MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) is now incorporating the newest drive technology available into five test benches that support the electrical engineering curriculum and studies of undergraduate and graduate students attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The new ABB industrial drives, ACS800 units, were just delivered to WEMPEC, and students in the summer graduate program began incorporating them into new test benches immediately for use in the fall with returning students. Every bench will be outfitted to power a total of seven motors.

WEMPEC is a university research center dedicated to the study of electrical machines and power electronics. Dr. Thomas Lipo, professor and co-director of WEMPEC, said, "Motor drives are a critical part of the research, curriculum, and work, so providing students access to the most current technology available provides them the tools that are at work in the marketplace now."

"It's a two-way exchange that benefits manufacturers like ABB, as well as this lab and the university," said Kalyan Gokhale, head of research and development at ABB Inc., Low Voltage Drives, New Berlin, Wis. Gokhale noted that WEMPEC members receive research reports and "have access to faculty employees to discuss technical issues and cutting-edge research developments."

In the photo above, (from left) Raymond Marion, Kalyan Gokhale, Randy Gascoigne, Shreesha Adiga, professor Lipo, professor Lorenz, and Korwin Anderson review new ABB drives to be used in WEMPEC lab.

Publication date: 08/15/2005