Corporate

INDEPENDENT MOTOR TESTING LAB GOES MOBILE
WITH PURCHASE OF NEW POWER ANALYZING EQUIPMENT

(Raleigh, N.C. — May 10, 2010) Advanced Energy – the only independent motor testing lab in North America accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) – recently purchased a Yokagawa WT3000 three-phase precision power analyzer for motor and drives testing purposes. This significant purchase provides Advanced Energy with the flexibility to bring testing and validation services directly to its clients.

“The WT3000 is a very versatile and powerful instrument which allows us to test and measure DC and high AC frequency ranges, as well as measure input and output simultaneously,” comments Kitt Butler, director, Motors and Drives, Advanced Energy. “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.”

Testing the performance and viability of emerging technologies is what turns great ideas into workable solutions. With newer technologies running at frequencies outside the range of conventional instruments, Advanced Energy needed an instrument that could measure the input power of new motors while simultaneously measuring torque and speed inputs, and essentially obtain entire system efficiency data all at the same time.

Kevin Grace, manager, Motor Lab, Advanced Energy, comments “The WT3000 will also assist us 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).”

THD – a measurement of the amount of harmonic distortion present in a signal– is key in today’s electronics and electronic control systems, as the range of THD can significantly affect functionality.

For the Transportation industry, Advanced Energy can now test high frequency motors as well as high power DC motors. From efficiency testing for energy saving and Smart Grid devices to drive evaluation, the WT3000 also provides the motor lab with the ability to measure input and output simultaneously, capture waveforms and conduct vector analysis.

“This new instrument allows us to perform more accurate measurements of the distorted waveforms we see in inverter driven motors,” says Emmanuel Agamloh, Ph.D., technical lead, Motor Lab, Advanced Energy. “We can display voltage and current waveforms and obtain higher order harmonics of these signals — and even track their trends over time.”

“The only thing we can’t do on-site is evaluate the output of a motor,” jokes Butler. “You’ll need to come to our lab for that.”

About Advanced Energy
Advanced Energy is a Raleigh, N.C.-based nonprofit committed to a future in which energy needs are met at reasonable costs. The organization continues to work collaboratively to demonstrate that industry, government and nonprofits can successfully work together to improve the environment and encourage the economy. For 30 years, Advanced Energy has created economic, environmental and societal benefits through innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues.

Advanced Energy became the first motor lab in the world to achieve National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) compliance for motor efficiency testing through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and remains the only independent motor lab in North America to hold this accreditation. Assisting with validating motors, drives and related products, we provide consulting, training, testing and research for motor manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, distributors, importers, motor service centers, utilities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.advancedenergy.org.