SMMA-The Motor & Motion Association recently announced that the Electric Motor, Education and Research Foundation (EMERF) Consortium on Losses in Lamination Steels will receive $773,530 from the Department of Energy (DOE) to continue its research on improving the efficiency of fractional horsepower motors. Pragasen Pillay, PhD, and Jean Newell, Distinguished Professor in Engineering at Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y., submitted the grant proposal to DOE on behalf of the consortium. The project, ”Improved Design of Motors for Increased Efficiency in Residential and Commercial Buildings,” will receive more than $250,000 each year for the next three years.
Created in 1995, the mission of the Electric Motor, Education and Research Foundation (EMERF) of SMMA is to advance and promote the electric motor industry through education, pre-competitive research and facilitation of technology transfer within the industry and in cooperation with academic, private research and governmental organizations. Within the framework of EMERF, a Consortium of SMMA member companies began meeting in 2001 to research losses in lamination magnetic steels.
Meetings of the Consortium are conducted quarterly with research results reported by Professor Pillay and Clarkson University graduate students. Preliminary research includes an improved core loss formula; comparison of Epstein frame and toroid tester loss results; test bench assembly; measurement of core loss under nonsinusoidal supplies; and international collaboration. Consortium members have provided cash and “in-kind” contributions:
- Black&Decker (U.S.) Inc.
- Eaton Corp.
- Globe Motors
- Ispat Inland Inc.
- Lamination Specialties Corp.
- Magnetic Instrumentation Inc./KJS Associates
- Magsoft Corp.
- Proto Laminations Inc.
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Clarkson Univ. and SMMA-The Motor & Motion Association have also provided support for the Consortium in either matching funds, equipment or staff time. Pillay will summarize the work of the consortium at the SMMA 2004 Fall Technical Conference November 3-5, 2004, in St. Louis.
For more information, visit www.smma.com.