Blocked rotor test

A blocked rotor test is conducted on an induction motor. It is also known as short circuit test, locked rotor test or stalled torque test.^[1] From this test, short circuit current at normal voltage, power factor on short circuit, total leakage reactance, and starting torque of the motor can be found.^[2][3] The test is conducted at low voltage because if the applied voltage was normal voltage then the current through the stator windings would be high enough to overheat the windings and damage them.^[4] The blocked rotor torque test is not performed on wound-rotor motors because the starting torque can be varied as desired. However, a blocked rotor current test is conducted on squirrel cage rotor motors.^[5]

Method

In the blocked rotor test, the rotor is locked.^[6] A low voltage is applied on the stator terminals so that there is full load current in the stator winding, and the current, voltage and power input are measured at that point. When the rotor is stationary, the slip, ${\displaystyle s=1}$.^[7] The test is conducted at $1/4$ the rated frequency as recommended by IEEE, because the rotor's effective resistance at low frequency may differ at high frequency.^[8][9] The test can be repeated for different values of voltage to ensure the values obtained are consistent. As the current through the stator may exceed the rated current, the test should be conducted quickly.^[10] By using the parameters found by this test, the motor circle diagram can be constructed.^[11]

Calculations involved

Short circuit current at normal voltage

${\displaystyle I_{S}}$ is the short circuit current at voltage ${\displaystyle V_{S}}$
${\displaystyle I_{SN}}$ is the short circuit current at normal voltage $V$
${\displaystyle I_{SN}=I_{S}\times {\frac {V}{V_{S}}}}$

Short circuit power factor

${\displaystyle W_{S}}$ is the total input power on short circuit
${\displaystyle V_{SL}}$ is the line voltage on short circuit
${\displaystyle I_{SL}}$ is the line current on short circuit
${\displaystyle cos\phi _{S}}$ is the short circuit power factor
${\displaystyle cos\phi _{S}={\frac {W_{S}}{{\sqrt {3}}{V_{SL}}{I_{SL}}}}}$^[12]

Leakage reactance

${\displaystyle Z_{01}}$ is the short circuit impedance as referred to stator
${\displaystyle X_{01}}$ is the leakage reactance per phase as referred to stator
${\displaystyle Z_{01}={\frac {\text{short circuit voltage per phase}}{\text{short circuit current}}}={\frac {V_{S}}{I_{S}}}}$

${\displaystyle W_{cu}}$ is the total copper loss
${\displaystyle W_{c}}$ is the core loss

${\displaystyle W_{cu}=W_{S}-W_{c}}$
${\displaystyle W_{cu}={3}\times {{I_{S}}^{2}{R_{01}}}}$

${\displaystyle R_{01}={\frac {W_{cu}}{3{I_{S}}^{2}}}}$

${\displaystyle X_{01}={\sqrt {{Z_{01}}^{2}-{R_{01}^{2}}}}}$

See also

• Open circuit test
• Circle diagram

References

1. "Motor testing methods". Electronic Systems of Wisconsin, Inc.
2. "Blocked rotor test". Sakshat virtual labs.
3. de Swardt, Henk. "The Locked rotor test explained" (PDF). Marthinusen & Coutts (Pty.) Ltd.
4. "Motor testing methods". Electronic Systems of Wisconsin, Inc.
5. Industrial Power Engineering and Applications Handbook. Newnes.
6. "Blocked rotor test". Sakshat virtual labs.
7. B.L. Theraja, A.K. Theraja (2010). Electrical Technology volume 2 (Twenty third revised multicolour ed.). S. Chand. p. 1317. ISBN 81-219-2437-5.
8. Knight, Dr Andy. "Electrical Machines". Department of Electrical and Computer engineering, University of Alberta.
9. Pitis, CD. "femco squirrel.doc". Femco mining motors.
10. "Motor testing methods". Electronic Systems of Wisconsin, Inc.
11. Deshpande, M.V. Electrical Machines. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
12. Deshpande, M.V. Electrical Machines. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.