ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND 20742

Prof. Fawzi P. Emad e-mail: emad@eng.umd.edu

Office: AVW-1429 FAX: 301-314-9281
Tel: 301-405-3640

Experiment #6: Three Phase Induction Motor

The three phase induction motor (IM) is very similar to the three phase transformer in ex-
periment #3. Besides transformer action, the IM has motion. If the IM were restrained so
it would not rotate, then it would be similar to a transformer. If there are no connections to
the rotor, then the rotor is shorted on itself and the IM (blocked rotor) is similar to a short
circuited transformer, the short being on the secondary side. As discussed in the lecture,
the model of the IM (for each phase) is similar to that of the transformer except that motion
is now included via the slip parameter s. Since there are three phases, the torque of the
motor is three times the torque for each phase, similarly for the shaft power, it will be three
times that found per phase. The slip parameter is defined as s = ( ns − n ) / ns , where ns is
the synchronous speed of the shaft in rpm (revolutions per minute) and n is the actual ma-
chine speed in rpm (usually, s is a positive number, i.e. n < ns ).

The single phase IM is one of the most common types of electrical motors in the world to-
day. If time permits, we shall study it in a future experiment. The three phase IM is also
one of the most commonly used three phase motors. The reason is the rugged construction
of the motor and the absence of brushes.

The figure above illustrates the per phase equivalent circuit of the IM. On the rotor side,
1 − s R2 R
the total resistance is R2 + R2 = . This 2 is broken into two parts (as shown
s s s
above) so the equivalent has a symmetry similar to the T-model of a transformer. If the ro-
tor speed is ns , ( n = ns ), then the slip s is equal to zero, thus Rs becomes infinite (open
circuit secondary) and the IM is similar to the transformer T-model. Like in the analysis of
the transformer, we will move the rotor parameters to the stator side thus we get the sim-
plified T-model as shown below. It is noted that we do not know the turns ratio, thus in-

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stead of a 2 R2 on the stator side, we use R2′. It is also noted that the shunt branch was
moved to the input for added simplicity. Instead of using I 2 / a , we use I2′. Similarly for
X 2′ and V2′. In the figure below, xeq = X1 + X 2′ and req = R1 + R2′. Keep in mind, this is the
per phase equivalent.
I1 I 2'
If the slip s is zero (i.e. the motor is at
synchronous speed ns ) then the vari- Im r x eq
+
able load resistor is open. Thus, the eq +
OC test is at synchronous speed. V1 rc xf
V2'
R'2(1-s)/s
On the other hand, if s = 1, then the -
-
variable resistor is zero (i.e. short
circuited). Clearly, s = 1 is equiva- Simplified approximate model.
lent to zero speed, i.e. locked rotor produces the SC test.

Please take a moment to convince yourself that both the OC test and the SC test are “no
load” tests. Both take very little electrical power. Thus, be careful to apply a small volt-
age in the SC test because the current will be large.

Thus, to find the parameters of the simplified model we will need to perform the two tests
which were performed on a transformer earlier. These are the SC test (locked rotor) and
the OC test (rotor at synchronous speed). Locking the rotor is easy to do: simply insert a
pin in a flange on the shaft which will immobilize it. To run at synchronous speed, use a
synchronous motor (studied earlier) to drive the IM at ω s . Your bench will be already set
up for you with three machines coupled mechanically: On the left will be the IM, in the
center the DC Dynamometer and on the right the SM. The pin hole for locking the rotor is
at the flange near the DC machine in the center.

Experiment Outline (OC and SC tests):

1. Connect the IM to a three-phase supply (do not include the neutral) and place instru-
ments to measure line current and line to line power and voltage. The reason we do not
include the neutral is that we do not know for sure if the windings are Y or ∆ or some
hybrid combination. We will find the equivalent Y per phase. Measuring line to line
will give twice the per-phase Y parameters. Line to line power multiplied by 2/3 will
give the per-phase Y power (why?).
2. Lock the rotor. Ask the instructor for permission to do this.
3. Be careful, this is the locked rotor test (SC test) and high currents may be present. Be
sure to take as short a time as possible in making this measurement.
4. Check your wiring, and increase the source voltage slowly till rated current is reached
(what is the value of this full rated current?). Take a reading of all the instruments.
5. Power down. Remove the pin so the shaft is free to rotate. This completes the SC test.
6. Make sure the locking pin has been removed so the IM is free to rotate.
7. Increase the power to the IM slowly, just to get the machine to rotate. Note the direc-
tion of rotation.

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8. Power down and turn the power OFF.
9. Identify (mark) the supply connections to the IM (you will need to connect it exactly the
same way later on). Disconnect the IM from the three-phase supply. Connect the three-
phase power supply (same source used for the IM) to the stator of the SM.
10. GET PERMISSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO GO TO THE NEXT STEP.
11. Increase the supply voltage on the SM till it just begins to rotate. Note the direction of
rotation. If it is not in the same direction found in step 7, two of the supply lines to the
SM need to be interchanged as directed in step 12 below.
12. Power down and switch all power OFF. If the SM rotation is the same as that in step
7, continue to step 13 below. IF NOT, reverse any two lines of the supply lines to the
SM.
13. Connect the three-phase supply to the IM in the same manner as they were identified
before (in step 9) so the rotation will stay in the same direction.
14. Connect a DC supply to the field of the SM. Make sure all supplies are set down to
zero.
15. Check your wiring. Switch the power on (AC and DC). Increase the AC power
slowly. The machines should rotate in the same direction as in step 7, and they should
run quietly. If there is any noise, STOP immediately and power down.
16. Continue to increase the AC power slowly till the full rated voltage of the IM is ap-
plied (do not exceed 120V). Now the machines should be running close to ω s .
17. Slowly increase the DC field of the SM. Measure the speed. Soon the SM will “lock”
to the synchronous frequency and will drive the shaft at ω s .
18. Now take the readings of the instruments. This completes the OC test.
19. Power down, first the DC, then the AC. Turn OFF the power. Remove all wire con-
nections on your station.

Now it is possible to compute req and xeq . Remember to convert all values to per phase
values. To completely find the model, we still need to break req into its components R1
and R2′. There are several ways of doing this by direct measurement. In the case of our
IM, there is no access to the rotor, hence we cannot measure R2′. We have access to the
stator, hence we can measure R1 of the stator windings. Due to AC current and the prox-
imity of wire turns in a winding, we need to modify any DC resistance measurement. Let
us assume that the DC resistance of the stator is R1DC . Let the AC resistance of the stator be
R1 AC = kR1DC . Thus R2' = req − kR1 DC . Use a value of k = 2 . This is not exact, but hope-
fully will suffice in this experiment. The value of R2' is needed when studying the motor
under mechanical load and its efficiency.

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Some given quantities for the IM:

3 phase induction motor

2 hp, 200/416 V, 6.2/3.1 A
1770 RPM, 60 Hz, PF = 0.775
87.5% Efficiency
As connected, Vab = 120 V

N.B. “As connected” indicates it may not be a straightforward Y or ∆ connection. This

however does not matter, we will find an “equivalent” Y by proper measurements, as we
did in the experiment. If the line to line voltage is 120 V, then the maximum line current
can be up to 10 A.

The induction machines (single and three phase) have con-

nections as shown to the right. Note that we shall not be
using the single phase machine in this experiment. Also, in
this experiment, the neutral connection of the three phase
machine will not be used.