Assessing non-stationary power quality phenomena of
induction motors
Marina Rashevskaya, Sergey Yanchenko, Sergey Tsyruk, Boris Kudrin
Department of Electrical Supply of Industrial Enterprises
Moscow Power Engineering Institute
Moscow, Russia
mkr@list.ru
Abstract—Maintaining electromagnetic compatibility of
electric equipment implies taking into account various
prescriptions that standardize capabilities of equipment to
generate and absorb electromagnetic interference. By the
example of induction motor this paper analyzes present
approaches to estimate non-stationary harmonic emission levels.
The use of wavelet transform for harmonic estimation and rotor
damage diagnostics of ac motor is demonstrated.
Keywords—power quality; induction motor; harmonics;
wavelets
I. INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) can be referred to as
a capability of electrical device to operate under certain
conditions preserving the quality with zero electromagnetic
intereference for other electrical equipment.
An equipment can be regarded as electrical device if it
features electromagnetic phenomena, e.g. amplifying,
switching or converting devices.
The EMC limits can be violated in case of high interference
levels and insufficient immunity of the equipment. Under these
conditions malfunctions of computer equipment, protective
relaying, digital control systems can arise thus resulting in
negative consequences for operating processes. Meanwhile, the
estimation of the EMC levels for particular device under study
can be significantly hindered by the need to account for
numerous parameters specifying emission limits of the
equipment in various standards. In order to analyze various
EMC standards for a particular device this paper exemplarily
focuses on induction motors (IM). The resulting review of IM
standards revealed a critical need for their revision and
unification into a single document regulating all EMC aspects
of IM.
II. REVIEW OF EMC STANDARDS FOR INDUCTION MOTORS
According to [1] electromagnetic interference (EMI) is
electromagnetic phenomenon of any kind that can worsen the
quality of operation of electrical equipment. The impact of
EMI can be either random and temporary with negligible
consequences for the equipment operation or feature
permanent irreversible effects revealing themselves in
malfunctions and damage of the device. Hereinafter, possible
negative EMI effects of IMs on the operation of other
electrical equipment are discussed. In case of thyristor-based
soft starters IMs inject highly distorted harmonic currents at
the starting instants that affect adjacent devices and increase
grid background voltage distortion. At the same time
industrially operated ac motor drives are often subjected to
severe EMI-phenomena [2].
Any transients related to IM generally produce abrupt
changes of the current levels in its windings. These current
spikes reveal themselves as conducted EMI in the ground loop
through the parasitic capacitance between the windings and the
chassis ground [3, 4]. Furthermore, asynchronous motors are
well-known to create voltage dips under starting conditions that
mostly affect lighting devices [5]. Finally, the cases of inter-
and subharmonic generation by IM are reported in [6].
III. HARMONIC AND INTERHARMONIC EMISSION OF INDUCTION
MOTORS
Harmonic analysis implies decomposing a stationary
periodic signal into harmonic and interharmonic spectral
components in a certain frequency range. Table 1 contains
mathematical description of harmonics and interharmonics.
TABLE I. SPECTRAL COMPONENTS OF A PERIODIC WAVEFORM (f1 –
FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY)
Harmonic f = nf1 n is positive integer
DC-component f = nf1 = 0
Interharmonic f ≠ nf1 n is positive integer
Interharmonic is defined by [1] as a frequency component
aliquant to fundamental frequency that can manifest itself as
stand-alone or super-imposed spectral component.
Interharmonic phenomena of IM originate from the air gap flux
between machine’s rotor and stator that can be amplified by
saturation phenomena [7]. Spectral components of ac motor
current generally belong to the low-frequency range (500 –
2000 Hz) under steady-state operating conditions; however can
feature much wider frequency values in case of motor starting
or accelerating. Interharmonics (fig. 1) can also originate from
the natural design related asymmetry of motor parts like
dimension deviations or shaft misalignment.
 Harmonic group Interharmonic group

Current, A
Current, A

Harmonic order
Frequency, Hz Frequency, Hz
a) b) Fig. 2. Derivation of harmonic and interharmonic groups
Voltage, V
Voltage, V

Frequency, Hz Frequency, Hz
c) d) a) b)

Fig. 1. Measurement spectra of motor phase current and voltage with (a, c) Fig. 3. Voltage (a) and current (b) oscillograms of IM using
and without (b, d) fundamental component. thyristor-based soft-starter

