Effect of change of voltage and

frequency on electrical equipments

1-Objective
- Studying the effect of voltage and frequency on electrical
equipment

- studying the disadvantages of them

2-Introduction
the effect of frequency and voltage on transformer and
motors

Induction motors, both single and polyphase, are designed

for use with a particular frequency of AC power. Occasionally
we're confronted with a 'wrong' frequency motor. In this
article I'll help you understand the ramifications.

There are a large number of interacting relationships in a

motor's design. There are first order, second order and
probably even third order aspects that are all balanced to
produce a dependable motor with the desired characteristics.

3-Structure of subject
1-motors
-Effect of Change in Supply Voltage on Torque and Speed
As already discussed in my article on speed control of induction motors, it is
evident that the torque (T) of an induction motor is directly proportional to
the square of the supply voltage. During starting, the supply voltage is kept
to minimum, so that the torque is also minimum. When the supply voltage is
gradually increased, the torque increases following the relation:
 T s * V^2.
Where T = torque,
s = slip and
V = the supply voltage.
So it is evident from the above equation that the torque at any speed is
proportional to the square of the applied voltage. If the stator voltage is
decreased by 10%, then the torque decreases by 20%. This decrease in
torque, due to decrease in supply voltage will not only happen during
starting of the motor, but also during running conditions. It should be
appreciated that when the supply voltage V decreases, then the torque T
also decreases. But there is a load connected to the motor and it requires a
constant torque all the time. Thus in order to maintain a constant torque
during reduced supply voltage, as a compensation, the speed of the motor
decreases.

- Effect of Change in Supply Frequency on Torque and Speed

The change in supply frequency hardly occurs in large distribution systems

used on land. If there are some major disturbances or very heavy load
fluctuating continuously, then there might be a minimal frequency variation.
But large frequency variations are possible on electrical systems used on
board ships and emergency supply systems for factories and hospitals. Such
large frequency variations are possible on low power systems where diesel
engines and gas turbines are used as prime movers.

Points for discussion

1) Rotational speed is a direct function of the power frequency. Very simply,
if you drop the frequency, the motor will slow down. Conversely, if you raise
the frequency, the motor will speed up. The speed change that results will
be proportional to the frequency change.

2) Cooling is a direct function of rotational speed.

The motor's fan is attached to the motor's spinning rotor so it will
experience the same speed-up or slow down the motor does. If the motor
slows down, its cooling will drop (and at a faster rate than the slow down).
If the motor speeds up its cooling will increase rapidly.
3) The magnetic capacity of the motor's magnetic (iron) circuit is designed to
the relationship: voltage/frequency (V/f).

If the frequency drops the V/Hz goes up. This means that the motor needs a
larger magnetic circuit. Without it, the magnetic circuit can be overloaded.
This is called saturation and it leads to a rapid increase in current draw and
a corresponding large increase in temperature, a motor's chief enemy.

If the frequency increases, the V/Hz drops with no issues since the magnetic
circuit will remain plenty large enough. [Sneaking in a second order
consideration here, the motor may have a worse power factor.]

With the above aspects in mind let's explore what it all means when applied
to that unfortunate motor you have in your machine.

If the motor is a 50Hz unit and you're going to be using it in 60Hz-land it will
spin 20% faster.
Horsepower(hp) is proportional to Torque times RPM. Since the motor's
torque is not going to change appreciably with an increase in frequency it
will now provide 20% more hp. Your 8hp motor just got promoted to being a
10hp motor. Something for almost nothing!

But wait! Spinning a load 20% faster is very likely going to increase its
power demand by at least 20%! If the load cyclically accelerates or
decelerates in operation it will be subject to greater mechanical forces. Too
much?

If the motor is driving centrifugal loads their demand may even go up by

the square of the speed increase.

Centrifugal pumps would be an example of this. Fans, depending on their

style, can also experience a squared increase in demand.

