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    Michel Brakel
    Department Sales & Planning

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    Our many years of experience and knowledge in the field of measurement of electrical quantities enable us to supply calibrations with a very small measurement uncertainty. VSL’s calibration reports are internationally recognised and ensure worldwide acceptance of your products.

    Accurate and traceable measurements are essential to demonstrate and guarantee the quality and stability (reliability) of electrical products and supply. Using VSL’s extensive measurement facilities, many quantities (power, resistance and current) can be measured over a wide range and frequency. All our results are traceable to the national primary standards.

    VSL calibrates items including resistances, transformers, voltage sources, transformer power loss measurement systems, power and HF measurement equipment, electromagnetic fields and electrical (lab) components. Whether we are considering the billing of electrical energy between customer and supplier or the underpinning of specifications for newly-developed measurement equipment, VSL provides reliable and traceable measurement results.

  • Electrical energy originates ever more often from alternative energy sources. Next to the classical generation of energy via gas, coal and nuclear power stations, energy companies are generating ever more energy using renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV or solar) cells and wind farms. Commercial companies and individuals are also supplying energy using solar panels and wind turbines. Since power consumption has increased hugely over the years, a greater capacity is demanded from the transport and distribution network.

    The increased use of alternative energy sources in the energy network causes irregular fluctuations in the supply. If the supply is not properly coordinated with the demand, this causes problems in the energy network, both in stability and power quality. For example, excessive or insufficient voltage (swell or dip) can cause damage to consumer equipment and in the worst case lead to power failure. Accurate real-time measurements on the energy network are of great importance to ensure the continuity and quality of the electricity supply.

    VSL provides extensive measurement expertise in the electricity field to utilities, manufacturers of measurement equipment, energy companies, universities and (accredited) calibration laboratories. VSL is very active in a series of European research projects, including in the field of Smart Grids.

  • In the energy sector, accurate and traceable measurements are of importance for the stability and quality of the energy network. With our thorough knowledge about electrical measurements and interpretation of measurement data, VSL can provide you with services including:

    • Power stability measurements for high/medium voltage power. The stability of the system can be measured using Phasor measurement units (PMU).
    • Smart metering. Investigation into the accuracy and reliability of the energy meters.
    • Energy Management Systems (EMS). Investigation into the accuracy of the systems.
    • Advice on improving power quality for among others wind farms and solar panels.
    • Advice on eco-design. Investigation into the energy consumption of (new) electrical equipment.
    • Advice on EMC measurements. Development of and advice on measurement methods concerning radiation impact and risks for radio frequency and high frequency radiation.
    • Advice on HF and LF Power measurements.

    Of course, each situation is unique. Would you like to know what we can do for you? Please contact us.

  • To ensure optimum quality of their measurements, laboratories frequently hold in-house quality checks. However, over time deviations in the measurement equipment can occur that cannot be detected by these checks. VSL regularly organises (international) interlaboratory comparisons, through which your laboratory’s measurement results are compared anonymously to those from VSL as primary standards laboratory and those from other participating laboratories.

    VSL organises such interlaboratory comparisons, also called “proficiency testing schemes” (PTs), annually in the electricity field for quantities including:

    Need for a different interlaboratory comparison? 
    Do you require another type of interlaboratory comparison? Then please contact us – we can make special arrangements for an interlaboratory comparison, possibly in combination with other laboratories that have a similar need. It is also possible to organise a bilateral comparison with VSL.

    Click here for more information about interlaboratory comparisons.

  • Would you like to know more about the accurate measurement of electrical quantities or the calculation of the associated measurement uncertainty? VSL offers open training courses and specific training courses on demand that are adapted to your specific knowledge needs.

    VSL training courses are always presented by specialists in their field of work. Theory is always combined with practice.

    At the end of the course, you receive proof of participation via a certificate.

    Courses on electrical metrology
    In the field of electrical metrology, VSL offers courses including ‘LF Uncertainty’ and ‘LF electrical measurement and calibration techniques’.

    During the LF electrical measurement and calibration techniques course, many issues are covered including:

    • Introduction to quality assurance and the national and international metrology structure
    • Precision measurement techniques for low-frequency electrical measurements (DC and AC voltage and current, resistance, impedance)
    • Factors that influence electrical measurements
    • Uncertainty of electrical measurements

    For a complete overview of our courses and for registering, please click here.

  • Manufacturers of measurement instrumentation calibrate these in their own calibration facilities in order to verify that their new products comply with the requirements, to check stability, or for periodic recalibration. Of course, the purchaser of the measurement instrument must have faith in the facility and so the measurement uncertainty is important.

    Test facility performance
    VSL offers CMC Certification. CMC stands for Calibration and Measurement Capabilities. The VSL CMC certification focuses on the performance of the test facility. You receive a certificate containing the calibration facility’s measurement uncertainty and a report about traceability. With this certificate, you can demonstrate that the measurement uncertainty of your facility has been established in a correct way, and has been reviewed by an authoritative and independent national metrology institute (NMI).

    Click here for more information.