Inside Advanced Energy's
Motor Test Lab
A quarterly publication for companies applying electric motors.
Contact
David Berkowitz
919 857-9047
dberkowitz@advancedenergy.org |
New Equipment Provides Customers with Custom Motor Design, Waveform Capture and Portable Testing Services
To meet motor testing demands and to better serve our customers, Advanced Energy's Motor Test Lab recently made capital investments into new equipment and software, including:
- Flux 2D motor design software;
- Yokogawa DL850 Scopecorder; and
- Yokagawa WT3000 three-phase precision power analyzer for motor and drives testing purposes.
Flux 2D is a finite element software that is used in motor design and analysis. This software enables us to help our customers with custom motor designs and improvements and also directly contribute to cutting edge research into new motor prototypes in various applications including traction.
The Yokogawa DL850 Scopecorder provides the ability to capture eight channels of high-speed, high resolution waveforms. This will be helpful when evaluating new technologies, drive or controller outputs, switching effects and any other type of transient states. The DL850 allows us to see events in real-time and has a large memory storage capacity for long-term monitoring.
The Yokogawa WT3000 provides the flexibility to bring our testing and validation services directly to our clients. A versatile and powerful instrument, the WT300 allows us to test and measure DC and high AC frequency ranges, as well as measure input and output simultaneously. Most important, this device is completely portable. We can go on-site and provide precision analysis of existing systems, measuring the performance of large motors without our customer having to take the motor out of service. The WT3000 also assists in responding to customers who need information beyond just efficiency, especially for those in research and development who want to see voltage and current waveforms, harmonics and validation of total harmonic distortion (THD).
New IEEE Test Procedure for Single-Phase Induction Motors
The Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently released an updated version of IEEE Standard 114 for Single-Phase Induction Motors. The updated version of the 2001 edition provides "instructions for conducting and reporting the more generally applicable and acceptable test to determine the performance characteristics of single-phase induction motors."
Federal Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rule Making: Electric Motors
Advanced Energy recently provided comments on the Department of Energy's (DOE) Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR) related to electric motors and small electric motors. 10 CFR Part 431 Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Electric Motors and Small Electric Motors Proposed Rule seeks to "clarify the scope of energy conservation standards for electric motors, update references to several industry and testing standards for electric motors, incorporate by reference and update alternative test methods for polyphase and single-phase small electric motors, and specify the determination of efficiency requirements for small electric motors." Clarifying the scope of regulatory coverage for small electric motors and electric motors will help to ensure the accurate and consistent measurement of energy efficiency.
OEM Test Programs
With the regulations from the Energy Independence Security Act (EISA) now in effect, both motor manufactures and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are responsible for meeting the EISA minimum motor regulations. As many OEMs purchase motors and motor components from manufacturers, OEMs should be conducting testing in accordance with the regulations and keeping careful records of the results. If changes need to be made to meet the requirements, OEMs should be working to validate motors to find the best fit for their equipment needs based on performance and price. For more information about our OEM test programs visit our web site or contact David Berkowitz at 919.857.9047.
Spotlight: AE's PEV Program
Proven Efficiency Verification (PEV) accreditation for motor repair – a stringent quality assurance program to ensure consistency in repairs while achieving energy savings. Presently, six motor repair service centers in North America have received this accreditation, demonstrating they have the necessary standards and procedures in place to return repaired motors to "like new" condition and performance without degrading efficiency.
Our PEV program assesses motor repair facilities' standards and processes for the repair of three-phase electric motors used in industrial and commercial applications. The program includes an onsite evaluation of a motor service center's ability to maintain efficiency during the repair process and before/after rewind testing from our NVLAP-accredited motor efficiency test lab. PEV–certified shops are provided with hard evidence they can use to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining efficiency during repair. The service centers in the PEV program demonstrate they have the people, processes, equipment and procedures to restore efficiency during motor rewind. Motor repair vendors who maintain efficiency as outlined in the PEV program are more successful at reducing overall operating costs and increasing process reliability for their customers. Click here for more information on our PEV program.
Upcoming Events
- 2011 Motors, Drive and Automation Systems Annual Conference, March 1-2, San Antonio, Texas
Advanced Energy's Emmanuel Agamloh, Ph.D., P.E., will be presenting Technical Considerations for the Testing of Small Motors. His presentation will:
- Include information on the difficulties and challenges associated with characterizing small motors; and
- Examine several test techniques and technical considerations for testing single-phase induction motors and electronically commutated motors below one horsepower.
- Advanced Energy will exhibit our testing and consulting services for motors and drives at Booth # 29 in the Exhibit Hall. If you are planning to attend, please stop by so that we can say hello.
Inside Advanced Energy’s Motor Test Lab brings you information about our testing capabilities and consulting services. If you have concerns related to electric motors and drives or performance characteristics of either, contact Advanced Energy. Our goal is to help manufacturers produce more products at a lower cost. For more information about our motor and drive testing and consulting capabilities, visit the Advanced Energy website or contact
David Berkowitz at 919 857-9047.
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