VC-21-013 -- Experimental Investigation of Induction Motor Power Factor and Efficiency Impacted by Pulse Width Modulation Power and Voltage Controls of Variable-Frequency Drives ✓ Most Recent

Variable-frequency drives (VFDs) provide pulse widthmodulation (PWM) power at variable frequency and voltagethrough different voltage controls to induction motors andconsequently impact motor power factor and efficiency. Thispaper investigates these impacts through two experiments. Thefirst experiment is conducted at various frequencies with threepreset voltage controls, and the second experiment isconducted at the rated frequency through and bypassing aVFD, respectively. The experimental results reveal that thePWM power considerably lowers the total power factor of themotor and slightly degrades the efficiency. Moreover, the variablevoltage improves the efficiency differentiated amongdifferent voltage controls. See more