Prepared By: Er.

Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic

(Asst. Lecturer)

Unit 6. Measurement of Power, Energy and Frequency

 Power measurement in single-phase with watt-meter and three-phase

with two and three watt-meter method.
 Reactive power measurement using VAR meter.
 Single-phase and three phase energy measurement using single and
three phase energy meter.
 Measurement of frequency using frequency meter.
 Measurement of maximum demand using maximum demand meter.
 Application of ‘Time of Day’ (TOD) meter

Measurement of Power in single-phase with watt-meter

Dynamo-meter type instrument is used for the measurement of power in
single phase and three phase ac system.
The basic arrangement of the instrument in single phase AC load is
shown in figure below as:

V=Voltage Terminal
M=Main Terminal
L=Load Terminal
C=Common Terminal
The average torque developed by dynamo-meter type instrument for AC
measurement is given by:
dM
Td  I C I V cos()
d
Where,IC=Current through current coil,section ‘ML’
IV=Current through voltage coil,section ‘CV’

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

' '  Phase angle between I V and I C

dM
 Variation of mutual inductance between the coils with respect to ' '
d
But,
V
IV 
Re sis tan ce of shunt coil, R
V

R
Hence,
V dM
Td  I C cos() .............(1)
R d
In electrodynamo-meter type instrument,controlling torque is provided by
spring control system
TC=kθ……………………….(2)

Combining these equations (1) and (2)

V dM
k  I C cos()
R d
V dM
  IC cos()
kR d
  k ' I C  V cos().................(3)
1 dM
Where, k '   A constant
k  R d

  k ' I C  V cos()  k 'Power...............( 4)

Where, Power  I C  V cos()
Equation shows that deflection angle produced in electrodynamo metre
type instrument is proportion to the power consumed by load.In this way,
power consumed by load in single phase system is measured.

Measurement of Power in three-phase with two watt-meter

Two Wattmeter Method can be employed to measure the power in a 3
phase, three wire star or delta connected the balanced or unbalanced load.
In Two wattmeter method the current coils of the wattmeter are
connected with any two lines, say R and Y and the potential coil of each
wattmeter is joined on the third common line, B as shown below in figure
below.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Case-I: For Star Connected load

For star connected balanced load,we have

W1  I R VRB cosI R ^ VRB  and
W2  I Y VYB cosI Y ^ VYB 
To find angle between (IR and VRB) and (IY and VYB) we use following
phasor diagram.
We consider it that each phase current lags pahse voltage by an angle 
as shown in figurebelow.
For wattmeter- W1,VRB=VR-VB and for wattmeter-W2=VYB=VY-VB.
As seen from below phasor diagram, angle between IR and VRB
That is I R ^ VRB  30  
And angle between IY and VYB i.e I Y ^ VYB  30  

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Now,
W1  I R VRB cosI R ^ VRB 
 I R VRB cos30   .........................................(1)
And W2  I Y VYB cosI Y ^ VYB 
 I Y VYB cos30   .......................................( 2)
Now adding equatuions (1) and (2)
W1  W2  I R VRB cos30     I Y VYB cos30   ......(3)
But for balanced star connected network,IR=IY=IB=IP=IL where IP and IL
are phase and line current respectively.
For balanced star connected network VRY=VYB=VBR=VL = 3VP where VP
and VL phase and line voltage respectively.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Now from equatuions (3)

W1  W2  I L VL cos30     I L VL cos30   
 I L VL cos30     cos30   
  30    30     30    30   
 I L VL  2 cos . cos 
  2   2 
   A  B  A  B  
because cos A  cos B  2 cos 2 . cos 2  
      
3
W1  W2  2 I L VL cos()
2
Total Power  W1  W2  3I L VL cos()
This is how three phase power is measured by two watt-meter method in
star connected balanced three phase network.

Case-II: For Delta Connected load

For delta connected balanced load,we have

W1  I R VRB cosI R ^ VRB  and
W2  I Y VYB cosI Y ^ VYB 
To find angle between (IR and VRB) and (IY and VYB) we use following
phasor diagram.
We consider it that each phase current lags pahse voltage by an angle 
as shown in figure below.
For wattmeter- W1,IR=IRY-IBR. Applying KCL at node ‘R’
For wattmeter-W2,IY=IYB-IRY.Applying KCL at node ‘Y’

