Motors & Equipment

Definition
A proprietary low energy elevator that utilizes an axial synchronous AC motor design with a gearless drive system.

Building Use apartments commercial buildings

Building Type new Development Status new technology

Description
Traditional elevators systems are either traction-based for highrise buildings) or hydraulic-based (for lowrise buildings). Traction based systems are usually located in a penthouse machine room above the highest occupied floor. The rooftop location can impose height restrictions on buildings and often interferes with architectural features. The location of rooftop elevator machine rooms requires that clearances must be left through the roof deck for cables and wiring which are known to be areas of high air leakage. Hydraulic elevators utilize hydraulic cylinders to lift cabs from floor to floor. The hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic fluid reservoir and pressurizing equipment are located under the elevator shaft in an excavation under the building. Hydraulic elevators are often associated with slow, bouncing, movement. Hydraulic elevator fluid is extremely toxic and if spilled or leaked represents a significant environmental risk. The high starting amperage requirements of hydraulic elevators can cause flicker throughout a building's electrical system.

A proprietary elevating system has been developed that utilizes an AC, axial synchronous, gearless motor integrated with a traction sheave, brake flange and rotor. This single device hoists an elevator cab up to 10 landings in a fast, smooth movement that requires significantly less electricity than standard elevating systems. The hoisting equipment is so compact that it can be fitted into the elevator shaft. This eliminates the need for an elevator machine room on the roof of the building, simplifies design and construction and eases concerns regarding height restrictions. The system transfers reaction loads from the elevator hoisting equipment to the foundation of the building rather than the structure surrounding the hoisting equipment. This minimizes structural loading and design requirements for buildings where conventional traction equipment might have otherwise been installed. The space requirements are significantly less than standard equipment and operate at cooler temperatures. The absence of hydraulic fluid also negates the environmental risk of the elevating system. 

All control and logic systems are contained in a cabinet placed in a small machine room adjacent to the elevator hoist way at the top landing or contained within the front wall of the hoist way depending on the type of elevator system. 

The gearless elevators are available as simplex or duplex installations for 2 to 10 landings with up to 80 feet of track and they operate at 200 fpm. A 1650 mm-deep elevator pit is required. A minimum overhead distance, from the last landing to underside of the roof structure, of 3825 mm is required. This may, depending on floor-to-floor height, result in a small projection of elevator shaft above the roof.

The high efficiency motor set uses approximately 25% less energy than hydraulic elevators and approximately 50% of the energy required by traction elevators. The new elevating system can also reduce the amount of air leakage in buildings. The installation of the motor-drive set in the elevator shaft allows the roof thermal, moisture, air and vapour barriers to be made continous across the top of the building. Conventional elevator machine rooms are areas where substantial air leakage and heat loss from the building occurs. The prevention of air leakage in this location also helps to reduce unwanted air movement throughout the building.

Contributing Expert
Duncan Hill
Research Division
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montréal Road
Ottawa, ON
Canada  K1A 0P7
tel 1 613 748 2984
fax 1 613 748 2415
dhill@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/Research/HighRise

Benefits reduces energy consumption by up to 50% when compared to traction elevators and up to 75% when compared with hydraulic elevators  reduces operating costs eliminates hydraulic fluid  reduces size of wiring, switch gear and emergency generator requirements simplifies design and construction reduces noise levels

Limitations number of landings served: 10 or fewer

Example Manufacturers
Montgomery-KONE Elevator
80 Horner Avenue
Toronto, ON
Canada  M8Z 4X9
tel 1 800 956 5663
http://www.kone.com/