UNIT II MEASUREMENT OF POWER & ENERGY

Dynamometer type wattmeter works on a very simple principle which is stated as "when any
current carrying conductor is placed inside a magnetic field, it experiences a mechanical force
and due to this mechanical force, deflection of conductor takes place."
Construction
It consists of the following parts:
Moving coil - Moving coil moves the pointer with the help of spring control instrument. A
limited amount of current flows through the moving coil so as to avoid heating. So in order to
limit the current we have connected the high value resistor in series with the moving coil. The
moving is air cored and is mounted on a pivoted spindle and can moves freely. In
electrodynamometer type wattmeter, moving coil works as pressure coil. Hence moving coil is
connected across the voltage and thus the current flowing through this coil is always proportional
to the voltage.
Fixed coil - The fixed coil is divided into two equal parts and these are connected in series with
the load, therefore the load current will flow through these coils. Now the reason is very obvious
of using two fixed coils instead of one, so that it can be constructed to carry considerable amount
of electric current. These coils are called the current coils of electrodynamometer type wattmeter.
Earlier these fixed coils are designed to carry the current of about 100 amperes but now the
modern wattmeter are designed to carry current of about 20 amperes in order to save power.
Control system - Out of two controlling systems i.e. gravity control and spring control, only
spring controlled systems are used in these types of wattmeter. Gravity controlled system cannot
be employed because they will contain appreciable amount of errors.
Damping system - Air friction damping is used, as eddy current damping will distort the weak
operating magnetic field and thus it may lead to error.
Scale - There is uniform scale is used in these types of instrument as moving coil moves linearly
over a range of 40 degrees to 50 degrees on either sides.
Working of Dynamometer type wattmeter:

When power is to be measured in a circuit, the instrument is suitably connected in the circuit.
The current coil is connected in series with load so that it carries the circuit current. The potential
coil is connected across the load so that it carries current proportional to the voltage.
Due to the current in the coils, mechanical force exists between them. The result is that the
moving coil, moves the pointer over the scale. The pointer comes to rest at a position where
deflecting torque is equal to the controlling torque.

Reversing the current, reverses the field due to fixed coil as well as the current in the moving coil
so that the direction of the deflection torque remains unchanged. Therefore, such instruments can
be used for the measurement of a.c as well as d.c power.
Deflecting torque:
It can be easily proved that deflecting torque is proportional to the power in the circuit.
Merits –
Scale is uniform up to certain limit.

 They can be used for both to measure ac as well dc quantities as scale is calibrated for
both.

Errors/Demerits –
 Errors in the pressure coil inductance
 Errors may be due to pressure coil capacitance
 Errors may be due to mutual inductance effects
 Errors may be due connections (i.e. pressure coil is connected after current coil)
 Error due to Eddy currents
 Errors caused by vibration of moving system
 Temperature error
 Errors due to stray magnetic field.
Errors in Electrodynamometer Type Wattmeter
Following are the errors in the electrodynamometer type wattmeter:

1. Pressure coil inductance: In an ideal dynamo-meter type watt meter the current in pressure coil
in phase with the applied voltage. But in practically the pressure coil of watt meter has an
inductance and current in it will lag behind the applied voltage. If there is no inductance the
current in pressure coil will be in phase with the applied voltage. In the absence of inductance in
pressure coil of wattmeter, it will read correctly in all power factors and frequency. The
wattmeter will read high when the load power factor is lagging ,as in that case the effect of
pressure coil inductance is to reduce the phase angle between load current and pressure coil
current . Hence the wattmeter will read high. This is very serious error. The wattmeter will read
low when the load power factor is leading as in that case the effect of pressure coil inductance is
to increase the phase angle between load current and pressure coil current. Hence the wattmeter
will read low. Compensation for inductance of pressure coil. Inductance of pressure coil can be
reduced by means of capacitor connected in parallel with a portion of multiplier (series
resistance).
2. Pressure coil capacitance. The pressure coil circuit may have capacitance in addition with
inductance. This capacitance mainly due to the inter turn capacitance of the series resistance. The
effect of capacitance is opposite to that due to inductance. Therefore the wattmeter will read high
when the load power factor is leading. The inductance in pressure coil circuit will always more
than inductance, hence the error caused by capacitance will be nullified by that due to
inductance.

