418
January 1997
A MODEL OF LARGE LO
R Lamedica, k prudenzi Member lEEE
Dept. of Elecmcal Engmeenng
Universita' di Roma "LaSapienza - Italy
Abstract - llhis paper describes an lIllproved model of rotating loads
m complex load areas.
The first section of the paper concentrates on the theoretical aspects
of load modeling in harmonic penetration studies with a particular
reference to the rotatbg part of load. The second section illustrates
the results achieved firom the expenmental surveys conducted both
m the laboratory and at a ma30r industrial customer, m order to
validate the model proposed in the field. The third section describes
the cahbration stage of the proposed model based on results h m a
statistical survey conducted at manufacturers on parameter variation
VS bequency with a large sample of both LV and MV induction
motors. Finally, SOme guidelines are also provlded for a correct use
of the proposed model m system studies concemmg harmoruc
penetration within electric distribution networks.
Introduction
well known, consumers' h e a r passive loads play an mportant
role m harmonic penehsltion studies, smce they pnmanly a f € a
frequency response of the system m near-resonance conditions,
bemg the mam damping cmpom"pon. AU the typical h ear passive
loads present m the various collsul~ler segments (resldenhl,
.
commercial hsdustrial) may be grouped as follows:
- stahr loads (lighting, resistive heatmg, etc.) w t h electrical
charactmacs generally well represented by the total installed active
and reactive power (P. Q)or by the total demands at fimdamental
fiequency (with capacitive compensation separately represented);
- rorahng 1 4 (induction motors for the most wdespread
applications) with electrical charactenstics that can no longer be
adequately simulated through their adivdreactive demands at
fundamental
~ncomputer smulptton of harmoruc distortion m power systems,
considerable work has been done. both on calculation methodology
and on models of network components best reflected 1 ~ expenmental
. representation: they, in fact. do not seem to be directly lltdizable to
tests and field measurements results. However. some di8Bculties still
exlst m achieving a sufficiently accurate m o d e h g of load areas,
especially whea conslstmg of complex loads wth a hl& percentage
of rotatmg equipment.
m e maln causes are the foUowmg
- there iswcreal
i f f id UI achevmg synthesis. due to the fact that
the network load is very seldom perfectly h o w ~1 its
composition and it is generally unstable.
- the majonty of studies available on equivalents of mduction motor
groups m a d y focus on the dynamc behavior m transients
foilovmg sudden vanations m the voltage supply or else m shght.
semi-static frequency and voltage vanations around the rated value.
- m the majonty of cases. the models available for the representation
96 WM 125-5 PWRD A paper recommended and approved by
the IEEE Transmission and Distribution Committee of the IEEE
Power Engineering Sociecy for presentation at the 1996 IEEEPES
Winter Meeting, January 21-25, 1996, Baltimore, MD.
Manuscript submitted July 3 1, 1995.
0885-8977/97/$10.00 0 1996 IEEE
IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, Vol 12, N o 1.
O N C STUDIES IN DISTRIBWON NE
E.Tironi, D.Zamnelli Member IEEE
