Electro-Thermal Analysis of an Induction motor

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SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
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Abstract- The purpose of this paper is to present the Considering the cross section of the induction motor as the
temperature distribution of an induction motor during X-Y plane, the partial differential equation(1) describing
no load and blocked rotor conditions, where the the two dimensional domain Ω[3,4,5]
phenomenon of electromagnetically induced currents
and heat transfer are coupled under balanced and
unbalanced conditions. In this paper electromagnetic
and thermal fields of an induction motor of rating 3
phase, 400v ,1hp is verified using Finite Element
method(ANSYS) and experimental setup

Keywords– squirrel cage induction motor,

electromagnetic model, thermal model, ANSYS.

I.INTRODUCTION Fig.1. Model of an induction motor

In all electric machines the electric, magnetic and

The Maxwell’s equation leads to
thermal processes are intrinsically coupled each other. The
temperature distribution is dictated by power loss, which is
in turn affected by the temperature dependence of the ∂ ∂Az ∂ ∂Az
(v e )+ (v e ) = js ωσAz − j e (1)
properties of the conducting and magnetic materials. ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y
Therefore electromagnetic and thermal behaviors are
interdependent. The performance of the electric machines Where Az is complex vector magnetic potential,
depend on temperature distribution inside the machine ve
is reluctivity, σ is conductivity S/m, je is applied
• Changes in the electrical conductivity lead to a current density A/m2, ω angular slip frequency.
different slip in induction motors and changes
joule loss distribution[2].
• The lifetime of machine firmly depends on the hot The corresponding energy functional is given by

1 ∂A 2 ∂A 2 1 2
spots in the insulation.

The prediction of these temperatures is important and

requires the solution of a coupled set of partial differential
equations representing electromagnetic and thermal
diffusion. This paper presents the general purpose finite
F(A)
∫ Ω 2 ∂ x ∂ y∫ e 2 e
= { [v( ) + v( ) ] − j A + jω σ A }d x d y(2)

element method (ANSYS) for the coupled set of

electromagnetic and thermal. The ANSYS thermal-electric
analysis only accounted for the Joule heat as a coupling
mechanism between the thermal and electric fields. The boundary conditions are [3]
A T1 = A T 2 = 0

A T3 = ±A T 4
. II. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD MODELING
Where T1 & T2 = outer and inner surfaces of Ω
In this paper, the two-dimensional model of an induction T3 & T4 =left and right surfaces of Ω
motor is shown in Fig. 1. Since the electromagnetic end-
effect in radial field squirrel cage induction motor is not
III.THERMAL FIELD MODELLING
very significant. So, the two-dimensional FEM is preferred
over three dimensional FEM for electromagnetic analysis.

1
 The axial heat flows from the end winding to the
winding in the core is so negligible that the two
dimensional thermal analysis is well accepted .In this
paper, a 2-D finite element model of a thermal field over
the whole cross section of a 1HP squirrel cage induction
motor is developed in order to simplify the analysis. Some
assumptions are made[6]
• Non-axial thermal heat flow
• No heat flow from rotor core to the shaft
At steady state, concerning a homogenous and
isotropic medium with constant thermal conductivity λ ,
the 2-D heat diffusion equation(3) in Cartesian coordinates
is given by[5,8,9]
∂2T ∂ 2T
λ + λ = −q v
∂x 2 ∂y 2
(3)
Where T is the temperature in K, λ is the thermal
conductivity of the medium W/m.K and q v are the heat
sources per unit volume W/m3.
The electromagnetic and the thermal are weakly
coupled because the time constants for these two aspects
are dissimilar. The variation of the magnetic quantities is
much faster than that of the thermal ones. Hence, at every
time step a magnetic solution is performed taking into
account the rotor slip. Rotor slip is decreases related to the
time step[1].
The electromagnetic motor model for the
induction motor is constructed in the stator reference frame.
Its inputs are the torque reference, the voltage and the
frequency, and the outputs are the currents and the
electromagnetic torque of the motor. Inputs for the thermal
model are the different losses that are calculated according
to the output currents of the electromagnetic model.
Resistance parameters of the EM model are updated
according to calculated temperatures from the thermal
model. Also the resistances in the loss calculation block are
updated, as the resistive losses strongly vary with the
temperature. The block diagram of the entire model, where
different blocks and signals can be shown in Fig.2 [1,7]

In the outer surface, the boundary condition (4) is given by

λ∇T .n +α(T −T f ) = 0
(4)

Where n is the unit is normal to the outer surface, α is

the convection factor W/m 2 .k and T f is the ambient
temperature.

