Market Trends of United Kingdom DC Motor Industry
Permanent Magnet DC Motor (PMDC) is Expected to Hold A Significant Share
- A permanent magnet DC motor (PMDC) is a type of DC motor that uses permanent magnetic magnets on the rotor rather than field windings. Permanent magnets produce a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field produced by the motor windings, creating rotation in the rotor.
- The PMDC motors are known for their high energy efficiency, which matches the United Kingdom's focus on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Companies are helping to achieve energy efficiency targets and reduce operating costs using efficient motors.
- Regulations and initiatives supporting sustainable practices and reducing carbon emissions were put in place by the UK government. The PMDC motors are compatible with these environmental regulations and contribute to achieving sustainability targets due to their high efficiency and reduced energy consumption.
- These motors are suited for applications with limited space due to their narrow size and muscular power density. In particular, this is important in the United Kingdom, where offshore platforms and modular equipment configurations are common in the oil and gas sector. In addition, the UK has been moving toward renewables for some time. It is easy to integrate PMDC motors, with their high efficiency, into renewable energy sources like wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. They can efficiently use renewable energy as mechanical power for different oil and gas sector uses.
- PMDC motors are known for their reliability and ability to withstand harsh operating conditions. Equipment capable of being resilient to extreme temperatures, humidity, and corrosive conditions is needed in the UK's offshore oil and gas drilling operations, which are often faced with challenging environments. The PMDC motor is preferred for such applications due to its robustness and durability.
- Moreover, according to a recent Baker Hughes report, the United Kingdom had 49 offshore oil rigs as of September 2023, an increase from 39 in August 2023. This trend is expected to propel the PMDC motor demand during the forecast period.
The Oil and Gas End-user Industry is Expected to Hold A Significant Share
- Due to their inherent advantages, DC motors have extensive applications in the oil and gas sector. Their ability to deliver high torque at lower speeds makes them ideal for critical operations like pumping, drilling, and extraction. This precise speed and position control, a hallmark of DC motors, is crucial in tasks ranging from regulating pump speeds to managing compressors and actuators.
- The DC motors enable the variable speed to be controlled smoothly and efficiently. This is especially useful for applications where the speed requirements are regularly changed to optimize energy efficiency and improve process control. The durability and reliability of DC motors, which can be adapted to the harsh operating conditions that commonly exist in the oil and gas sector, e.g., high temperatures, corrosive environments, or vibration, make them well suited for their applications.
- The United Kingdom's oil and gas industry uses permanently magnetized DC motors, which are small but have a high power density. They are used for pumps, valves, winches, and others that need large torques and compact packaging. The series wound DC motors are used for applications such as lifts, cranes, or drilling equipment because they generate a higher start torque and take on an even heavier load. Shunt wound DC motors offering reasonable speed control are used in various installations. They are used in the case of fans, blowers, centrifugal compressors, and other applications for which continuous speed under varying load conditions is required.
- Further, the UK government actively promotes energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in many applications in the oil and gas industry. Regulations and initiatives are in place to encourage the use of energy-efficient technologies and reduce carbon emissions. These regulations promote the production of energy-efficient motors, e.g., DC motors, using incentive payments, tax rebates, or requirements for compliance with specific energy efficiency standards.
- As of 2023, the Office for National Statistics (UK) reports that there are 40 oil and gas extraction companies in the United Kingdom with an annual turnover of more than GBP 5 million (>USD 6.4 million). Increasing turnover of oil and gas extraction companies will encourage them to work in this sector, which will concurrently drive the market growth of DC motors in the coming period.