3. Error due to mutual inductance. Errors may occur due to the mutual inductance between the
current and pressure coils of the watt meter. These errors are quite low at power frequencies. But
they increased with increase in frequencies. The effect of mutual inductance can be avoided by
arranging the coil system in such a way that they have no mutual inductance. So we can
eliminate the errors due to mutual inductance. The Drysdale Torsion head wattmeter is an
example for such type.
 4. Eddy Current errors. Eddy currents are induced in the solid metal parts and within the thick
conductors by the alternating magnetic field produced by the current coil. This eddy currents
produce their own magnetic field and it will alter that produced by the main current in the current
coil and thus error occurred. This error can be minimized by avoiding solid metal parts as much
as possible and by using 32 stranded conductors for high current applications.

5. Stray Magnetic field Errors. The electrodynamometer type wattmeter has a weak operating
field and therefore it is affected by stray magnetic fields it will result in serious errors. Hence
these instruments should be shielded against stray magnetic field.

6. Errors caused by vibration of moving system. The torque on the moving system varies with
frequency which is twice that of voltage. If the parts of the moving system have a natural
frequency which is resonance with the frequency of torque pulsation, the moving system would
vibrate with considerable amplitude. These vibrations will cause errors. This error can be
reduced by design.

7. Temperature Error. The change in room temperature may affect the indication of wattmeter.
This is because of change in temperature will change in resistance of pressure coil and stiffness
of springs which provide controlling torque. This effect are opposite in nature and cancel each
other. The use of material of having negligible temperature coefficient of resistance will reduce
change in resistance the pressure coils with change in temperature.

Low Power Factor Wattmeter

If an ordinary electrodynamometer wattmeter is used for measurement of power in low

power factor circuits, (PF<0.5), then the measurements would be difficult and inaccurate
since:
• The deflecting torque exerted on the moving system will be very small and
• Errors are introduced due to pressure coil inductance (which is large at LPF)
Thus, in a LPF wattmeter, special features are incorporated in a general electrodynamometer
wattmeter circuit to make it suitable for use in LPF circuits as under:

(a) Pressure coil current:

The pressure coil circuit is designed to have a low value of resistance so that the current
through the pressure coil is increased to provide an increased operating torque.

(b) Compensation for pressure coil current:

On account of low power factor, the power is small and the current is high. In this
context, there are two possible connections of the potential coil of a wattmeter as shown
in figure 4.4. The connection (a) can not be used, since owing to the high load current,
there would be a high power loss in the current coil and hence the wattmeter reading
would be with a large error. If the connection (b) is used, then the power loss in the
pressure coil circuit is also included in the meter readings.

Thus it is necessary to compensate for the pressure coil current in a low power factor
wattmeter. For this, a compensating coil is used in the instrument to compensate for the
power loss in the pressure coil circuit as shown in figure 4.5.

(c) Compensation for pressure coil inductance:

At low power factor, the error caused by the pressure coil inductance is very large. Hence,
this has to be compensated, by connecting a capacitor C across a portion of the series
resistance in the pressure coil circuit as shown in figure 4.5.

(d) Realizing a small control torque:

Low power factor wattmeters are designed to have a very small control torque so that they
can provide full scale deflection (f.s.d.) for power factor values as low as 10%. Thus, the
complete circuit of a low power factor wattmeter is as shown in figure 4.5.
SINGLE PHASE ENERGY METER

The induction type single phase energy meters are universally used for energy measurements in
domestic and industrial establishments since they possess some of the very useful features such
as :
Accurate characteristics
Lower friction
Higher torque weight ratio
Cheaper manufacturing methods and
Ease of maintenance.