Dept. ofElecmca1 Engineenng
Politecnico di Milano - Italy
of loads consistmg of numerous mductnon motors can be found m
studres dealmg wah the behamor of motors supphed by non-
smusoidal waveforms (mvextm) Such studies focus mamly on
motors considered mdivldually and not as an mtegrated part of the
network;
- the choice of the scale factor, to be used m order to extend the
above mentioned models to the different ratmgs of mdudion motors
present m the network, is often qulte a complex task.
In harmmc penetration studies, there are some mica1 srtuations
(for example. a specific network topology, a hgh percentage of
rotatmg load, or a w d e W b u t i o n of power factor comxtlon
capacitors) that ewdence the need to adopt a hlgher accuracy levei m
eqmvalent cucwts smulatmg the load area
' h s paper descnbes a model of complex load areas. able to
represent more accurately the rotatmg part of the load.
The proposed model can be used for smulatmg large complex load
areas wahin harmomc studies for whch the mjection current method
has been fouud to be stdl sufficiently accurate
L Load Modeling In Harmonic Penetration Studies
Previous research work has clearly shown that the load models most
commonly used in power system harmonics literature indicate quite
a marked difference m frequency response when they are used to
match field measurements on a distribution network supplying large
load areas with a high percentage of rotatmg loads [11.
In receat decades, many studies have been paformed by specialists
m rotating machinery in order to characterize more accurately the
behavior of induction motors with an increase m supply hquency
(see e.g. [2,3]).'Ihe relevant models have been shown to accord well
with induction motor performances in respect of both non-sinusoidal
supply at high frequencies and during transients. Even though the
above equivalent circuits are suitable for smgle-motor
simulate large groups of motors in system studies such as harmonic
penetration analyses in distribution networks.
Recent works by International Committees on this topic have
recogrued the need. as in other power system studies. to model the
load as an aggregate. though evidencing some uncertainties that call
for experimental studies specifically concemed with network
distribution levels.
In order to represent the total rotating load with a single equivalent
motor, circuit parameters that are needed can no longer directly
relate to the structural characteristics and electrical ratmgs of
individual motors, and are therefore difficult to evaluate. Due to the
aforesaid difficulties. the model most used for the sunulation of the
rotating part of a complex load in harmonic penetration studies [CS]
are directly denved from the classic equivalent cucuit of the
induction motor. and generally share the constancy of the motor
parameters with the frequency. All the models use the induction
motor locked rotor equivalent circuit by assummg the followulg
approximations:
a) the slip is considered equal to 1. whereas it actually differs from 1
precisely in the first higher harmonics order (5th harmonic: s = 1.2.
7th harmonic: s = 0.86. etc.), that is, in those that are often the
relevant component of the total harmonic distortion;
b) the stator + rotor resistance. which IS usually less than 10% of

