Imbalances in Voltage & Current in Motors

Kowtham Kumar K

Contents

Introduction Causes of voltage & current imbalances Co-relation between voltage & current imbalances Effects of voltage & current imbalances References

Imbalances: An Introduction
Voltage Imbalances a. Difference in phase voltages b. Phase Separation is not 120 degrees

Current Imbalances a. Difference in phase currents b. Phase Separation is not 120 degrees

Sources for Voltage Imbalance

Sources Utility Occurrences Malfunctioning of Open-Delta regulators & Open-Delta Transformers Uneven Single phase load distribution Malfunctioning of the equipment Mismatched Transformer Taps Facility housing the motor difference in amperes between any two phases at the customers peak load should not be greater than 10 percent or 50 amperes, whichever is greater. Resistive & Inductive unbalances

Motor

Effects of Voltage Imbalances

Over-heating of components Intermittent shut-down of motor controllers Load Unbalance Fuses being blown on distribution capacitors Motor Speed & Torque are negatively affected Motor produces excessive noise

Temperature Rise vs. Voltage Imbalance

Voltage Imbalance vs. Efficiency

Standards for Imbalance Measurement

Standards
American National Standards

Limits
Upto 3%

Pacific Gas & Electric National Equipment Manufacturers Association

Upto 2.5% Upto 1%

Causes of Current Imbalance

Large/Unbalanced distribution of phase voltage Phase to Phase loads Some instruments simply require single phase at line-to-line voltage (415 V Welder) Unbalanced number of turns Uneven air gap Different length of wires used Voltage distortions : Harmonics produced by the non-linear loads Unbalanced three phase loads Load comprises of both single & three phase equipments

Effects of Current Imbalances

Lead to de-rate motors during unbalanced conditions Causes heat in the motor windings Damages the insulation Torque Pulsations Increased Vibrations Mechanical Stresses Reduced Winding life

Co-relation of the Imbalance Occurrences

A small voltage imbalance causes a larger current imbalance

Voltage Imbalance Increase in Stator & Rotor Losses Increased Current Imbalance
E.g.: Unbalanced voltage of 1% would generally produce unbalanced currents upto 5%

Current unbalance in an adjustable frequency drive can exceed 15 times the voltage unbalance It should be noted that current imbalance can occur without the voltage imbalance, if problem in the motor circuit exists

References

http://www.trind.co.nz/download_file.cfm/ThreePhase_Motor_Current_Unbalance.pdf?id=60,d http://216.70.91.212/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/App-Note-PMVoltageCurrent-Imbalance.pdf http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/ energystatus/powerquality/voltage_unbalance_rev2.pdf http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/ energystatus/powerquality/voltage_unbalance_rev2.pdf http://www.pumped101.com/pm%20part%202.pdf