Induction machine efficiency measurement using a variable frequency drive source

Induction motor loss segregation and efficiency measurement requires loading dynamometers and other equipment such as a variable voltage sinusoidal power supply. These are expensive and not often available even when a loading device is accessible. Variable frequency drives are now widely used for operating induction machines and are more widely available and less expensive. However, their use in place of a fixed frequency sinusoidal power supply to directly measure machine efficiency is intriguing, but inherently challenging due to the PWM output voltage. This paper presents some investigations for using variable frequency drives to perform IEEE 112B and IEC 60034-2-1 tests. The use of the drive, the measurement criteria and procedures are reported and discussed. The results presented demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept for measuring machine efficiency with a PWM power source.