Chapter 5

Synchronous Motors
Edit by Imran Shabkhez Sarwar

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 Synchronous Machine

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 Chapter 5 Synchronous Motors

Basic Principles of Motor Operation

Steady-State Synchronous Motor Operation
Starting Synchronous Motors
Synchronous Generators and Synchronous Motors
Synchronous Motor Rating
Summary

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 Basic Principles of Motor Operation

Two dependent magnetic fields

exist in the machine
The dc field current IF
produces a rotor field BR
The three-phase ac current
produce a stator field BS

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 The equivalent circuit

The equivalent circuit of a synchronous motor is the

same as the equivalent circuit of a synchronous
generator. (Besides, the current flow direction is
reverse)
Since the current flow direction is reverse, the relation
between the terminal and internal voltage is

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Phasor
diagram

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 The phasor diagram of a synchronous
motor

The induced torque drives the motor rotation.

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 Steady-state synchronous motor
operation – Torque speed curve

The steady-state speed is constant from no-load to full-

load.

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 The maximum torque or pull-out torque

While the voltages are constant, the induced torque of

the synchronous motor only depends on the power
angle d.
Thus, the pull-out torque is maximum induced torque.
That is, d = 90 degrees.

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 The effect of load changes on a synchronous
motor (what is the meaning of pull-out torque)

At steady-state the torque that the synchronous motor

supports is equal to the load torque.
When the load torque increases ?
The motor will slow down (rotor mechanical speed)
The stator rotation flux still remain its constant speed (stator
flux speed)
Thus, the power angle d increases
Finally, the synchronous motor’s will generate a large torque
that is equal to the load torque.
However, if the maximum induced torque is still lower
than the load torque ?

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 The phasor diagram of increasing load
torque
When the load increases, all the armature current IA, power
angle d, and the power factor angle q are increase (from
leading to lagging).

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 Example 5-1

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 Quiz # 3

Develop a table showing the speed of magnetic field

rotation in ac machines of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14
poles operating at frequencies of 50, 60, and 400 Hz.

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 The effect of field current changes on a
synchronous motor

An increase in field current increase the magnitude of

EA but does not affect the real power supplied by the
motor.
Why ?
The power supply by the motor is (Pm = w×tload)
The terminal voltage Vf supplies to the motor is
constant

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 The phasor diagram – increase the field
current

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 What is the effect of increasing field
current

What is the meaning of the power factor of the motor

changes from lagging to leading
can support Q to the electrical system
The motor is now acting like a capacitor-resistor combination
load, and the magnitude of the capacitor can be changed by
the field current

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 Synchronous motor V curve

A plot of IA versus IF for a synchronous motor is the V

curve.

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 Underexcited and overexcited

The internal voltage can be smaller or larger than the

terminal voltage

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 Example 5-2

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Power Triangle of an AC Circuit

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 EX 5-3 Power factor correction

Why the power factor is so important in power system ?

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 EX 5-3 Power factor correction

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 The reason for power factor correction

4. Meanwhile, the harmonic content is also important reason

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Chapter 5 completed

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