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

As seen from above phasor diagram, angle between IR and VRB

That is I R ^ VRB  30  
And angle between IY and VYB i.e I Y ^ VYB  30  
Now,
W1  I R VRB cosI R ^ VRB 
 I R VRB cos30   .........................................(1)
And W2  I Y VYB cosI Y ^ VYB 
 I Y VYB cos30   .......................................( 2)
Now adding equatuions (1) and (2)
W1  W2  I R VRB cos30     I Y VYB cos30   ......(3)
But for balanced delta connected network,IR=IY=IB= 3I P =IL where IP and
IL are phase and line current respectively.
For balanced delta connected network VRY=VYB=VBR=VL = VP where VP
and VL phase and line voltage respectively.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Now from equatuions (3)

W1  W2  I L VL cos30     I L VL cos30   
 I L VL cos30     cos30   
  30    30     30    30   
 I L VL  2 cos . cos 
  2   2 
   A  B  A  B  
because cos A  cos B  2 cos 2 . cos 2  
      
3
W1  W2  2 I L VL cos()
2
Total Power  W1  W2  3I L VL cos()
This is how three phase power is measured by two watt-meter method in
delta connected balanced three phase network.

Power Factor calculation by two watt-meter method:

Power given by two watt-meters for balanced three phase load
connected in delta or star(any one) where phase current lags by angle
 to the corresponding phase voltage is given as:
W1  I R VRB cosI R ^ VRB 
 I R VRB cos30   .........................................(1)
And W2  I Y VYB cosI Y ^ VYB 
 I Y VYB cos30   .......................................( 2)
Where,IR=IY=IB=IL where IL is called line current and VBR=VYB=VBR=VL
where VL is called line voltage.Hence equation (1) and (2) become:

W1  I L VL cos30   ...............................................(3)
And W2  I L VL cos30   .......................................( 4)
Also, W1  W2  3I L VL cos ..................................(5)
Now.making subtraction of equation (4) from equation (3),we get
W1  W2  I L VL cos30     I L VL cos30   
 I L VL cos30     cos30   
  30    30     30    30   
 I L VL  2 sin   sin  
  2   2 
   A  B   B  A  
because cos A  cos B  2 sin  2  sin  2  
      

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

W1  W2  I L VL  2 sin 30 sin    I L VL  sin  

W1  W2  I L VL  sin  .............................(6)
Now,
From equation (5) and equation (6), we have
W1  W2 I V  sin  
 L L
W1  W2 3I L VL  cos 
W1  W2 tan  
or, 
W1  W2 3
W  W2
or , tan    3 1
W1  W2
 W  W2 
Hence,   tan 1  3 1 
 W1  W2 
  W  W2 
And power factor  cos()  cos  tan 1  3 1 
  W1
 W2 

Advantages and dis advantages of two watt-meter method for

measurement of three phase power.
Advantages:
 This method of power measurement can be used for balanced network
as well as for unbalanced three phase network.
 Only two watt-meters can measure the entire three phase power of the
load.
 Power factor and power can be measured by this system at a time.
 It is not necessary to connect neutral point of the system with
watt-meter terminals.

Disadvantages:
 It is not suitable for connecting with neutral terminal of load.
 Watt-meter should be connected properly with correct polarity of
current coil and voltage coil.If watt-meter shows negative reading,the
terminals should be inverted.
 It is applicable only for AC power measurement.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Measurement of three phase power using three watt-meter method

Three phase power measurement with three watt meter is possible for the
case of balanced load as well as unbalanced load.It is very easy to
measure with star connected load but becomes quite difficult with delta
connected load.Three watt meter connection for star connected load is
shown in figure below.

For star connected load,IR=IY=IB For balanced load.

Phase voltage,VP=VRN
Now,power measured by watt meter is, W  I R VRN cosI R ^ VRN 
We assume it that phase current lags voltage by an angle ‘  ’called phase
angle.

Power measured by single watt meter=Phase power = W  I R VRN cos 

And,total of three phase system= 3  W  3  I R VRN cos 

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Reactive power measurement using VAR meter

The instruments which measure the reactive power of the circuit are
called varmeter.The formula measures the reactive power in the circuit is
Q  VI sin() for single phase system.
Measurement of reactive power is essential because if the reactive power
is more in the circuit then the electrical power factor will be poor hence
losses will be more. On the basis of power supply, the varmeters can be
single phase phase varmeters and polyphase(three phase) varmeters.

Figure below shows connection diagram for measurement of reactive

power for three phase balanced star or delta connected load using
dynamo-meter type instrument.The current coil of the meter is connected
in series with one of the phase and pressure coil is connected across the
other remaining phases.