Constructional Details

The single phase induction energy meter is schematically shown in figure.Basically, it has four
systems of operation: driving system, moving system, braking system and registering system.
Driving system consists of a series magnet and a shunt magnet. The coil of the series magnet
is excited by load current while that of the shunt magnet is excited by a current proportional to
the supply voltage. These two coils are respectively referred as current coil and potential coil (or
pressure coil) of the energy meter.
Moving system consists of a freely suspended, light aluminum disc mounted on an alloy shaft
and placed admidst the air-gap of the two electromagnets.
Braking system consists of a position-adjustable permanent magnet placed near one edge of
the disc. When the disc rotates in the gap between the two poles of the brake magnet, eddy
currents are set up in the disc. These currents react with the brake magnet field and provide the
required braking torque damping out the disc motion if any, beyond the required speed.. The
brakingtorque can be adjusted as required by varying the position of the braking magnet.
Recording system is a mechanism used to record continuously a number which is proportional
to the revolutions made by the disc. Thus it is the counter part of the pointer and scale of
indicating instruments. The shaft that supports the disc is connected by a gear arrangement to a
clock mechanism on the front of the meter. It is provided with a decimally calibrated read out of
the total energy consumption in KWh.
Theory of Operation
Figure 8.4 Energy meter Phasor diagram
Thus, the total number of revolutions made by the moving disc is a direct measure of
the energy consumed by load circuit.

ERRORS AND COMPENSATIONS

The energy meter, also has some additional operational features for various purposes
as discussed under.

Phase and speed error

It is necessary that the energy meter should give correct reading on all power factors, which is
only possible when the field set up by shunt magnet flux lags behind the applied voltage by 90 0.
Ordinarily the flux set up by shunt magnet does not lag behind the applied voltage exactly by 900
because of winding resistance and iron losses. The flux due to shunt magnet is made to lag
behind applied voltage by 900with the help of copper shading band provided on the central limb.
An error due to incorrect adjustment of shading band will be evident when the meter is tested on
a load of power factor less than unity.

An error on the fast side under these conditions can be eliminated by bringing the shading band
nearer to the disc and vice versa. An error in the speed of the meter when tested on non inductive
load can be eliminated by adjustment of the position of the brake magnet. Movement of the
brake magnet in the direction of the spindle will reduce the braking torque and vice versa. Speed
of disc is directly proportional to the distance between the disc and brake magnet.

13.3.2 Friction compensation

The two shading bands embrace the flux contained in the two outer limbs of the shunt
electromagnet, and thus eddy current are induced in them which cause a phase displacement
between the enclosed flux and main gap flux. As a result, a small driving torque is exerted on the
disc, this torque being adjusted, by variation of the position of these bands, to compensate for
frictional torque in the instrument.
In some energy meter, it is observed that the disc continue to rotate even when the load on the
energy meter is zero and potential coil is in excited condition. This defect is known as creeping
and is prevented by cutting two holes or slots in the disc on opposite sides of the spindle. The
disc tends to remain stationary when one of the holes comes under one of pole of the shunt
magnet. In some cases, a small piece of iron wire is attached to the edge of the disc. The force of
attraction of the brake magnet upon this wire is sufficient to prevent continuous rotation of the
disc under no load condition.

13.3.3 Temperature and frequency errors

The error due to variation in temperature is very small. Since the various effects due to change in
temperature tends to neutralize each other on unity power factor if not on low power factor
(lagging). Since the meters are used normally on fixed frequency and hence these can be adjusted
to have a minimum error at declared supply frequency which is normally 50 cycles / second.

