Effect of Voltage Sag on an Induction Motor

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ISSN No: 2456
International
Research
Effect of Voltage Sag
Lecturer (Senior Grade), Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Sakthi Polytechnic College, Sakthi Nagar, Erode, Tamil Nadu
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of
the three-phase squirrel cage induction motor under
various voltage fluctuation levels. Generally,
Induction motor drives are preferred for its simple
easy control. Their performance depends on relative
power supply quality such as voltage sag, harmonics,
voltage unbalance and voltage fluctuations. The
induction motor is more sensitive to voltage
fluctuations within certain amplitude levels and
frequencies. This paper presents a study of voltage
sag effects on an induction motor using simulation. In
this paper, the impact of voltage fluctuations on
induction motor performance is investigated.
KEYWORD: Induction motor, Power quality, Upper
side band, Lower side band, Electromotive force,
Electro Magnetic Transients Program, Alternative
Transients Program.
I. INTRODUCTION
Power quality problem is major concern in power
system issues. In the past years, power quality is not a
serious issue but once the electricity needs’ have
fulfilled, consumers need a quality of electricity. They
require constant voltage, constant frequenc
uninterruptible power supply.
One of the frequent power quality problems is voltage
sag. Voltage sag is defined as the decrease in rms
voltage at a short duration. A decrease in normal
voltage from 10% to 90% of nominal rms voltage at
the power frequency of 0.5 cycles to 1 minute
duration is treated as voltage sag [1]. Also, it is a
sudden voltage reduction at a particular point below a
specified threshold, followed by its recovery after a
short duration [2].
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 5 | Jul-Aug 2018
ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume
International Journal of Trend in Scientific
Research and Development (IJTSRD)
International Open Access Journal
Voltage Sag on an Induction Motor
S. Sakthivel
Sakthi Polytechnic College, Sakthi Nagar, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance of
phase squirrel cage induction motor under
various voltage fluctuation levels. Generally,
Induction motor drives are preferred for its simple and
easy control. Their performance depends on relative
power supply quality such as voltage sag, harmonics,
voltage unbalance and voltage fluctuations. The
induction motor is more sensitive to voltage
fluctuations within certain amplitude levels and
encies. This paper presents a study of voltage
sag effects on an induction motor using simulation. In
this paper, the impact of voltage fluctuations on
induction motor performance is investigated.
Induction motor, Power quality, Upper
Lower side band, Electromotive force,
Electro Magnetic Transients Program, Alternative
Power quality problem is major concern in power
system issues. In the past years, power quality is not a
serious issue but once the electricity needs’ have
fulfilled, consumers need a quality of electricity. They
require constant voltage, constant frequency and
One of the frequent power quality problems is voltage
sag. Voltage sag is defined as the decrease in rms
voltage at a short duration. A decrease in normal
voltage from 10% to 90% of nominal rms voltage at
quency of 0.5 cycles to 1 minute
duration is treated as voltage sag [1]. Also, it is a
sudden voltage reduction at a particular point below a
specified threshold, followed by its recovery after a
Voltage sag is usually distinguished b
voltage, duration and phase jump. The effect of
voltage sags are less dangerous and happens more
frequent compared to voltage interruptions. Because
of significant effect to sensitive equipment, it is
considered as important as voltage interrup
The electric loads that are affected by voltage sags are
electric motors, particularly induction motor [4].
There is a diversity of the causes of voltage sags,
which make it difficult to prevent them [5]. But most
of the causes of voltage sags are short circuit one [6].
This paper simulates the effects of short circuit in
high voltage distribution network to an induction
motor in low voltage side [7].
Induction motors are widely used in many industrial,
commercial and residential applications
various techno-economic advantages [8, 9]. It is stated
that more than 50% of the world’s generated electrical
energy is consumed by electric machines mainly by
induction motors [10]. Subsequently, it is important to
study the effects of any disturbance such as voltage
fluctuations on the behaviour of induction motors
[11].
The number of tools suitable for the analysis of
voltage sag and fluctuations are increasing in the last
years. Among these tools, to get high accuracy of
voltage sag characteristics, Matlab
helps the academicians in the teaching
process have become very popular [12] otherwise
Electro Magnetic Transients Program (EMTP) and its
variants Alternative Transients Program (ATP) is
used. [13]
Aug 2018 Page: 2331
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Scientific
(IJTSRD)
International Open Access Journal
Induction Motor
, India
Voltage sag is usually distinguished by remaining
voltage, duration and phase jump. The effect of
voltage sags are less dangerous and happens more
frequent compared to voltage interruptions. Because
of significant effect to sensitive equipment, it is
considered as important as voltage interruption [3].
