Message #31 From:
Stock News Bot Date: December 19, 2006 10:01:00 AM
RZ News Raser's Symetron FlexMod(TM) Technology Demonstrated up to 10% System Efficiency Improvement for Air Conditioning Systems
PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Raser Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Arca: RZ), an energy technology company
that develops and licenses advanced electric motor, controller and
related technologies, today announced performance test results of its
SymetronTM FlexMod controller technology
designed for reducing costs and improving efficiencies in a wide variety
of variable speed industrial applications including heating ventilation
and air conditioning systems (HVAC). The testing was part of a study
conducted by Advanced Energy on behalf of the Department of Energy and
the State Technology Advancement Cooperative (STAC).
Record high temperatures this summer triggered massive blackouts in New
York, St. Louis and many other cities. One solution sought by the
Department of Energy is in improving the efficiency of HVAC systems that
use electric motors.
For the project, Raser Technologies developed a flexible, modular motor
controller called FlexMod™ based on Raser’s
Symetron™ motor control technology. Symetron™
uses proprietary adaptive tuning techniques to optimize motor
performance based upon unique motor characteristics. Independent testing
conducted by Advanced Energy demonstrated up to 10% improvement on
average in system efficiency when compared to a leading variable speed
drive system. Advanced Energy reported the test results to the
Department of Energy and recommended that the results of this study be
provided to major motor manufacturers and the utility industry in order
to reduce energy costs in the industrial, residential and hybrid vehicle
markets.
Most of the electricity generated in the US is used by electric motors.
Many of these motors operate inefficiently because of changing loads or
less than optimum control schemes. Many of the systems use a simple “on-off”
control system, though less expensive, is also much less efficient. The
US Department of Energy estimates that improved system controls
including variable speed drives could save nearly 15,000 gigawatt-hours
per year in electrical energy and potentially $900 million dollars per
year in energy savings in pump, fan and compressed air systems alone. A
study, funded by the Department of Energy and the State Technology
advancement Cooperative (STAC) was conducted by Advanced Energy to
demonstrate a modular, low cost controller that could result in
substantial energy savings for industrial and residential markets, while
reducing manufacturing costs through modular construction. The study was
prompted by a market need for an efficient, modular motor controller
capable of operating a wide range of motors with flexible components.
The US Energy Information Administration reports that there are over 93
million air conditioners and 35 million furnaces in the United States.
Many of these systems use simple “on-off”
control schemes to drive compressors, fans and pumps. Though less
expensive, these types of systems are very inefficient compared to a
variable speed system. A study by the American Refrigeration Institute
showed that a 50% energy savings could result by reducing HVAC fan speed
by just 20% without reducing overall system effectiveness. The Advanced
Energy study concluded that the potential for reduced manufacturing
costs provided by FlexMod’s modular design,
combined with the increased efficiency could “clearly
have a very large impact on energy use.”
In the independent testing conducted by Advanced Energy, Raser’s
FlexMod™ controller met or exceeded the
performance improvement targets set by the study. Not only did it
improve efficiency across the entire operating range, but was
particularly effective at lower fan speeds, an area where compressors
and fans can gain significant efficiency improvements.
“Symetron FlexMod technology has the
potential for significant market value by helping to make variable
speed, high efficiency HVAC systems more affordable and more efficient,”
said Tom Kaporch, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Raser
Technologies.
“The FlexMod™
controller demonstrated efficiency improvements well beyond the projects
goals, and higher than the goal set by the US Department of Energy. It
not only showed a dramatic improvement over low efficiency systems that
use 'on-off' control schemes, but it also demonstrated up to a 10%
improvement in efficiency over a leading high efficiency variable speed
controller," said Timothy Fehr, Senior VP and Chief Technical Officer
for Raser Technologies.
The report also indicates that wide adaptation of such technology could
yield dramatic reductions in energy usage nationwide, while saving
millions of dollars for utility users. It could also help reduce the
kind of peak demand that lead to massive blackouts this summer.
“This test also demonstrates another
important market application for our technology. Symetron technology
applied to industrial controllers may have broad application to improve
efficiency of many types of motors,” added
Fehr.
The total market for HVAC systems in the US is approaching $125 billion
annually with motors and drives market segment accounting for $540
million annually. Raser plans to publish a summary report upon
completion of the study on its website. With the favorable results from
the study, Raser also plans to engage in commercial test demonstrations
to make this technology available for commercial application.
Formed in 2003, Raser Technologies believes that its pending patents and
proprietary intellectual property cover breakthrough technologies. Raser’s
SymetronTM technologies more efficiently
harness electrical energy in electric motor, controller, and generator
technologies. Application of SymetronTM
generally requires simple changes to existing products, but yields
significant increases in power, performance and efficiency without the
use of exotic materials. Further information on Raser Technologies, Inc.
may be found at: www.rasertech.com
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, but not limited to,
statements regarding the following: the ability of the Company to
integrate its technologies into commercial applications; the Company’s
beliefs about the performance capabilities of its technologies; the
Company’s beliefs regarding its research and
development efforts; the Company’s beliefs
about the advantages of its FlexMod™
technologies; the Company’s ability to
commercially license its technologies; the Company’s
beliefs about trends in the markets and the Company’s
beliefs about trends in the motor industry.
These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, including,
without limitation, the competitive environment of the FlexMod™
technologies; our inability to obtain funding for development
activities; our inability to achieve commercial acceptance of our
technology; our inability to compete effectively in the marketplace; the
strength of our patent and pending patents and other intellectual
property and those of our competitors; our inability to protect our
intellectual property and such other risks as identified in our
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and all subsequent
filings, which contain and identify important factors that could cause
the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our
projections or forward-looking statements.All forward-looking
statements in this press release are based on information available to
us as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring
after the date of this press release.
