James Mercier, PE, and Steve Pearson, (PI)² Past Chairs.

The Austin, Texas joint Chapter of Power and Energy, Industrial Applications, Power Electronics, and Industrial Electronics Societies, known locally as (PI)² presented a workshop on medium voltage motors at the TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company facility, located in Round Rock. The workshop was attended by 45 registered attendees, some from as far away as Houston, representing utilities and consultants. TECO-Westinghouse and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) provided the workshop instructors.

Attendees were greeted with breakfast provided by TECO-Westinghouse after signing in. James Janik, TECO-Westinghouse, who helped coordinate the workshop, introduced the morning presenters: Ismael Sanchez on Motor Basics, Gabe Rupertus on Design Basics, and MP Reddy on Specifying Motors. Lunch, generously sponsored by Shermco, was catered local BBQ.

The afternoon session consisted of Troubleshooting by Reed Hamm, TECO-Westinghouse, and Motor Protection by Derrick Haas, SEL. Several door prizes were given: two copies of NEMA MG 1-2014 Motors and Generators, a seat in the next EPRI Motor Rewind Seminar, held at TECO-Westinghouse, an EPRI Motor Rewind Seminar workbook, and several smaller prizes. The prize for farthest traveled went to John Novak (SEL) who had driven up from south of Houston for the workshop!

The workshop concluded after a 2+ hour tour of the TECO-Westinghouse MV motor manufacturing, repair, and testing facility.

The group photo is of the workshop participants who were able to stay for the tour. The large 6250 HP Double Armature DC motor in the background is from a steel mill. At 16 poles, 700 volts, it produces up to 1.5 Million ft-lb of torque. It was not the biggest motor we saw on the tour!

(PI)² is considering a MV Drive workshop for next year, again hosted at TECO-Westinghouse.