0 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

Laboratory sessions at ULB

IM + {DCM or SM} – AC and DC drives
Electrical drives – ULB, Academic year 2024-2025

FULL REPORT – This document comes with full answers and results, all in blue and tele-
graphese.

Table of contents 0

0 Safety instructions 1
1 COMPAK, instrumentation, HLL (halogen lamp load) and C3 (3-phase capacitor) 1
2 IM – ratings – NL starting with COMPAK – tripping the circuit breaker 1
3 DCM – ratings – excitation – NL operation – OC NL test and saturation curve 1
4 SM – ratings – excitation – grid synchronisation – OC NL test and saturation curve 1
1
5 IM – identification tests – equivalent circuit 1
5.1 IM – standstill test (at reduced voltage) – COMPAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
5.2 IM – NL test at rated voltage – fully idle {DCM or SM} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
5.3 IM – equivalent circuit at rated voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5.4 Optional – IM + COMPAK– saturation curve (DCM-OC or SM-OC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
5.5 IM + COMPAK – loading with {DCM or SM} + HLL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5.6 IM – coasting – {only DCM} fully idle or excited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5.7 Optional – IM + COMPAK – 2-phase and 1-phase supply – idle {DCM or SM} . . . . . . . . . 6

6 DCM + DCS: DC voltage/current waveforms – IM+COMPAK 6

6.1 DCS550 – Getting started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6.2 DCS550 – DCM excitation voltage and current waveforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6.3 DCS550 – DCM armature voltage and current waveforms – 4 quadrants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

7 DCM + DCS – AC grid supply and grid currents – IM+COMPAK 11

7.1 DCM motoring/braking, IM braking/motoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7.2 Optional – IM – DC current braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7.3 Optional – DCM noload motoring – DCS+COMPAK and varying AC voltage . . . . . . . . . . 13

8 IM + ACS – getting started 14

8.1 ACS880 – main drive parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8.2 ACS880 – ouput voltage and current waveforms – idle {SM or DCM} . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
8.3 ACS880 – grid supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

9 IM + ACS – control – {DCM or SM} + HLL 16

9.1 Noload to full-load motoring – below and above rated speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
9.2 Energy/flux optimisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
9.3 V/f – Voltage boost or IR compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

10 IM + ACS – DTC & torque or speed reference – idle or excited {DCM or SM} 20
10.1 Optional – Friction (+ iron losses) torque versus speed – with DTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
10.2 Acceleration with torque reference – moment of inertia – idle {only DCM } . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

ULB – Polytech – BEAMS/Electrical Energy – © J. Gyselinck Bruface, Academic year 2024–2025

Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 1

5 IM – identification tests – equivalent circuit

5.1 IM – standstill test (at reduced voltage) – COMPAK
Measure and process as follows:
Supply the star-connected IM at sufficiently low voltage for it to remain at standstill, e.g. 40 V
ph-ph. A (much) lower value is not beneficial for measurement accuracy.
?? Put in place a voltage voltage and a current probe...
See Figure 1–LEFT.

Figure 1: IM – Test at standstill and 10% voltage, ph-n voltage and current (LEFT), plus product of
voltage and current with MATH ⇥ (RIGHT)

Looking at the zero crossings e.g., get the phase lag (in ms and in ) of the current w.r.t. the
voltage. Calculate the power factor.
phase shift: 1.6 * 2.5 ms = 4 ms = 72
power factor: cos ' = 0.309 (sin ' = 0.951)

SFR From the RMS values of voltage and current, and with the above obtained power factor,
calculate active power.
23.5 V rms ph-n, 2.18 A rms
P = 3*23.5*2.18*0.309 = 47.5 W

SFR Calculate apparent and reactive power, and get a rough estimate of the total leakage
reactance.
S = 3 * 23.5 * 2.18 = 153.7 VA
Q = S * 0.951 = 146.3 VAr
Xl = 146.3/3/2.182 = 10.3 ⌦

Also get active power with MATH X.

See Figure 1–RIGHT.
3 * 15.5 = 47.4 W, excellent agreement with the value above (with some good luck)!

SFR From the active power, get a rough estimate (order of magnitude) of the rotor resistance.
reminder: Rs = 1.7 ⌦ (cold, measured with the DMM at Lab1)
Rtot = 47.5/3/2.182 = 3.26 ⌦, Rr = Rtot Rs = 1.56 ⌦

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

2 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

Rs and Rr are not very di↵erent (and here quite close to each other), as can be expected.

