Performance evaluation of automatic voltage regulators

Abstract

Performance of various Automatic Voltage Regulators (AVR's) in Nigeria and the causes of their inability to regulate at their set points have been investigated. The result indicates that the imported AVRs fail to give the 220 volts as displayed on the name plate at the specified low set point (such as 100, 120 volts etc) on no-load and would expectedly perform worse under load. Many of them regulate to 220 volts only when the input is at 180 volts. Many of them gave higher output when the input is high. At the upper set point, they regulate between 220 and 230 volts as output. The AVR (investigated) manufactured in Nigeria is quite better than the imported ones within the tested range, hence should be encouraged and patronized.



Keywords : AVR, Snap action, Variac.


[Global Jnl Engineering Res. Vol.2(1&2) 2003: 49-58]