In-situ efficiency determination of induction motor through parameter estimation

Abstract

Due to robustness, reliability, low price and maintenance free, induction motors (IMs) are used in most of the industrial applications. The influence of these motors (in terms of energy consumption) in energy intensive industries is significant in total input cost. The exact knowledge of some of the induction motor parameters is very important to implement efficient control schemes and its in-situ efficiency determination. These parameters can be obtained by no-load test that is not easily possible for the motors working in process industries where continuous operation is required. Here, Particle Swarm Optimization is used for in-situ efficiency determination of induction motor (5 hp) without performing no-load test. Results are compared with physical efficiency measurement method. The error between estimated and actual efficiencies is found for different objective functions and for different standards. © 2012 Springer India Pvt. Ltd.