SFR Besides the temperature dependence, there is also the speed or, more precisely, the rotor
frequency dependence. What is the rotor frequency at standstill? Compare to rated operation.
50 Hz at standstill, compared to 40/1500*50 = 1.333 Hz at rated speed; so we can assume that some skin
e↵ect occurs in the rotor bars at standstill (and low speed), which is wholly beneficial for starting, see
the theory

Extrapolate linearly the standstill current to full-voltage supply, i.e. simply apply the rule of 3.
Give the value in % (compared to rated current). Does this agree with theory?
rule of 3: 2.18 * 230/23.5 = 21.3 A
This is manifestly much more than the rated 6 A, namely by a factor 3.6.
In the theory, a factor 5 to 10 is mentioned. Here, with our 3 kW IM, we are a bit below, no worries.

5.2 IM – NL test at rated voltage – fully idle {DCM or SM}

The DCM or SM is to be completely OC-ed, and thus idle.
Supply the IM at rated voltage. Take note of the speed.
SFR Proceed more or less as with the standstill test, and obtain rough estimates for the magnetising
reactance and the iron-losses resistance.
What is the ratio of the latter reactance and resistance? What is the share of the stator copper losses
in the active power consumption?
See Figure 2.

Figure 2: IM – Test at quasi-synchronous speed and rated voltage, ph-n voltage and current (LEFT),
plus product of voltage and current with MATH ⇥ (RIGHT)

phase lag of current: 1.8 * 2.5 = 4.5 ms = 81

power factor: cos ' = 0.1564 (sin ' = 0.9877)
active power: P = 3 * 112 = 336 W
iron-losses resistance: Rm = 2332 /(336/3) = 484 ⌦
apparent power: S = 3 * 233 * 2.93 = 2048 VA
reactive power: Q = S * 0.9877 = 2023 VAr
magnetising reactance: Xm = 2332 /(2023/3) = 80.5 ⌦
iron-losses resistance to magnetising reactance ratio: Rm /Xm = 6, so the noload current is much more inductive
than resistive, see also the very low power factor
stator copper losses: 3 * 1.7 * 32 = 46 W = 14% of the total active power, so negligible in rough quick & dirty
computations

ULB – Polytech – BEAMS/Electrical Energy – © J. Gyselinck Bruface, Academic year 2024–2025

Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 3

5.3 IM – equivalent circuit at rated voltage

The above determined resistance and reactance values are collected in Figure 3. This includes some
rounding, as the focus is on the orders of magnitude.
SFR Briefly and qualitatively discuss their dependence on supply voltage (RMS value) and temper-
ature.
Higher temperature simply means higher stator and rotor resistance values, as another reminder.
The iron losses and associated resistance value are much less dependent on temperature for sure.
Higher supply voltage (e.g. above rated) means higher magnetic saturation of stator and rotor core, which means
decreasing Xm value as a direct and simple consequence. See the optional section 5.4 hereafter.

Figure 3: Complete IM equivalent circuit with approximate values for 50 Hz operation at rated voltage
and at ambient temperature

5.4 Optional – IM + COMPAK– saturation curve (DCM-OC or SM-OC)

Leave the DCM or SM completely OC-ed and proceed.
Supply the IM at di↵erent voltages, going from 10% (or a bit more) to 100% (and a bit more, as the
COMPAK allows it) of rated voltage, with a 10% step, such that the machine keeps on running.
Make 2 Figures in MATLAB:
p
stator voltage ph-ph 3 Vs (V) versus stator current Is (A)
p
Vs /Is (⌦), as a (possibly very) rough approximation of Xm , versus 3 Vs

See Figure 4.
ALSO included in this figure: results at synchronous speed using DCM+DCS (with 1500 rpm reference), to be
done later if time is left, who knows..
SFR What is the influence of the significant slip below, say, 200 V ph-ph?