In the inner surface of the rotor core, there is

absence of tangential heat flow, then the boundary
condition (5) is given by

λ∇T .n = 0 (5)

Where n is the unit vector normal to the boundary

The corresponding functional equation is presented as

formula (6)[5]

1   ∂T   ∂T  
2 2
1
J (T ) = ∫ λ 
2 D   ∂x 
+ λ
 

 ∂y  
ds − ∫Tq v ds + α
2
  D

∫(T − 2T )TdL
t 2 ,t 3
f

=min (6) Fig.2.Block Diagram of coupled electromagnetic and

thermal model
Where D is the solving region

A. EFFECT TEMPERATURE ON PERFORMANCE:

IV. COUPLED ELECTROMAGNETIC-THERMAL The temperature rise in electrical machines leads

MODEL OF AN INDUCTION MOTOR to [7]

2
  Change in motor resistance parameter which
makes the characteristics of the motor to be also
temperature depended.
 Increase of the stator resistance will decrease the
torque production capability,
 Increase in the rotor resistance effects mainly on
the slip and rotor losses
In order to ensure high dynamic performance, torque
production capability should be high and also the slip low.
flux decreases the current by nearly 4 A [7]. As the stator
iron losses are proportional to the flux density squared and
the copper losses to the current squared, optimizing the flux
level can have a huge effect on the losses and consequently
on the heating of the machine.
.
V. ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RESULTS
The squirrel cage induction motor , which is considered
for simulation purpose under healthy operation and
unbalance condition.

Induction motors are dynamically high-performance A. Distribution of magnetic field:

machines, the common method to increase the dynamic
performance is to use high flux densities.
High flux density causes
 Saturation in induction machines
 Decrease in magnetizing inductance
 Increase stator copper losses
 Decreased power factor and
 Decreased torque-to-current ratio.
Under the rated load condition, the distribution of
magnetic field for the case of healthy condition is
symmetrical shown in Fig.3, but it is distorted in the case of
unbalance condition shown in Fig.4. and a higher degree of
magnetic saturation can be observed around the broken
bars as a results of the lack of local demagnetization slip
frequency induced currents in these rotor slots, which
might result in a degradation mechanical performance of
the induction motor[10].

The rise of the temperature of the rotor bars by 1 °C

will increase the slip approximately by 0.4 % at the rated
point. A rise of 100°C of the rotor temperature therefore
means that the slip will increase by 40%[7].

The high slip causes Fig.3.Distribution of Magnetic Field

 Increased rotor losses
 Lower air gap flux
 Complicates the control

These drawbacks can be avoided by properly adjusting the

flux level, depending on the operation point

The slip of an induction motor is determined by

the rotor resistance The increase of the slip due to Fig.4.Distribution of MagneticField for One Broken Bar
temperature can be compensated by increasing the air gap
flux of the motor, as the slip is approximately proportional B. Iron core loss density distribution on rotor:
to the inverse of the square of the air gap flux. As the
increased rotor resistance causes the motor to run at higher The iron core losses distribution on rotor tooth adjacent
slip, a bigger proportion of the air gap power is transferred to broken bars is computed in each element. We can
into the heat at the rotor bars, which further increases the observe that the regions in the vicinity of the broken bars in
rotor resistance the rotor have a much higher core loss density as compared
to the other regions of the rotor.
B.. EFFECT OF THE FLUX ON THE TEMPERATURE:
Vi.THERMAL FIELD ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
As the torque of an electric motor is proportional
to the Square of flux density , it is beneficial to use high The temperature distribution of the motor operating at the
flux densities in high torque machines[7]. rated speed is estimated using Finite Element Method
(ANSYS)
The flux level has a significant effect on the
motor current, especially at partial loads, because the share
of the magnetizing current is higher at smaller loads. But
even at the rated load, a decrease of 20 % of the air gap

