Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Objectives:

Unit 33
Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Objectives:

Discuss the basic operating principles of

three-phase motors.
List factors that produce a rotating magnetic
field.
List different types of three-phase motors.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Objectives:

Discuss the operation of squirrel-cage motors.

Show connection of dual-voltage motors for
proper operation on the desired voltage.
Discuss the operation of consequent pole
motors.

Discuss the operation of wound rotor motors.

Discuss the operation of selsyn motors.
Discuss the operation of synchronous motors.
Determine the direction of rotation of a threephase motor using a phase rotation meter.

Three-phase motors are used throughout the

U.S. and Canada as the prime mover for
industry.
These motors convert three-phase AC into
mechanical energy to operate all types of
machinery.
They are smaller, lighter, and have higher
efficiencies per horsepower than single-phase
motors.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Three-phase motors are extremely rugged and

require minimal maintenance.
These motors can be operated 24/7 for years
without problems.
Nikola Tesla patented the first induction
motors as rotating transformers.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Construction
There are three basic types of three-phase
motors:

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field
is concentrated
between poles A1
and A2.

1. squirrel-cage induction motor

2. wound-rotor induction motor
3. synchronous motor

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Rotating Magnetic Field

The principle of operation for all three-phase

motors is the rotating magnetic field.
The magnetic field rotation is caused by:

voltages are 120 out of phase.

voltages periodically change polarity.
the arrangement of the stator windings.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Three-phase stator
and three voltage
sine waves.

The magnetic
field is
concentrated
between poles
of phases A
and B.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field
is concentrated
between poles B1
and B2.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field
is concentrated
between phases B
and C.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field is

concentrated
between poles C1
and C2.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field is
concentrated
between phases A
and C.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field
is concentrated
between poles A1
and A2. The field
has rotated 180.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic
field is
concentrated
between
phases B and
C and has
rotated 270.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic
field is
concentrated
between poles
A1 and A2 and
has rotated 360.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous Speed

Synchronous speed is the rotational speed of

the magnetic field.
Synchronous speed is determined by:

the number of stator poles per phase.

the frequency of the applied voltage.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

RPM

STATOR POLES

3600

1800

1200

900

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Phase Rotation

The direction of rotation is either clockwise or

counterclockwise.
Reversing any two of the stator leads will
reverse the direction of rotation.
A phase rotation meter can determine the
direction of rotation.
Motor stator leads are often called T leads.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Connecting the phase rotation meter to the motor.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous Speed

S = (120 x F) / P
S = synchronous speed in RPM
F = frequency in Hz
P = number of stator poles
Connecting the phase rotation meter to the line.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Dual-Voltage Motors

Many motors are designed to operate on two

different voltages, such as 240 V and 480 V.
This type of motor has two windings for each
phase.
Most dual-voltage motors bring out 9 leads to
the terminal box.

Dual-Voltage Motors

The identification of connection leads is

standardized to T1 through T12.
The correct connection patterns are usually
shown on the motor name plate.
The NEC states the required name plate data.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Dual-Voltage Motors

The other 3 leads are connected internally.

Review: There are two connection leads per
winding; there are two windings per phase;
there are three phases. This makes 12
connection leads. Of these 12 leads 9 are
usually brought out to the terminal box, 3 are
connected internally.

Standard numbering for three-phase motors.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Dual-Voltage Motors

When motors are connected to their higherrated voltage on the name plate, a highvoltage connection pattern is required.
When motors are connected to their lowerrated voltage on the name plate, a low-voltage
connection pattern is required.

High-Voltage Connections

High-voltage connections require the windings

to be series configured.
The high-voltage connections can be either
wye or delta, depending on how the motor was
constructed and designed.
A terminal chart is another way to identify
proper T lead connections.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard high-voltage wye connections.

Standard low-voltage wye schematic.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard high-voltage delta connections.

Standard low-voltage wye chart and diagram.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Low-Voltage Connections

Low-voltage connections require the windings

to be parallel configured.
The low-voltage connections can be either
wye or delta, depending on how the motor was
constructed and designed.
A terminal chart is another way to identify
proper T lead connections.

Standard low-voltage delta schematic.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors

The rotor on this type of motor resembles a

squirrel cage.
The rotor contains bars connected to the end
rings.
The current flow in the rotor is produced by
induced voltage from the rotating magnetic
field of the stator.

Standard low-voltage delta chart and diagram.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

12-Lead Dual-Voltage Motors

Some motors will have 12 T leads brought to

the terminal box instead of the usual 9 leads.
These motors are intended for wye-delta
starting.
Wye-delta starting helps limit inrush starting
current.

Basic squirrel-cage rotor without laminations.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard 12-lead motor schematic.