MATLAB code for generating the Figures (can be copy-pasted directly):

clear, close all

N_1 = 1500; Vs_1 = [0:40:400]; Is_1 = [0 0.234 0.44 0.65 0.84 1.08 1.30 1.56 1.88 2.27 2.84];
N_2 = [1431 1472 1489 1494 1496 1498 1499*ones(1,5)]; Vs_2 = [60 80:40:400 420]; Is_2 = [1.49 1.06 0.89 0.95 1.11 1.32 1.56 1.83 2.14 2.63 3.09];
plot(Is_1,Vs_1,"r-o","LineWidth",2), hold on
plot(Is_2,Vs_2,"b-x","LineWidth",2), grid on
xlabel("Is (A)"), ylabel("Vs ph-ph (V)")
legend("1499 rpm","1431 to 1499 rpm","Location","best")

% Vs/Is, as an rough approximation of Xm

figure, plot(Vs_1(2:end),Vs_1(2:end)/sqrt(3)./Is_1(2:end),"r-o","linewidth",2), hold on;
plot(Vs_2,Vs_2/sqrt(3)./Is_2,"b-x","linewidth",1), grid on;
xlabel("stator voltage ph-ph (V)"), ylabel("Vs (ph-n) / Is (ohm)")
legend("1499 rpm","1431 to 1499 rpm","Location","best")

The test at (nearly) constant speed allows to get very easily a good approximation of the magnetising reactance.
It is around 80 ⌦ at rated voltage, and maximum 105 to 110 ⌦ (between, say, 80 and 250 V ph-ph); this variation
is simply the result of saturation, as expected.

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

4 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

Figure 4: IM noload test results at either synchronous speed (using DCM+DCS) or variable speed
(and significant slip at low voltage, idle DCM): voltage versus current curves, and Vs/Is
versus voltage curves

When the speed is as low as 1431 rpm, we are very far away from noload operation, and the test is absolutely
unsuited for determining the magnetising reactance. The simple division V /I leads to completely erroneous
values.

5.5 IM + COMPAK – loading with {DCM or SM} + HLL

Proceed as follows:
Connect the HLL to the armature of either {DCM or SM}, with either parallel connection of the
3 HLL branches or star connection of the 3 HLL phases. See to it that all 21 lamps are turned
on. Insert a DMM for measuring armature voltage and another one for measuring branch or
phase current.
Connect the excitation winding of {DCM or SM} to COMPAK/DC-1ph.
Connect the IM to COMPAK/AC.
Start the IM smoothly with idle {DCM or SM} (i.e. completely OC-ed), and go to rated IM
voltage. Along the way, verify and adjust IM supply voltage if needed.
First operating point (at partial load): excite {DCM or SM} such that the speed is equal to
1485 rpm. Take note of IM speed (speed box), voltage and current (analogue displays), and of
the HLL voltage and current (DMMs).
IM-DCM set-up and 1485 rpm
IM current: 3.9 A (analogue display)
HLL voltage, branch current: 112.6 V, 2.87*3 = 8.61 A (DMMs) ! PHLL = 112.6*8.61 = 0.969 W

IM-SM set-up and 1485 rpm

IM current: 4.0 A (analogue display)
HLL voltage, line current: 125 V ph-n, 3.35 A (DMMs) ! PHLL = 3*125*3.35 = 1.256 kW

Second and third operating points: excite further for reaching first either rated IM speed
(1460 rpm) or rated IM current (6 A), and next go on till the other limit, assuming that they
will not be reached simply jointly (even if they should). Take note of all the measurements for
both operating points.
SFR For both operating points: calculate the power consumed by the HLL. Estimate and add
losses as much as possible, for arriving at some rough IM shaft power and torque estimates.
Which losses are to be neglected at this stage for lack of data?
What general conclusions can be drawn regarding the IM nameplate data?

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Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 5

5.6 IM – coasting – {only DCM} fully idle or excited

Starting from the previous set-up at standstill, section 5.5, proceed as follows:
Disconnect the HLL from the DCM. Turn o↵ the excitation.
Connect the speed box to the scope. What is the scale of the speed signal (in V/krpm)?
±2 krpm gives ±10 V.
(This direct connection to the scope is brand new in 2023-24. An electronics development by assistant
Arno Claes, who is available for more explanation.)

Start the IM. At close to synchronous speed, disconnect the COMPAK/AC supply (via the
CA/0/CC rotary switch). Observe the deceleration speed profile on the scope. Is the deceleration
rather constant or exponential-like?
See figure 5.
The speed goes down rather with a constant slope than as an exponential. This means that there is more
dry friction torque (which is independent of speed) than viscous friction torque (that is proportional with
speed).

