EXPERIEMENT 3  THREE PHASE INDUCTION MACHINE

4.1 Objectives
 Determining the parameters of the equivalent circuit of a three-phase induction machine, by
means of a no-load test and a blocked rotor test which are similar to the open circuit and short
circuit tests used to measure the parameters of a transformer.
 Carrying out of a full load test, i.e. the experimental determination of real and reactive power
drawn by the induction machine at full load slip, torque-speed characteristics and efficiency.
 Verifying the equivalent circuit.

4.2 Theory
Slip: The stator of a 3-phase induction motor is fitted with three windings, each connected to one
phase of a 3-phase supply. The rotor has a squirrel cage construction which is effectively short
circuited. For normal operation, the stator and rotor currents set up a magnetic field distribution
which rotates around the air gap at "synchronous speed" proportional to supply frequency
(synchronous speed is 1500 rpm for the 50 Hz, 4-pole laboratory machines). Currents are induced in
the predominantly resistive rotor due to it slipping behind the rotating magnetic field. These induced
currents create a rotating magnetic field at the synchronous speed but which trails the stator field by
90 "electrical" degrees, thus creating motoring torque. In the theory of induction machines, the
mechanical speed of the rotor (r) and of the rotating magnetic field (s) is of great importance. This
is usually expressed as the "slip" (s), defined as:

s = ( s   r )  s (3.1)

Note that s=1 corresponds to standstill and s=0 corresponds to running at synchronous speed. The
normal running speed of an induction motor is typically 5% below synchronous speed, which
corresponds to a slip of 0.05.

Equivalent circuit: A per phase equivalent circuit of the induction machine, referred to the stator side,
is shown in Figure 1.
Rs Xs Xr

I1 I2

V1 Rr/s
Xm Rc

Fig. 1 Induction machine per-phase equivalent circuit, referred to the supply side

The equivalent circuit is just like that for a transformer but, on an equal mass basis, the induction
motor circuit has lower magnetising reactance because the magnetic circuit has the higher reluctance
of two air gaps per pole pair. Provided magnetic saturation is not localised we may assume that the
two leakage reactance are equal. Thus it is common for an unloaded induction motor to have a no-
load current 35% of rated current whereas for a transformer it may be only 10%. Obviously Rc

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accounts for the magnetising power loss and Rs represents the resistance of the stator. Rr is the rotor
resistance referred to the stator side and R r/s accounts for the power transferred across the air gaps to
the rotor. This resistor can be split into R r, accounting for the resistive heating in the rotor and R r*(1-
s)/s representing the mechanical power.

Torque-speed: Figure 2 shows the torque versus speed curve of a typical three-phase squirrel-cage
induction motor. When the motor speed n is equal to the motor synchronous speed ns, the torque T
produced by the motor is zero as the slip is necessary in order for the motor to develop torque. As the
torque T produced by the motor increases, the slip increases, and the motor speed n slowly decreases.
When the torque T reaches its nominal value, the speed n corresponds to the motor nominal speed.
When the torque T increases further (i.e., as the slip continues to increase and the motor speed
continues to decrease), a point of instability called the breakdown torque is reached. At this point, the
motor speed n continues to decrease, but the torque begins to decrease. The motor torque T at a
motor speed n of 0 r/min called locked-rotor torque, is usually lower than the breakdown torque.

Figure 2. Torque-speed charactertistic of a squirrel cage induction motor

Efficiency is defined as the measure of how well a motor converts electrical energy into mechanical
energy, and can be calculated by =PM/PE×100, where  is the motor efficiency, expressed in
percentage (%);PM is the mechanical power produced by the motor and P E is the active power supplied
to the motor.
The power loss associated with stator and rotor is illustrated in the Figure 3. The loss, mechanical and
electrical power can also be calculated from the equivalent circuit.

Figure 3. Active power flow in induction motor

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4.3 Pre-lab Work (Must be completed before coming to the laboratory)
1) If the no load test results of an induction machine are given as: 3-phase real power P nl, 3-phase
reactive power Qnl, line-line voltage Vnl, and stator current Inl, how to calculate magnetising
impedance?
2) If the block-test results are given as: 3-phase real power P bl, 3-phase reactive power Qbl, line-line
voltage Vbl, and stator current Ibl, how to calculate leakage reactance of stator and rotor?
3) Derive the torque, output power, and efficiency of the induction machine based on the
equivalent circuit.
4) Compare the per phase equivalent circuit of a transformer and an induction machine and
describe the similarities and difference.
5) How to improve the power factor of an induction motor?

