Virtual laboratory platform for enhancing undergraduate level induction motor course using MATLAB/Simulink

With the advent of various simulation software packages and low cost personal computing devices in the market, computer-aided teaching tools have become an important part of present pedagogy. These tools support the classroom teaching by enabling the instructor to illustrate the working of various systems by means of computer generated graphics. This paper presents a very easy and interactive model based on computer simulation in MATLAB/Simulink to simulate the no load test, load test and blocked rotor test on 3-phase slip ring and squirrel cage induction motors. The well known equivalent circuit model along with the torque equation is used to model the motor without considering the effects of magnetic saturation. The simulation environment plots all relevant graphs including circle diagram of the given motor, thus acting as a complete graphical teaching aid for the induction machine course at undergraduate level. This model facilitates learning especially for the students pursuing a distance-learning/correspondence course which does not provide them with the laboratory facilities.