POWER

MEASUREMENT

Introduction

Power may be defined as the rate at which energy is

transformed and made available
In almost all cases the power in a d.c. circuit is best
measured by separately measuring quantities, V and I
and by computing P=VI
In case of a.c. circuits the instantaneous power varies
continuously as the current and voltage go through a
cycle of values
The fact that the power factor is involved in the
expression for the power means that a wattmeter must
be used instead of merely an ammeter and voltmeter.

Dynamometer type wattmeter

construction

LPF wattmeter
Ordinary electro-dynamometer wattmeter is not suitable for measurement of power in low power
factor circuits owing to
(i) small deflecting torque on the moving system even when the current and pressure coils are fully
excited and
(ii) introduction of large error due to inductance of pressure coil at low power factor.
The special features incorporated in an electro-dynamometer type wattmeter to
make it suitable for measurement of power in low power factor circuits are :
i) Pressure coil Circuit. The pressure coil circuit is made of low resistance in order to make the
pressure coil current large resulting in increased operating torque.
(ii) Compensation For Pressure Coil current
(ii) Compensation For Inductance of Pressure Coil.
. The error caused by inductance of pressure coil is compensated by connecting a capacitor across a
part of series resistance in the pressure coil circuit, as shown in fig

 Low power factor wattmeter

(electro-dynamometer type)

Wattmeter
A wattmeter is essentially an inherent combination of an
ammeter and a voltmeter and, therefore , consists of two
coils known as current coil and pressure coil.
Wattmeter connection:

Wattmeter Errors

Error due to inductance of pressure coil

True power

cos
Re ading of wattmeter
cos cos

Error due to pressure coil capacitance

sin
sin cot

Error due to Eddy currents : soild metal parts are removed as far
away from the current coil as possible

 Error due to power loss in pressure coil or current coil

There are two method of connecting wattmeters in the circuit for
measurement of power, as shown in figure below (a) and (b).
Fig (a) :
Wattmeter reading W I r
2

Fig (b) :

Wattmeter reading W

V2
R rp

Measurement of Power in Single Phase A.C. Circuit

3-voltmeter method
P

V32 V12 V 22
2R

V32 V12 V 22
cos
2V1V 2

Disadvantages : (i) Even small errors in measurement of voltages

may cause serious errors in the value of power, (ii) Supply voltage
higher than normal voltage is required

R
P I 32 I 12 I 22
2

3-Ammeter
I I method
I
cos

2
3

2
1

2
2

2I 1 I 2

The disadvantages of measurement of power by 3 voltmeters are

overcome in this method

Measurement of power in conjuction with instrument

transformers
This method is used when the currents and voltages of the
circuits to be measured are high
Figure below shows a measurement of power with wattmeter
in conjunction with instrument transformers in single phase
A.C. circuits

 Vector diagram for inductive

load

cos
cos cos

Vector diagram
for
capasitive

load
K

cos
cos cos

Measurement of Power in 3-Phase Circuit

Measurement of power in 3phase, 4-wire circuits-----------
P=W1+W2+W3

Measurement of power in 3phase, 3-wire circuits------------

P=W1+W2+W3

 3-wattmeter method of
measuring 3-phase power of
delta connected
P=W1+W2+W3

1-wattmeter method of
measuring balanced 3-phase
power (a) star connected, (b)
delta connected
P=3W

 2-wattmeter method of
measuring 3-phase 3-wire
power :
(a) star connected,
P=W1+W2

(b) delta connected

P=W1+W2

Determination of P.F. from Wattmeter Reading

If load is balanced, then p.f. of
the load can be determined
from the wattmeter readings
Vector diagram for balanced
star connected inductive load
-----
cos cos tan 1

3 W1 W2
W1 W2

The watt-ratio Curve ----------

p.f. can be determined from
reading of two wattmeters

Total power : w1 + w2 + w3
If neutral wire available, the common
point X should be the neutral wire.
Note: Total power does not depends upon
whether the load is balanced or not.

Two-Wattmeter Method
Current coils of two wattmeter's
are connected in any two lines
and the potential coil of each
joined to the third line

W1

I1

I2
Y

W2

I3

TWO-WATTER METHOD BALANCED LOAD

VBN
VRN
VYN

VBY

R.M.
S

R.M.
S
VBN

LOAD
PHASE
VOLTAG
ES

IB

300

IB

300

300

IY

VYN

IR

VRY

-VYN

IY

300

VRN
IR

PHASE
CURREN
TS

Power factor

Since, Total power = W1+ W2

Power Factor :

tan = 3

(w2w
(w12)+w1)

W2=VLILCOS(300- )

W1=VLILCOS(300+ )

Which is greater W1 or W2 ?

answer
PF :

tan = 3

(w2-w1)
(w2+w1)

Since can vary between 900 to 00

So, tan vary between 0 to 1.
Therefore, whose reading is proportional
to (300- ) is greater and positive

Effect of load pf on wattmeter

readings
00

600

More than 600

900

o.5

<0.5

W2

+ve

+ve

+ve

+ve

W1

+ve

-ve

-ve

Conclusion

W1 = W2
Total Power:
W1+W2

W1 =0
Total Power:
W2

Total Power:
W1-W2

W2=-W1
Total Power:0

Cos

Lagging p.f

tan = 3

tan = 3

Leading p.f

(w2w12)+w1)
(w

(Higher reading
(Higher reading
Reading)

tan = 3

- Lower Reading)
+ Lower

(w1w
(w21)+w2)

Reactive power

3 (w2-w1)
Difference Of
Readings Of Two
Wattmeters

One-wattmeter method

If the load (3-phse) Y or

is )
balanced, the power in any phase
can be measured by a single
wattmeter.

W
R

IR

N
Z
B

VYB

IY
Y

IB

 Two wattmeters readings are taken with

the help of one.
The current coil is connected in any one line
and the pressure coil is connected in any
one line and the pressure coil is connected
alternately between this and the other two
lines.
Algebraic sum of the two readings give the
total power drawn by the balanced 3-phase
load.

Reactive power

(Wattmeter
Reading)