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Energy efficient motors created, tested at OSU

OSU testing contributed to production of company's super-efficient motors, now available for public purchase

Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: News
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There are a few new breeds of high-efficiency motors and generators on the market now, thanks in part to Oregon State.

On March 31, the Revolution Electric Motor Company announced that its super-efficient generators and motors are now available for public purchase. The company has spent the last five years developing these products as well as the technology which makes them so energy efficient.

The problem with traditional generators is that much of their energy is often lost through friction and heat as they produce and transfer power. This loss is mitigated slightly with the use of electric generators, but they have only reached 93 percent efficiency or less during testing, and this number is usually much lower than the stated 93 percent.

The motors and generators made by REMC can reach up to 98.5 percent efficiency. This is a breakthrough achieved through the use of air core technology (extensively developed by REMC itself). The air core technology that REMC has developed is also extensively protected as intellectual property by REMC and no further information was made available.

This technology - the first prototype developed by REMC, in fact - was tested at Oregon State University's motor testing lab in 2004. The motor testing lab at Oregon State was not, however, the only lab at which REMC's motors and generators were tested.

REMC's products were also tested at Rockwell International's motor testing facility. Rockwell International is a traditionally flight-minded company which has since been spun-off into many different companies, the last of which are Rockwell Collins and Rockwell Automation.

REMC also received funding for wind turbine testing (in which REMC's generators operated at record efficiency levels) from NV Energy, a Nevada-based company which serves most of Nevada as well as many areas in northern California. NV Energy, however, did not contribute to REMC's research and development as it appears today, but rather as Sierra Nevada Power and Nevada Power before the two companies merged in 1999.



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