For balanced load system,phase voltages of each

phases=Vph=VRN=VYN=VBN
Current flowing through current coil=IY
Voltage developed across pressure coil=(VRN-VBN)

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Power measured by Var-meter is calculated as:

Re active Power Measured, Var  VRN  VBN I Y cos90   
 VRB I Y cos90   
 - 3VL I L sin()
Where factor 3 arises to accommodate phase and line relationship in
three phase delta and star connected load.And,instrument is calibrated for
negative reading.Or it can be said that only magnitude is concerned with
the meter reading.

Energy meter
The meter which is used for measuring the energy utilizes by
the electric load is known as the energy meter. The energy is the total power
consumed and utilized by the load at a particular interval of time. It is used
in domestic and industrial AC circuit for measuring the power consumption.
The meter is less expensive and accurate.

Construction of Energy Meter

Parts of energy meter

1. Driving System
It is the temporary magnet which is excited by the current flow through their
coil.The series electromagnet is excited by the load current flow through the
current coil. The coil of the shunt electromagnet is directly connected with the

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

supply and hence carry the current proportional to the shunt voltage. This coil
is called the pressure coil.

2. Moving System
The moving system is the aluminium disc mounted on the shaft of the alloy.
The disc is placed in the air gap of the two electromagnets. The eddy current is
induced in the disc because of the change of the magnetic field. This eddy
current is cut by the magnetic flux. The interaction of the flux and the disc
induces the deflecting torque.

3. Braking System
The permanent magnet is used for reducing the rotation of the aluminium
disc.When the disc rotates,constant flux from permanent magnet links with the
disc and induces emf in it.Induced current produced in disc retards the rotation
of disc and hence breaking torque is produced.

4. Registering System
The main function of the registration or counting mechanism is to record the
number of rotations of the aluminium disc. Their rotation is directly
proportional to the energy consumed by the loads in the kilowatt hour.

Deflecting and breaking torque produced in energy meter

Deflecting torque:
Current flowing in current coil is equal to the load current and it
produces flux 1  which is in phase with current in ‘U’ shaped iron core
connected in series with load.Current flowing in pressure coil is
proportional to the load voltage.Pressure coil current produces flux
 2  in ‘E’ shaped magnet which is lagging corresponding voltage by
900.Both these flux 1 and  2  induce an emf in rotating disc placed in
between them.Due to interaction of these two fluxes,driving torque is
produced.

Theoretically,it is derived that deflecting torque, Td  1 2 sin  

Where, 1  Flux due to current coil
 2  Flux due to pressure coil
  Angular velocity which is constant
  Angle between  2 and  2  90 - 
Now,it is know that flux 1  due to current coil is proportional to
current,I and flux  2  due to pressure coil is proportional to current,V

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Hence,
Td  IV sin 90   
Td  IV cos   being constant 
Td  Power consumed by load (P).............................(1)

Breaking Torque Tb:

Breaking torque is dependent on strength of breaking magnet [that is
breaking flux  b  from permanent magnet],resistance (R) of aluminium
disc and speed of rotation (N) of aluminium disc.That is:
2 N
Tb  b
R

Tb  N For  b and R being constant for particular construction 
Tb  N.........................( 2)
Disc achieves a steady state speed ‘N’ when two torques are in balanced
condition.
Tb  Td
N  P....................(3)
It can be inferred that
 Revolution of disc 
   Power , P 
 time taken, t 
Revolution of disc  Powe, P   ( time taken , t )
t
Revolution of disc   Wdt  Total energy consumed 
0

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Three phase energy meter construction and working

The three phase energy meter has two discs mounted on the common
shaft. Both the disc has its braking magnet, copper ring, shading band and
the compensator for getting the correct reading. The two elements are
used for measuring the three phase power. The construction of the three
phase meter is shown in the figure below.

For three phase meter, the driving torque of both the elements is equal.
This can be done by adjusting the torque. The torque is adjusted by
connecting the current coils of both the elements in the series and their
potential coils in parallel. The full load current is passed through the coil
due to which the two opposite torque is set up in the coil.
The strength of both the torques are equal, and hence they do not allow
the disc to rotate. If the torque becomes unequal and the disc rotates then
the magnetic shunt is adjusted. The balance torque is obtained before
testing the meter. The position of the compensator and the braking
magnet are separately adjusted to each of the element for obtaining the
balance torque.

Measurement of frequency using frequency meter:

Frequency meter is a device which is extremely used for ac system(loads
and source) for measuring frequency of signals.There are various devices
for measurement of frequency and they are:
i. Mechanical resonance type
ii. Electrical resonance type

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

iii. Weston type

iv. Ratiometer type
v. Saturable core type
vi. Digital frequency meters

Electrical Resonance Type Frequency Meter

Construction
It consists of a fixed coil which is connected across the supply whose
frequency is to be measured. Fixed coil is also called magnetizing coil.
The magnetizing coil mounted on a laminated iron core. The iron core
has a cross-section which varies gradually over the length, being
maximum near the end where the magnetizing coil is mounted and
minimum at the other end. The moving coil is pivoted over this iron
core. The pointer is attached to the moving coil. The capacitor is
connected with moving coil.