Figure 5: Free deceleration of IM+DCM (with DCM completely OC-ed), from synchronous speed,
1500 rpm, till standstill in 12 s

Figure 6: Free deceleration of IM+SM set-up, from 1500 rpm till standstill, with IM OC-ed, and with
SM excited or not (LEFT to RIGHT: Ie equal to 0, 1.5 and 3 A resp., in around 18, 6 and
3.3 s resp.)

How much time till complete standstill? Calculate the average deceleration value (in rpm/s and
in rad/s2 ).
e.g. with IM+DCM set-up
Around 12 s from synchronous speed till standstill.
The average slope is then 1500/12 = 125 rpm/s = 13.1 rad/s2

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

6 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

IM-SM set-up

SFR Assume a total moment of inertia of 0.05 kg m2 and derive a rough estimate of average
mechanical dry friction torque.
Tf,dry = 0.05 ⇤ 13.1 = 0.65 Nm

Excite the DCM with half rated excitation current, i.e. around 0.5 A. Repeat the previous point.
What is di↵erent?
With the {DCM or SM} turning and excited (with armature OC-ed), there are iron losses produced in
the DCM (rotor core) or SM (stator core). This corresponds to an additional EM braking torque and
results in quicker deceleration.

Repeat with 1 A.
E.g. with IM+DCM and Ie = 1 A, see figure 7.

Figure 7: Deceleration with DCM excitation, standstill in 7 s

5.7 Optional – IM + COMPAK – 2-phase and 1-phase supply – idle {DCM or

SM}
The objective is to do some quick observation with 2-phase and 1-phase supply of our 3-phase IM.
With the IM star-connected, how do we obtain 2-phase supply (i.e. with 1 phase OC-ed) and 1-phase
supply (i.e. with 2 phases OC-ed)?
SFR In case of normal fully-symmetric 2-phase supply, what is the phase shift? What is it here?
Proceed as follows:
Leave the {DCM or SM} completely OC-ed.
From a 4-cable connection of the IM to the COMPAK, unplug one phase cable, and try to start
by increasing voltage gradually, while keeping an eye on the current (analogue display). What
do you observe? What speed is reached? What is the noload current?
Back to standstill, unplug a 2nd phase and repeat the previous point. Do not exceed rated IM
current and accept failure.
Go back to standstill and 2-phase supply. Start and unplug a 2nd phase at noload speed.

6 DCM + DCS: DC voltage/current waveforms – IM+COMPAK

Objectives:

ULB – Polytech – BEAMS/Electrical Energy – © J. Gyselinck Bruface, Academic year 2024–2025

Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 7

a) Get started with the DCS550 drive: check the machine parameters, START/STOP, change the
speed reference, consult the Actual values...
b) Observe the voltage and current waveforms resulting from the two thyristor converters supplying
armature and excitation winding respectively.

6.1 DCS550 – Getting started

Proceed as follows:
a) Connect both the DCM armature winding and excitation winding to the DCS drive (left and
right terminal pairs resp.).
Leave the IM OC-ed for now.
b) Check some DCS parameters in Group 99 Start-up data:
99.02 M1NomVolt, 99.03 M1NomCur, 99.04 M1BaseSpeed...
Verify that the values correspond to our DCM.
c) Set e.g. a 1000 rpm speed reference and Start.
Check some parameters in Group 1 Physical actual values: 1.04 MotSpeed, 1.06 MotCur,
1.08 MotTorq...
d) Stop and repeat with some negative speed reference.

6.2 DCS550 – DCM excitation voltage and current waveforms

Two operating points are to be observed, at standstill and at 1500 rpm resp.. With idle IM all the
time.
Proceed as follows:
a) Connect to the scope:
CH1: excitation voltage, CH2: excitation current, CH3: 1 ph-ph grid voltage (out of 6)
b) With a 0 rpm speed reference, Start.
Observe on the scope the excitation voltage and current waveforms, along with 1 ph-ph grid
voltage. Discuss the waveforms.
See Figure 8–LEFT.
(CH1 voltage probe o↵set of around 7 V)

Figure 8: Excitation voltage and current waveforms with DCS550 – at standstill (LEFT) and at
1500 rpm with OC-ed armature (RIGHT)

