Emulation of 3-phase power for study of multi phase instrumentation

In present times, most household appliances such as air conditioners and electric ranges are driven by two-phase power. Also, most industrial equipment requires three-phase power. However, much of the present day instrumentation is designed for single-phase power based systems. There is a definite need for personnel in the power industry to learn and practice multi-phase power-based instrumentation in a safe and scaled down laboratory environment. In addition, emulation of three-phase power properties and characteristics can be accomplished at much lower voltage and current levels. Such an emulation system would be very helpful for individuals who would like to learn about three-phase power with practically no physical risk and at a very early stage in the individual's career. The world is becoming highly computerized. It would be very informative, efficient, and instructive, if three-phase related data could be stored and examined for proper analysis. The authors combined the concepts of three-phase emulation, computerized data storage, and analysis to develop a three-phase power emulator system. In this article, the design and developmental aspects of the three-phase power emulator and associated instrumentation schemes are presented. Finally, the authors discuss the applications of such an emulator in the "real world" environment.