1.

Synchronous Motor:

A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor distinguished by a rotor spinning with coils passing
magnets at the same rate as the alternating current and resulting rotating magnetic field which
drives it. Another way of saying this is that it has zero slip under usual operating conditions.
Contrast this with an induction motor, which must slip in order to produce torque. They operate
synchronously with line frequency. As with squirrel-cage induction motors, speed is determined by
the number of pairs of poles and the line frequency. Synchronous motors are available in sub-
fractional self-excited sizes to high-horsepower direct-current excited industrial sizes. In the
fractional horsepower range, most synchronous motors are used where precise constant speed is
required. In high-horsepower industrial sizes, the synchronous motor provides two important
functions. First, it is a highly efficient means of converting ac energy to work. Second, it can
operate at leading or unity power factor and thereby provide power-factor correction.

There are two major types of synchronous motors: non-excited and direct-current excited.

2. Construction of Synchronous Motor:

Usually, its construction is almost like that of a 3-phase induction motor, except the fact that here
we supply DC to the rotor, the reason of which we shall explain later.

2.1. Principle of Operation Synchronous Motor:

Synchronous motors are a doubly excited machine, i.e., two electrical inputs are provided to it. Its
stator winding which consists of a three-phase stator winding, and DC to the rotor winding.

The 3-phase stator winding carrying 3 phase currents produces 3 phase rotating magnetic flux.
The rotor carrying DC supply also produces a constant flux. Considering the 50 Hz power
frequency, from the above relation we can see that the 3-phase rotating flux rotates about 3000
revolutions in 1 min or 50 revolutions in 1 sec.

At an instant rotor and stator poles might be of the same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing a repulsive
force on the rotor and the very next instant it will be N-S causing attractive force. But due to the
inertia of the rotor, it is unable to rotate in any direction due to that attractive or repulsive forces,
and the rotor remains in standstill condition. Hence a synchronous motor is not self-starting.

Here we use some mechanical means which initially rotates the rotor in the same direction as the
magnetic field to speed very close to synchronous speed. On achieving synchronous speed,
magnetic locking occurs, and the synchronous motor continues to rotate even after removal of
external mechanical means.

But due to the inertia of the rotor, it is unable to rotate in any direction due to that attractive or
repulsive forces, and the rotor remains in standstill condition. Hence a synchronous motor is not
self-starting.

Here we use some mechanical means which initially rotates the rotor in the same direction as the
magnetic field to speed very close to synchronous speed. On achieving synchronous speed,
magnetic locking occurs, and the synchronous motor continues to rotate even after removal of
external mechanical means.

3. Characteristics of Synchronous motors:

A three-phase stator like that of an induction motor. Medium voltage stators are often
used.
A wound rotor (rotating field) which has the same number of poles as the stator and is
supplied by an external source of direct current (DC). Both brush-type and brushless
exciters are used to supply the DC field current to the rotor.
The rotor current establishes a north/south magnetic pole relationship in the rotor poles
enabling the rotor to “lock-in-step” with the rotating stator flux.
Starts as an induction motor. The synchronous motor rotor also has a squirrel-cage
winding, known as an Amortisseur winding, which produces torque for motor starting.

4. Synchronous Motor Operation:

The squirrel-cage Amortisseur winding in the rotor produces Starting Torque and Accelerating
Torque to bring the synchronous motor up to speed.

When the motor speed reaches approximately 97% of nameplate RPM, the DC field current is
applied to the rotor producing Pull-in Torque and the rotor will pull-in -step and “synchronize” with
the rotating flux field in the stator. The motor will run at synchronous speed and produce
Synchronous Torque.

After synchronization, the Pull-out Torque cannot be exceeded, or the motor will pull out-of-step.
Occasionally, if the overload is momentary, the motor will “slip-a-pole” and resynchronize. Pull-out
protection must be provided otherwise the motor will run as an induction motor drawing high
current with the possibility of severe motor damage.

5. Advantages of Synchronous Motors:

The initial cost of a synchronous motor is more than that of a conventional AC induction
motor due to the expense of the wound rotor and synchronizing circuitry.
Precise speed regulation makes the synchronous motor an ideal choice for certain
industrial processes and as a prime mover for generators.
Synchronous motors have speed / torque characteristics which are ideally suited for direct
drive of large horsepower, low-rpm loads such as reciprocating compressors.
Synchronous motors operate at an improved power factor, thereby improving overall
system power factor and eliminating or reducing utility power factor penalties. An
improved power factor also reduces the system voltage drop and the voltage drop at the
motor terminals.

6. Uses of Synchronous Motor:

Synchronous motors find applications in all industrial applications where constant speed is
necessary.
 Improving the power factor as Synchronous condensers.

Electrical power plants almost always use synchronous generators because it is important
to keep the frequency constant at which the generator is connected.

Low power applications include positioning machines, where high precision is required, and
robot actuators.

Mains synchronous motors are used for electric clocks.

Record player turntables.

7. Advantages:

Synchronous motors have the following advantages over non-synchronous motors:

Speed is independent of the load, provided an adequate field current is applied.

Accurate control in speed and position using open loop controls, e.g. stepper motors.

They will hold their position when a DC current is applied to both the stator and the rotor
windings.

Their power factor can be adjusted to unity by using a proper field current relative to the
load. Also, a “capacitive” power factor, (current phase leads voltage phase), can be
obtained by increasing this current slightly, which can help achieve a better power factor
correction for the whole installation.

Their construction allows for increased electrical efficiency when a low speed is required
(as in ball mills and similar apparatus).

They run either at the synchronous speed else no speed is there.

8. Methods of Starting of Synchronous Motor:

Motor starting with an external prime Mover: 

Synchronous motors are mechanically coupled with another motor. It could be either 3 phase
induction motor or DC shunt motor. Here, we do not apply DC excitation initially. It rotates at
speed very close to its synchronous speed, and then we give the DC excitation. After some time
when magnetic locking takes place supply to the external motor is cut off.

Damper winding:
In this case, the synchronous motor is of salient pole type, additional winding is placed in rotor
pole face. Initially, when the rotor is not rotating, the relative speed between damper winding and
rotating air gap flux is large and an emf is induced in it which produces the required starting
torque. As speed approaches synchronous speed, emf and torque are reduced and finally when
magnetic locking takes place; torque also reduces to zero. Hence in this case synchronous motor
first runs as three phase induction motor using additional winding and finally it is synchronized
with the frequency.

9. Power Factor Improvement:

The low power factor is mainly since most of the power loads are inductive and, therefore, taking
lagging currents. In order to improve the power factor, some device taking leading power should
be connected in parallel with the load. One of such devices is capacitor. The capacitor draws a
leading current and partly neutralizes the lagging reactive component of load current. Thus, raises
the power factor of the load.

10. Power Factor Improvement Equipment:

Normally, the power factor of the whole load on large generating station is in the region of 0.8 to
0.9. However, sometimes it is lower, and, in such cases, it is generally desirable to take special
steps to improve the power factor. The equipment’s are:
Static Capacitors
Synchronous condenser
Phase advancers