A dynamometer wattmeter is a type of instrument used for measuring electrical power in AC circuits. It's a combination of a dynamometer-type instrument and a wattmeter, which makes it capable of measuring both the magnitude and direction of power in a circuit.
Here's a breakdown of its components and how it works:
Dynamometer: A dynamometer is a type of instrument used to measure mechanical forces and power. In the context of a dynamometer wattmeter, it refers to the mechanism that provides the controlling torque in the instrument.
Wattmeter: A wattmeter is an instrument used to measure electrical power in watts. It consists of a voltage coil (or potential coil) and a current coil (or current-sensing coil) that are placed within the circuit being measured. The voltage coil is connected in parallel to the load, and the current coil is connected in series with the load. The interaction between these coils and the current and voltage in the circuit produces a deflecting torque that is proportional to the power being measured.
Working Principle:
The dynamometer wattmeter combines the operating principles of both a dynamometer and a wattmeter. It uses a dynamometer-type mechanism to provide the controlling torque, and the power measurement is achieved using the wattmeter principles.
Controlling Torque: The dynamometer part of the instrument provides the necessary torque to counteract the deflecting torque produced by the wattmeter component. This ensures that the pointer of the instrument remains at a steady position even when there are fluctuations in the current and voltage being measured.
Wattmeter Principle: The voltage coil and current coil of the wattmeter part are connected to the circuit being measured. The voltage coil is connected in parallel to the load, and the current coil is connected in series with the load. The interaction of the magnetic fields produced by these coils and the current and voltage in the circuit generates a deflecting torque proportional to the power being measured.
The dynamometer wattmeter is capable of measuring both active power (real power) and reactive power (imaginary power) in AC circuits. It does this by taking into account the phase difference between the voltage and current in the circuit.
It's important to note that modern electronic wattmeters have largely replaced traditional dynamometer wattmeters due to their greater accuracy, convenience, and ability to handle complex AC circuits with various waveforms and power factors. Electronic wattmeters use solid-state components and digital processing to achieve accurate power measurements.
In summary, a dynamometer wattmeter is a specialized instrument that combines the principles of a dynamometer and a wattmeter to measure electrical power in AC circuits while accounting for phase differences and power factors.