A bright spot in this is that the motor's cooling fan is a centrifugal fan that
will move much more air.
The motor's V/Hz goes down when up-frequencying a motor, informing us
that the magnetic circuit will have no trouble carrying the increased load.
We're good there.

If the motor is a 60Hz unit and you're going to be using it in 50Hz-land it will
spin 20% slower.
This also translates to 20% less horsepower.

On the bright side, turning the load slower usually means it will be
demanding less power. That's good, because the motor was just demoted
20% of its hp too. All that and the cooling fan is providing less too. But the
800 pound gorilla here is the V/Hz ratio. It just went up 20%! Not good.
This means that during parts of every power line cycle the magnetic
structure of the motor will probably be overloaded.

When this happens the motor's ability to limit current via reactance is lost.
This will cause excessive current to flow heating the motor via I squared R
losses. The only recourse here is to correct the V/Hz with the variable that is
reasonably easy to adjust - V the voltage. Lower the voltage with a
transformer to correct the V/Hz ratio. I'll discuss that in moment.

Back to the load. Will it still do the job at the lower speed? A pump may no
longer have the head needed to accomplish its task. A machine's throughput
will likely drop 20%. Will you still process enough product in a given time?

Example You have 60Hz power for a 50Hz machine.

Let's say you just got a great deal on a machine. As it's being wired up you
realized that it has 50Hz on its nameplate and you have 60Hz power. STOP.

The machine will be running 20% faster! Is this going to be a problem? If it

is, can the speed be returned to design speed by changing a pulley size to
drop the speed 20% back to where it was?

Once this assessment has been done and sheaves are changed or other
modifications are done to help mitigate the speed/power issues, move on to
the next step. Read the nameplate to get the Full Load Amperage commonly
known as the FLA rating for the motor at the voltage you'll be running it
with.
Using a clamp-on ammeter, run the machine and check to see the amperage
is below the FLA. If it is you can proceed with running the machine as
desired. Do check to see that it's still under FLA when fully loaded. If it's
over FLA you must do some sort of load mitigation.

Example - You have 50Hz power for a 60Hz machine.

You receive a machine and since you are in 50Hz land, the 60Hz label is
bothering you. As well it should!

Again, realizing the machine will run 20% slower, will it get the job done? In
this case you can not change pulley sizes to correct the speed because the
motor just lost 20% of its horsepower nameplate rating. If you change
pulleys it will likely be overloaded - seriously.

If the machine can run 20% slower there may still be hope. Even though it is
going to lose cooling with its internal fan running more slowly, running the
load slower and with a 20% less powerful motor will likely even out. The
V/Hz increase may still get you.

At this point if your assessment shows you will probably be alright with the
slower speed, again check the nameplate for the FLA. Run the machine
and quickly check the running current with an ammeter. If it's below FLA
proceed to load the machine while closely monitoring things. If you stay
below FLA it will probably be OK.

But! Running at FLA now that the cooling fan has reduced ability is still
possibly going to be a problem. You should monitor the motor's temperature
and assure yourself that after extended running time, under load, it remains
below the nameplate temperature rise.

If even unloaded you're seeing FLA or more you will need to reduce the
voltage because the motor is probably saturating. Before going to the
bother of adding buck transformers, seriously consider changing out the
motor for the correct 50Hz version. Remember you may need to up the
rated horsepower if you're going to change gear ratios to return the machine
back to its original speed.
But wait! What about single phase motors?
A last issue that must be faced is single phase motors. Everything described
above applies to them but there's a couple of added flies-in-the-ointment.
Single phase motors have a start winding. Since single phase power has no
inherent rotational component, as three phase does, a start winding
provides the needed large torque to get the motor spinning. The start
winding is a very large load and as such can usually only operate for a few
seconds. More than a few seconds and smoke will start issuing forth.

A centrifugal switch is usually included on the rotor to control the power to

the start winding. It remains closed so when power is applied to the motor,
both windings, the run and the start, are both energized. As the motor
quickly reaches speed, the centrifugal aspect of the switch opens the start
winding, disconnecting it from further operation.

