Effects of voltage unbalance and harmonic distortion on the torque and efficiency of a Three-Phase Induction Motor

Abstract

One of the factors that confirm the reduction of the efficiency of a Three-Phase Induction Motor (TIM) is the presence of electric power quality disturbances (EPQ) in its supply voltage, such as the voltage unbalance and the harmonic distortion. Various studies evaluate the effects of these phenomena individually applied to the TIM. However, real measurements show that the concomitant presence of these phenomena is common in the electric system. The given scenario led to the development of this work, which aims to investigate the behavior of the torque and efficiency of a TIM when simultaneously supplied with unbalanced voltages and harmonic distortions. This type of analysis is useful in evaluating the adequacy of the limits currently established by standards for voltage unbalance and harmonic distortion, given that these phenomena occurs simultaneously in most cases in the electric grid.