the locked rotor reactance at fundamental frequency, but that
increases w t h the frequency. is generally omitted.
c) the deep bar effect m the rotor wndmgs w t h the increase m
frequency is ignored. whereas it is known that m mdustnal mduction
motors (hundreds of kW) the current density distnbution influence is
remarkable and determmes a (rotonc) resistance mcrease with
frequency and a decrease of the leakage mductance
In order to take into account the influence of the phenomenon in c), a
f\llther model w a s previously proposed by the authors [l], that
adopts the followng mam changes.
- the stator + rotor resistance has been considered added m series to
the locked rotor reactance;
- the vanation law of the parameters (R, L) of the rotating part of the
load as a b c t i o n of the frequency, o w g to skm effect m the rotor
bars. is approximated to by a polynomial representation
The representation adopted follows the approach gven m [9], which
has proved the most suitable m order to express serm-empirical
models also able to represent non-homogeneous motors, and
therefore complex loads such as those present UI distribution
networks.
I
_----- I
------' x, = - -1.2- . l - , , . h . [ l - ( h . f @ ? ]
I f
(4)
static parr rotating parr P .P
Fig. 1. The cor&er load equrvalent circuit
Fig. 1 shows the complex load equivalent circuit and the analytical
expressions of the parameters, where:
kharmonic orda.
fo- funduncatpl fkequency,
R,,,-equivPlent d e s resistance at fundamental frequency,
,ljr=locked rotor mean equivalent reactance,
p-fiaction of the rotating load
a. p. kp parameten of the proposed model.
IL Model Validation through Experimental Tests
The proposed model was subjected to a comprehensive experimental
test, carried old both in the laboratory and by a major industrial
customer. 'Ihe test arrangements were chosen so as to measure
induction motors harmonic impedance vs. frequency during normal
operating conditions, thus taking into due account the motors' rated
saturation.
U.1 Methodology for m e a s m g harmonic unpedance
As it is known. the vanous tests for investigatmg the harmonic
behavior of power systems and of theu components can be
performed using two altemative techniques. invasive and non-
invasive [IO].
The invasive technique requires the injection of harmonic currents at
the point of interest for m e a s m g the consequent voltage distortion.
permitting the calculation of harmonic impedance as a ratio of
complex quantities V and 1 at each different frequency The non-
invasive technique utilizes the distortion level present at the pomt of
interest for deducmg the harmonic impedance of the network through
the watching of a well-known load (often a capacitor) as well as
through analysis of the frequent harmonic current fluctuations caused
419
by the various non-hear sources in normal operating conditions
[ I1.12]
The analysis assumes the rotatmg load to be passive. causmg,
therefore, only voltage drops at each harmonic frequency. already
present m the supply.
Both the above-mentioned techniques were used for the
expenmental test stage m order to measure the impedance offered by
tnduction motors. both mdividually and m large goups. to each
harmonic present in the supply wave shape
Fig. 2 - The expenmental arrangement used in the case of non
invasive technique.
The expenmental arrangement used m the case of non mvasive
techniques. is reproduced by the sunple diagram m Fig 2. where the
rotatmg load passive equivalent (mdividual mduction motors or
group). t h e harmonic source determmmg the backgound distortion
at the PCC (Pomt of Common Couplmg)and the passive equivalent
unpedance of the network upstream of the PCC are represented
Special care must be taken for a correct mterpretation of the results
obtamed wth the measurements at the PCC In fact. a prelmmary
accurate analysis has to be camed out m order to detennme the
background distortion at the PCC at no-load conditions both for the
vanous network configurations and in the vanous loadmg conditions.
The invasive technique has been used only for t a t s performed m the
laboratory. where a low harmonic content w a s present m the supply
voltage The non-mvasive technique w a s used for a11 the tests
performed by the major industrial customer.
ILZ Laboratory tests
The tests conducted in the laboratory made it possible to mvestigatc
only groups of motors with LV supply and low ratmgs (hction of
kW to 11 kW). The harmonic content necessary for tmpedance
versus frequency characterization was been obtamed through the two
follomng configurations:
- a sut-pulse addc bridge converter injecting distorted cumnt waves
into the network supplying the laboratory premises.
- a six-step inverter generating a dstorted (square) voltage wave
supplymg directly the rotatmg loads.
The harmonic unpact of the convener on the voltage waveshape was
first adequately enhanced by choosing quite a weak pomt of ~ m "
coupling as well as by adding in senes with the network unpedance
some variable prevalently mductive unpedances of some mH
All the tests conducted in the two above configurations gave quite
similar results [17]. The measurements were performed wth a
spectrum analyzer (maxunum voltage: 600 V. m a x m m frequency:
2550 Hz) as well as with a portable PC-based acquisition system
equipped with an 8-channel, 25 smultaneous k-samples per channel,
12-bit acquisition board. The current measurements were conducted
w t h transducers based on the Hall effect.
Figure 3 shows an instance of the results obtained from tests
conducted on induction motor p u p s The figure illustrates the
imagmary part of impedance versus frequency of a group of motors
consisting of two 3-kW and an I I-kW three-phase motor operatmg
simultaneously (base impedance is referred to the group rated power
and 400 V)
Similar tests conducted on a smgle induction motor. as illustrated in
Fig 4 a) and b), show that the behavior of the impedance magnitude
420