When a 50Hz single phase motor is brought to 60Hz the start function can be
upset because the motor reaches the centrifugal switch speed 20% earlier
than normal. When it does, the starting torque of the motor is suddenly
reduced. It could fail to speed up further and never reach normal running
speed. If that happens, smoke is on the way!

Conversely when a 60Hz single phase motor is brought down frequency the
switch could well not ever reach opening speed. Given that the switch
opening speed setpoint is usually set at around 80% of running speed, you
can see the potential for a problem. Remember the motor is going to turn
20% slower. If it doesn't reach switch speed, smoke is definitely on the way!
You'll be seeing it momentarily.

Single phase motors can often have two kinds of capacitors associated with
them. The first is a run capacitor. The run capacitor increases the motor's
regular running torque. The second, is a starting capacitor used to increase
the starting torque. When the supply frequency is raised these capacitors
increase their effects resulting in more torque.

Usually this is not a problem. But if you're lowering the frequency, they lose
their effects and starting and/or running torques are reduced. That can be a
problem. However, if the load is being spun more slowly it may balance out.
Since single phase motors are usually smaller it's often more effective to just
replace them.

So. Now you know why you got such a 'great deal' on your machine buy.

- Voltage & Frequency Variation

Variation from Rated Voltage:
In accordance with NEMA MG 1, 12.44, motors shall operate successfully
under running conditions at rated load with variation in the voltage up to the
following percentages of rated voltage:
1. Universal motors except fan motors - plus or minus 6 percent (with
rated frequency).
2. Induction motors - plus or minus 10 percent (with rated frequency).
Performance within these voltage variations will not necessarily be in
accordance with the standards established for operation at rated voltage.

Variation from Rated Frequency:

Alternating - current motors shall operate successfully under running
conditions at rated load and at rated voltage with a variation in the
frequency up to 5 percent above or below the rated frequency. Performance
within this frequency variation will not necessarily be in accordance with the
standards established for operation at rated frequency.
Combined Variation of Voltage and Frequency:
Alternating - current motors shall operate successfully under running
conditions at rated load with a combined variation in the voltage and
frequency up to 10 percent above or below the rated voltage and the rated
frequency, provided that the frequency variation does not exceed 5 percent.
Performance within this combined variation will not necessarily be in
accordance with the standards established for operation at rated voltage
and rated frequency.
Effects of Variation of Voltage and Frequency Upon the
Performance of Induction Motors:

A. Induction motors are at times operated on circuits of voltage or

frequency other than those for which the motors are rated. Under such
 conditions, the performance of the motor will vary from the rating. The
following is a brief statement of some operating results caused by
small variations of voltage and frequency and is indicative of the
general changes produced by such variations in operating conditions.

B. With a 10 percent increase or decrease in voltage from that given on

the nameplate, the heating at rated horsepower load may increase.
Such operation for extended periods of time may accelerate the
deterioration of the insulation system.

C. In a motor of normal characteristics at full rated horsepower load, a 10

percent increase of voltage above that given on the nameplate would
usually result in a decided lowering in power factor. A 10 percent
decrease of voltage below that given on the nameplate would usually
give an increase in power factor.

D. The locked-rotor and breakdown torque will be proportional to the

square of the voltage applied.

E. An increase of 10 percent in voltage will result in a decrease of slip of

about 17 percent, while a reduction of 10 percent will increase the slip
about 21 percent. Thus, if the slip at rated voltage were 5 percent, it
would be increased to 6.05 percent if the voltage were reduced 10
percent.

F. A frequency higher than the rated frequency usually improves the

power factor but decreases locked-rotor torque and increases the
speed and friction and windage loss. At a frequency lower than the
rated frequency, the speed is decreased, locked-rotor torque is
increased, and power factor is decreased. For certain kinds of motor
load, such as in textile mills, close frequency regulation is essential.