Lag Adjustment devices : They are used to introduce a magnetic shunt circuit which helps to
provide an MMF in proper phase relation to bring the pressure coil flux in exact quadrature with
the voltage. This is done by using either adjustable resistance or copper shading bands on the
shunt magnet as shown in figure 8.2. The copper shading bands are provided on the central limb
of the shunt magnet and they are position-adjustable. They bring the potential coil flux exactly in
quadrature with the applied voltage.
Some times the lag plates are also useful for this purpose.
Friction or Low load Compensation : The friction errors are serious at low loads. To ensure
proper reading at low loads, friction compensators are used, which provide a small torque,
independent of the load. This torque is equal and opposite to the friction torque. The friction
compensator consists of a small shading loop placed between the disc and shunt magnet, slightly
towards one side of the disc, as shown in figure 8.2. It is correctly adjusted to ensure minimum
friction at low loads.
Creep : In some energy meters, when the pressure coil is energized, a slow, but continuous
rotation of the disc is observed even when there is no current in the current coil. This is called
Creeping. This can be due to several reasons such as overcompensation for friction, vibrations,
stray field effects and excessive pressure coil voltage. To prevent creeping, two diametrically
opposite holes are drilled on the disc. The disc will stall when one of the holes comes under one
of the poles of the shunt magnet.
Thus the rotation is restricted to a maximum of half a revolution.
Voltage Compensation: The errors due to voltage variations are compensated by increasing
the reluctance of side limbs of shunt magnet.
Holes are provided on the side limbs of shunt magnet for this purpose.
Temperature Compensation: Owing to temperature effects, the energy meters may runs
faster and register wrong values. In such cases, the compensation is provided by a temperature
shunt on the brake magnet.
Over load Compensation: Over load compensators are used to minimize the self braking
action of energy meters. They are in the form of a saturable magnetic shunt for the series magnet.
THREE PHASE ENERGY METER

Three Phase Energy Meters

There are 2 fundamentally different types of energy meter presently in use. The first to appear
was electro-mechanical, variously called a disc-type, induction or Ferraris meter.

This meter works on the same principle as the induction motor. An aluminium disc is placed
inside a magnetic core with two limbs. One carries a voltage coil so its flux is proportional to
voltage, the second carries a current coil so its flux is proportional to current. The two fluxes
induce eddy currents to the disc, each of which interacts with the flux of the other to produce a
torque, which accelerates the disc. This torque is proportional to flux × the eddy current, which
equates to V × I, or power. A permanent magnet creates another eddy current resulting in a
torque proportional to speed that brakes the disc, the combined result of these actions is that the
speed of the disc is proportional to power, and the total number of revolutions is proportional to
the energy that has passed through the meter. The disc drives a chain of gears that turn a
mechanical counter, called a ‘register’.

The three-phase meter has three sets of coils and three discs on a common shaft. The torques add
mechanically and in this way, the energy registered is the total energy drawn across all three
phases.
Because of the mechanical nature of the meter, the moving parts are subject to friction. Although
it is possible to alter the magnetic arrangement to produce a small torque that should exactly
balance friction, this is rarely achieved in practice (because the customer would complain loudly
if the disc were to move when no current was being taken). Therefore most meters have a
minimum power below which, they do not register.

Single phase Electrodynamometer Power Factor Meter

Construction of electrodynamometer type power factor meter.

Construction is shown in Fig.1

It consists of two coils 1.Fixed coil which acts as current Coil.
2. Moving coil or pressure coil.
Current coil:
1. Split into two parts and carries the current of the circuit under test.
2. The magnetic field produced by this coil is proportional to the main current.
Pressure coil:

1. Two identical coils A & B pivoted on a spindle.

2. Coil a has a non inductive resistance R connected in series with it.
3. Coil B has a highly inductive choke coil L connected in series with it.
4. The two coils are connected across the voltage of the circuit.
5. The value of R & L adjusted to carry the same current at normal frequency.
Working Principle:
1. Current in coil is in phase with the circuit voltage.
2. Current through coil B lags the voltage by an angle 90°( ).
3. The angle between the planes of the coils is made equal to .
4. There is no controlling torque.
5. Minimum control effect using silver or gold ligaments for connecting moving
coils.
Assumption made:
Current through coil B lags voltage by exactly 90°.
Angles between the planes of the coils is exactly 90°.
Now, there will be two deflecting torques:
1. Torque acting on coil A.
2. Torque acting on coil B.
The coil windings are arranged in such a way that the torques due to two coils are
opposite in direction. Therefore the pointer will take up a position where these two
torques are equal.
 Advantages of Electrodynamic Type Power Factor Meters

1. Losses are less because of minimum use of iron parts and also give less error over a small
range of frequency as compared to moving iron type instruments.
2. They high torque is to weight ratio.