1s manly due to the contnbution of the Imagmary part which at the mstallations For the measurements camed om at the L\
is more hoticeable as the kequency mcreases The analysis of the busbars, suitable wde-band pass-clamp C T ’ s were used
The presence of large n o n - h e a r sowces charactenzed bv a nch

PCC-16 IO Mv.

0
OS i L L
d0 250 3SO 550 650 ’7k
qHz)

Fig. 3 - Imaginary purt o/ impedance vs. frequency of a motor group

(2x3 M ’ - l x l l k ~ i mtedpower)
;

results obtained indicated that the unpedance of the aggregate

rotatmg load mcreased less than h e a r i y wrth Erequency.
As far as the leakage reactances versus harmomc frequency curves is
concerned. similar res& were obtamed m 191 m which several tests H
were camed out on locked rotor LV-fed motors
1

a) L

1
I
I
I
0.5 1
Fig. 5 - The W d i s t n b u r i o n network of the rndusmai cusromer

I!

0.5 t : /
!
250 350 550 650 /O0
b
O.4kl’
fcHz) I-
Fig. 4 - Zl/)diagram for
a 3kR’ rated induction motor in test
conjguranon offig.2;a)Z real part; b) 2 imaginay part.

II.3 Tests on a major industrial customer Fig. 6 - Detail ofLVdisrnburion networkfed by t m q l o r m e r . C

The tests c a m 4 out by the industrial customer were necessary m
order to extend the validation stage to mdividual and groups of
mduction motors with higher ratmgs (from hundred of kW ~rpto 1
MW).
Figure 5 hustrates the M v distribution network suppiymg the
customer‘s vanous production processes. Figure 6 represents an
instance of *e typical layout of the load areas shown in the Fig. 5 .
In phrticular, Figure 6 illustrates a nuxed load area comprising both
non-lmear loads and rotating loads. Each test mvolved a careful
prelimlnary plant charactenzation through daily harmonic
recordmgs, harmonic sunulations, and reiterated harmontc
impedance measurements on the vanous busses of the mstallations.
The measurements on the M V side mvolved usmg Current
Transformers (CT’s) and the Potential Transformers ( I T S ) available
harmonic spectrum enabled a non-mvasive techtuque for harmonic
impedance charactenzation of LV and M v motor load to be used A
high percentage of the customer’s total demand (SO’% of total
demand consistmg in 8MW) is in fact provided through power
conditiorwng devlces such as UPS’S wth SLX and twelve-pulse
reaction Also, many ASD’swere present at the customer‘s factory.
thus pemttmg the recording of rich background distortion. although
the voltage THD measured was well below the recommended limits
n e identification of harmomc tmpedance versus frequency of
rotatug loads was then performed d m g normal operation of the
distribution system, by takmg mto due account the saturation effects
present at rated voltage
Fig. 7 shows the harmonic impedance vs. frequency a$ recorded for a
130 kW LV mduction motor (pomt A m Fig. 6 )
 1

1 motors during the various recordingtest.

Some field messurements were also carried out on two M V (6 kV)
E 1 --a--...----
'
-.- -- ---_
-&..i---
I
induction motors, in operation (1.25 MW, 0.65 MW fed h m F and
6
U
0 ' N transformer respectively m F i g 9
Fig. 9 illustrates the harmonic impedance m d at the termmals
_____
-
mas-: -- _^__----

0
_ _ _ _ --- *-
of one of the large induction motors momtored which were always m
operation (1.25 MW). Fig. 9 also show the h a n n m c unpedance
values calculated usmg the proposed model.

IIL Model Validation and Parrmeter Calibration

IIL 1 The statistical survey

Fig. 7-Reconied (0) and calculated
of a 130 W L V induction motor.
1.5 I
(9values of harmonic impedance In order to extend the validation stage of the model to a more
representative sample, a comprehensive survey wns conducted at two
large differat European factories.
The purpose was to determine, on a statistical basis, average values
! (analytically calculated) to be assigned to the parameters of the
1 rotating part of circuit m Fig. 1.
The above parameters are e x p d as functions of those of the
simplified induction motor equivalent circuit as follows [13,14]:

where:
R,, = stator resistance,
k=rotorresistrmct,

Fig.8-Reconied (0) and calculated
of LV lnducrion motors group.
I I
(9values of harmonic impednnce Data, collected on 59 induction LV motors (380 V) with difFemt
ratings (from 180 W to 400 kW), were then subjected tb statistical
processing [IS]m order to evaluate the per unit mean value of 4
and L h as a function of lkqwcy, as well as to find the
- corresponding standard deviation. As concems the stator reslstence
(Rst), the statistical p.u average values found are 0.009 for MV
motors and 0.04 for LV motors.
The analytical fimctions that represent the average values can be
expressed through polynomial forms. such as:

