EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Lab #5: Three-Phase Induction Motor (IM)

Lab Report
Lab Session:
Group # (if any):
Student Name: Student ID
1.
2.

Lab Objectives:

• To demonstrate the main operating characteristics of a three-phase induction motor

• To demonstrate how a three-phase induction machine operates as a motor and generator

LabVolt Workstation Configuration

Table 1
Equipment Exercise
Induction Motor
1. Workstation 1
2. Resistive Load, 8311 1
3. Inductive Load, 8321 1
4. Capacitive Load, 8331 1
5. Power Supply, 8821 1
6. Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply, 8960 1
7. Data Acquisition and Control Interface, 9063 1
8. Four-Pole Squirrel Cage Induction Motor, 8221 1
9. Timing Belt, 8942 1

Procedures:

1. Initial experimental set up and connections before setting up the experimental circuit -
i) The required equipment is already installed in the LabVolt Workstation according to Table 1 and Figure 1 to
perform Lab #5.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

According to Table 1

USB Cable

24V Power Cable

Low Power Power Switch for FQD/PS

Output Switch
Low Power Output Figure 1
Terminals
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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

ii) Connect the USB port of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface to a USB port of the host computer with a
USB cable.
Connect the Power Input of the Data Acquisition and Control Interface to a 24 V ac power supply. Turn the 24
V ac power supply on. This will activate Data Acquisition and Control Interface (DACI) module.

iii) Connect the USB port of the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply to a USB port of the host computer
with a USB cable. The Power Input of the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply is already connected to
an ac power outlet.
Turn the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply on, this will activate Four-Quadrant
Dynamometer/Power Supply module.

Set the Operating Mode switch to Dynamometer.

iv) Four-Pole Squirrel Cage Induction Motor module is already mechanically coupled to the Four-Quadrant
Dynamometer/Power Supply using a Timing Belt.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Part A: Three-phase induction motor no-load and full-load operation

2. Connect the equipment as shown in Figure 2.

ATTENTION! In LVDAC-EMS, set the Range setting of current inputs I1 and I2 to High (40A).

Figure 2: Three-phase induction machine coupled to a prime mover/brake.

Record the nameplate rating of the Four Pole Squirrel Cage Induction Motor.

3. In LVDAC-EMS, open the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, then make the following settings:
- Set the Function parameter to CW Constant-Speed Prime Mover/ Brake.
- Set the Speed parameter to 1800 r/min (Synchronous Speed).
- Set the Pulley Ratio parameter to 24:24.

4. Meter connection and setting –

In LVDAC-EMS, start the Metering application. Set the f o l l o w i n g meters:

- Induction machine line voltage ELine (input E1)

- Line current ILine (input I1)
- Machine active power P (meter function PQS1 + PQS2)
- Machine active power Q (meter function PQS1 + PQS2)
- Power factor PF (EI1, EI2)

Click Continuous Refresh button from the Metering window.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

5. Turn the three-phase ac power source in the Power Supply on.

Start the CW Constant-Speed Prime Mover/ Brake by clicking the Start/Stop button.

Adjust the Speed parameter until the torque produced by the three-phase induction motor is as close as possible to
0 N·m.

In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, measure and record the no-load speed n of the three-
phase induction motor.

Motor no-load speed n =________________r/min

1799

Record the direction of rotation of the three-phase induction motor.

Motor direction of rotation: ____

Clockwise

Snapshot of the meter from Dynamometer window:

6. In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, decrease the Speed parameter until the mechanical
power PM produced by the three-phase induction motor is as close as possible to 200 W. Measure and record the
followings
1304
Nominal motor speed, n =______________r/min

Nominal motor torque, T =____________N·m

1 122 .

1
Nominal motor line current, ILine =______ A

Snapshot of the meter from Dynamometer and Metering window:

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

7. Compare your above measurements with motor nominal ratings.

Nominal motor speed from the front panel =__________r/min

1670

Nominal motor line current from the front panel =_______A

.
1 2

8. In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, stop the CW Constant-Speed Prime Mover/Brake.

On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off to stop the three-phase induction motor.

Part B: Three-phase induction motor operation characteristics

9. In LVDAC-EMS, open the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, then make the following settings:
- Set the Function parameter to Speed Sweep.
- Set the Start Speed parameter to 1800 r/min (Synchronous Speed).
- Set the Finish Speed parameter to 1600 r/min.
- Set the Number of Steps parameter to 10 steps.
- Set the Step Duration parameter to 7s.
- Set the Record Data to Table parameter to Yes.
- Set the Pulley Ratio parameter to 24:24.

Above setting will help you to record the data automatically.

10. Set the Data Table to record the three-phase induction motor speed n, torque T, mechanical power PM, three-phase
induction motor line voltage ELine (input E1), line current I Line (input I1), active power P, reactive power Q, and
motor power factor PF.

11. On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source on to start the three-phase induction motor.

In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, start the Speed Sweep function.

12. Observe the Data Table. Wait for the Speed Sweep function to complete its sweep of the specified speed
interval set above.

- DO NOT delete/change/modify the data table.

13. In LVDAC-EMS, open the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, then make the following settings:
- Set the Start Speed parameter to 1560 r/min.
- Set the Finish Speed parameter to 0 r/min.
- Set the Number of Steps parameter to 14 steps.
- Set the Step Duration parameter to 7s.
- Start the Speed Sweep function.