Working
When the magnetizing coil is connected across supply, the current Is
flows through the magnetizing coil and sets up flux  s in phase with Is ,
neglecting the resistance of the coil and iron losses in the core. Since flux
 s is an alternating flux, it will induce an e.m.f. ‘e’ in the moving coil
which lags  s (or Is) by 900.This induced voltage in moving coils sets
current (Im) flowing in it.The phase of this current depends upon the
inductive reactance,XL of the moving coil and the capacitive reactance,XC

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(Asst. Lecturer)

Torque on moving system which has no controlling device is given by:

Td  I m I s cos90   
Where, I m  Current flowing through moving coil
I s  Current flowing through core coil  source current
  Phase angle between ' e' and I m
Depending on the supply frequency, capapcitive reactance in series with
inductive reactance of moving coil change and this decides the deflection
of moving pointer.

Case-I For Normal Frequency

Capacitor is so designed that at normal frequency reactance due to
capacitor and inductor becomes equal.XC=-XL .That is circuit in moving
coil system undergoes electrical resonance.At this instant emf of moving
coil,’e’ and current flowing in it Im are in phase.

Deflecting torque produced, Td  I m I s cos90   

Where   0
Hence, Td  I m I s cos90   0
No deflecting torque is produced and pointer remains at middle position
showing normal frequency point.

Case-II For Frequency< Normal Frequency

At lower frequency,
1
XC  increases which reduces capacitive component of current in moving coil
C
X L  L decreases which enhances inductive component of current in moving coil
It means,as a whole moving coil system undergoes lagging mode where
current Im lags behind voltage ‘e’ by an angle ' ' (say) as shown in
phasor below.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Deflecting torque produced, Td  I m I s cos90   

Hence, Td  Negative.

As the deflecting torque is negative,the moving pointer is pushed awar

from the iron core.That is pointer goes in the left side of normal point
showing lower frequency as shown in above figure.

Case-III For Frequency> Normal Frequency

At higher frequency,
1
XC  decreases which enhances capacitive component of current in moving coil
C
X L  L increases which reduces inductive component of current in moving coil
It means,as a whole moving coil system undergoes into leading mode
where current Im leads behind voltage ‘e’ by an angle ' ' (say) as shown
in phasor below.

Deflecting torque produced, Td  I m I s cos90   

Hence, Td  Positive.

As the deflecting torque is positive,the moving pointer is pulled near to

the iron core.That is pointer goes in the right side of normal point,just in
opposite direction as shown in case -II showing higher frequency as
shown in above figure.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Numerical Solution from Two Watt-meters for measurement of three

phase power

Question No.1
Two watt-meters are connected to measure the input power to a
balanced 3-phase load by the two watt-meter method. If the
instrument readings are 8kW and 4kW, determine
(a) the total power input and
(b) the load power factor
Solution:
Given,
Power shown by watt-meter-1,W1=8kW
Power shown by watt-meter-2,W2=4kW
(a) Total power consumed by load,=W1+W2=12kW
(b) For load power factor,
We know that,
W  W2
tan    3 1
W1  W2
84
tan    3  0.577
84
   tan 1 (0.577)  29.98 0
Now,load power factor=cos(29.98)=0.866 lagging.

Question No.2
Two watt-meters connected to a 3-phase motor indicate the total
power input to be 12kW. The power factor is 0.6. Determine the
readings of each watt-meters.
Solution:
Total power,P=12kW=W1+W2………………….i
Power factor, cos() =0.6 lag that is   cos 1 (0.6)  53.10 0
We know that,
W  W2
tan    3 1
W1  W2
W  W2
So, tan 53.10   3 1
12
Solving this we get,W1-W2=9.22kW……………….ii
Solving equation (i) and (ii),we get
W1=10.61kW and W2=1.39kW.

