Induction Type Meters

Induction Type Meters

The principle of working and construction of induction type meter is very simple and easy to understand that's why these are widely used in measuring energy in domestic as well as industrial world. In all induction meters we have two fluxes which are produced by two different alternating currents on a metallic disc. Due to alternating fluxes there is an induced emf, the emf produced at one point (as shown in the figure given below) interacts with the alternating current of the other side resulting in the production of torque.
Similarly, the emf produced at the point two interacts with the alternating current at point one, resulting in the production of torque again but in opposite direction. Hence due to these two torques which are in different directions, the metallic disc moves. This is basic principle of working of an induction type meters. Now let us derive the mathematical expression for deflecting torque. Let us take flux produced at point one be equal to F₁ and the flux and at point two be equal to F₂. Now the instantaneous values of these two flux can written as:




where F_m1 and F_m2 are respectively the maximum values of fluxes F₁ and F₂, B is phase difference between two fluxes.
We can also write the expression for induced emf's at point one be



at point two. Thus we have the expression for eddy currents at point one is





where K is some constant and f is frequency.
Let us draw phasor diagram clearly showing F₁, F₂, E₁, E₂, I₁ and I₂. From phasor diagram, it clear that I₁ and I₂ are respectively lagging behind E₁ and E₂ by angle A.

The angle between F₁ and F₂ is B. From the phasor diagram the angle between F₂ and I₁ is (90-B+A) and the angle between F₁ and I₂ is (90+B+A). Thus we write the expression for deflecting torque as




Similarly the expression for Td2 is,




The total torque is T_d1 - T_d2, on substituting the the value of T_d1 and T_d2 and simplying the expression we get



Which is known as the general expression for the deflecting torque in the induction type meters. Now there are two types of induction meters and they are written as follows: (a)Single phase type (b) Three phase type induction meters. Here we are going to discuss about the single phase induction type in detail. Given below is the picture of single phase induction type meter.
Single phase induction type energy meter consists of four important systems which are written as follows:

(a) Driving system : Driving system consists of two electromagnets on which pressure coil and current coils are wounded, as shown above in the diagram. The coil which consisted of load current is called current coil while coil which is in parallel with the supply voltage (i.e. voltage across the coil is same as the supply voltage) is called pressure coil. Shading bands are wounded on as shown above in the diagram so as to make angle between the flux and and applied voltage equal to 90 degrees.

(b) Moving system : In order to reduce friction to greater extent floating shaft energy meter is used,the friction is reduced to greater extinct because the rotating disc which is made up of very light material like aluminium is not in contact with any of the surface. It floats in the air. One question must be arise in our mind is that how the aluminium disc float in the air? To answer this question we need to see the constructional details of this special disc, actually it consists of small magnets on both upper and lower surfaces. The upper magnet is attracted to an electromagnet in upper bearing while the lower surface magnet also attracts towards the lower bearing magnet, hence due to these opposite forces the light rotating aluminium disc floats.

(c) Braking system : A permanent magnet is used to produce breaking torque in single phase induction energy meters which are positioned near the corner of the aluminium disc.

(d) Counting system : Numbers marked on the meter are proportion to the revolutions made by the aluminium disc, the main function of this system is to record the number of revolutions made by the aluminium disc. Now let us look at the working operation of the single phase induction meter. In order to understand the working of this meter let us consider the diagram given below: Here we have assumed that the pressure coil is highly inductive in nature and consists of very large number of turns. The current flowin in the pressure coil is I_p which lags behind voltage by an angle of 90 degrees. This current produces flux F. F is divided into two parts F_g and F_p. (1) F_g which moves on the small reluctance part across the side gaps. (2) F_p: It is responsible for the production of driving torque in the aluminium disc. It moves from high reluctance path and is in phase with the current in the pressure coil. F_p is alternating in nature and thus emf E_p and current I_p. The load current which is shown in the above diagram is flowing through the current coil produces flux in the aluminium disc, and due this alternating flux there on the metallic disc, an eddy current is produced which interacts with the flux Fp which results in production of torque. As we have two poles, thus two torques are produced which are opposite to each other. Hence from the theory of induction meter that we have discussed already above the net torque is the difference of the two torques.

Advantages of Induction Type Meters

Following are the advantages of induction type meters: (1)They are inexpensive as compared to moving iron type instruments. (2)They have high torque is to weight ratio as compared to other instruments. (3)They retain their accuracy over wide range of temperature as well as loads.