With the NASA Langley Research Center's official acceptance in late December of a 100-megawatt (135,000 HP) adjustable-speed drive and motor system installed at NASA's National Transonic Facility (NTF) in Hampton, Va., the world's largest drive and motor began operation.

Built by ABB Industrial Systems, Inc., New Berlin, Wis., the drive and motor are the critical power/mechanical components turning the giant fan that creates the controlled, Mach-1-plus wind conditions in NTF's wind tunnel, conditions necessary to simulate testing of aircraft at transonic speeds (600 to 900 mph), and other flight parameters, such as Reynolds Numbers, which manufacturers need to optimize design and shorten product development cycles.

ABB provided all the electrical equipment and managed the project, while Raytheon Engineers and Constructors handled the design/build part of the $25 million contract. Southwire Co., Carrollton, Ga., provided the industrial power cables to feed the monster motor. The 15kV, MV-90 cables deliver power from the dedicated substation transformer, through a custom-designed power system, to the motor. Nearly twice as large as any adjustable-speed drive in the world, it takes up a space measuring 30 ft long, by 30 ft wide, by 32 ft high, while the motor requires a space measuring 18 ft long, by 20 ft wide, by 23 ft high (excluding coolers and other accessories).

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