3
 Vii.RESULTS

The induction motor has the following ratings:

3 phase, 1440 rpm,1 hp , 50 Hz and a squirrel cage rotor is
studied under No load in Fig.7 and Blocked rotor
conditions inFig.8

TEM PERAT URE DIST RIBUT ION

60
V. CONCLUSIONS
Fig.5. Thermal Field Distribution
A T 10mm

It can seen that the temperature of the rotor is
highest and that because of the large thermal conductivity
of the rotor core and the bars. The temperature distribution
throughout the radial cross section of the motor is given as
Fig.5
Fig.6.Radial Temperature Distribution
temp in deg
40
A T 20mm
20
A T 30mm
0 A T 40mm
0 20 40 60 A T 45mm
Viii.CONCLUSION
tim e in m in
In this work, the coupled analysis of an induction motor
is verified using ANSYS and the temperature distribution
of the motor operating at No load and Blocked rotor
conditions are shown. Furthermore, estimate the magnetic
field distribution at healthy and broken bar conditions. A
higher degree of magnetic saturation can be observed
around the broken bars as a results of the lack of local
demagnetization slip frequency induced currents in these
rotor slots, which might result in a degradation mechanical
performance of the induction motor. .It can be seen that the
temperature at rotor is highest because of the larger thermal
conductivity of the rotor and the bars, temperature
difference between the rotor core and bars is rather low.

Fig.7. No Load Temperature Distribution

Fig.9.Radial Temperature Distribution

.
Fig.8. Blocked Rotor Temperature Distribution

REFERENCES

4
[1] Smail Mezani, N. Takorabet, and B. Laporte, “A Combined
Electromagnetic and Thermal Analysis of Induction Motors A Combined
Electromagnetic and Thermal”, IEEE Trans. Magnetics, vol. 41,
no. 5, pp.1572-1575 , may 2005

[2] Johan Driesen, Ronnie Belmans and Kay Hameyer, “Coupled

Magneto-Thermal Simulation of Anisotropic Machines”. IEEE Trans
Magnetics ,pp 469-471, jul 1999.

[3] C.C. Chan, Tietong Yan, hang Chen, Qezhong Wang, X.T.
chau, “Analysis of Electromagneitc and thermal fields for
Induction Motors during starting” ,IEEE Trans. Energy
Conversion, Vol. 9, No. 1, Mar 1994.

[4] V. K. Garg and J. Raymond, “Magneto-Thermal coupled

analysis of Canned Induction Motor”,IEEE Trans. Energy
Conversion, Vol. 5, No. 1,pp.110-113, Mar 1990.

[5] Xie Ying, Li Weili,,Li Shoufa, “Electromagnetic Field

and Thermal Field on Asymmtrical peration used in Electric
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[6] P. K. Vong and D. Rodger, “Coupled Electromagnetic–

Thermal Modeling of Electrical Machines”,IEEE Trans.
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[7] J. Puranen and J. Pyrhonen,“Optimization of the loadability of an

induction servomotor with a coupled Electromagnetic Thermal
model”, IEEE Trans. Magnetics, vol. 52, no. 3, july 2006.

[8] Ying Huai ,Roderick V.N. Melnik, Paul B.

Thogersen,“Computational analysis of temperature rise phenomena
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[9] J.Sakellaris, j.Xypteras and T.Tsiboukis, “A Coupled Magnetic

Thermal Model for Transients of Asynchronous Machines”, IEEE
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[10] Behrooz Mirafzal, Nabeel. A. 0. Demerdash. "Induction motor

broken bar fault diagnosis using the rotor magnetic field space-
vector orientation," IEEE Trans. Ind Apple., vol. 40, pp. 534 -542,
Feb 2004

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.com
More Papers and Presentations
available on above site