The electric loads that are affected by voltage sags are
electric motors, particularly induction motor [4].
There is a diversity of the causes of voltage sags,
which make it difficult to prevent them [5]. But most
are short circuit one [6].
This paper simulates the effects of short circuit in
high voltage distribution network to an induction
motor in low voltage side [7].
Induction motors are widely used in many industrial,
commercial and residential applications because of
economic advantages [8, 9]. It is stated
that more than 50% of the world’s generated electrical
energy is consumed by electric machines mainly by
induction motors [10]. Subsequently, it is important to
turbance such as voltage
fluctuations on the behaviour of induction motors
The number of tools suitable for the analysis of
voltage sag and fluctuations are increasing in the last
years. Among these tools, to get high accuracy of
eristics, Matlab-Simulink tool
helps the academicians in the teaching-learning
process have become very popular [12] otherwise
Electro Magnetic Transients Program (EMTP) and its
variants Alternative Transients Program (ATP) is

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
@ IJTSRD | Available Online @ www.ijtsrd.com | Volume – 2 | Issue – 5 | Jul-Aug 2018 Page: 2332
Using this simulation tool, complex networks and
control systems of arbitrary structure can be
simulated. It is having wide-range of modeling
capabilities and significant features with the transient
computation.
A. Voltage fluctuations in an Induction Motor
A voltage fluctuation is an unsystematic voltage
change that happen when devices or equipment
requiring a higher load are used. The voltage
fluctuation effect is similar to the effects of an under
voltage. The fluctuation characteristic depends on the
type of connected load and power system capacity.
Voltage fluctuations are caused by the connected
loads which are having significant sudden or periodic
variations. The fluctuating current drawn from supply
causes additional voltage drops in the power system
which leads to fluctuations in the supply voltage.
Loads that show continuous and quick variations are
the causes of voltage fluctuation.
Often quick fluctuations in load currents are attributed
to motor starting operations where the motor current
is between 3-5 times of rated current for a short
duration. If the same motor frequently starts and stops
or a number of motors are started at a time, the
frequency of voltage changes may create flicker in
lighting system.
Figure 1 illustrates voltage fluctuation with a
periodical sinusoidal modulation. The voltage
waveform exhibits variations in magnitude due to the
fluctuating nature or intermittent operation of loads.
The frequency of voltage envelope is referred as the
flicker frequency. So, the frequency of fluctuation and
the magnitude of fluctuation are the two important
parameters of voltage fluctuations. Both of these
components are important in the bad effects of voltage
fluctuations.
The main aim of this paper is to study the induction
motor behaviour under periodical voltage fluctuations
with constant amplitude. Typically induction motors
are designed to tolerate a small level of voltage
fluctuations.
Figure 1: Voltage fluctuation with a periodical
sinusoidal modulation.
However, certain fluctuation levels can cause serious
problems to the motor operation, which in turn may
cause protection systems triggering, and ultimately
leading to production loss. [14]
As figure 1shows, ∆V represents the voltage
magnitude variation. In figure 1, the voltage changes
are shown as being modulated in a sinusoidal manner.
Nevertheless, the voltage changes profile will be
rectangular or irregular in shape and depends on the
current drawn by the fluctuating load. [15]
According to the EN50160 [16] standard, voltage
fluctuations are the variations in RMS or peak value
with a magnitude of less than ±10% of nominal
voltage. They are characterized by the frequency of
variation (fm), up to 30 Hz and magnitude (∆V).
Generally, voltage fluctuations are incorporated with
the flicker effect and may be the effect of fluctuations
in the energy system transmission and its
permissibility limits are established by the standards
IEC 610000-3-3 [17] and IEC 610000-3-5 [18].
Recently, PQ issues meet a new challenge for voltage
fluctuation, including online monitoring system,
flicker trace analysis and flicker mitigation
technology, etc [19, 20].
Voltage fluctuations can be classified into, periodic
voltage oscillations with constant amplitude, irregular
amplitude and continuous random fluctuations. In this
paper, the periodic sinusoidal voltage fluctuation with
constant amplitude and with different modulating
frequencies is used to study the behavior of an
induction motor [21].

