Virtual Instrumentation Based Benchmark System for AC Motors Testing

In this paper is presented the design and the implementation of a benchmark system that is intended to be used in industrial applications where is necessary to analyze, test and validate the correct operation of low-power AC motors. The core element of the proposed system is represented by the USB-6000 multifunctional data acquisition module that is connected to a PC running a dedicated software application written in Lab VIEW. The relevant electrical and mechanical parameters of the tested AC motor are measured using a set of sensors for speed, voltage, current and vibrations. The initial conditioning and galvanic insulation of the signals acquired from sensors are realized with a separate digital input/digital output module. Although, in the proposed implementation, the benchmark system is specialized only on low-power AC motors, it can be easily adapted to operate with other types of electrical motors. By integrating the capabilities offered by the virtual instrumentation tools, corelated with the performances of the compact USB-6000 data acquisition module, a highly efficient, reliable and low-cost implementation of an AC motors testing system has resulted.