G. If variation in both voltage and frequency occur simultaneously, the

effect will be superimposed. Thus, if the voltage is high and the
frequency low, the locked-rotor torque will be greatly increased, but
 the power factor will be decreased and the temperature rise increased
with normal load.

H. The foregoing facts apply particularly to general-purpose motors. They

may not always be true in connection with special-purpose motors,
built for a particular purpose, or as applied to very small motors.
Operation of General-Purpose Alternating-Current Polyphase 2, 4, and 8
Pole, 60 Hertz Integral-Horsepower Induction Motors Operated on 50 Hertz:
While general-purpose alternating-current polyphase 2, 4, 6 and 8 pole, 60
Hertz integral-horsepower induction motors are not designed to operate at
their 60 Hertz ratings on 50 Hertz circuits, they are capable of being
operated satisfactorily on 50 Hertz circuits if their voltage and horsepower
ratings are appropriately reduced. When such 60 Hertz motors are operated
on 50 Hertz circuits, the applied voltage at 50 Hertz should be reduced to 5/6
of the 60 Hertz horsepower rating of the motor.
When a 60 Hertz motor is operated on 50 Hertz at 5/6 of the 60 Hertz voltage
and horsepower ratings, the other performance characteristics for 50 Hertz
operation are as follows:

A. Speed
The synchronous speed will be 5/6 of the 60 Hertz synchronous speed and
the slip will be 6/5 of the 60-Hertz slip.
B. Torque
The rated load torque in pound-feet will be approximately the same as the
60 Hertz rated load torque in pound-feet. The locked-rotor and breakdown
torques in pound-feet of 50 Hertz motors will be approximately the same
as the 60 Hertz locked-rotor and breakdown torques in pound-feet.
C. Locked-Rotor Current
The locked-rotor current (ampere) will be approximately 5 percent less
than the 60 Hertz locked-rotor current (amperes). The code letter
appearing on the motor nameplate to indicate locked-rotor KVA per
horsepower applies only to the 60 Hertz rating of the motor.

D. Service Factor
The service factor will be 1.0.
E. Temperature Rise
The temperature rise should not exceed 90C.

Effects of Voltages over 600 Volts on the Performance of

Low-Voltage Motors:
Polyphase motors are regularly built for voltage ratings of 575 volts or less
and are expected to operate satisfactorily with a voltage variation of plus or
minus 10 percent. This means that motors of this insulation level may be
successfully applied up to an operating voltage of 635 volts.
Based on motor manufacturers high-potential tests and performance in the
field, it has been found that where service voltages exceed 635 volts, the
safety factor of the insulation has been reduced to a level inconsistent with
good engineering procedures.
In view of the foregoing, motors of this insulation level should not be applied
to power systems either with or without grounded neutral where the voltage
exceeds 630 volts, regardless of the motor connection employed.

2- transformers :
Usually power transformers are not subjected to wide frequency variations.
Also modest voltage variations occurs on power transformers. But it is
interesting to consider their effects thereof.

Variation of voltage and frequency affects the iron losses (hysteresis and
eddy current losses) in a transformer. If the flux variations are sinusoidal,
then hysteresis loss (Ph) and eddy current losses (Pe) varies according to
the following relations

Ph f(max)x
x= 1.5 to 2.5 depending on the grade of iron used in transformer core
Pe f2(max)2
Now consider some operating condition of transformer
If transformer voltage and frequency changes in same proportion
The flux density (Bmax) will remain unchanged (V/f ). So the no
load current will also remain unaffected.
The transformer can be operated safely with frequency less than rated one
with correspondingly reduced voltage. In this case iron losses will be
reduced.
If transformer is operated with increased voltage and frequency in the same
proportion, the core loss may increase to an intolerable level.
If frequency is increased with constant supply voltage (V/f ) Hysteresis
loss reduced and eddy current loss unaffected.