II. Impacts of Voltage Sags on Induction
Motors
Induction motors characterize the most typical loads
in power system applications. It consumes about 50%
of the electrical energy generated in industrialized
countries. The impact of voltage sag on an Induction
motor is shown in figure 2.
Figure 2: Impact of voltage sags on an Induction
motor
A. Negative Torque Spike
Consider an Induction motor is operated in steady
state condition and the supply voltage is removed and
then reapplied after a short period of time. When the
supply voltage is restored, the back EMF is out of
phase with the supply voltage. To alter the rotor
currents, the motor will decelerate, which results in
negative torque transients that may reach up to 20
times the rated torque of the motor [22]. The negative
torque will ultimately result in rotor shaft and winding
damage if it continues.
B. Low Voltage Condition
Motor operation below the voltage rating reduces its
efficiency, shortens lifetime and causes impulsive
failure. To operate a constant mechanical load, a
motor draws a specific power from the source. This
power has a direct correlation to the voltage and
current drawn. Thus, when supply voltage is low, the
current must increase to compensate the power level
to operate the load. When the current exceeds, heat
begins to build up in the motor. Without timely
correction, excessive heat will eventually damage the
motor.
Temperature T α I1
2
t + I2
2
t (Rr2/Rr1) (01)
Where,
Rr2 = Negative sequence
Rr1 = Positive sequence
The connected load is a main factor to determine how
much of a decrease in supply voltage a motor can
handle. For a light load operating motor, if the voltage
decreases, the current will increase in roughly the
same proportion that the voltage decreases. For
example, a 10% voltage decrease would cause a 10%
load current increase.
If the same motor is operating a heavy load, also there
is a reduction in voltage, the load current will rise to a
new value with already high current drawn, which
may exceed the full-load rated current. When low
voltage is applied, overheating, reduced life, starting
ability and reduced pull-up and pull-out torque may
occur [23].
C. High Voltage Condition
High voltage on an IM pushes the magnetic portion of
the motor into saturation. The concept of saturation is
similar to the operation of 60 Hz transformer in 50 Hz
supply system. Saturation will cause the motor to take
excessive current in an effort to magnetize the iron
beyond the point where magnetizing is practical.
Motors can tolerate a certain increase in voltage above
the mentioned rating [24].
However, extremes will cause the current to go up
with a corresponding increase in heating and a
shortening of motor life. Although the manufacturer
provides a tolerance curve for the supply voltage, the
good performance will be achieved when the rated
voltage is applied to the motor.
D. Effects of Voltage Imbalance
When the line voltages applied to the motor terminals
are not equal, as in unsymmetrical voltage sags,
unbalance currents in the stator windings will occur.
A small percentage of voltage unbalance makes a
larger percentage of current unbalance. 3 phase
motors supplied with unbalanced voltage will draw
approximately 6-10 times of unbalanced current with
normal value. It causes overheating and premature
damage to the motors. Short duration sags will have
little heating effect if it continues; will degrade the
motor insulation as well as the life [25, 26].
E. Factors Affecting Voltage Sag
Type of fault: It is the main factor which affects the
sag characteristic. Voltage sags can be either balanced
or unbalanced, depending on the causes or type of
fault. If the phase voltages are equal, the sag is
balanced and vice-versa.
Location of fault: It has a great impact on the
magnitude as well as the phase-angle jump of the sag.

X/R ratio of the lines: With change in the X/R ratio
of the line there is change in the X/R ratio of fault to
source impedance which will affect the magnitude as
well as phase-angle jump,
Point on wave of sag initiation: The point on wave of
sag initiation is the phase angle of the fundamental
voltage wave at which the voltage sag starts. This
angle corresponds to the angle at which the short
circuit fault occurs, [27, 28].
III. Induction Motor Dynamic Model
The dynamic d- q model of an electric machine shown
in figure 3 is one of the common methods used to
analyse induction machine performance. Parameters
such as torque, stator and rotor current, rotor speed,
etc. will be experimented with this model. Based on
figure 1, the per-phase equivalent circuit can be
converted to a side-band equivalent circuit with
respect to USB and LSB components.
Figure 3: Dynamic d -q model of an induction motor
Mathematically, the slip at the USB and LSB field can
be defined as,
SUSB = {(ωUSB - ωr) / ωUSB }
SLSB = {(ωLSB - ωr) / ωLSB }
The dynamic simulation model of 3 phase induction
motor is shown in figure 4.
Figure 4: Dynamic simulation model of 3 phase
Induction motor.
