspection630px-150x150.jpg) Failed Bearing From Electrical Discharges   | | --- | --- | --- | On the bright side, all of these negative effects on the motor's bearings can be avoided by simply installing a shaft grounding ring on the motor which steers the damaging voltages away from the motor's bearings to ground.  Most [motor manufacturers](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems.php) such as [ABB (Baldor)](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems-baldorTEFC.php), [WEG](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems-weg.php), [Regal](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems-marathon.php), [TECO](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems-teco.php), [GE](http://www.est-aegis.com/oems-ge.php), and others have motors in their stock list with AEGIS shaft grounding rings installed so selecting a motor to avoid the bearing fluting issue can be quite straightforward.   ![](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Motors-with-AEGIS-Inside-300x176-1.jpg?width=300&height=176&name=Motors-with-AEGIS-Inside-300x176-1.jpg) Select Motors with Factory Installed AEGIS from ABB, WEG, Regal, TECO, Leeson, and more   Motors can also be modified by motor repair shops to have the shaft grounding ring installed on the motor during a repair or from the start. [![AEGIS: Let us be your partner improving electric motor service life](https://blog.est-aegis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Let-us-be-your-partner-e1518125580869-Dec-22-2021-03-25-30-04-PM.png?width=700&height=86&name=Let-us-be-your-partner-e1518125580869-Dec-22-2021-03-25-30-04-PM.png)](http://www.est-aegis.com/) [Variable Frequency Drive](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/variable-frequency-drive), [Plant Engineering Magazine](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/plant-engineering-magazine), [Electrical Bearing Damage](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/electrical-bearing-damage), [AEGIS Shaft Grounding Rings](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/aegis-shaft-grounding-rings), [Motors with AEGIS Installed](https://blog.est-aegis.com/tag/motors-with-aegis-installed) ### Subscribe To Our Blog ## Read On ### [If You Sell Drives, It's Smart to Recommend Motors with Shaft Grounding](https://blog.est-aegis.com/if-you-sell-drives-its-smart-to-recommend-motors-with-shaft-grounding?hsLang=en-us) Variable frequency drive users look to drive manufacturers and reps not only for quality products... ### [VFDs and Motors -- What You Don't Know Could Cost You!](https://blog.est-aegis.com/vfds-and-motors-what-you-dont-know-could-cost-you?hsLang=en-us) In the meantime, we had an awesome web seminar hosted by Plant Services (Now Available On Demand)... ### [Five Reasons You Should Use Motors with AEGIS Shaft Grounding Factory-Installed Inside](https://blog.est-aegis.com/five-reasons-for-aegis-inside?hsLang=en-us) **1. 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