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

8 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

The converter supplying the excitation current is a half-controlled rectifier, comprising 3 thyristors and
3 diodes. This is 3-pulse rectification; the fundamental DC voltage and current ripple is at 150 Hz, as we
can verify on the scope.
See also chapter 2 and the waveforms on slide 44 (right half).
The average excitation current is around 1 A. There is no flux weakening (or just a little bit).
The firing angle ↵ can be estimated from the overlap of the rectified voltage and the ph-ph grid voltage.

c) Set a 1500 rpm speed reference, Start. Repeat the previous point.
What is di↵erent compared to the 0 rpm operating point?
See Figure 8–RIGHT.
One remarkable di↵erence compared to standstill is the lower excitation current, around 0.54 A on average.
This is clearly flux weakening.
Also note the bigger presence of little spikes in current and voltage, mainly spaced at 150 Hz.

6.3 DCS550 – DCM armature voltage and current waveforms – 4 quadrants

Three pairs of operating points are to be e↵ected, at ±1500 rpm, ±1510 rpm and ±1485 rpm resp., for
focusing on the DCM armature voltage and current waveforms.
This includes the noload (motoring) operation of the DCM in either direction, and its operation in all
4 quadrant.

a) Noload motoring at ±1500 rpm (with IM idling or not)

Leave the IM OC-ed to begin with. Its noload operation follows later.
Proceed as follows:
a) Connect to the scope:
CH1: armature voltage, CH2: armature current, CH3: 1 ph-ph grid voltage (out of 6)

b) Set a 1500 rpm speed reference via the DCS550 and Start.
Take note of 1.06 MotCur, 1.08 MotTorq...
Observe on the scope the armature voltage and current waveforms, along with 1 ph-ph grid
voltage. Discuss the waveforms.
See Figure 9–LEFT

Figure 9: Armature voltage and current waveforms with DCS550 (plus 1 ph-ph grid voltage) – noload
operation at +1500 rpm (LEFT) and 1500 rpm (RIGHT), with DCS speed reference and
idle IM

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Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 9

The thyristor converter supplies a small current, of less than 1 A on average. This is 6-pulse rectification,
with 6 current humps (bumps) per AC cycle. This is also Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM), the
armature current canceling in-between 2 humps.
The positive armature current is supplied by 1 of the 2 thyristor bridges, while the other one follows
voltage-wise (with a complementary firing angle ↵2 , i.e. ↵1 + ↵2 = 180 and thus cos ↵2 = cos ↵1 ), see
slide 41 of chapter 2.
During the intervals of 0 armature current, the armature voltage is equal to the back emf (plus some
oscillation and noise).
From the overlap of the armature voltage and the ph-ph grid voltage, one can estimate the firing angle
↵1 of the thyristor bridge.
This is noload motoring in positive direction, so ↵1 is situated in the 0 to 90 range for sure.

c) Stop and repeat with a 1500 rpm speed reference.

See Figure 9–RIGHT
This is noload motoring in negative direction, with a negative armature current (of around 0.825 A on
average) and negative armature voltage (of around 226 V in average).
It is the 2nd bridge that supplies the current, with ↵2 situated in the 0 to 90 range for sure.
The current is negative on the scope, but positive for the 2nd thyristor bridge. If we inverted the armature
current and voltage on the scope, we would get the same image as in the +1500 rpm case.
The other bridge follows voltage-wise, with a complementary ↵1 angle, i.e. ↵1 + ↵2 = 180 .

d) ATTENTION: Connect the IM to COMPAK/AC, with one phase order or the inverse one,
and apply voltage very gradually while it is turning at 1500 rpm (driven by the DCM + DCS).
With a slip s that is close to either 0 (correct phase order) or 2 (wrong phase order), the IM
draws a small or much bigger (and manifestly too big) current when increasing voltage. In any
case, change the inverse order and observe the other case.
Finish with the correct phase order, and with noload operation of the IM at rated voltage.

