Workshop on EL EC TRIC AL MACH INES ' PARAMETERS

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 26th of May 2001

SOFTWARE PROGRAM FOR COMPUTING AND DRAWING THE

INDUCTION MOTOR MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTIC

Mihai Panu – Alina Viorel

Department of Electric and Electronics Engineering, University "L. Blaga" of Sibiu,

B-dul. Victoriei nr. 10, 2400 Sibiu, Romania; phone: 069-217278;
e-mail: panu@jupiter.sibiu.ro; acviorel@jupiter.sibiu.ro

Abstract – The paper presents the results obtained with a user friendly program, made for the purpose of getting
a quick estimation on the shape of an induction motor mechanical characteristic, using as inputs only those of the
motor parameters which can be determinate by laboratory tests. In this first version, the program is made in
Borland Pascal 7.0 DOS and it was tested on several theoretical and practical models. As it was expected, there
are some improvements to be done yet, especially for a greater accuracy, but even in this stage it may be
considered that the achievements are promising for the initial goal.

1. INTRODUCTION.

It is known that the induction motor is one of the electrical machines with a very large application area. In
consequence, we have to admit that there are a lot of fields where these motors are fitted, operated and set up not
necessary by experts. Beside the rated parameters i.e., the power, the supply voltage, the rotational speed, etc.,
usually made known by the provider, one of the most significant characteristic of an engine, of any kind, for a
namely application, is its mechanical characteristic, n = f(M). These two suppositions were the starting point in
the conceiving of the present work.
The aim was the achievement of an easy to use program, dedicated with predilection for practical users and
being able to estimate with an acceptable accuracy the mechanical characteristic of an induction motor. In the
same time, it was pursued the use of a strictly necessary amount of input data, actually speaking only some of the
motor rated values and some parameters that can be easy determinate in minimal equipped test labs.

2. THE BASIC ALGORITHM.

The calculation of the mechanical characteristic of an induction motor, n = f(M), is based on the classical torque
equation:

m1 ⋅ p ⋅ R'2 ⋅ U 12
M= (1)
 2 

2 ð ⋅ f1 ⋅ s  R1 + c1

R'2 
s 
( ' )
2
+ X ó1 + c1 ⋅ X ó 2 
  

X ó1
c1 ≅ 1 + (2)
Xm
The meaning of the notations used in the above two relations can be find in figure 1, which is representing the
start-up window for the conceived program.
In relation (2), the sliding was substituted by its definition relation (3) and then, the torque was expressed as a
function of the rotational speed.
n
s =1− (3)
n0
If it is possible, for better results (much closer to an experimentally drawn characteristic), in relation (3) it is
preferred the real idle rotational speed to be used.

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 Workshop on EL EC TRIC AL MACH INES ' PARAMETERS
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 26th of May 2001

Fig. 1. The start-up window for the proposed program.

For eloquence, there are presented some of the program lines handling this calculation:
function functieM(n:real):real;
{functia reprezentata grafic M = f(n) ->}
{cuplu = functie de turatie}
var c1:real;
var aux:real;
begin
s:=1-n/n0;
if s>0 then begin
c1:=1+Xs1/Xm
aux:=2*pi*fl*(sqr(Rl+cl*R21/s)+sqr(Xs1+cl*Xs21));
functieM:=m1*p*sqr(U1)*R21/s/aux;
end;
if s=0 then functieM:=0;
end;

3. TESTING THE PROGRAM PERFORMANCES.

The program was verified both on some theoretically drawn mechanical characteristics and in some
experimentally drawn ones. As the primary purpose of this work is a practical one, aiming satisfactory results for
the common users of the induction motors there is presented here only the experimental comparison.
It is compared the mechanical characteristic drawn by the present program (fig. 2) with an experimentally drawn
one (fig. 3), for an induction motor having the following rated figures: rated power, Pn = 1,5 kW; rated rotational
speed, n n = 1410 rpm; rated supply voltage, Un = 380/220 V; rated frequency, f = 50 Hz; stator windings
connection – Y; power factor, cosϕn = 0.79.

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 Workshop on EL EC TRIC AL MACH INES ' PARAMETERS
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 26th of May 2001

Fig. 2. The induction motor natural mechanical characteristic.

Fig. 3. The experimentally drawn mechanical characteristic.

To determine the program-input data, the induction motors was tested in idle and short-circuit working
conditions. The following parameters were found:
• the magnetization reactance, X m:
U 10 ,f 220
Xm = = = 122 Ù (4)
I 10 ,f 1.8

• the short circuit resistance, Rsc:

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 Workshop on EL EC TRIC AL MACH INES ' PARAMETERS
Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, 26th of May 2001

P1sc,f 90
R sc = = = 6.23 Ù (5)
I 12sc,f 3.8 2

• the rotor winding resistance referred to the stator, R'2 :

R'2 = R sc − R1 = 6.23 − 3.2 = 3.03 Ù (6)

• the short circuit impedance, Zsc:
U 1sc,f 80
Z sc = = = 21 Ù (7)
I 1sc,f 3.8

• the short circuit reactance, Xsc:

2 − R 2 = 21 2 − 6.23 2 = 20.05 Ù
X sc = Z sc sc (8)

• the stray stator reactance and the stray rotor reactance referred to the stator, Xσ1 and X 'ó 2 :
X sc 20.05
X ó1 ≅ X 'ó 2 ≅ = = 10.25 Ù (9)
2 2

4. CONCLUSIONS

Comparing the two mechanical characteristics shown in figure 2 and 3 it is obvious that the proposed program is
able to offer satisfactory results, in accordance with its main goal: the quickly drawing of an induction motor
mechanical characteristic, using the results of some simply and accessible testing procedures of the induction
motor. It can be observed that arround the rotational speed rated value, the differences between the two
characteristics are insignificant so that, in this working condition, we have to accept that the program results are
reliable. Even in the other rotational speed range the computer drawn characteristic shape offers useful
informations and with an acceptable aproximation about the motor torque capability.
The encouraging results obtained with the actual version of this program impose its improvement, that is why, in
this stage, it is studied a version for Windows, with an easier to access user interface. In the mean time, for
extending the program utility and accuracy it will be taken in account the influence of the starting conditions on
the motor parameters.

5. REFERENCES

[1] Bãlã C. – Maºini electrice, E.D.P., Bucureºti, 1979.

[2] Cioc I., Nica C. – Proiectarea maºinilor electrice, E.D.P., Bucureºti, 1994.
[3] Panu M., Sterie M. – Calculation Elements for Predetermination the Features of an Electric Car Motor,
Acta Universitatis Cibiniensis, Vol. 27, 1997, Sibiu, ISSN 1221-4930.
[4] Panu M. Contribuþii privind sistemele de acþionare electricã în tracþiunea rutierã , Tezã de doctorat,
Universitatea “Politehnica” Bucureºti, 2000.
[5] Panu M., Viorel Alina - The induction motor, a promising challenger for the electric car drive systems,
“Analele facultãþii de inginerie din Hunedoara”-vol.II, Hunedoara, ISSN 1454-6531, 2000.
[6] Yamamura S. - AC Motors for High-Performances Applications, Marcel Dekker Inc., N.Y., 1986.

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