Disadvantages of Electrodynamic Type Power Factor Meters

1. Working forces are small as compared to moving iron type instruments.

2. The scale is not extended over 360°.
3. Calibration of electrodynamometer type instruments are highly affected by the changing
the supply voltage frequency.
4. They are quite costly as compared to other instruments.

MOVING IRON TYPE POWER FACTOR METER

MAXIMUM DEMAND INDICATORS

Merz price maximum demand indicator indicates

A) maximum demand B) average maximum demand over a specified period of time

C) maximum energy
D) minimum prescribed demand
consumption

MDI instruments are designed in such a way that they record the base load requirement
of electrical energy. They can also measure the peak load but are unable to record sudden short
circuit or High motor Starting Currents. Its main construction parts are:

1. A Dial connected with moving system

2. A pointer on dial
3. Reset device
4. Fraction device
5. Indicating pin
Maximum demand indicator is often available as a built in feature of three phase energy meters,
included in a single case.
Maximum Demand is calculated by
Maximum Demand(KW)= Maximum Energy Recorded(KWh)⁄Time(hours)
Wright Maximum Demand Indicator
INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMERS

Instrument transformers are high accuracy class electrical devices used to isolate or transform
voltage or current levels.

The most common usage of instrument transformers is to operate instruments or metering from
high voltage or high current circuits, safely isolating secondary control circuitry from the high
voltages or currents.

The primary winding of the transformer is connected to the high voltage or high current circuit,
and the meter or relay is connected to the secondary circuit.

How will you measure AC currents and voltages of very high magnitude? You will need the
measuring instruments having higher range, which literally mean huge instruments.

Or there's another way, using the transformation property of AC currents and voltages. You can
transform the voltage or current down with a transformer whose turns ratio is accurately known,
then measuring the stepped down magnitude with a normal range instrument. The original
magnitude can be determined by just multiplying the result with the transformation ratio.

Such specially constructed transformers with accurate turns ratio are called as Instrument
transformers. These instruments transformers are of two types - (i) Current Transformers
(CT) and (ii) Potential Transformers (PT).

Current Transformers (CT)

Current transformers are generally used to measure currents of high magnitude.
These transformers step down the current to be measured, so that it can be measured with a
normal range ammeter.

A Current transformer has only one or very few number of primary turns. The primary winding
may be just a conductor or a bus bar placed in a hollow core (as shown in the figure). The
secondary winding has large number turns accurately wound for a specific turns ratio. Thus the
current transformer steps up (increases) the voltage while stepping down (lowering) the current.
Now, the secondary current is measured with the help of an AC ammeter. The turns ratio of a
transformer is NP / NS = IS / IP

One of the common application of a current transformer is in a 'Digital Clamp Meter'.

Generally, current transformers are expressed in their primary to secondary current ratio. A
100:5 CT would mean the secondary current of 5 amperes when primary current is 100 amperes.
The secondary current rating is generally 5 amperes or 1 ampere, which is compatible with
standard measuring instruments.

Potential Transformer (PT)

Potential transformers are also known as voltage transformers and they are basically step down
transformers with extremely accurate turns ratio.

Potential transformers step down the voltage of high magnitude to a lower voltage which can be
measured with standard measuring instrument. These transformers have large number of primary
turns and smaller number of secondary turns.
A potential transformer is typically expressed in primary to secondary voltage ratio. For
example, a 600:120 PT would mean the voltage across secondary is 120 volts when primary
voltage is 600 volts.

The three main tasks of instrument transformers are:

1. To transform currents or voltages from a usually high value to a value easy to

handle for relays and instruments.
2. To insulate the metering circuit from the primary high voltage system.
3. To provide possibilities of standardizing the instruments and relays to a few
rated currents and voltages.
Instrument transformers are special types of transformers intended to measure currents and
voltages. The common laws for transformers are valid.