Efficiency testing of motors powered from pulse-width modulated adjustable speed drives

Author

Casada, D.A. ; Kueck, J.D. ; Staunton, R.H. ; Webb, M.C.

Author_Institution

Nat. Lab., Lockheed Martin Energy Syst. Res. Corp., Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Volume

15

Issue

3

fYear

2000

fDate

9/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

240

Lastpage

244

Abstract

This is a report of efficiency testing of an induction motor powered from three different pulse width modulated adjustable speed drives. The motor was operated at a range of speeds and torques, and each drive was operated at the highest, lowest, and an in-between carrier frequency. The motor was a typical NEMA design B motor, and the drives were typical, industrial scalar drives using the default volts/Hz setting. The testing showed that the drive efficiencies remained above 90% until torque was lowered to below 20% of rated torque. Combined motor and drive efficiencies remained above 80% until speeds or horsepower loads were lowered to below 20% of rated torque. The test was performed using a unique data acquisition scheme that permitted acquisition of a large number of torque settings for each speed selection

Keywords

PWM power convertors; data acquisition; induction motor drives; machine testing; torque; variable speed drives; NEMA design B motor; carrier frequency; data acquisition scheme; default volts/Hz setting; efficiency testing; induction motor; industrial scalar drives; pulse width modulation; pulse-width modulated adjustable speed drives; testing; torque settings acquisition; Data acquisition; Frequency; Induction motors; Performance evaluation; Pulse modulation; Pulse width modulation; Space vector pulse width modulation; Testing; Torque; Variable speed drives;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Energy Conversion, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8969

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/60.875487

Filename

875487