b) DCM motoring at ±1510 rpm (braking with IM+COMPAK)

a) From the noload operation at +1500 rpm (or 1500 rpm in point c below), change the speed
reference of the DCS550 gradually toward +1510 rpm (or 1510 rpm).
Changing the reference speed of the DCS live (i.e. while it is running) appears rather slow. Note
that each press of the button is registered. So, for avoiding over-current and possibly shutting
down of the drive, while the COMPAK40 is connected to the grid, it is advised to change the
reference speed slowly.
In each of the cases (with either positive or negative speed), which machine is motoring, and
which one generating/braking?
The IM being directly connected to the 50 Hz COMPAK supply, with one phase order, it brakes/generates
at any supersynchronous speed, i.e. above 1500 rpm. So the DCM motors.
And vice versa at speeds below 1500 rpm: the IM motors and the DCM brakes/generates. Rated IM
motor operation is at 1460 rpm (according to the nameplate).
With inversed phase order and synchronous speed equal to 1500 rpm, the IM motors at speeds between
standstill and 1500 rpm, with rated IM motor operation at 1460 rpm.
Braking/generating of the IM, with the DCM motoring, requires then a speed below 1500 rpm (or above
1500 rpm in absolute value!).
So things are symmetric with respect to 0 speed.

b) For the +1510 rpm operating point, take note of 1.06 MotCur, 1.08 MotTorq...
Observe on the scope the armature voltage and current waveforms, along with 1 ph-ph grid

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

10 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

voltage.
Discuss the waveforms.
See Figure 10–LEFT.

Figure 10: Armature voltage and current waveforms with DCS550 (plus 1 grid ph-ph voltage) – motor-
ing at +1510 rpm (LEFT) and 1510 rpm (RIGHT), with IM connected to COMPAK/AC
(rated voltage, one phase order and the inverse one)

Positive armature voltage and current, as before (noload DCM motoring in positive direction).
We observe again the 6-pulse rectification.
But now with significant current (in average around 6.55 A) and clearly Continuous Conduction Mode
(CCM), with the armature current never canceling.
The first bridge supplies the current.
The voltage has a close to sawtooth waveform (with the descending flanks having some curvature). In
CCM, there are no more intervals of constant voltage (equal to the back emf).

c) Repeat for the other speed, 1510 rpm, but proceed cautiously: Stop, deactivate the IM, set a
1500 rpm reference, apply voltage to the IM (with inversed phase order), and only then modify
the speed reference.
See Figure 10–RIGHT.
With the DCM motoring in negative direction, armature voltage and current are negative, as they appear
on the scope.
It is the 2nd bridge that supplies the current. With respect to that bridge, voltage and current are positive.

c) DCM Dynamo operation at ±1485 rpm (driven by IM+COMPAK)

Repeat with ±1485 rpm.

See Figure 11–LEFT.
The IM motors, and the DCM generates/brakes, first at +1485 rpm.
The speed being positive, the armature voltage is positive as well, and the armature current negative. So it’s
the 2nd bridge that supplies the current, with ↵2 situated in the 90 to 180 range.
Careful: with respect to that bridge, voltage and current are negative and positive respectively.

For the operation at 1485 rpm, see Figure 11–RIGHT.

The IM motors, and the DCM generates/brakes, as before.
But the speed is now negative, just like the armature voltage, while the armature current is positive.
So it’s the 1st bridge that supplies the current, with ↵1 situated in the 90 to 180 range.

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Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 11

Figure 11: Armature voltage and current waveforms with DCS550 (plus 1 grid ph-ph voltage) – dy-
namo operation at +1485 rpm (LEFT) and 1485 rpm (RIGHT), with IM connected to
COMPAK/AC (rated voltage, one phase order and the inverse one)

7 DCM + DCS – AC grid supply and grid currents – IM+COMPAK

7.1 DCM motoring/braking, IM braking/motoring
Connections and instrumentation:
a) Connect the IM phases in Y, and connect to the COMPAK, for supply at rated IM voltage.
b) Connect the DCS550 to the AC supply panel using the dedicated extension chords (3-phase
5-pin plug on one side + 5 banana plugs on the other side).
Thanks to the latter, measure 1 grid line current with a current clamp (2 turns, 2 x 10mV/A;
with cancelled o↵set), plus the corresponding AC grid ph-n voltage with a di↵erential voltage
probe.
c) Connect the DCM to the DCS550, including the speed box connections
d) Put in place all possible grounding cables.