Basic squirrel-cage rotor cutaway view.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Torque

Three factors determine the amount of motor

torque:

the strength of the stator magnetic fields.

the strength of the rotor magnetic fields.
the phase angle difference between the
rotor and stator fields.

External resistors are connected to the rotor of a

wound-rotor motor.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Slip

An induction motor never reaches

synchronous speed.
Slip is the difference between synchronous
speed and rotor speed.
Percent slip is the ratio of slip to synchronous
speed times 100.

Wound-rotor motor schematic symbol.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous Motors

Wound-Rotor Induction Motor

This motor is very popular in industry because

of its high starting torque and low starting
current.
A squirrel-cage motor and a wound-rotor
motor have similar stator windings.
The rotor has wire windings instead of bars.

This motor is not an induction motor. It does

not depend on induced current in the rotor to
produce a torque.
It operates at constant speed from no load to
full load.
This motor must have DC excitation to
operate.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous motor with DC excitation supplied

through sliprings.

The field-discharge resistor is connected in parallel

with the rotor winding during starting.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous Motors

The operating speed and the speed of the

rotating magnetic field (synchronous speed)
are the same.
It operates at constant speed from no load to
full load.
This motor can be used for power factor
correction.

Synchronous motor schematic.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Synchronous Motors

A set of squirrel-cage bars known as the

amortisseur winding are used to start the
synchronous motor.
A synchronous motor must never be started
with DC current connected to the rotor.
A field-discharge resistor is used to safely
control excessive current and voltage.

Selsyn Motors

Selsyn motors are used for position control

and angular feedback information.
Selsyn motors contain three-phase windings,
although they operate on single-phase AC.
A differential selsyn unit can be used to
determine the algebraic rotation sum of two
other selsyn units.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Selsyn motor schematic.

Schematic of differential selsyn motor connections.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:
1. The basic types of three-phase motors are:

squirrel cage induction motor

wound rotor induction motor
synchronous motor
Selsyn motor schematic symbol.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

2. All three-phase motors operate on the

principle of a rotating magnetic field.
3. The speed of the rotating magnetic field is
called the synchronous speed.
4. The direction of rotation of any three-phase
motor can be changed by reversing the
connection of any two stator leads.

Schematic of two selsyn motors connected.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

5. Three factors that cause a magnetic field to

rotate are:

a. The fact that the voltages of a threephase system are 120out of phase with
each other.
b. The fact that voltages change polarity at
regular intervals.
c. The arrangement of the stator windings.

9. Dual-voltage motors intended for high-voltage

connection have their phase windings
connected in series.
10. Dual-voltage motors intended for low-voltage
connection have their phase windings
connected in parallel.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Review:
6. Two factors that determine the synchronous
speed are:

a. number of stator poles per phase.

b. frequency of the applied voltage.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

11. Motors that bring out 12 leads are generally

intended for wye-delta starting.
12. Maximum torque is developed when stator
and rotor flux are in phase with each other.
13. The code letter on the nameplate of a squirrelcage motor indicates the type of rotor bars
used in the rotor construction.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Review:

7. The direction of rotation of a three-phase

motor can be determined with a phase rotation
meter before power is applied to the motor.
8. Dual-voltage motors will have 9 or 12 leads
brought out at the terminal connection box.

14. The torque of an induction motor is

determined by:

a. the magnetic field strength of the stator.

b. the magnetic field strength of the rotor.
c. the phase angle difference between
rotor and stator flux.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Review:

15. Wound-rotor motors have three sliprings on

the rotor shaft to provide external connection
to the rotor.
16. Wound-rotor motors have higher starting
torque and lower starting current than squirrelcage motors of equal horsepower.

22. DC excitation is provided to some

synchronous motors through two sliprings
located on the rotor shaft, and other motors
use a brushless exciter.
23. Synchronous motors have the ability to
produce a leading power factor by
overexcitation of the DC current supplied to
the rotor.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Review:

17. The speed of a wound-rotor motor can be

controlled by permitting resistance to remain in
the rotor circuit during operation.
18. Synchronous motors operate at a
synchronous speed.
19. Synchronous motors operate at a constant
speed from no load to full load.

24. Synchronous motors have a set of type A

squirrel-cage bars used for starting. This
squirrel-cage winding is called the amortisseur
winding.
25. A field-discharge resistor is connected across
the rotor winding during starting to prevent high
voltage in the rotor due to induction.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

Review:

20. When load is connected to a synchronous

motor, stress develops between the magnetic
fields of the rotor and stator.
21. Synchronous motors must have DC excitation
from an external source.

26. Changing the DC excitation current does not

affect the speed of the motor.
27. Selsyn motors are used to provide position
control and angular feedback information.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:
28. Although selsyn motors contain three-phase
windings, they operate on single-phase AC.
29. A differential selsyn unit can be used to
determine the algebraic sum of the rotation of
two other selsyn units.