I 1 I in which h is the harmmc order and the Ai and Bi terms are

O*&" 400 600 800 1000 reported in Table I, with a frequency range validity between 50 and
1000 Hz
Using a similar methodology, a statistical survey WBS carried out on
53 M V induction motors (6 kV) with a rated power rangmg h m 160
Fig.9-Recorded ( 0 ) and calculated (9values of harmonic impedance kW to 4 h4W and numbers of poles rangmg ffom 2 to 8 poles
at terminals of a M V large induction motor. inclusive statistical results, previously illustrated m detail in [U],
are summarized here.
Fig. 8 shows the range of variability of harmonic impedance The analytical fimctions that represent the p.u average values can be
measured for a p u p of LV induction motors, with a total expressed as:
simultaneous demand of about 100 kW, each witb an individual
rating of less than 20 kW @omt B in Fig. 6). ?be figure also 6 6
illustrates the comparison with the harmonic impedance diagram R , = C O+ s C , h' ; L h r = D O + z D , h' (7)
1-1 1.1
obtained with the proposed model. The terms Ci and Di, valid withm the 50-1000 Hz ffequency range,
For the field tests dustrated in Fig. 8, measurements were possible are also given in Table I.
422
TABLE I
El 2 Calibration of the model's parameter
Branch simulating the rotating pan of load
'The comprehensive expenmental and statistical survey conducted
made it possible to obtam the followmg results concemmg each
parameter m equations (3) and (4) of the proposed model.
For LV induction motors. the better average values for the parameter
l. m the power ratmgs concemed were found to be between 0.15 and
0.75
As for the Val& to be assigned to the parameter &, it must be
remembered that m LV motors the senes equivalent resistance
averages 15-25% of locked rotor reactance. A generally suitable
value of& is 0.025-0.045 p.u.
The value of Xb @.U) vanes very little with power for LV induction
Q3
(12
motors The results of the above-mentioned statistical survey
suggested for t h ~ svanabihty a range between 0 1 1 and 0 16 p.u
Given the p r e v a h g influence of equivalent reactance as compared
wth equivalent resistance. on motor load Impedance. especiallv for
the frequencies w t h a more mportant beanng on harmomc
distortion. a sensitivity analysis permxtted evaluation of the exponent
p mfluence. Field tests have suggested the values of -0 12 and of -
0.17 as suitable h t s of vanability of the exponent Some results
reported m 191 conhrrn the expenmental evldence obtamed
Figures 10 show the substantial agreement of the estunates wth the
results of the statistical survey mentioned The figures show
resistance and mductance vs frequency p U values as obtamed
through the equations (3) and (4) w t h different values of I and p
wthm the above-mentioned ranges In particular. the parameter
values that provlde the best fit w t h statistical data are /, = 0.15 and
p=- 0.17.
S m l a r analyses were conducted on MV mduction motors A higher
vanabihty was found valid for Xb (0.15-0.22 p.ui m these motors
The companson lndicated X-0.25 and p= - 0.13 as the best-fitting
values ofthe MV mduction motor model parameters [ 16.17
The expenmental test stage ou Mv-supplied motors conducted at the
customer's factory coufinned the values obtamed from the statistical
survey.
Branch srmulahng the static pan of /he I w d
The proposed model contams a parallel branch. as evidenced m Fig
1. representmg the non-rotatmg fraction of the load The lumped
components (R, and &)have a formulation deduced by (5.61
A parameter a w a s mtroduced by the authors m order to obtam n
parametnc expression of the mpedance value of h s branch as a
function of the &mate of an average power factor of the static load.
In particular, by assummg for a c a m load area a k n o w QP ratio.
called a,for the branch formed by the sen- of & and X,. the
followmg smple equations hold valid:

0.1

which give the followmg value for &(h)

I11.3 Guidelmes for the use of the model m harmonic studies applied
to complex load areas.

The authors' expenence concemmg the application of the proposed

model m harmonic distortion analysis m large load areas suggests
the followmg y i d e l m e s
- for the value of X b ID the model, an equivalent (average)value UI
the 0.15-0.20 range is recommended. while higher values should be
used ID sunulation of ioad areas where the percentage of W
mduction motors is not negligble as compared wrth LV ones
- as regards the value to be assigned to the parameter of the
model. the cntenon commonly adopted for LV mduction motors