14. Wait for the Speed Sweep function to complete its sweep of the specified speed interval.

At this stage automatic data recording should be completed.

Save the data table.

Data Table window >> File >> Export.. >> Save the data table in Excel File (*.csv) format. You need this .csv format file
for data analysis purpose.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Snapshot of the Data Table window from LVDAC-EMS software:

Did you save the recorded data table in .csv format? If yes, great! 

In the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, stop Speed Sweep function.

On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source off to stop the three-phase induction motor.

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15. Plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor torque T as a function of the motor speed n.

On the graph, indicate the nominal motor speed n and nominal motor torque T recorded in step #6.

Graph:

Observe the graph you just plotted. Describe how the three-phase induction motor speed n varies as the
motor torque T increases.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

16. Open the .csv format file you saved with a spreadsheet application (e.g. MS Excel).

Add a new column in the Excel spredsheet to determine the induction motor efficiency (ⴄ).

How to calculate induction motor efficiency?

Divide each motor mechanical power PM values by the corresponding motor active power P value, then
multiply the result by 100 to express the efficiency ⴄ as a percentage.

Final Data Table from the Excel spredsheet:

17. Observe the recorded data. Explain the effect of line current ILine as the torque T produced by the motor increases?

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

18. Using MS Excel, plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor active power P and reactive power Q as a function
of the motor mechanical power PM. Fundamentals of Induction Motor.pdf, Page #11

X - a x i s > > motor mechanical power PM

Y - a x i s > > motor active power P and reactive power Q
Do not use any d a t a points when the motor mechanical power PM decreases after having reached its
maximal value.

Graph:

19. Observe the reactive power plot. What conclusion you can achieve when you analyze the reactive power-versus-
mechanical power curve?

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Briefly explain why it is not recommended to use a three-phase induction motor in applications requiring the motor to
work at less than its nominal mechanical power.

20. Is the amount of motor reactive power Q higher than the amount of motor active power P when the three-phase
induction motor operates without load? What d o e s t h i s i n d i c a t e a b o u t t h r e e -phase i n d u c t i o n m o t o r s
o p e r a t i n g without load?

21. Using MS Excel, plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor power factor PF as a function of the motor mechanical
power PM. Do not use any d a t a points when the motor mechanical power PM decreases after having
reached its maximal value.

Graph:

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

22. Using MS Excel, plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor line current ILine as a function of the motor mechanical
power PM. Do not use any d a t a points when the motor mechanical power PM decreases after having
reached its maximal value.

Graph:

Observe the graphs you just plotted. Describe how the three-phase induction motor power factor PF and line current
ILine vary as the motor mechanical power PM increases.

Answer:

23. Using MS Excel, plot a graph of the three-phase induction motor efficiency ⴄ as a function of the motor mechanical
power PM using the data in the MS Excel application.

Graph:

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Observe the graph you just plotted. Describe how the three-phase induction motor efficiency ⴄ varies as
the motor mechanical power PM increases.

Answer:

Ensure that in the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, Speed Sweep function is stopped. In
addition, Power Supply should be off.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Part C: Three-phase induction motor direction of rotation

24. Recheck the following setup.

25. On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source ON.

Record the direction of rotation of the three-phase induction motor.

Motor direction of rotation: __________

On the Power Supply, turn the three-phase ac power source OFF.

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

In the previous setup, what would you have to do in order to reverse the rotation of the three-phase induction
motor? Describe how the simple solution to this problem works. Demonstrate the reverse rotation operation of
the motor, and record the motor direction of rotation.

We switched
phases 2 and 3 .

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EECS 3603 Electromechanical Energy Conversion Lab #5 Fall 2024

Part D: Three-phase induction machine operating as a generator

Is it possible to operate an induction motor as a generator?

26. In the Metering application, make the required settings in order to measure the rms values (ac) of the three-phase
induction machine line voltage (input E1) , and line current (input I1). Set two other meters to measure the machine
active power P and reactive power Q using the two-wattmeter method (meter function PQS1 + PQS2).

27. In LVDAC-EMS, open the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply window, then make the following settings:
- Set the Function parameter to CW Constant-Speed Prime Mover/ Brake.
- Set the Speed parameter to 1900 r/min (above the Synchronous Speed).
- S t a r t CW Constant-Speed Prime Mover/ Brake

Observe the meters from Dynamometer window and Metering window, and record the following parameters:

1900
Speed, n =__________________r/min

228
Machine active power, P =_____________ W
-

1 448
Torque, T=_____________N·m
- -

M echanical power, PM =
-
294 W

Machine reactive power, Q = 337 6

.

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Snapshot of the meter from Dynamometer and Metering window:

Does the three-phase induction machine active power P measured in the previous step indicate that active power flows
from the three-phase induction machine to the three-phase ac power source?
-Yes
  No

Three-phase induction machine currently operates as an_____

 synchronous generator
~
 asynchronous generator

28. On the Power Supply, make sure that the main power switch is set to the O (off) position, then turn the 24 V ac
power source off. Close the LVDAC-EMS software. Turn the Four-Quadrant Dynamometer/Power Supply off.

Your lab report must consist of required schematics, all the data and results you obtained from LVDAC-EMS.

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