Some increase in voltage could, therefore be tolerated at higher frequencies,

but exactly how much depends on the relative magnitude of the hysteresis
and eddy current losses and the grade of iron used in the transformer core.

3- My oponion
AC frequency affect on electrical system?
1-The power system delivery frequency in an electrical system will affect
inductive and capacitive reactance, and will have very little effect on purely
resistive loads. It will affect the power factor of the delivered voltage. There
are some pieces of equipment that can handle the change in frequency from
for example 50hz to 60hz, but a piece of equipment that is running on the
exact frequency that it was designed for will run the most efficiently, and
some equipment should not be run outside the builders target frequency.
The change is a result of timing the power delivery to the load along with
the voltage either leading or lagging the power for inductive or capacitive
loads. It all surrounds the timing of when the usable peak voltage coincides
with the usable peak current provided by the ac power source. Where
everything is mostly aligned you get the best efficiency at delivering the
energy you are trying to transfer though the AC power grid to the load. That
efficiency is sometimes indicated as the power factor. I assume this is the
frequency that you are looking at with this question, however there are
other frequency related anomalies related to ac electrical systems that
result in noise in audio equipment or digital equipment errors, timing errors,
as well as the effect that solar flares can cause creating all sorts of failures
in the power system. Quite often stray frequencies in the power system are
considered dirty power, and has to be filtered out for more sensitive
electronics to operate correctly. There are other frequency related details,
but I think this may cover what you were asking about
2-The line reactance or simply reactance of AC depends on the frequency. If
the inductance is L then reactance will be 2L. If the frequency of system is
increased then the reactance will be increased which means increase in
impedance of system because impedance is directly proportional with
reactance, mathematically
Z=sqrt.[(RxR)+(LxL)]
Z-Impedance/R-Resistance/L-Inductance
so, if frequency of system is changed then impedance of system will change
thus changing the characteristics of the system.

4- Application
1.Frequency changer
For the radio frequency device, see Frequency mixer.
The Sakuma frequency converter station is one of the stations that
links Japan's two grids.
A frequency changer or frequency converter is
an electronic or electromechanical device that converts alternating
current (AC) of one frequency to alternating current of another frequency.
The device may also change the voltage, but if it does, that is incidental to
its principal purpose.
Traditionally, these devices were electromechanical machines called a motor-
generator set.[1] Also devices with mercury arc rectifiers or vacuum tubes
were in use. With the advent of solid state electronics, it has become
possible to build completely electronic frequency changers. These devices
usually consist of a rectifier stage (producing direct current) which is then
inverted to produce AC of the desired frequency. The inverter may
use thyristors, IGCTs or IGBTs. If voltage conversion is desired,
a transformer will usually be included in either the ac input or output
circuitry and this transformer may also provide galvanic isolation between
the input and output ac circuits. A battery may also be added to the dc
circuitry to improve the converter's ride-through of brief outages in the
input powe
Frequency converter may also refer to a much-lower-powered circuit that
converts radio frequency signals at one frequency to another frequency,
especially in a Superheterodyne receiver. See Frequency mixer. The circuit
usually consists of a local oscillator and frequency mixer (analog multiplier)
that generates sum and difference frequencies from the input and local
oscillator, of which one (the Intermediate frequency) will be required for
further amplification, while the others are filtered out. The same result was
achieved historically by the pentagrid converter or a Triode and Hexode in a
single tube, but can be implemented in transistor radios economically by a
single transistor functioning as a self-oscillating mixer

2.Voltage converter
AC and DC
AC voltage conversion uses a transformer. Conversion from one DC voltage
to another requires electronic circuitry (electromechanical equipment was
required before the development of semiconductor electronics). Mains
power (called household current in the US) is universally AC.

