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Testing services

Through out Sustainable Energy Industry Support Centre, we offer the following testing services:

Solar Collector Testing

Outdoor and indoor facilities for testing thermal performance of flat and evacuated tube solar collectors according to AS/NZS 2532.1:2007.

 

The SEC also supports the newly formed Sustainable Energy Industry Support Centre (SEISC). This centre has been formed with a key focus on supporting solar hot water applications in Australia through testing and product development.
 

Environmental Test Chamber

Engine Testing

Calorimeter Room

The Laboratory:

The Calorimeter Room (Cal Room) is an air conditioner test laboratory, located at the University of South Australia’s Mawson Lakes Campus. The laboratory boasts a balanced ambient calorimeter which has been designed and built in accordance to the AS/NZS 1861-1976 standard.

The design and operation of the calorimeter have since been kept up to date in response to progressive changes in the standard, including the current form of AS/NZS 3823 and the various subsections of this standard. By enclosing the unit to be tested within a specially designed room, the facility enables direct measurement of the cooling and heating capacity of air conditioners. This facility does not simulate its results; it measures the actual thermal capacity of a real-life air conditioner in a realistic situation. For companies seeking a competitive edge in the marketing of their product, the ability to provide realistic data on the operation of the equipment represents a distinct advantage.

The facility has the ability to test air conditioning equipment with a cooling capacity up to 12kW. Ambient temperatures within the calorimeter can be controlled to an accuracy of 0.1OC (dry and wet) within a temperature range of between -1OCdb to +65OCdb.

Research and Consultancy
The facility has been utilised for many applications including, but not limited to: Star label testing. The Cal Room has been recognised as a Testing Laboratory by the National Appliance Checktesting Program. All new models of air conditioners released to the Australian market must have a testing laboratory report substantiating the manufacturer’s performance claims.

Star Label Check Testing
The Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector performs random checks on air conditioners sold within Australia. The Cal Room testing procedure produces equivalent results to the standard tests used by the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector, and can therefore be utilised by industry to ensure that air-conditioning units meet current standards.

Supplier Check Testing
Air conditioner importers often have no choice but to accept a manufacturer’s claims with regards to the performance of an air-conditioner. An independent report provided by the Cal Room gives importers an accurate benchmark against which to evaluate the veracity of a manufacturer’s claims.

Product Development
Sustained efforts to improve the performance of an air-conditioner are greatly enhanced with the valuable information provided by a calorimeter. For example, the ability to set temperature conditions at almost point within the operating range of the air conditioner can facilitate investigation into the satisfactory operation of de-ice controllers.

Thermal Properties of Ducting
This is an emerging area of testing. Calorimeter testing of ducting has provided a means of creating a true-to-life model of an in-home ducting installation.

Properties of Thermal Storage Devices
The Cal Room has successfully been used to measure the capacity of various thermal storage facilities, such as phase-change materials.

Air Conditioning Research
Theoretical advances in the field of heat transfer can be tested and modified using the facilities within the Cal Room. Opportunities exist for collaboration between the Cal Room and interested organisations in the pursuit of mutually beneficial projects. Government grant incentives apply in this situation.

 

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