Laboratory investigation of the impact of PQ on induction motor performance

Assessing the impact of power quality disturbances on induction motors connected to the distribution network is important because it is part of the process for determining what constitutes an appropriate disturbance level without unduly impacting the utility and customer from a technical and economic perspective. Detailed modelling is quite often the chosen method for assessment. However, simulation does not capture the nuances of design one might find across a wide range of devices connected to the power distribution network. In the current research, several common motor designs have been selected for detailed experimental analyses. The investigation involved assessing the impact of several key power quality disturbances on the operating parameters such as current and temperature rise. The results obtained indicate that changes to performance are more significant in single-phase motors compared to three-phase motors. It is quite likely that accelerated aging will occur for single-phase devices as a consequence of changes in operating temperature. Although the devices selected are indicative of a base of common induction motor designs, further experimental work should be undertaken in order to further quantify the impact of power quality disturbances on the operating parameters of these typical devices.