According to standards’ requirements harmonic
components should be assessed by Fourier transform [1]. On
the other hand, Fourier decomposition is applicable for
stationary signals only that is generally not the case, especially
for IMs with intermittent duty [8]. That is why Discrete Fourier
Transform is only recommended as a reference method for
harmonic assessment, not prohibiting, however, to use
alternative approaches like digital filter banks or wavelet
decompositions. Hereafter, some harmonic estimation methods
are considered.
The outcome of the Discrete Fourier Transform should be
grouped in a specific way in order to provide a sum of squares
of intermediate spectral components between two adjacent
harmonics according to (1) and fig. 2 [9].
N grid. An efficient tool for analysis and limiting of dynamically
-1
1 2 2
1 2
Y g2, h = Y N +
2 C , ( Nh ) − 2  Y C2, ( Nh ) + k +
2 C , ( Nh ) + 2
 N
k =  −  `+ 1
 2 
here Yg,h – resulting RMS value of harmonic group; YC,(N h) + N/2
(or YC,(N h) – N/2) – RMS value of a spectral component,
corresponding to a certain position of Discrete Fourier
Transform.
Only intermediate spectral components of harmonics with
the order higher than 2 are used for grouping. As a result
harmonic groups Yg,h of order h are produced that correspond
to the central components of the frequency regions marked
with filling in fig. 2.
Current harmonic limits are set for electrical equipment of
certain harmonic components in real time-varying signals
[12].
IV. HARMONIC ASSESSMENT OF NON-STATIONARY SIGNALS
The results produced by Fourier Transform for non-
stationary signals during motor starting can be unreliable.
Furthermore, the levels of harmonic and interharmonic
distortion can be significant especially for thyristor-based soft
starters or for variable-frequency drives.
Voltage and current waveforms of ac motor soft starter are
depicted in fig. 3, a and 3, b, respectively [13]. It follows from
the fig. 3 that the process evolves dynamically and in case of ac
motors with intermittent duty significant levels of voltage and
current harmоnics and interharmonics will be injected in the
changing power quality events can be provided by wavelet
Y N ,
(1) transform. This can be achieved by either converting the
wavelet coefficients into Fourier components or producing
distortion limits based on wavelet coefficients directly. The
latter requires additional research, though.
Referencing wavelet coefficients with harmonic
frequencies is considered, i.a. in [14]. By decomposing the
signal approximation iAjk and detail iDjk coefficients can be
derived presenting the signal behavior in a certain frequency
range. As a result the current (voltage, power, etc.) signal can
be reconstructed by the wavelet coefficients:
km J km
i (t ) = 
k =0
i JA, k ϕ J , k (t ) + i
j =1 k = 0
D
j , kψ J , k (t ), (2)

