IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 33, NO.

2, MARCH/APRIL 1997 415

Phase Frame Analysis of the Effects of

Voltage Unbalance on Induction Machines
W. H. Kersting, Fellow, IEEE, and W. H. Phillips, Member, IEEE

AbstractOperating a three-phase induction motor with unbal-

anced voltages can lead to excessive heating [1]. The traditional
method of analyzing the operating conditions of the motor when
unbalanced voltages have been applied has been to use the theory
of symmetrical components. The purpose of this paper is to
develop a method of analyzing the motor in the phase frame.
The method is then applied to a typical motor to demonstrate the Fig. 1. Sequence equivalent circuit.
results of operating a motor with unbalanced voltages and the
reason why a motor must be derated under these conditions.
Index Terms Derating, induction machine, losses, phase value of the load resistance as defined by
frame, unbalance.
(1)
I. INTRODUCTION
where
T HE ANALYSIS of an induction machine (motor or gener-
ator) when operating under unbalanced voltage conditions
has traditionally been performed using the method of sym- Positive Sequence slip (2)
metrical components [2]. Using this approach, the positive-
and negative-sequence equivalent circuits of the machine are where is the synchronous speed and is the rotor speed.
developed and then, given the sequence line-to-neutral volt-
ages, the sequence currents are computed. The zero-sequence Negative Sequence slip (3)
network is not required, since the machines are typically
connected delta or ungrounded wye, which means that there Note that the negative sequence load resistance will be
will not be any zero-sequence currents or voltages. The phase a negative value, which will lead to a negative shaft power in
currents are determined by performing the transformation back the negative sequence.
to the phase line currents. The internal operating conditions are If the value of positive sequence slip is known, then
determined by the complete analysis of the sequence networks. the input sequence impedances for the positive and negative
This paper presents a method whereby all of the analysis sequence networks can be determined as
can be performed in the phase frame. The analysis will be
broken into two parts. The first part will be to determine the (4)
terminal voltages and currents of the motor, and the second
part will be to use these values to compute the stator and rotor
losses and the converted shaft power. where for positive sequence and for negative
sequence.
Once the input sequence impedances have been determined,
II. THE INDUCTION-MACHINE MODEL the analysis of an induction machine operating with unbalance
voltages requires the following steps.
The sequence line-to-neutral equivalent circuit of a three- Step 1: Transform the known line-to-line voltages to se-
phase induction machine is shown in Fig. 1. quence line-to-line voltages:
The circuit in Fig. 1 applies to both the positive and negative
sequence networks. The only difference between the two is the
(5)
Paper ICPSD 9629, approved by the Rural Electric Power Committee of
the IEEE Industry Applications Society for presentation at the 1996 IEEE
Rural Electric Power Conference, Fort Worth, TX, April 2830. Manuscript
released for publication November 18, 1996. In (5), because of Kirchhoffs Voltage Law
W. H. Kersting is with New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (KVL).
88003 USA and with WH Power Consultants, Las Cruces, NM 88003 USA. Equation (5) can be written as
W. H. Phillips is with WH Power Consultants, Las Cruces, NM 88003
USA.
Publisher Item Identifier S 0093-9994(97)02199-3. (6)
00939994/97$10.00 1997 IEEE
416 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 33, NO. 2, MARCH/APRIL 1997

Step 2: Compute the sequence line-to-neutral voltages from Equation (23) can be written in shorthand form as
the line-to-line voltages:
(7) (24)
(8) From symmetrical component theory
(9)
where (25)
(10) (26)
Substitute (25) into (24) and the resultant equation substitute
because of the assumption of the machine being into (26) to get
connected in delta or ungrounded wye.
Equations (7)(9) can be put into matrix form as
(27)
(11) Define
(28)
Equation (11) can be written as
Therefore,
(12)
(29)
Step 3: Compute the sequence line currents into the ma-
chine: The induction machine phase frame admittance matrix
is defined in (28). Equation (29) is used to compute
(13)
the input phase currents of the machine from a knowledge
(14) of the phase line-to-line terminal voltages. This is the desired
result. Recall that is a function of the slip of the
(15) machine, so that a new matrix must be computed every time
the slip changes.
Step 4: Transform the sequence currents to phase currents: Equation (29) can be used to solve for the line-to-line
voltages as a function of the line currents by
(16) (30)
where
Equation (16) can be written as
(31)
(17)
It is possible to replace the line-to-line voltages in (30) with
The four steps outlined above can be performed without
the equivalent line-to-neutral voltages:
actually computing the sequence voltages and currents. The
procedure basically reverses the steps.
Define
(18)

The sequence currents are (32)

(19)
Define
(20)
(21) (33)

Since and are both zero, then the following relation- The matrix is a very useful matrix that allows the
ship is true: determination of the equivalent line-to-neutral voltages from
a knowledge of the line-to-line voltages. Equation (30) can be
(22) substituted into (32) to define the line-to-neutral equation
Equations (19)(21) can be put into matrix form:
(34)

