NAMIBIA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy

O8BMET

LABORATORY REPORT
No-Load and Blocked-Rotor Characteristics of a Three Phase Induction Motor

Date of Experiment/Laboratory Exercise: 28th April 2018

Date of Report: 4th April 2018

Prepared By:
Name: Gabriel S Shikodi
Student No.: 215068289
Bench No.: 4
Group No.: 4

Partner (s): Natalia Andreas; Andreas Thomas;

Prepared For:

Mr. K. Kanyimba and Mr. R. Tjiwemu

 Table of Content
Introduction________________________________________________________________________ 1

Objective __________________________________________________________________________ 1

Equipment/Material _________________________________________________________________ 1

Procedures ________________________________________________________________________1-2

Circuit Diagrams ____________________________________________________________________ 2

Results and Calculations _____________________________________________________________3-4

Discussion _______________________________________________________________________ 4-5

Conclusion _______________________________________________________________________ 6+
Introduction
The parameters of equivalent circuit of induction machines are crucial when considering advanced
control techniques. Accidently this are also uncertain parameters when the machine is releases from
production. Therefore, the most common ways to determine induction motor parameters are to test
motor under no-load and blocked rotor conditions. Firstly, the no-load test, like the open test on a
transformer, gives information about exciting current and rotational losses. The test is performed by
applying balanced rated voltage on the stator windings at the rated frequency. The small power
provided to the machine is due to core losses, friction and minding losses. Secondly, the blocked-rotor
test, provides information about leakage impedances and rotor resistance. Rotor is at the stand still,
while low voltage is applied to the stator windings to circulate rated current.

Objectives
 To determine the equivalent circuit parameters of an induction motor
 For no-load test: To determine the relationship between applied voltage versus rotor speed,
stator current, power factor, and power input. For No-Load Test.
 For Blocked-rotor test: To determine the relationship between applied voltage versus input
power and stator current.

Equipment and materials

 A 3-phase variable power supply.
 Three-phase slip-ring type induction motor.
 Tachometer
 Wattmeter
 Digital multimeters

Procedures
Lab Exercise 1: No-Load test

1. The meter readings were determined based on their ratings on the name plate readings of the
machinery and requirement.
2. The circuit was set up as shown in Figure. 2.
3. The phase voltage was set by adjusting the variac to 20% of the rated voltage on the supply
panel.
4. When the variac was switched on, the readings displayed by the ammeter, wattmeter,
voltmeter and tachometer were observed and recorded in the result table.
5. The voltage was increased in steps from 1-5 and increased by 20% respectively, until the rated
value and the readings were recorded at each step. Precaution was taken not to run the
machine for long at the rated voltage.
Lab Exercise 2: Blocked-Rotor test:

1. The meter readings were based on their ratings on the name plate readings of the machinery
and requirement.
2. The circuit was set up as displayed in Figure. 3.
3. Then the variac was checked to be at zero output.
4. The three-phase supply was first switched off.
5. The TPST was closed.
6. The rotor was kept still by blocking it from running, and the autotransformer output was slowly
increased until the rated current flowed, which typically happens at 25% of the rated voltage.
7. The measurements were observed and recorded in the results table 2.
8. The procedures were repeated for other values of stator phase current less than the rated
value.

Circuit diagrams

Figure. 2. Connection diagram for performing No-load and Blocked Rotor tests on 3 phase Induction
machine.

Figure 3. Equivalent circuit for blocked rotor test

Results and Calculations

V nl 405
Z nl = = =556.73 ohms
√ 3 × I nl 0.42 × √ 3
Pnl 42
r nl= 2
= =238.095 ohms
I nl ( 0.42 )2
2 2
X nl =√ Z nl 2−r nl 2=√ ( 556.73 ) −( 238.095 ) =503.248ohms

Table 1: No-Load test results

Vnl (Volt) Inl (Amps) Pnl (watts)
NO N(rpm)

20% 1. (46.188 V) 42.799 0.10 18 1435

40% 2. (92.376 V) 160.2 0.15 18 1487

60% 3. (138.564 240.0 0.23 24 1498

V)
80% 4. (184.752 323.0 0.33 30 1498
V)
100 5. (230.94 V) 405 0.42 42 1496
%

400
At 20 % :V = ( 0.20 )=46.188 V
√3
400
At 4 0 % :V = ( 0.4 0 ) =92.376 V
√3
400
At 6 0 % :V = ( 0.6 0 ) =138.564 V
√3
400
At 8 0 % :V = ( 0.8 0 )=184.752V
√3
400
At 10 0 % :V = ( 1 )=230.94 V
√3
Table 2: Blocked-Rotor test results
No Ibr (Amps) Vbr(volt) Pbr(watt)

20% 1. (46.188 V) 0.68 80 54

40% 2. (92.376 V) 1.49 157 246

60% 3. (138.564 V) 2.33 229 600

80% 4. (184.752 V) 3.18 304 1140

100% 5. (230.94 V) 4.12 383 1950

V br 383
Z br= = =53.67 ohms
√3 × I br 4.12 × √ 3
Pbr 1950
r br = 2
= =114.879 ohms
I br ( 4.12 )2
2 2
X br=√ Z br2−r br 2=√ ( 53.67 ) −( 114.879 ) =√ −10316.716=101.571 j ohms

Discussion
No-Load test:
1. No-Load parameters are Input stator voltage at rated stator current (V nl), stator current (Inl),
input real power (Pnl).
P 42
2. p.f = = =0.43
VI ( 405/ √ 3 ) ×(0.42)
The common power factor is usually less than 0.5.
3. It will be equal to zero (0).
4. Because the is used to supply the core losses, stator copper losses, the wind age, and friction.
5. The slip of the machine will be approximately be equal to zero (0).
6. By simply adding algebraically the two wattmeter readings obtained.
7. Yes, because a three phase can only run on a single-phase supply if the supply can give the
starting torque required.
8. A) The rotor acceleration will be over its limit. B) The slip will become zero. C) The slip will be
zero when a high voltage is applied. D) The rotor will accelerate faster at a higher current.
9. Femco
10. Constant losses, core losses, mechanical losses, brush frictional losses and variable losses.
11. Frictional losses and iron losses are the most significant ones because they help determine the
efficiency of the motor at no load.
Blocked-Rotor test:

1. To determine the leakage impedance.

2. For r2’: The power absorbed by these resistors are rotor copper winding loss (I 2R), referred to
the stator side.

For r’2{(1/s)-1} which is the variable load resistance: The power absorbed by this resistor is the
mechanical power of the motor referred to the stator side.

3. Under blocked rotor conditions the load is short circuited

P 340
p.f = = =¿
4. VI 383
( )×(4.12)
√3

5. In a blocked rotor test, the frictional losses is negligible as the rotor is stationary and core losses
are very low due to the supply of low voltage. But stator copper losses and the rotor copper
losses are reasonably high making them more significant.
Conclusion
The lab was a success as all our objectives were met. The calculated values and the measured values
were close to each other, but with a small difference due to human errors and equipment internal
resistances. However, the block rotor test were more accurate.