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Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Question No.3
The two watt-meter method is used to measure power consumed by a
delta connected load. Each branch of load has an impedance of
20∠600 . Supply voltage is 400 V. Calculate the total power and the
readings on the individual watt-meters.
Solution:
Given,
Load impedance of each phase,ZP=20∠600 
Phase voltages,VP=400V
V 400
Phase current, I P  P   20  60A
Z P 2060
Phase angle between voltage and current,
  60 0 ; Curent lags voltage
We know that total power=3VPIP cos()
= 3  400  20  cos(60)  12000 W  12kW
Question No.4
The power input measurement to a synchronous motor is done using
two watt-meter method. Each of the watt-meter reads 40 kW at a
certain operating condition. If now, the PF is changed to 0.8 lagging,
what would be the new watt-meter readings?
Solution:
Given,
Reading of each watt-meter;W1=W2=40kW
Total power=W1+W2=80kW……………………………..…..i
New power factor, cos() =0.8lag.    36.86
We know that,
W  W2
tan    3 1
W1  W2
W  W2
So, tan 36.86   3 1  W1  W2  34.62kW..............ii
80
Solving equation (i) and (ii),we get
W1=57.31kW and W2=22.69kW
Question No.5
The power flowing in three phase three wire balanced load system is
measured by two watt-meter method,reading of watt-meter-A is
7500W and that of watt-meter-B is 5000W.Supply frequency is 50Hz.
i. What is the power factor
ii. If circuit voltage(L-L) is 400V,what value of capacitance must be
introduced in each phase to cause the whole power measured appear
in watt-meter-A? [CTEVT 2074,Shrawan/Bhadra]

19
Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Solution:
Given,
Power measured by watt-meter-A,W1=7500W
Power measured by watt-meter-B,W2=5000W
Supply frequency,f=50Hz
i. Calculation for power factor
W  W2
We know, tan    3 1
W1  W2
7500  5000
tan    3  0.346
7500  5000
   tan 1 (0.346)  19.08 0
Hence,power factor=cos(19.08)=0.94 lagging.

ii. Value of capacitance required:

We know that ,
W1  I R VRB cos30   
And W2  I Y VYB cos30   
For total power to appear in watt-meter-1,phase angle should be 600 so
that W2=0.Hence,  =600
Before concentrating power on one watt-meter
Current flowing in that case would be,
Total power, P 7500  5000
IL    19.19A
3VL cos() 3  400  0.94
I 19.19
For delta connected network,Phase current, I P  L   11 .07 A
3 3
V 400
Now,phase impedance, Z P  P   36.13
I P 11 .07
Resistive component impedance,R=Zcos(  )=36.13cos(19.08)=34.145 
Reactive component impedance,X=Zsin(  )=36.13sin(19.08)=18.810 
After concentrating power on one watt-meter
Power factor will be changed but the resistive component won’t be
changed anymore,hence new reactive component of impedance will be,
X   R  (tan )
Where,
X   New reactance,
R  original resistance
  new power factor angle  60
X   34.145  tan(60)  59.14

20
Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Change in reactive component of impedance

X  X   X   59.14  18.810   40.33 .This change in resistance is
due to capacitive action whose capacitance is given by,
1 1
XC  C
2fC 2fX C
1 1
C   7.89  10 5 F
2fX C 2  50  40.33
 78.9F
This is required value of capacitance to be added in series with each
phase to get total power to be concentrated on watt-meter-1

Question No. 6
A three phase star connected load draws a line current of 25A.The
load kVA and kW are 20 and 16 respectively.Find the reading of
each of the two watt-meters used to measure the three phase power.
[CTEVT 2068 Regular/Back]
Solution:
Give,
Line current drawn by load,I=25A
Load kVA=20
Load kW=16
Load kW 16
Power factor, Cos ()    0.8 lag
Load kVA 20
   cos 1 (0.8)  36.86
Total Power,W1+W2=16kW……………………….i
We know that,
W  W2
tan    3 1
W1  W2
W  W2
So, tan 36.86   3 1
16
Solving this we get,W1-W2=6.92kW……………….ii
Solving equation (i) and (ii),we get
W1=11.46kW and W2=4.54kW.

Question No.7
A three phase 500V motor has a power factor of 0.4.Two watt-meters
are connected to measure the input powers.They show the input
power to be 30kW.Find the reading of each instruments.[CTEVT
2068 Regular/Back]
Total power,P=30kW=W1+W2………………….i

21
Prepared By: Er. Gopal Sapkota Manmohan Memorial Polytechnic
(Asst. Lecturer)

Power factor, cos() =0.4 lag that is   cos 1 (0.4)  66.42 0

We know that,
W  W2
tan    3 1
W1  W2
W  W2
So, tan 66.42   3 1
30
Solving this we get,W1-W2=39.68kW……………….ii
Solving equation (i) and (ii),we get
W1=34.84kW and W2=-4.84kW.The negative power shown by
watt-meter-2 indicates that it is connected in circuit with opposite
polarity.

22