a05 t assumes the senes equivalent resistance to be 15-20% of the locked

rotor reactance X b However, smce the fairly general practice m
power system component representation consists m disregardmg them
resistive effects of LV feeders. the authors suggest adopting highei
0
50 250 500 750 1000 f[HZ] resistance values withln the typical range of vanability found valid1
for LV motors. To this end. the authors have found that a generallv
Fig 10 - p u . salues ofresistuncc! and inductance vs rrequenv of L l '
suitable value of R, is 0 03-0.04 p.u (20% of Xir).
rndiiction motors Compar-rson between sfatistical data and modelk
cwima/es whiih dilferent parameyers
- as for the parameter b, the average vanability found valid in the
analyses ranges between 0 25 and 0 75.
 423
Conclusions pp 172-177, Budapest. October4-6. 1990
[9] F. G De Buck. P Gistehck, D de Backer. "A Smple btu
The paper iuustateS a model of the consumers' h e a r passive loads Rehable Loss Model for Jnverter Supphed Induction Motors."
for harmonic penetration analyses applied to distribution systems. IEEETransactions on Industry Apphcations. vol 1A-20.No 1.
n e proposed model presents two parallel branches respectively Jan./Febr. 1984
representing the static and the rotating part of the load [lo] A. Capasso, R Lamedica. R Mamgrasso, G Sani. G Superti
The model takes into account the deep bar effect in the rotor Furga, E. TI". "A Reference Power Networh for tbe
windings with the increase in frequency. 'The validation actiwty of Harmon~c Propagation Analyss," ETEP (European
the parameters simulating the rotating part has been conducted Transactions on Elecmcal Power E n g " g ) - voln. No
through several experimental tests that showed a good general MayIJun 31 1992, ET2 A n v - W E Verlag
agreement of model estimations with the harmonic impedance [ l l ] A. de Ohvera. J C de Ohveua. J W Resende. "Pratical
measurements for: Approacher for AC System Iiarmmc impedance
- small p u p s of LV low-rated induction motors (total simultaneous Measurements," Proceedmg of ICHPS IV. pp 475-480.
demand up to 20 kW); Budapest, October 4-6. 1990
- individual LV medium power induction motors (ratings up to 130 [12] E Duggan. R. E Momson. "Prediction of Harmmc Voltage
kW); Distortion when a Non Lmear Load is Connected to an Already
- large groups of LV low-power induction motors (total simultaneous Distorted Supply," IEE Proceedmgs-C vol No.3. May 1993
demand up to 120 kW. individual maximum demand up to 20 kW); [13] R Laurence. " h c i p i e s of Altematmg-Cmt M a c h a y . "
- individual large M V induction motors (ratings up to 1.2 MW). Mc Graw-Hill Book Company. 1953
A wide statistical survey conducted at manufacturers' has permitted [14] E. Clarke, "Carcud Analysis of AC Power System." vol I. John
to extend the validation stage to wide samples of both LV and M V Wdey & sons. New York. 1950.
motors. [I51 D Zarunelli. "A Model of Induction Motors for Hamoruc
The simple model proposed can be used for simulating effectively Power Flow Studies," EEE ICHPS V, Atlanta. September.
large load areas m harmonic analyses for which the injection current 1992.
method is still sdficiently accurate. [I61 R Lamedica. A Prudem. E Tuoni. D. Zanmelh. "Validation
Extensive analyses performed on distribution networks supplying of an Induction Motor Equivalcnt Model for Harmonic
large load areas has permitted to deduce guidelines for using the Analysis." IEEE ICHPS VI. Bologna. September. 1994
proposed modeL Obviously the model does not include the system [17] A. Capasso. R Lamedn. A OmeaO. A hudeaz~.
components feeding complex loads that should be represented at "Representation of Large Asynchroaous Load Areas for
least by means of an equivalent transformer. Harmmc Penetration Studies." JEEE ICHPS V. Atlanta.
An accurate determination of the percentage of LV and M v September. 1992
induction moton may not be necessary, even in industrial areas. if
MV induction motors are less than 20% of the total rotating load
The study of the peculiar load areas in which W induction motors
are numerous does not introduce too many difficulties as accurate Regina Lamedica. has joined the University of Rome "La Sapia"
mformation on their ratings are generally more easily obtainable. wfiere she has been Assistant Professor in Electnc Power Systcms
since 1978 and Associate Professor m Electric Power Systems for
Aknowledgments Trasportation since 1987.
Her mam interest are in computer applications to electnfied