Practical voltage converters

Mains converters
A common use of the voltage converter is for a device that allows appliances
made for the mains voltage of one geographical region to operate in an area
with different voltage. Such a device may be called a voltage
converter, power converter, travel adapter, etc. Most single
phase alternating-current electrical outlets in the world supply power at
210240 V or at 100120 V. A transformer or autotransformer can be used;
(auto)transformers are inherently reversible, so the same transformer can
be used to step the voltage up, or step it down by the same ratio. Lighter
and smaller devices can be made using electronic circuitry; reducing the
voltage electronically is simpler and cheaper than increasing it. Small,
inexpensive, travel adapters suitable for low-power devices such as electric
shavers, but not, say, hairdriers, are available; travel adapters usually
include plug-end adapters for the different standards used in different
countries. A transformer would be used for higher power.
Transformers do not change the frequency of electricity; in many regions
with 100120 V, electricity is supplied at 60 Hz, and 210240 V regions tend
to use 50 Hz. This may affect operation of devices which depend on mains
frequency (some audio turntables and mains-only electric clocks, etc.,
although modern equipment is less likely to depend upon mains frequency).
Equipment with high-powered motors or internal transformers designed to
operate at 60 Hz may overheat at 50 Hz even if the voltage supplied is
correct.
Most mains-powered electrical equipment, though it may specify a single
nominal voltage, actually has a range of tolerance above and below that
point. Thus, devices usually can be used on either any voltage from approx.
100 to 120 V, or any voltage from approx. 210 to 240 V. In such cases,
voltage converters need only be specified to convert any voltage within one
range, to a voltage within the other, rather than separate converters being
needed for all possible pairs of nominal voltages (110220, 117220, 110
230, etc.)

Converters for devices

Mains converters
Another requirement is to provide low-voltage electricity to a device from
mains electricity; this would be done by what is usually called a power
supply. Most modern electronic devices require between 1.5 and 24 volts DC;
lower-powered devices at these voltages can often work either
from batteries or mains. Some devices incorporate a power supply and are
simply plugged into the mains. Others use an external power supply
comprising either a transformer and rectifier, or electronic
circuitry. Switched-mode power supplies have become widespread in the
early twenty-first century; they are smaller and lighter than the once-
universal transformer converters, and are often designed to work from AC
mains at any voltage between 100 and 250 V. Additionally, because they are
typically rectified to operate at a DC voltage, they are minimally affected by
the frequency of the mains (50 vs 60 Hz). Details on operation are given in
the article on power supplies.

Mobile converters
Voltage converters can be used in vehicles with 12 V DC outlets. A simple
voltage dropper can be used to reduce the voltage for low-power devices; if
more than 12V is required, or for high-powered devices, a switched-mode
power supply is used. The output will usually be DC in the range 1.524 V.
Power supplies that output either 100120 V AC or 210240 V AC are
available; they are called inverters, due to the conversion from DC to AC
rather than the voltage change. The output frequency and waveform of an
inverter may not accurately replicate that supplied by mains electricity,
although this is not usually a problem.

Choosing a converter
A converter to drive equipment should be specified to supply at least the
actual watts or amperes used by the equipment; this is usually stated on a
label on the equipment. A converter of higher rating is safe to use. Some
equipment uses more power or current at startup; a 20% margin is usually
adequate, although it may be included in the rated figure.

3. Electric power conversion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For generic power conversion (e.g., heat to electric energy), see energy
transformation.
For national power supplies, see Mains electricity by country.

5-References
1-
http://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/81
54/Changing-an-Induction-Motors-Power-Supply-Frequency-Between-50-and-
60Hz.aspx

the Author is Keith Cress

2-http://www.usmotors.com/TechDocs/ProFacts/Voltage-Frequency-Variation

3-http://www.studyelectrical.com/2014/08/effects-voltage-frequency-
variations-on-transformers.html

4-Blalock, Thomas J., "The Frequency Changer Era: Interconnecting Systems

of Varying Cycles". The history of various frequencies and interconversion
schemes in the US at the beginning of the 20th century.

5-Jump up^ Renewable Energy World (May 2008), "Excited About Power
Quality"