DCM motoring, IM braking

Adopt the following procedure:

a) Make sure to set to deactivate the COMPAK/AC supply (via the voltage knob and the rotary
CA/0/CC switch).
b) set a 1500 rpm speed reference on the DCS550 (with all default settings for the rest), and START
c) Go gradually to rated IM supply voltage, but with correct phase order (change if needed).
The current Is in the IM should be small as the shaft is rotating at the synchronous speed. If the current
is very high when increasing the IM voltage, it means that the phase order is incorrect.

d) Increase the speed reference gradually, rpm per rpm, for motoring operation of the DCM (positive
armature current), and the braking operation of the IM, until the armature current is +10 A (as
displayed by the drive).
A positive armature current means that the armature current/power is flowing from the drive to the
DCM (motoring operation of the DCM.)

e) Get a nice scope image, with correct polarity of current and voltage, and with relevant scope
settings.
See figure 12-LEFT.

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions

12 Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM}

Figure 12: Grid ph-n voltage and DCS550 AC grid current (LEFT) and their product (RIGHT, with
out-of-range error) – DCM motoring (1518 rpm, 10 A, 214 V, 74 )

f) Discuss the grid current waveform, and locate the zero crossings and the maxima/minima of the
fundamental component.
The grid current is relatively close to the ideal 3-phase square waveform (piecewise contant and zero
during twice 60 in 1 AC cycle). Due to the finite inductance of the armature, the grid current has a
ripple, which can be recognised as pairs of humps/bumps on top of the ideal square waveform.

g) Read the firing angle 3.13 ArmAlpha, and check/recognise it on the scope.
74

h) Use MATH, Operation X, for multiplying voltage and current, and MEASURE Mean for getting
the average (figure 12, RIGHT). Avoid being out of range with the product signal; this error is
indicated by ”?” in the MEASURE column of the scope.
What is the total active power (all 3 phases together) that the drive draws from the grid?
See figure 12-RIGHT.
3*679 = 2037 W with out-of-range error, so to be redone

i) From the available data, derive an efficiency value for the drive, and discuss its accuracy and
the sources of error
The armature power, delivered by the drive to the DCM, is roughly 214*10 = 2140 W
The drive also delivers the excitation power to the DCM, and has some own consumption (control elec-
tronics, ventilation...).
This leads to a drive efficiency well above 100%, which is nonsensical. No need to take our calculation
further.
This is obviously due to various measurement errors, including the MEASURE work of the scope and
being out-of-range...

DCM braking, IM motoring

Go gradually, rpm per rpm, to a speed below 1500 rpm, such that the armature current is 10 A. The
IM is now motoring and the DCM braking.
Proceed as before.
See figure 13.

For stopping the test: first turn the IM supply o↵ (knob and switch), then STOP the DCS550.
Not the opposite.

ULB – Polytech – BEAMS/Electrical Energy – © J. Gyselinck Bruface, Academic year 2024–2025

Laboratory sessions: IM + {DCM or SM} 13

Figure 13: Grid ph-n voltage and DCS550 grid current – DCM braking (1471 rpm, 10 A, 173 V, 110 )

7.2 Optional – IM – DC current braking

a) Remove all cables from the IM (except the grounding one). Connect 1 phase to COMPAK/DC-
3ph.
b) With the DC drive, set a speed reference of 1500 rpm and START.
c) Feed the IM with DC current, go gradually up to 6 A (as displayed on the COMPAK).
Observe any braking action via the armature current (displayed on the drive, with 1 A resolution
unfortunately). Take note of the highest armature current.
d) Go back back to 0 A DC current. Try 2 other connections: all phases in series and partly
series/parallel. And repeat the experiment going up to 6 A.
e) Repeat at other speeds: 1000 rpm, 300 rpm, 30 rpm
Remove all supply of the IM.

7.3 Optional – DCM noload motoring – DCS+COMPAK and varying AC voltage

Proceed as follows:
a) Connect the DCS550 AC input to the COMPAK/AC.
b) Increase the supply voltage gradually from 0. When does the drive awake?
c) Go to 400 V and START with 1500 rpm reference. Take note of the armature voltage and current,
and of the firing angle 3.13 ArmAlpha.
Lower the voltage until 350 V and 330 V. Take note of the firing angle.
Lower further the voltage and observe how long the drive stays operational.
Does all this matter in practice? Think of critical installations/systems and grid voltage dips.

ELEC-H-406 – Electrical drives – ULB laboratory sessions