The authors are p t e f i d to rrxAs INSTRUMENTS Italy, for having trasportation systems and to power systems analysis.
made possible field tests in the industrial plant of Avezzano (AQ). She is a member of CIF1 (Italian Railway Enqeers Association)
and of AEI (Italian Electrical Association).
References Albert0 Prudenzi, received his Ph.D. h m the Uruvenity of Rome
"La Sapienza" *ere since 1991 he has been Assistant Professor in
A Capasso. R Lamedica, A Prudenzi. "Equivalents of Electric Power Systems.
Complex Loads for Harmonic Penetration Studies," paper W- His main interests involve computer modeling in power system
H6. E.E.C.P.S., Capri. Italy, May 1989. analysis and in DSM strategies evaluation.
G. C. Jam. %e Etfect of Voltage Waveshape on the Dr. Prudeuzi is a member of IEEE and of AEI (Italian Electrical
Performance of a 3-Phase Induction Motor," IEEE Trans. PAS- Association).
83, No.6. June 1964. Enrico Tirod. received the M.S. degree in Electrical E n g " g
[31 E. A. I(lingshim. H E. Jordan, "Polyphase Induction Motor fiom the PoliteCnico di Milano. Italy. in 1971. In 1972 he jotned the
Performance and Losses on Nonsinusoidal Voltage Source." Dipattment of Milano where he is Full Professor at present.
IEEETrans. PAS-87. No. 3 March 1968. His areas of research include power electronics and harmonics in
(41 J. Ardhga, D. A Bradley, P. S. Bodger, "Power System power systems.
Harmonics." John Wiley gL Sons,New York, 1985. He is a member of the Italian National Research Council (C.N.R)
151 A. A. Mahmoud, R D. Shultz. "A Method for Analyzing group of Electrical Power Systems.
Harmonic Distribution in AC. Power Systems." IEEE Trans. Dario Zaninelli, received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Enpeering
PAS-101. NO.6, June 1982. fiom the Politecnico di Milano. in 1989 and he is now Assistant
IC. Mwotani - Discussion on [5]. Professor in the Electrical Engineermg Department of the Politecnico
P. F. Ribeiro. "Guidelines on Distribution System and Load di Milano.
Representation for Harmonic Studies," ICHPS V, pp 272-280. His areas of research include power system harmonics and power
Atlanta. September 23-2s. 1992. systems analysis.
R N. Dib, G. Balzer, "Influence of Model and Data Accuracy Dr. Zaninelli is a member of IEEE and of the Italian National
on the Propagation of Harmonics," Proceedings of ICHPS IV, Research Council (C.N.R) group of Electrical Power Systems.
424
DISCUSSION
Lambert Pierrat, Senior Member, IEEE (General Technical
Division, Electricit6 de France, 37 rue Diderot, 38040 GTenoble
Cedex, France). The results presented by the Authors are very
usefbl in order to validate a harmonic model of rotating loads
through the comparison with experimental observations.
My comments and questions are the following:
1 - For a certain load condition, the apparent harmonic impedance
is represented by a passive circuit whose parameters does not
vary linearly versus frequency (fig. 1). Some laboratory tests have
been conducted on low voltage, low rating induction motors
(figs. 3 and 4).
Why does the regression curve of fig. 4b present opposite
concavity with respect to that relevant of the experimental
results?
Why do the results in fig. 4b (that are relevant to a unique 3 kW
rated motor) appear more dispersed than those of fig. 3 (that are
relevant to a group of motor)?
2 - The tests conducted in the industrial plant lead necessarily to
more dispersed results, since numerous parameters are not
controllable. The results obtained for the induction motors with
higher ratings show that the proposed model is acceptable (figs
7, 9). On the contrary, the aggregation of various low voltage
induction motors not fully loaded (20%), delerrnines some results
whose explanation are not so obvious. As a matter of fact, fig. 8
shows that the magnitude of the apparent impedance decreases as
frequency increases. What is the reason of this behaviour, both
field-measured and simulated by the model?
3 - The attempt of calibrating the parameters of the model
through a statistical survey is, without any doubt, pertinent (Tab.
I and fig. 10). However the variability range of the results thus
obtained is very large, in particular for that concerning the
resistance (R,) of low voltage induction motors (about f 30% at
1000 Hz).This uncertainty is due to the fact that the Authors
consider a statistical sample of 59 motors with power ratings
varying within a very large range (from 180 W up to 400 kW).
The coefficient k depends on the characteristic frequency of the
