MODULE 2
Measurement of power: Dynamometer type wattmeter –Construction and working - 3- phase power
measurement-Low Powerfactor wattmeters. Measurement of energy: Induction type watt-hour meters-
Single phase energy meter – construction and working, two element three phase energy meters,
Digital Energymeters -Time of Day(TOD) and Smart metering (description only). Current transformers and
potential transformers – principle of working -ratio and phase angle errors. Extension of range using
instrument transformers, Hall effect multipliers.
Measurement of power
DC power can be obtained by multiplying the current an d voltage. But in ac circuits
the active power (VI cos Φ) and reactive power (VIsin Φ) depends on the phase
angle between V and current , hence just voltmeter and ammeter is not enough to
measure the power, instead we need a wattmeter .
Dynamometer type wattmeter
Operating principle:
It works on the principle which states as when any current carrying conductor is
placed inside a magnetic field ,it experiences a mechanical firce and sue to this force
deflection of pointer takes place.
Construction
This instrument consists of two coils namely fixed (current coil) and moving
coil(pressure coil).
The fixed coils or ''field coils" are connected in series with the load and carry the
current in the circuit. The fixed coils, therefore, form the "current coil" of-the
wattmeter.
The moving coil is connected across the voltage and therefore, carries a current
proportional to the voltage .Since the moving coil carries a current proportional to
the voltage, It is called the "pressure coil'' or "voltage coil" of the wattmeter.
Fixed Coils
• The fixed coils carry the current of the circuit.
• They are divided into two halves to give more uniform field near the centre and to
allow the passage of the instrument shaft.
• The fixed coils are wound with heavy wire carrying the main current.
• This wire is stranded or laminated especially when carrying heavy current in order
to avoid eddy current losses in conductors.
Moving Coil
The moving coil is wound either as a self sustaining coil or else on non metallic
former .
• It is mounted on a aluminium spindle and is entirely embraced by the fixed current
coils.
• Since the current of the moving coil is carried by the instrument springs, it is limited
to values, which can be carried safely by springs.
Control.
• Spring control is used for the instrument, in which controlling torque is provided
by two control springs
Damping
• Air friction damping is used.
• provided by a pair of aluminum vanes attached to the spindle at the bottom these
vanes are moved in a sector shaped chambers.
Note: eddy current damping cannot be used as the operating field is very weak.
Scales and Pointers
• They are equipped with mirror type scales and knife edge pointers to remove
reading errors due to parallax.
Working Principle :
Torque equation of electro dynamometer instruments
Some of the above input energy to electrodynamometer instruments are stored in the
form of magnetic energy in the coil while rest is converted into mechanical energy
of moving coil.
• Thus we can write,
Energy Input = Mechanical Energy + Stored Energy
Mechanical Energy =Electrical Input – Stored Energy ...(2)
• Thus to find the mechanical energy, we need to find the change in stored energy in
the magnetic field of the coil. Let us assume an infinitesimally small time dt for the
sake of calculation of change in stored energy.
Low Power Factor wattmeter
i) Small deflecting torque on the moving system even when the currents and
pressure coils are fuly excited
ii) Introduction of large error due to inductance of pressure coil at low power
factor
Thus following special features are incorporated in electro dynamometer wattmeter
to make it suitable for measurement of power in low power factor
1. Compensation of preesure coil current
2. Pressure coil circuit :
The pressure coil is designed for having a low value of resistance so that the high
value of current passes through it. This current produces the deflecting torque on the
moving coil. The pressure coil current in low power factor wattmeter may be a much
as 10 times the value used for ordinary wattmeter
3. Compensation for inductance of pressure coil
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
The error caused by pressure coil inductnaceis times actual reading of
𝑐𝑜𝑡∅+sin 𝜃
wattmeter. Now with low p.f the value of Ø is large and therefore error is large .