4.4 Lab Equipment

 3-phase variable supply
 3-phase Four-Pole Squirrel Cage Induction Motor – Module 8221
 Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply – Module 8960
 Data Acquisition and Control Interface – Module 9063
 24 V AC Power Supply
 Blocking tools

4.5 Safety Warnings

The labs are involved high voltages and currents. The outcome can be fatal if the lab instructions are
not correctly and strictly followed. To ensure the safety of personnel and equipment, you must:
 Ensure the WHS (workplace health and safety) induction on the blackboard completed.
 Be aware and always fulfil the safety rules and requirements working in the lab 435 described
in the Introduction lab notes.
 Ask a tutor to check the connections before power on.
 DO NOT touch any part of experiment connections once the setup is energised.
 Always switch off the power first if any experiment connections are to be changed.

4.6 Experimental Work

Check the ratings of the induction machine to be tested on the front panel and record in your log
book.

2.6.1 Stator resistance measurement Rs:

Using a digital multimeter (DMM), measure the DC resistance of each of the stator windings and then
average the measurements as Rs.

2.6.2 Blocked rotor test (short-circuit test):

Fig. 4 shows the connection diagram of an induction motor for the block-rotor test. The variable AC
supply is used to power on the 3-phase squirrel cage induction machine. Ask a supervisor/tutor to
disengage the belt between the induction motor and the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply
(Dyn) and also to check the wirings before energising.

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 1) Set up meters in the software LVDAC-EMS and Data Acquisition and Control Interface (DACI).
 Switch on 24V AC supply and start LVDAC-EMS.
 In LVDAC-EMS, start the Metering application from Instruments on the top bar menu. Set up
meters E1 for the three-phase induction machine line voltage, I1 for line current, PQS1 + PQS2
for the machine active power P and reactive power Q.
 Click the Continuous Refresh button to enable continuous refresh of the values in the
Metering application.
 Insert a Data Table from the top bar menu and include all the meters in the Table via Record
Settings.
2) Hold the rotor end with the hand tool supplied to conduct a blocked rotor test. What is the
rated current of the machine? Monitor the current meters I1 and I2 to ensure none of them is
exceeded rated value when applying voltage on the machine.
3) Ensure that the variac is set to zero volts and then switch on the variable AC supply. Apply
reduced voltage to the stator slowly, sufficient to cause the rated current of 0.46 A.
4) Click Record Data to take the meter readings. Export it to an Excel sheet and calculate the real
power per phase (Pbl ), the reactive power per phase (Qbl ), voltage (Vbl ) and currents (Ibl )
from the Table.
5) Turn the variac back to zero and then switch off the variable AC supply.

Variable 3-ph AC 0~415V

+ com 1 4
I1
+
A
red
E1

com 2 5 N
com
B
yellow E2

+ + com 3 6
I2

C
blue

Fig.4 Connection diagram of block/no-load test for 3-phase squirrel cage induction motor.

2.6.3 No load test (open-circuit test)

The circuit connection diagram remains the same as Fig. 4. The induction machine stays without the
belt. Ask a supervisor/tutor to check the wirings.

6) Clear the data in the Data Table. The meters settings are remained the same in the Metering
application. Click the Continuous Refresh button to enable continuous refresh of the values in
the Metering application.
7) Ensure the variac is at zero position and then turn on the variable AC supply. Start the motor
by slowly increasing the variac voltage from zero. Do this slowly enough to ensure that the
machine rated current (0.46 A) drawn from supply is at no stage exceeded. Please note the
current readings on Meter I1 and I2. Why are the current readings shown up to a certain level,
then disappeared/decreased and shown again with consistently increasing the voltage?

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 8) When the motor has run up to speed, record the meter readings when the rated voltage of
415V line-line is reached. Export the Table to an excel sheet and work out the no-load current
(Inl), active power (Pnl ) and reactive power (Qnl ) for per phase.
9) Turn the variac back to zero and then switch off the variable AC supply.

2.6.4 Calculation of equivalent circuit parameters

The average stator resistance Rs previously measured by a DMM and can be considered to be the DC
value. Due to the skin effect, an extra 20% should be considered for the stator AC resistance.

Like the open-circuit test on a transformer, the no-load test on an induction motor gives information
with respect to exciting current and no-load losses. At no-load, the rotor current is a very small value
required to produce sufficient torque to overcome friction and windage, and the slip is very small so
that the reflected rotor resistance (R r/s) is very large. Hence the no-load input power is dissipated only
2
at Rs and Rc. Subtracting stator copper loss of Rs I nl from no-load input power, will give core and
rotational losses of the induction motor as:

Pr  Pnl  Rs I nl2 (3.2).

Now, magnetising branch resistance of Rc can be estimated as:

V2
Rc  (3.3).
Pr

The total reactive power at no-load is absorbed by self-reactance X 11 of the stator, which is the
series combination of stator reactance X s and magnetising reactance X m , i.e. X 11  X s  X m

The self-reactance can be determined by

V2
X 11  (3.4).
Q nl

Hence the magnetising reactance can be estimated as (referred to the Eq.(3.7) in the blocked-rotor
test below)

X m  X 11  X s (3.5).