(23) where
(35)
KERSTING AND PHILLIPS: PHASE FRAME ANALYSIS OF VOLTAGE UNBALANCE ON INDUCTION 417

The positive and negative sequence parameters of

the unsymmetrical circuit of Fig. 2 are given by
(45)
(46)
Fig. 2. Equivalent T circuit. (47)
(48)
The inverse of (34) can be taken to determine the line where for positive sequence and for negative
currents as a function of the line-to-neutral voltages sequence. Note
(36) (49)

where The terminal sequence line-to-neutral voltages and currents

as functions of the rotor load voltages and the rotor
(37) currents is given by
Care must be taken in applying (36) to insure that the (50)
voltages used are the line-to-neutral, not the line-to-ground
voltages. If only the line-to-ground voltages are known, they Because of (49), the inverse of (50) is
must first be converted to the line-to-line values, and then use
(32) to compute the line-to-neutral voltages. (51)
Once the machine terminal currents and line-to-neutral
voltages are known, the input-phase complex powers and total Equation (51) can be expanded to show the individual se-
three-phase input complex power can be computed: quence voltages and currents:
(38)
(39)
(40)
(41)

Many times, the only voltages known will be the magnitudes

of the three line-to-line voltages at the machine terminals.
When this is the case, the Law of Cosines must be used to
compute the angles associated with the measured magnitudes. (52)

III. THE EQUIVALENT T CIRCUIT

Once the terminal line-to-neutral voltages and currents are Equation (52) can be partitioned between the third and
known, it is desired to analyze what is happening inside the fourth rows and columns. In reduced form incorporating the
machine. In particular, the stator and rotor losses are needed in partitioning, (52) becomes
addition to the converted shaft power. A method of perform-
ing the internal analysis can be developed in the phase frame (53)
by starting with the sequence networks. Fig. 1 can be modified
by removing , which represents the load resistance in Expanding (53)
the positive and negative sequence networks. The resulting
(54)
networks will be modeled using parameters. The
equivalent T circuit removed) is shown in Fig. 2. This (55)
circuit can represent both the positive and negative sequence Equations (54) and (55) can be transformed into the phase
networks. The only difference will be the difference (if any) domain:
between the numerical values of the sequence stator and rotor
impedances.
In Fig. 2, (56)

(42)
(57)
Define the sequence stator and rotor impedances Therefore,
(43) (58)
(44) (59)
418 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 33, NO. 2, MARCH/APRIL 1997

where

(60)

The power converted to the shaft is given by Fig. 3. Case A.

(61)

The useful shaft power can be determined from a knowledge

of the rotational (FW) losses
(62)

The rotor copper losses are

Fig. 4. Case B.
(63)

The stator copper losses are

(64)

The total input power is

(65)

IV. EXAMPLE MOTOR

To demonstrate the analysis of an induction motor in the
phase frame, a 240-V 25-hp induction motor with the follow-
ing per-unit parameters will be used:

Fig. 5. Stator losses: Case A.

