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An accurate measurement of power or heat losses of high-efficiency electrical devices is difficult with input and output powers. In the calorimetric method, these losses are measured directly. In this paper, a functional heat loss measurement concept with adequate data processing methods is suggested for heat losses up to 2 kW. Such a heat loss range can be applied to present-day power electronic converters with the rated power of up to 110 kW and motors up to 37 kW. The measurement system does not require a complex mechanical structure or a large footprint area on the measurement site. The concept is scalable to different sizes. New features to the balance type calorimeter data processing are introduced. These include a mass flow correction, a technique to detect the thermal equilibrium, and a method to correct measured heat losses to improve the measurement repeatability and reduce the measurement uncertainty. The measurement uncertainty of the proposed calorimetric concept is 0.4%. Laboratory measurements are carried out both for a commercial frequency converter and an electric motor. These are measured at the same time with two calorimeters. The losses of these devices are measured both by the input-output and calorimetric methods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Accurate measurement of power losses in high‐efficiency devices is difficult. Measurement standards for industrial converters and complete electric drives, including both motors and converters, will come into effect soon, and measurement methods for these devices should be included. In the calorimetric method, the power losses are measured directly. However, the calorimeters presented previously are mainly tailored systems, and therefore, they typically have very complicated constructions. Hence, their applicability to the evaluation of general electric drives is limited. A functional calorimetric measurement concept is suggested in this study for power losses up to 2 kW. Such a power loss can be applied with present‐day power electronic converters up to 110 kW. The construction of the concept is simple and lightweight. It does not require a complex structure or a large area in the measurement site. The concept is scalable and duplicable for different sizes. Different devices with different cablings can be measured without any problems. The combined standard heat loss measurement uncertainty for the calorimeter is ±0.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]