Like the short-circuit test on a transformer, the blocked-rotor test on an induction motor gives
information with respect to the leakage impedances. If exciting current at blocked rotor test is
neglected (as the stator current is much greater than exciting current), from the total reactive power

Qbl
absorbed by the induction motor, determine the sum of stator and rotor reactance as X s  X r 
I bl2
(3.6).

Assuming equal distribution of leakage reactance in the induction motors, stator and rotor reactance
Xs  Xr
can be determined as: X s  X r  (3.7).
2

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At blocked-rotor test, the input power is dissipated on R s and Rr as the slip is 1. The sum of stator and
rotor resistance can be determined by

Pbl
R s  Rr  (3.8).
I bl2

Substitute Rs measured before the rotor resistance can be worked out.

Now all the parameters in the equivalent circuit of Fig.1 are determined. Make a sketch of the per-
phase equivalent circuit of the induction motor and show on it the values of the parameters
determined.

2.6.5 Load test:

Fig 5 shows the connection diagram of the induction motor load test. Ask a tutor to connect a belt to
couple the dynamometer and induction machine.

Variable 3-ph AC 0~415V

+ com 1 4
I1
+
A
red
E1

com 2 5 Prime
N mover/
com brake
B
yellow E2

+ + com 3 6
I2

C
blue

Fig. 5 Connection diagram of load test for the induction machine

1) In LVDAC-EMS, apart from existing meters for the currents (I1,I2), voltages (E1,E2), and
powers (PQS1, PQS2) in Meter window, also set up the speed, torque, and mechanical power.
Update the meters setting in the Data Table by clicking Record Settings. Ask tutors to check
your connections.

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 2) Speed Sweep function of the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply is used to conduct
the load test. To do it, you need use a USB cable to connect Dynamometer with the host PC
and set up it with the steps below (referring to the screenshot)
 From the top bar menu open the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply.
 Set the Function parameter to Speed Sweep, which makes the Dynamometer operate as a
constant-speed prime mover/brake whose speed varies over a range defined by the Start
Speed and Finish Speed parameters in a specified number of steps of equal time duration.
 Set the Start Speed parameter to the synchronous speed 1495rpm.
 Set the Finish Speed parameter to 1100 r/min.
 Set the Number of Steps parameter to 10 steps.
 Set the Step Duration parameter to 7 s.
 Set the Record Data to Table parameter to Yes.
 Dyn. should be STOPPED (don’t press the START button unless required)

3) Check the circuit breakers for the power supply panel are OFF before connecting the circuit.
Ask a tutor to check your connection before energising it.

4) Switch on the variable AC power. Slowly increase the variac till the voltage reaches 415V. Then
press START button from LVDAC-EMS.

5) Wait for the Speed Sweep function to complete its sweep of the specified speed interval.
6) Then press STOP button of the dynamometer. In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power
Supply window, change the settings as following:
 Set the Start Speed parameter to 1060 r/min.
 Set the Finish Speed parameter to 0 r/min.
 Set the Number of Steps parameter to between 15 steps.
 Set the Step Duration parameter to 7 s.
7) In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, start the Speed Sweep function.
Wait for the Speed Sweep function to complete its sweep of the specified speed interval.
Record the Torque from Dyn. window instead in this case.
8) When all data has been recorded, export it to the Excel. Then turn the variac back to zero and
switch off the three-phase ac power.

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 9) Plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor torque as a function of the motor speed using
the results. Indicate on the graph the nominal speed and nominal torque, as well as
breakdown and locked-rotor torque.
10) Plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor active power P and reactive power Q as a
function of the motor mechanical power PM. Do not include the points recorded as the motor
mechanical power decreases after having reached its maximal value. Comment on the curves.
Briefly explain why it is not recommended to use a three-phase induction motor in
applications requiring the motor to work at less than its nominal mechanical power.
11) Plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor efficiency as a function of the motor
mechanical power. Describe how the motor efficiency varies as the mechanical power
increases.

4.7 Verify the Equivalent Circuit

This part can be conducted after the lab session and put as a part of the analysis for the experimental
results in your report.

1) With a set of data which has the maximum efficiency from the load test, use the equivalent
circuit worked out above, to calculate the following parameters to verify the equivalent circuit.
Note: Use the voltage and the slip from the measured values.
 Per phase current from the supply

 Total real power from the supply

 Total reactive power form the supply

 Gross mechanical power

 Gross torque

 Efficiency

2) Compare these calculations with the measurements in the load test above. Comment on the
accuracy of the equivalent circuit.

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