With balanced three-phase voltages applied and a slip of
0.035 365, the motor operates at rated output power. The
In Figs. 3 and 4, the balanced case is shown with vertices a,
operating conditions for this balanced condition are
b, and c while an unbalanced case is shown with vertices a , b,
and c . In both cases, the average of the magnitudes is 240 V.
The operational characteristics of an induction motor oper-
ating on unbalanced voltages are typically referenced to the
Complex Input Power kVA
degree of voltage unbalance. For purposes of this paper,
Stator Phase a Current A
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
Rotor Phase a Current A
definition of voltage unbalance will be used [3]:
Stator Power Loss W
Rotor Power Loss W
(66)
Total Power Loss W
Power Converted hp
where is the maximum deviation from average voltage
To study the effects of voltage unbalance on this motor, two and is the average of the three voltages.
different methods of unbalancing the voltages were applied. The phase frame of analysis has been used to study the
In both cases, the average of the voltage magnitudes is held unbalanced voltage operating characteristics of the example
constant at 240 V. motor. The first set of studies holds the converted shaft
The first method of creating the voltage unbalance (Case power constant at 25 hp and varies the degree of voltage
A) holds the average of the line-to-line voltage magnitudes unbalance from 0% to 5% for Cases A and B. Losses are
constant at 240 V by holding the magnitude of constant computed for the stator, rotor, and total as percent values
and increasing the magnitude of at the same rate that the referenced to the losses when balanced voltages are applied.
magnitude of is reduced. Case A is shown in Fig. 3. Plots of the stator by phase are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
In Case B, the average voltage is held constant by allowing Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the changes in stator losses due to
the magnitudes of and to increase, while the magnitude the voltage unbalance and the manner in which the voltages
of decreases. This is shown in Fig. 4. are unbalanced. Note that the Phase a stator loss for Case A
KERSTING AND PHILLIPS: PHASE FRAME ANALYSIS OF VOLTAGE UNBALANCE ON INDUCTION
Fig. 6. Stator losses: Case B.
Fig. 7. Rotor losses: Case A.
Fig. 8. Rotor losses: Case B.
is 158% of the balanced loss, whereas the Case B loss has
increased to 137%.
Figs. 7 and 8 display the additional rotor losses by phase
for the two cases.
In Fig. 7, the Phase a loss has increased to 190% (referenced
to balanced voltages) when the voltage unbalance is 5% in
Case A, whereas the Phase a losses for Case B increased to
126%. It is interesting to note that the Phase c loss is greater
than the Phase a loss in Case B.
Figs. 9 and 10 display the total percent increase in losses
for the stator, rotor, and total motor.
419
Fig. 9. Total losses: Case A.
Fig. 10. Total losses: Case B.
In Fig. 9, the stator, rotor, and total losses have increased
114%, 117%, and 115%, respectively. The increases for Case
B in Fig. 10 are 104%, 106%, and 105%, respectively.
These plots lead to three conclusions.
1) The manner in which the voltages are unbalanced has a
marked effect on the increase in losses.
2) As the voltages become more unbalanced, the rotor
losses increase at a faster rate than the stator losses.
3) With high voltage unbalance, the stator and rotor circuits
experience significant increase in losses, which will lead
to excessive heating [1].
The previous study demonstrated the potential for harmful
overheating of stator and rotor windings due to the voltage
unbalance. Because of the excessive heating, NEMA rec-
ommends that the rated horsepower of the motor should be
multiplied by a derating factor based upon the degree of
voltage unbalance [3]. Reference [4] suggests that the derating
factors be developed, in which the rated stator winding current
is taken as the maximum allowable current. Using this sugges-
tion as a guideline, the example motor was again studied, only
this time holding the stator current fixed at the rated value, as
the voltages were unbalanced for Cases A and B. The derating
factors for the two cases are shown in Fig. 11.
In Fig. 11, the Case A derating factor for 5% voltage
unbalance is 0.7018, while for Case B it is 0.7773. These
compare to the NEMA value of 0.75 [1]. Again, it has
420 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 33, NO. 2, MARCH/APRIL 1997
Fig. 11. Motor derating factors.
been demonstrated that the manner in which the voltages are
unbalanced has a marked effect on the derating factor to be
applied.
V. CONCLUSION
This paper has developed a method of analyzing the op-
erating conditions of a three-phase induction motor in the
phase frame. The method eliminates the necessity of trans-
forming all known quantities into symmetrical components,
performing the analysis using the sequence networks and then
transforming back to the phase domain.
An analysis of an example motor has demonstrated the
increase in losses that can result from the voltage unbalance,
which leads to the necessity of derating motors when they
operate with unbalanced voltages. The analysis also demon-
strated that the manner in which the voltages are unbalanced
has a marked effect on the losses and required derating factor.
The major conclusion drawn here is that it is not sufficient to
merely know the percent voltage unbalance, but it is equally
important to know how they are unbalanced. With the method
of analysis described in this paper, and a computer software
package such as Mathcad1, it is possible to analyze a particular
operating condition and determine the exact derating factor.
1 Mathcad 6.0, MathSoft Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142 USA.
REFERENCES
[1] B. N. Gafford, W. C. Duesterhoeft, and C. C. Mosher, Heating of
induction motors on unbalanced voltages, AIEE Trans. Power App.
Syst., vol. PAS-78, pt. III-A, pp. 282288, June 1959.
[2] J. E. Williams, Operation of 3-phase induction motors on unbalanced
voltages, AIEE Trans. Power App. Syst., vol. PAS-73, pt. III-A, pp.
125133, Apr. 1954.
[3] ANSI/NEMA Standard Publication no. MG1-1978, National Electrical
Manufacturers Association, Washington, DC.
[4] M. M. Berndt and N. L. Schmitz, Derating of polyphase induction
motors operating with unbalanced line voltages, AIEE Trans. Power
App. Syst., vol. PAS-82, pt. III-A, pp. 680686, Feb. 1963.
W. H. Kersting (SM69F89) was born in Santa
Fe, NM. He received the B.S.E.E. degree from
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, and
the M.S.E.E. degree from the Illinois Institute of
Technology, Chicago.
In 1962, he joined the faculty of New Mexico
State University (NMSU), where he is currently
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Director of
the Electric Utility Management Program. He is also
a Partner in WH Power Consultants, Las Cruces,
NM. Prior to joining NMSU, he was employed as
a Distribution Engineer by El Paso Electric Company.
Prof. Kersting has been an active member of the IEEE Power Engineering
Society Power Engineering Education Committee and the Power Engineering
Committee. He is presently Chairman of the Distribution Planning Working
Group.
W. H. Phillips (M93) was born in Las Cruces, NM.
He received the B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, in 1972
and 1979, respectively.
He has worked in the planning and operations
areas for electric utilities in the United States and
overseas. He was a Researcher at New Mexico State
University from 1987 to 1988. He is currently a
Partner in WH Power Consultants., Las Cruces, NM.