Comparison of the efficiency of different magnetization strategies for a variable speed induction machine drive

This paper introduces a novel experimental procedure to determine the power losses in variable speed induction motors. In the first part, a two-test procedure is designed to determine each contribution to the power losses in an electric drive, in particular the iron losses. These are identified on models from international standards, as a function of the operating conditions, and compared with standard empirical relations such as the Steinmetz equations. In the second part, the resulting models are employed to compare different magnetization strategies for steady-state control purposes. The results show that accounting for advanced models is beneficial in reducing the machine power losses.