Conventional shaker systems set the field power and blower speed to the nominal settings as soon as the system is started. Only the armature power is varied according to the force required for the test.
IMV’s ISM-EM technology constantly monitors the force required to run tests by using high-frequency power converters and automatically adjusts the field power and cooling blower speed to run at the point of minimum energy consumption.

Estimated savings:

As an example, we used a replacement for an LDS V870 (7,500 lbf). Assuming 20 days per month of operation and .10 USD/kWh as electricity cost, we calculated the savings based on output force:

IMV shaker systems have a reputation for durability in Japan, various Asian countries, Russia, and Europe, with approximately 200 multi-axis systems and a large number of single-axis shaker systems installed worldwide over the past 20 years. In the United States, one of IMV’s shaker systems is being used by Spectrum Technologies, Inc., an automotive industry test house in Redford, MI. They have two simultaneous 3-axis shaker systems (TS-2000-6H, with a force of 4,400 pounds on each axis) that are mainly used for durability tests on components for one of the “Big Three” automakers, operating at frequencies up to 2,000 Hz. The first shaker system has been in use for about 10 years with no downtime as of September 2020, clocking in at 23,213 hours of use without any maintenance. This exceeds our claimed amplifier mean time between failures (MTBF) of 17,537 hours, demonstrating the advanced durability of our fourth generation IGBT amplifier, which is able to operate at ambient temperatures of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

In minimizing the energy used by IMV’s ISM-EM software to run any given test, the cooling requirements are also minimized. Not only does this save energy, but it also means that for most tests, the ISM-EM is quiet. Air-cooled shaker systems are sometimes criticized for the blower noise they produce, but IMV’s ISM-EM solves this problem. For low force tests, the cooling blower automatically runs at a reduced speed and the total system noise level is much reduced. When the shaker is running at full force, the noise from the shaker table exceeds that of the blower, making blower noise a non-issue. Many of IMV’s customers are purchasing the ECO-system for the noise reduction alone, and the energy savings are an additional benefit. The figures below show the measured sound levels of IMV’s i260 shaker, which has a rated force of 54 kN (12,100 lbf), when operating in the ECO power-saving mode.

IMV’s ISM-EM monitors up to 200 parameters, including power module operating conditions, system temperatures, interlock status, controller status, 3-phase supply conditions, and so on. When these parameters are recorded and saved to a log file, the system can run advanced diagnostics. Further, each time a system interlock occurs, a snapshot is taken of the system operating parameters both before and after the occurrence of the interlock. All of this information means that IMV can remotely diagnose a system problem such that:
> The problem can be resolved remotely and the system can get back up and running without the need for a service engineer to visit
> If a service visit is required, the engineer will bring the correct spare part and have the system running again in only one trip. Everything is done to keep the ISM-EM running at full performance so that you can maximize your return on investment.

• > Reduction of field power to less than 50% without noise from the shaker armature
• > Ideal operating point; automatic adjustment of level for field and armature
• > Automatic adjustment during test execution
• > Optimization without requiring user knowledge of the technology
• > Optimization occurs automatically based on the actual parameters of the test
• > Automatic switch-off at the end of the test
• > Diagnostic options provided in case of error
• > Optimization based on performance data
• > Field power can be adjusted manually or automatically for increased shock velocity
• > Integrated amplifier operation from the vibration controller
• > Can also be retrofitted for older shaker models from all manufacturers