Voltage Variations Impacts on Electrical Motors: A Central America Study Case

Most of the electric induction motors installed in Central America have been imported, due to not having manufacturing plants in this region, manufacturers prefer to import them from other neighboring countries such as Brazil, Mexico, etc. The main disadvantage of this situation is that the motors are manufactured with voltages different from those existing in the country or region where they will be installed. Although the motors have tolerances recommended by both the NEMA and IEC standards for power quality disturbances, voltage variations (VV) will have an impact on the efficiency and consumption of electric motors. Given this scenario, the present work aims to analyze four voltage variation conditions present in Central América on electric induction motor classes IE2, IE3, and IE4, the last being the line-start permanent magnet motor. This work addresses the influences of voltage variation on consumption, power factor, and temperature. Where a decrement in power factor, and an increment in consumption and temperature were observed for the overvoltage conditions, for the undervoltage, an increase in power factor and variations in consumption and temperature according to the motor class were observed.