Basic Motor Formulas and Calculations

The formulas and calculations which appear below should be used for estimating purposes only.
Rules of Thumb (Approximation Only and All Values at 100% Load)
 At 1800 rpm, a motor develops 3 lb-ft of torque per HP
 At 1500 rpm, a motor develops 3.6 lb-ft of torque per HP
= 0.5 Kg-m per HP or 0.67 kg-m per KW (1 lb-ft=0.1383 kg-m)
 At 1200 rpm, a motor develops 4.5 lb-ft of torque per HP
 At 575V, a 3-Phase motor draws 1 amp per HP
 At 460V, a 3-Phase motor draws 1.25 amps per HP
 At 415 V, a 3-Phase motor draws 1.4 amps per HP
 At 230V, a 3-Phase motor draws 2.5 amps per HP
 At 230V, a 1-Phase motor draws 5 amps per HP

Mechanical Formulas

Torque (lb-ft) = (HP x 5252) / rpm HP = (Torque (lb-ft) x rpm) / 5252

rpm = (5252 x HP) / torque (lb-ft)

rpm = (120 x HZ) / # of Pole Frequency (HZ) = (# of Poles x rpm) / 120

Slip of Motor
% Slip = ((synch rpm – Full Load rpm) / (synch rpm)) x 100

Electrical Formulas

To Find Alternating Current

Single Phase Three Phase
Amperes when HP is (HP x 746) / (E x Eff x PF) (HP x 746) / (1.73205 x E x Eff x PF)
known
Amperes when KW is (KW x 1000) / (E x PF) (KW x 1000) / (1.73205 x E x PF)
known
Amperes when KVA is (KVA x 1000) / E (KVA x 1000) / (1.73205 x E)
known
Kilowatts (I x E x PF) / 1000 (1.73205 x I x E x PF) / 1000
KVA (I x E) / 1000 (1.73205 x I x E) / 1000
HP (Output) when current is (I x E x Eff x PF) / 746 (1.73205 I x E x Eff x PF) / 746
known
I = Amperes, E = Volts, Eff = Efficiency (as a decimal), PF = Power Factor (as a decimal)
KVA = Kilovolt-Amperes, KW = Kilowatts

Locked Rotor Current (IL) From Nameplate Data

NEMA CODE LETTERS FOR LOCKED ROTOR KVA
CODE KVA/HP CODE KVA/HP
A 0.00 - 3.14 L 9.00 - 9.99
B 3.15 - 3.54 M 10.00 - 11.19
C 3.55 - 3.99 N 11.20 - 12.49
D 4.00 - 4.49 P 12.50 -13.99
E 4.50 - 4.99 R 14.00 - 15.99
F 5.00 - 5.59 S 16.00 - 17.99
 G 5.60 - 6.29 T 18.00 - 19.99
H 6.30 - 7.09 U 20.00 - 22.39
J 7.10 -7.99 V 22.40 - and up
K 8.00 - 8.99
3-Phase
KVA/HP: (1.73205 x E x LRA) / (1000 x HP) (See Above Table for KVA/HP)
LRA: (KVA/HP x 1000 x HP) / (E * 1.73205)
Note: Square Root of (3) = 1.73205

Temperature Conversions
Deg C = (Deg F – 32) x 5/9 or Deg F = (Deg C x 9/5) + 32

Fans and Blowers

1. HP = (CFM x PSF) / (33,000 x mechanical eff. of Fan) or HP = (CFM x Pressure (lbs/(ft) 2 /
(33,000 x mechanical eff. of fan)
2. HP = (CFM x PIW) / (6343 x mechanical eff. of Fan)
3. HP = (CFM x PSI) / (229 x mechanical eff. of Fan)

Where:
CFM = Cubic feet per minute
PIW = Head - Inches of water gauge
PSF = Pound per square foot
PSI = Pounds per square inch
For purposes of estimating, the eff. of a fan or blower may be assumed to be 65%.

Note:
 Air capacity (CFM) varies directly with the fan speed.
 Developed pressure varies with the square of fan speed.
 HP varies with cube of fan speed.