rotoric skin-effect, thus necessarily dependent from the power
ratings of the motors.
The variability of this coe5cient can be estimated by considering
that the rotor bars' height is proportional to the motor power
ratings and that the characteristic frequency varies with the
inverse of the root square of this height, therefore 0,- ( s , ) - ~ / ~ .
In the above mentioned conditions, the range of variability
observed by the Authors (k=O.15-0.75) is correct taken into
account that the theoretical relation is higher.
I believe that the statistical aggregation methodology could be
improved by introducing several classes with limited power rating
variability ranges as well as by taking into account, the
manufacturers' data.
I would appreciate if the Authors could give their comments and
answers to this discussion.
Manuscript received February 26, 1996.
R Lamcdica, A. P i u d c n t i , E. Tironi, D. Ztninelli - The
Authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. Picrrat for his interest in
the paper and for his helpful comments and questions
The answers are reported as follows.
1- The cuwcs of figures 3 and 4, not obtained through
regressive methods, report the experimental results from the
two different lab test arrangements, illustrated in the figure A.
In particular, the results of figures 4 a) and b) are relevant to
the arrangement b) of figure A, which permits to determine
the apparent impedance of the 3 kW induction motor by taking
into due account the correct value of the upstream system
harmonic impedance. The experience of the Authors
concerning this latter arrangement is that a certain dispersion
of the experimental results is unavoidable, since the tests must
be reiterated by controlling each time some variables such as
the system impcdance, the background distortion, the
connected load, etc.. Furthermore, for induction motors with
the lowest ratings is more likely that the motor design is less
accurate than that for higher ratings, thus evidencing even
pronounced dispcrsions i n their behavior at higher
frequencies. In addition, the aggregation of motors can
provide a compensation e r e c t on the dispersion of the
equivalent impedance values.
2- Figure 8 illustrates the comparison between recordings and
calculations of the harmonic impedance magnitude as seen
from one of the LV busbars of a major industrial customer
(point B of Figure 6) The busbar supplicd both a large group
of induction motors with different ratings and a pouer factor
correction capacitance bank that could not be s\vitched off.
The harmonic impcdance thus recorded evidences the
resonance condition between capacitive and iiiductive
components of the load The capacitance value has been taken
into account for comparing the recorded values with the
proposed model estimates
3- The main aim of the paper is the proposal of a model for
adequately simulating the rotating part of large load areas. To
this aim the Authors have investigated the possibility, if any,
of using the same formulation of a model for parametrically
representing the various load conditions that are likely to be
found in a heterogeneous contest such as that present, for
instance, within an industrial environment. The Authors, for
the sake of simplicity and ease of use of the model, have
considered only the main classification between MV and LV
induction motors. However a further classification of the LV
motors in clusters characterized by direrent ratings is
SQUARE WAVE
NL LOA0 ROTAT. LOAD
Fig. A - Lab test arrangements: a) inverter generating a
distorted (square) voltage wave; b) NL load injecting harmonic
currents.
 425

possible. As an esamplc, Figure B shows the p.u. values of the

rotor rcsistancc vs. frequency for LV induction machines with
ratcd power not exceeding 7.5 kW. Confirming Prof. Pierrat's
comments, in Figure B the scatter of the culvcs around the
avcragc trcnd is minor. A modcl calibratcd on the saniples of
cach class, probably, could provide beltcr accuracics for
sludics focuscd on thc exact rcprcscntation of LV induction
motors supplicd by thc samc busbar. Howevcr, for thc system
studies generally applied to large load ;ircas. tlic espericncc of
tlic aulliors suggcsls that the detail Ic\d proposcd is
appropriatc.

I I I I - Manuscript received April 8, 1996.

50 500 lo00 1500 2000
fCHz1

Fig. B - Statistical variation of the p.u. rotor resistance with

frequency for LV induction motors with rated power not
exceeding 7.5 kW.