There is a growing demand to remove uncertainty in power measurements, particularly with the growing focus on renewable energy markets and the need to optimise energy efficiency while complying with international standards on power quality, especially at low power factors. In addition, the inverters used in renewable energy systems are switching at higher speeds: a scenario that introduces harmonics at higher frequencies.
There is also a demand for high-frequency power measurements on devices such as switch-mode power supplies, electronic lighting ballasts, soft starters in motor controls and frequency converters in traction applications. As a result, power calibration at 50Hz is no longer sufficient, and accredited power calibration at up to 100kHz is necessary to address these markets.
Terry Marrinan, Yokogawa’s vice president of test and measurement said: “The recognition offered by ISO17025 accreditation is objective proof that the knowledge of our personnel and the quality of our instruments are at a world-class level.”
The Calibration Laboratory’s accreditation will provide Yokogawa with an essential development tool for the future, ensuring that new products will have undergone the most rigorous compliance testing and certification before release. Yokogawa’s customers can also be confident that they have access to accredited traceable power calibration for all their needs, avoiding time-consuming submission to national standards laboratories.
In addition to wideband and accurate power-meter calibration systems, the calibration laboratory also includes systems for calibrating oscilloscopes, recorders and optical products, and is therefore capable of calibrating a wide range of instruments in the test and measurement industry.