NIST assists DoE in developing electric motor test procedures

NIST ASSISTS DoE IN DEVELOPING ELECTRIC MOTOR TEST PROCEDURES

NIST researchers have provided significant technical guidance to the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) in developing test procedures to support the proposed rule for efficiency testing of electric motors. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended, establishes energy efficiency and en ergy consumption standards for certain consumer, commercial, and industrial products. DoE recently proposed a rule applying to electric motors [IOCFR Part 431, Energy Conservation Program for Certain Commercial and Industrial Equipment: Test Procedures, Labeling, and Certification Requirements of Electric Motors]. In the rulemaking process, DoE has relied on NIST in connection with the development of testing procedures and methods for evaluating test data.

Of particular interest to DoE has been a recent statistical analysis performed at NIST. The issue addressed through this analysis is the sampling protocol to be applied to the verification and enforcement of the rule for each manufacturers motors. NIST's analysis provides DoE the technical basis for selecting sampling procedures that implement the intent of the rule and at the same time do not burden unduly the manufacturers of motors. Details of the analysis method and results are presented in two recent NIST publications, NIST Technical Note 1422, Electric Motor Efficiency Testing under the New Part 431 of Chapter II of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations: Enforcement Testing, and NISTIR 6092, Analysis of Proposals for Compliance and Enforcement Testing Under the New Part 431; Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations. These reports discuss current industry practice the nature of the burden imposed on industry by the proposed rule, and the degree to which efficiency standards would be met by testing under the various proposed testing procedures. The NIST statistical methodology also is applicable to the analysis of sampling plans for the testing of other types of devices. NIST now is investigating how to apply this methodology to tests of distribution transformers, under consideration by DoE for rulemaking. Contact: James K. Olthoff, [phone]; james. [email protected].