Brushless DC motor applications: examples that demonstrate their features

DC motors, with or without brushes, are used in a wide variety of applications, featuring a high level of starting torque and an ability to rotate at high speed. Brushless DC motors are quieter than brushed motors, with a longer life and lower maintenance requirements.

This page looks at where brushless DC motors are used and describes their applications in various fields.

Let’s start with a simple explanation of what DC motors are. DC motors are electric motors that are powered by direct current. Features include rotation at high speed and the ability to deliver high starting torque. The motor’s speed and torque are controlled by means of the drive voltage.

DC motors can be broadly divided into brushed DC motors and brushless DC motors, depending on whether they use brushes as an electrode. The shorter life of brushed DC motors is because they are equipped with brushes and a commutator, which are both consumable parts. Brushless DC motors on the other hand, as their name suggests, do not have brushes. Instead, they are driven by turning the transistor in the drive circuit on and off based on the signal from a magnetic sensor inside the motor.

Because brushless DC motors don’t use consumable brushes and have their current flow switched electronically, they feature low maintenance and long life. Another attraction is that they run more quietly than brushed motors.

This low level of motor noise means they are frequently used to make household electronic devices and other such equipment operate more quietly.

While daily life provides few opportunities to see brushless DC motors in action, they are frequently found inside commonly used home appliances. Air conditioners and refrigerators are two examples. Such appliances use fans to deliver chilled or warm air, and brushless DC motors are used to drive these fans.

Likewise, the motors are increasingly being used in electric fans. The blades of household fans rotate at very high speed and tend to make motor noise. Therefore brushless DC motors are widely adopted in models that feature quiet operation and fine-grained adjustment of fan power.

Another application for the motors is in commercial electrical products. Examples include feeding paper in laser printers, controlling the propellers and gimbal in drones, and turning of screwdrivers or saws in power tools. In other words, brushless DC motors are extremely versatile.

Brushless DC motor case studies

More than just a change of motor. Other challenges overcome to achieve further reductions in size.

Kitchen equipment

Proposal kickstarts new product development overcoming hidden obstacles. Reduced development costs together with enhanced product energy efficiency.

Refrigerated showcases

Brushless DC motors are widely used in precision devices. Major examples include the hard drives used in PCs and DVD players, other PC drives, and Blu-Ray recorders. Disk rotation is a vital function for these devices. Brushless DC motors are used in the spindles that rotate the disks.

Most everyday applications of this type demand a long product life. With their long life and low maintenance requirements, brushless DC motors have carved out an essential niche for themselves in the precision device sector.

As already noted, the use of brushless DC motors has been growing in recent years. Moreover, it is in the automotive industry that this growth has been most pronounced. A wide range of electronic devices are involved in driving a car. Among the main applications are:

Vehicles pose a risk not only to their driver and passengers, but also to pedestrians and other road users. With their long life and low maintenance requirements, brushless DC motors are widely used in applications that are aimed at keeping this risk to an absolute minimum. Meanwhile, the quiet operation of these motors also helps to provide a more comfortable driving experience.

Because they do not use brushes, brushless DC motors benefit from long life, ease of maintenance, and quiet operation. Taking advantage of these features, they are used in many different aspects of our lives.

These range from electronic devices commonly used as home appliances to electrical products for industrial applications. Their uses in these products are diverse. Over recent years, they have also increasingly come to be used in the automotive industry where the demand is for comfort and safety. Perhaps you should take a fresh look at how brushless DC motors can be put to use in your own field.

ASPINA supplies not only standalone brushless DC motors, but also system products that incorporate drive and control systems as well as mechanical design. These are backed by comprehensive support that extends from prototyping to commercial production and after-sales service.
ASPINA can offer solutions that are tailored to suit the functions and performance demanded by a diverse range of industries, applications, and customer products, as well as your particular production arrangements.

ASPINA supports not only customers who already know their requirements or specifications, but also those who are facing problems at early stages of development. Do you struggle with the following concerns?

Motor selection

Motor and associated component development

Unique requirement

Seeking answers to these problems? Contact ASPINA, we’re here to help.