Building up the Software

At the first stage of building the software, it was suggested to have two separate versions of the software, one for Method A, and the other for method B. It is commonly known that the first step of the process of building a software is to design the front panel. The front panel was built by using the GUI technique. It has to include all the necessary cells to enter the machine data and its test measurements. The following are a group of figures that show the first version of the proposed software (Method A).

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Figure 4-2. The software license agreement window.

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Figure 4-4. The DC Test window filled up with the 3 hp machine data.

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Later on, the technical monitors suggested that the software should be of one version that includes both Method A and Method B and the front panel should be only one piece rather than three separated windows and it consists of all test sections (i.e. DC Test, Nameplate Details, Method A measurements, and Method B Measurements). The following Figure 4-6 shows the modified software. Figure 4-7 shows only the front panel for clearer details.

An Exit and Print buttons were suggested to be added to the software to help the user to have a printout copy of the final test results and to exit via the software GUI and not through the main spreadsheets window. The software was modified accordingly. Figure 4-7 shows the modified software.

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The logos of the sponsor Canadian companies were suggested to be added to the software front panel. A button to display the User’s Guide is also proposed. The software was modified accordingly. Figure 4-8 shows the modified software.

Figure 4-7. Print and Exit buttons are added to the front panel.

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The technical monitors also suggested that the DC test should include two procedures: 1. DC test with voltage and current measurements of the three stator windings. 2. DC test that is carried out by an ohmmeter.

It was also suggested that the user should be able to save a test data and its associated results. The user should also be able to import pre-tested machine measurements into the software without the need of entering the data again. Hence, two buttons were added. One is named “Save Data As” whereby the data can be saved in both .xls and .xlsx extensions. The second added button was named “Import Data” helps the user of importing data of a pre-tested machine into the software. It was also suggested that the user has the option of hiding the front panel. Hence a button named “Hide” is added to the software.

More than 10,000 coding lines were added to turn the software into a smart version where a checking process on all entered data is carried out once the user clicks on a newly added button named “Check”. The user cannot proceed to the efficiency estimation process unless all data are checked to be relative. Any abnormal data entered will trigger a message box from the software asking the user to make sure of the data that been entered.

The technical monitors finally asked that an additional important feature must be added to the software. The feature is that, once the efficiency estimation process is finished, the user must be informed about the nominal and minimum efficiency the tested machine has to have according to the ANSI/NEMA MG 1-2011 standard [15]. Data of Table 12-11 (Full-load efficiencies of energy efficient motors (random wound)) and Table 12-12 (Full-load efficiencies for 60 Hz premium efficiency electric motors rated 600 volts or less (random wound)) of the mentioned standard were added to the software to be utilized to implement the new feature. The final version of the software had a total of 21050 coding lines. A detailed User’s Guide was produced with all illustrative picture that describe the procedure of using the software and handling the required tests. The following are group of figures that show the latest version of the software which is approved by the technical monitors.

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Figure 4-9. The main window of the software Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

Figure 4-10. A splash screen shows up when the software launches. Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

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Figure 4-11. A 100 hp motor test results by using Method A. Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

Figure 4-12. The 100 hp motor test results by using Method B. Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

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Figure 4-13. A message box triggered due to 3 empty cells. Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

Figure 4-14. A generated test spreadsheet by the software to save a test results. Copyrights © CEATI International Inc.

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4.3. Summary

A software is developed to utilize the two proposed algorithms in chapters 2 & 3 and the supporting data. The software is aimed to be a practical industrial tool that can be used in any electric motor service center in North America. The software was under a thorough monitoring and assessing process by a technical monitors team selected by a group of Canadian Power Companies who sponsored the project. The software has come through many different stages of upgrading process by including many useful suggestions of the technical monitors. The latest version of the software comprises of 21050 coding lines. The latest version was approved by the technical monitors and it is currently a copyright of CEATI International Inc.

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CHAPTER FIVE

5. A Novel In-Situ Efficiency Estimation Algorithm for Three-Phase IM Using GA,