IV. Voltage Sag at Intermediate Conditions
Even though we are considering the open and short
circuit conditions, we should concentrate the
intermediate conditions, where voltage sag exists but
its magnitude is less than 100%. A 3 phase short
circuit at a particular point away from motor terminals
can cause the voltage sag.
The final voltage sag depends on the distance between
the fault location from the motor and the motor load
level. In this paper, simulation results of two
symmetrical voltage sags, one with a 70% decrease
called deep voltage sag and the other with a 15% are
considered.
Figure 5 shows a stator line current after the event of
70% symmetrical voltage sag within duration of 5
cycles. The current increases at first and then its
amplitude was decreased gradually after the end of
magnetic transience. If voltage sag duration increases,
the current will increase once again due to reduced
EMFs due to the reduction in motor speed, but with 5
cycle duration, the maximum current occurred at the
starting point and its magnitude is 3 times of nominal
motor current.
At the end of voltage sag, it may be 2 times of the
nominal motor current. However, during the voltage
sag, the wasted energy in motor conductors (i2
dt) is 5
times of the motor when it works at 85% of rated
load.
Figure 5: Simulation of stator current waveform
during 70% of voltage sag and 85% of rated load
A. Symmetrical Voltage Sag
A stator current waveform after the event of 15%
symmetrical voltage sag within 5 cycle duration is
shown in figure 6. In this case, the motor current is
approximately 20% higher than its nominal current.

The speed reduction is not sensible. The wasted
energy in motor conductors is almost similar to the
normal operation of motor under 85% of rated load.
during 15% of voltage sag and 85% of rated load
The main factor of reducing the motor life time is
excessive current flowing through their windings. It
causes impulsive aging in machines through
increasing thermal stresses and electromagnetic
effects on insulation. The severity of poor effects of
excessive current on the machine is a function of
current amplitude and its duration. So, high currents at
very short time periods will be problematic.
Also, it is noted that based on the deepness of voltage
sag, the induction motor winding current may be
increased impressively in starting time and end of
voltage sags.
B. Asymmetrical Voltage Sag
When only one or two phase voltages are affected, the
relevant voltage sag is called as asymmetrical. As
single phase to ground and double phase short circuits
are the main causes of asymmetrical voltage sags,
these faults are used to simulate the asymmetrical
voltage sags. Under no load condition, a relevant short
circuit was applied to its terminals for about 5 cycles.
during Asymmetric voltage sags under no load
Figure 7 shows the motor line current waveform in a
faulty phase. As seen, both voltage sag types have
increased the magnitude of current waveform after the
starting and end of voltage sags. In addition, the
amplitude of the current waveform due to double
phase sag has a higher value. Similar simulations are
done in which the motor is under 85% of its rated
load, but small increases in current is observed [29].
V. Simulation results
The result illustrates both stator and rotor current
characteristics which includes the analysis of dynamic
model and the per-phase equivalent calculation, are
reviewed in figure 8 and figure 9.
(a) Stator current waveform
(b) Stator current frequency spectrum
Figure 8: Simulation of stator current profile under
10% voltage changes and 20 Hz modulation
frequency condition
(a) Rotor current waveform

(b) Rotor current frequency spectrum
Figure 9: Simulation of rotor current profile under
10% voltage changes and 20 Hz modulation
frequency condition
The induction motor stator and rotor current
waveforms and corresponding frequency analyses are
shown in figure 8 and figure 9 when it is subjected to
a 10% voltage magnitude change and 20 Hz
modulation frequency. For the stator current, figures
show that the modulation frequency component
appears as an USB and LSB in the stator current
frequency spectrum, which is centered on the
fundamental frequency. The modulation frequency
voltage causes the rotor current distortion.
Further, the frequency analysis shows the LSB current
magnitude is higher than the USB current magnitude.
It is due to the motor reactance at lower frequency
sideband is less than that of higher frequency
sideband.
VI. CONCLUSION
In this paper, the performance of Induction motor due
to voltage sag was studied. Also, the induction motor
stator and rotor current characteristics were examined
when it subjected to regular voltage fluctuations. The
dynamic and per-phase model were applied to
simulate the stator, rotor current variations by
assuming a constant load torque. It is concluded that,
based on the level and type of voltage sag,
reacceleration of the motor may be difficult and
consequently higher current is drawn from a source
which causes thermal stresses in the motor and the 3
phase symmetrical type voltage sag is considered as
the most dangerous type for an Induction motors.
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