Effect of Speed on HP (Fan)

Note: HP consumption varies as the 3rd power (cubed) of the speed.

Centrifugal Applications Affinity Laws

Where:
Pres = Pressure
RPM = Revolutions per minute

Pumps
HP = (GPM x Pressure (lbs/(in)2 x Specific Gravity) / (1713 x mechanical eff. of pump)
Or
HP = (GPM x Total Dynamic Head in Feet x Specific Gravity) / (3960 x mechanical eff. of pump)
Where:
Total dynamic head = static head + friction head
For estimating purposes, pump eff. may be assumed at 70% (best to try and obtain correct value)

Displacement and Centrifugal Pumps

HP = GPM x head in feet / (3960 x efficiency)
1 cu. foot per sec = 448.8 GPM
1 lb per sq. inch pressure = a head of 2309 ft of water weighing 62.36 lbs per cubic foot at
62F

Displacement Pumps
Effect of Speed on HP
 Capacity and required HP vary directly as the speed.
 Displacement pumps under constant head require approximately constant torque at all speeds.

Displacement Pumps Efficiency

Displacement pumps may vary between 50% and 80% eff. Depending on the size of pumps

Centrifugal Pumps
Effect of Speed on HP
HP consumption varies approximately as the 3rd power of the speed.
Efficiency
 500 to 1000 gal. per min = 70% to 75% eff.
 1000 to 1500 gal. per min = 75% to 80% eff.
 Larger than 1500 gal. per min = 80% to 85% eff.

Conveyors
Vertical HP = (W x V) / 33,000
Horizontal HP = (W x V x N) / 33,000

Where:
W = Weight in lbs
V = Velocity in feet/min
N = Coefficient of friction

Vertical or Hoisting Motion

HP = (W x S) / (33,000 x E)
Where:
W = total weight in lbs. to be raised by motor
S = Hoisting speed in feet per min
E = Overall mechanical eff. of hoist and gearing. For estimating purposes only, E=65% for eff. of hoist
and connected gear

• kW = HP x 0.746

• Wk2 referred to motor shaft speed = [driven machine WK2 x ((driven machine rpm)/motor rpm)2 +
gear WK2 at motor
• Conversion factors: CV = (metric hp) = 735.5 watts = 75 kg-m/sec Wk2 (lb-ft) = 5.93 x GD2 (kg-m2)
• Ventilating - air requirements: 100-125 cfm of 40°C air at 1/2-in. water pressure for each kW of loss

Equivalent Inertia (Consult your local LEESON Electric sales office)

In mechanical systems, all rotating parts do not usually operate at the same speed. This means it will
be necessary to determine the equivalent inertia of each moving (revolving body) part at a particular
speed. It is also convenient to reference the inertia of each part to the speed of the prime mover.

Hence, the total equivalent WK2 for a system is the sum of the WK2 of each part, referenced to the
prime mover speed.

WK2EQ = WK2part x (Npart / Nprime mover)2

This equation becomes the common denominator on which other calculations can be based. For VFD
devices, inertia should be calculated first at low speed.

Accelerating Torque (Consult your local LEESON Electric sales office)

The equivalent inertia of a VFD indicates the energy required to keep the system running. However,
starting or accelerating the system requires extra energy. The torque required to accelerate a body is
equal to the WK2 of the body multiplied by the change in RPM, divided by a constant of 308
multiplied by (t) time in seconds in which this acceleration takes place.

Tacc (acceleration torque) = WK2 x N / (308 x t) (units in lb-ft)

Where:
N = change in rpm W = weight in (lbs)
K = radius of gyration WK2 = equivalent inertia
308 = constant of proportionality

Accelerating Horsepower (Consult your local LEESON Electric sales office)

Now that the acceleration torque (Tacc) is known/calculated, the power needed to accelerate the load
can be determined. Using the horsepower formula:

HP = (Torque (lb-ft) x rpm) / 5252

Now refine the equation above:

HPacc = Tacc x N / 5252 now further:

HPacc = (WK2EQ x N) / (308 x t) x N / 5252or HPacc = (WK2EQ x N2) / (1.62 x t x 106)