different types and power levels by [10, 11]. At the same time
interharmonic limits are not addressed by these standards. here φJ,k(t) - scaling function; ψj,k(t) – wavelet function; km –
Probably it assumed that limit values are set not only for the the filter length; J – maximum decomposition level.
multiples of the fundamental frequencies but also for For an assumed sampling frequency value of 800 Hz the
harmonic groups. However, it is often difficult to define wavelet coefficients define the frequency components of a
signal according to table 2.
 Serviceable induction motor
a = 80
scales a
scales a
t, s
Induction motor with 1 broken rotor bar
a = 80
scales a
scales a
t, s
Induction motor with 2 broken rotor bars
a = 80
scales a
scales a
area I
t, s
a)
Fig. 5. The start-up current waveforms of IM with broken bars (a) and
corresponding wavelet spectrograms for the scale factor of 80 (b).
TABLE II. FREQUENCY RANGES OF WAVELET COEFFICIENTS FOR A
SAMPLING FREQUENCY OF 800 HZ
Decomposition coefficients i3,kА
Frequency Upper limit 50
range (Hz)
Lower limit 0 50
One of the various applications of wavelet transform can
involve diagnosing the damage of the rotor bars [15]. The
result of a wavelet transformation of a signal is a surface built
of wavelet coefficients that allow to conduct the analysis in
both time and frequency domains.
Fig. 4 depicts calculated and experimental start-up current
waveforms of ac motor under study (fig 4, a) and
corresponding wavelet spectra (fig 4, b). The damage of the
rotor bars can be diagnosed by assessing the additional low-
frequency component with small magnitude indistinguishable
by means of standard Fourier transform. In order to detect this
component the scale factor of 80 corresponding to approximate
frequency of 65 Hz is considered. The magnitude of the low
frequency component increases with the amount of broken bars
that can be clearly seen by additional frequency component at
the wavelet spectrograms (fig 4, b).
Another example of wavelet utilization for harmonic
assessment of IM is presented in fig. 5. Here non-stationary
distortion levels of a voltage waveform measured at the
terminals of IM with thyristor-based soft starter are estimated
via wavelet packet analysis. The red line corresponds to the
original distorted voltage, blue lines show the variation of
certain low-order voltage harmonics (1st, 5th, 7th, etc.) during
starting period. The voltage waveform sampled at 6400 Hz
sampling frequency was subjected to wavelet packet transform
t, s
t, s
t, s
b)
Fig. 4. The results of wavelet packet transform of IM with thyristor-
based soft starter.
and then a wavelet tree was constructed. Its fifth level contains
signals in the range of up to 2 kHz, that correspond to low
frequency voltage harmonics. It can be seen from the fig. 5 that
wavelet packet transform provides the estimation of time-
i3,kD i2,kD i1,kD varying levels of harmonics. For example, after bypassing
100 200 400 thyristor-based soft starter and supplying IM with a sinusoidal
voltage (after 2.1 s) all harmonic levels become zeros.
100 200
On the whole, considered cases of wavelet transform
utilization demonstrate its capability to effectively assess time
varying parameters of a signal. This valuable benefit sets the
wavelet transform apart from the traditional Fourier analysis
approach.
V. CONCLUSION.
Harmonic estimation of non-stationary signals presents a
difficult task while providing the compliance of harmonic
emission levels of modern equipment with standards’ limits.
Inapplicability of traditional Fourier transform for time-
varying signals brings about a need for more flexible
approach.
Wavelet decomposition transforms the signal into two-
dimensional domain built of its time-varying frequency
spectrum. Thus, wavelets can provide a more insightful
analysis technique for assessing non-stationary power quality
events. Nevertheless, its complexity and a need for additional
signal processing of the derived results complicate its
utilization in modern measurement devices.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
S. Yanchenko thanks Russian Ministry of Science and
Education for their financial support (research grant #
8.8463.2017/BCh).
 REFERENCES
[1] IEC TR 61000-2-1:1990 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 2:
Environment - Section 1: Description of the environment -
Electromagnetic environment for low-frequency conducted disturbances
and signalling in public power supply systems
[2] O.Iontseva and T. Ancharova, "Expediency of disaggregation of
workshop transformer substations," 2016 2nd International Conference
on Industrial Engineering, Applications and Manufacturing (ICIEAM),
Chelyabinsk, Russia, 2016, pp. 1-5.
[3] Che-Mun Ong “Dynamic simulation of electric machinery using
Matlab/Simulink” – Prentice Hall PTR, Inc., 1998.
[4] J. Llaquet, D. Gonzalez, E. Aldabas and L. Romeral, "Improvements in
high frequency modelling of induction motors for diagnostics and EMI
prediction," IEEE 2002 28th Annual Conference of the Industrial
Electronics Society (IECON 02), 2002, pp. 68-71 vol.1.
[5] Krause P. “Analysis of electric machinery and electric drive systems” –
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013.
[6] M. Naim, B. Singh, S. P. Singh and J. Singh, "Improvement of power
factor and reduction of harmonics in three-phase induction motor by
PWM techniques: A literature survey," International Conference on
Sustainable Energy and Intelligent Systems (SEISCON 2011), , Chennai,
2011, pp. 529-538.
[7] CISPR 14-2:2015 Electromagnetic compatibility - Requirements for
household appliances, electric tools and similar apparatus - Part 2:
Immunity - Product family standard
[8] Tsyruk S.A., Kireyeva E.A. Modernization of management by pump
units with use of the frequency converter and soft actuators, Industrial
Power Engineering, 2008, pp 6-10, vol 1.
[9] IEC 61000-4-7:2002+AMD1:2008 Electromagnetic compatibility
(EMC) - Part 4-7: Testing and measurement techniques - General guide
on harmonics and interharmonics measurements and instrumentation, for
power supply systems and equipment connected thereto
[10] IEC 61000-3-2: 2013 "Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 3-2:
Limits - Limits for harmonic current emissions (equipment input current
≤ 16 A per phase)"
[11] IEC TS 61000-3-4:1998 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part 3-
4: Limits - Limitation of emission of harmonic currents in low-voltage
power supply systems for equipment with rated current greater than 16
A
[12] D.Chakravorty, J. Meyer, P. Schegner, S. Yanchenko and M. Schocke,
"Impact of Modern Electronic Equipment on the Assessment of Network
Harmonic Impedance," in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, vol. 8, no.
1, pp. 382-390, Jan. 2017.
[13] L.P. Petrov, V.A. Ladenzon, M.P. Obuhovskij, and R.G. Podzolov,
Asynchronous electric drive with thyristor switches, Moscow: Energiya,
1970.
[14] P. Ribeiro, Time-Varying Waveform Distortions in Power Systems,
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2009, pp. 175-186.
[15] Mohammad Reza Askari and M. Kazemi, "Using Wavelet theory for
detection of broken bars in squirrel cage induction motors," 45th
International Universities Power Engineering Conference UPEC2010,
Cardiff, Wales, 2010, pp. 1-6.