Impact of Voltage Unbalance and Harmonics on Induction Motor Efficiency

Induction motors (IMs) are major consumers of electricity worldwide. This research examines how IMs perform under different power conditions. In real-world situations, the power supplied to these motors isn’t perfect. Therefore, power quality (PQ) is crucial when analyzing IM operation. We developed a method to assess the impact of unbalanced and distorted voltages on losses and efficiency of the IMs. The findings reveal that these voltage disturbances significantly affect IMs electrically and mechanically, with these effects being stronger when the IM operates at less than half its rated load.