ELECTRICAL MACHINE II

Synchronous Motor

Prepared By:
Er. Prabin Gautam
Jestha, 2078
SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
If a three phase supply is given to the stator of a three phase machine, it
can work as a motor.
As it is driven at synchronous speed, it is called synchronous generator.
So if machine is run as a motor, it will rotate at a synchronous speed.
Such a device which converts an electrical energy into a mechanical
energy running at synchronous speed is called synchronous motor.

Er. Prabin Gautam

Synchronous motor works only at synchronous speed and can not work
at a speed other than the synchronous speed.
Its speed is constant irrespective of load, no doubt, its speed changes
for an instant at the time of loading.
Some of the important features of a synchronous motor are as follows:-
 It runs either in synchronous speed or not at all i.e. while running it maintain
its speed equals to constant synchronous speed.
 It is not self-starting. Some auxiliary means has to be used for starting the
motor.
 The motor can be operated at wide range of power factor; both leading and2
lagging.
OPERATING OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

When 3-Ø supply is fed to 3-Ø winding, the magnetic flux of

constant magnitude but rotating at synchronous speed is
produced.
Consider two pole stator.
Ns and Ss → rotating at synchronous speed, clockwise direction as shown.

Er. Prabin Gautam

Suppose stator poles are, at that instant,
situated at points A & B.
The similar poles N (of rotor) and Ns (of stator) will
repeal each other, similarly S and Ss.
With the result that the rotor tends to rotate in anti-
clockwise. But half a period later, stator pole having
rotated around, interchange their position i.e. Ns is at
point B and Ss is at point A.
But half a period later, stator pole having rotated
3
around, interchange their position i,.e. Ns is at point
B and Ss is at point A.
Under these condition, Ns attracts S and Ss attracts N, hence,
rotor tends to rotate clockwise.
Hence, due to continuous & rapid rotation of stator poles, rotor is
subjected to torque, which is rapid reversing i.e. in quick succession.
Owing to large inertia, rotor can not instantaneously respond to such
quickly- reversing torque, with the result that it remains stationary.

Er. Prabin Gautam

Now, suppose the condition as shown (slide no. 3, lower), stator & rotor
poles are attracting each-other.
Suppose that rotor is not stationary but rotating clockwise, with such a
speed that it runs through one-pole pitch by the time the stator poles
interchange their position as shown in figure below.
Here again stator & rotor poles attract each other.
It means that, if rotor poles also shift their positions
along with the stator poles, then they will
continuously experience a unidirectional torque
4
i,.e clockwise torque as shown.
DISCUSSION OF OPERATION OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

Synchronous motor works on the principle of the magnetic locking. When

two unlike poles are brought near each other, if the magnets are strong, there
exists a tremendous force of attraction between those two poles. In such
condition the two magnets are said to be magnetically locked.
If now one of the two magnets is rotated, the other also rotates in the same
direction, with the same speed due to the force of attraction i.e. due to magnetic

Er. Prabin Gautam

locking condition.
So to have the magnetic locking condition, there must exist two unlike poles
and magnetic axes of two must be brought very close to each other.
Let us see the application of this principle in case of synchronous motor. Consider
a three phase synchronous motor, whose stator is wound for 2 poles. The two
magnetic fields are produced in the synchronous motor by exciting both the
windings, stator and rotor with three phase a.c. supply and d.c. supply
respectively.
When three phase winding is excited by a three phase a.c. supply the the flux
produced by the three phase winding is always of rotating type, which is already
discussed in the previous section. Such a magnetic flux rotates in space at a speed
called synchronous speed. This magnetic field is called rotating magnetic field.
The rotating magnetic field creates the effect similar to the physical rotation 5of
magnets in space with a synchronous speed.
So stator of the synchronous motor produces one magnet which is as good as rotating in
space with the synchronous speed. The synchronous speed of a stator rotating magnetic
field depends on the supply frequency and the number of poles for which stator winding is
wound. if the frequency of the a.c. supply is f Hz and stator is wound for P number of
poles, then the speed of the rotating magnetic field is synchronous given by, Ns = 120f/P
r.p.m.
In this case, as stator is wound for say 2 poles, with 50 Hz supply, the speed of the rotating
magnetic field will be 3000 r.p.m. This effect is similar to the physical rotation of two
poles with a speed of Ns r.p.m. For simplicity of understanding let us assume that the stator

Er. Prabin Gautam

poles are N and Swhich are rotating at a speed of Ns. The direction of rotation of rotating
magnetic field is say clockwise.
When the field winding on rotor is excited by a d.c. supply, it also produces two poles,
assuming rotor construction to be two pole, salient type. Let these poles be Ns and Ss.
Now one magnet is rotating at synchronous speed having poles N and S while at start rotor
is stationary i.e. second magnet is stationary having poles Ns and Ss. If somehow the unlike
poles N and Ss or S and Ns are brought near each other, the magnetic locking may get
established between stator and rotor poles. As stator poles are rotating due to magnetic
locking rotor will also rotate in the same direction as that of stator poles i.e. in the direction
of rotating magnetic field, with the same speed i.e Ns. Hence synchronous motor rotates
atone and only one speed i.e. synchronous speed. But this all depends on existence of
magnetic locking between stator and rotor poles.
6
Practically it is not possible for stator poles to pull the rotor poles from their stationary
position into magnetic locking condition. Hence synchronous motors are not self starting.
WHY SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR IS NOT SELF-STARTING
Consider the rotating magnetic field as equivalent to physical rotation of two stator
poles Ns and Ss. Consider an instant when two poles are at such a position where
stator magnetic axis is vertical, along A-B as shown in the Fig.1(a).

Er. Prabin Gautam

Figure (1)
At this instant, rotor poles are arbitrarily positioned as shown in the Fig.1. At this instant, rotor
is stationary and unlike poles will try to attract each other. Due to this rotor will be subjected to
an instantaneous torque in anticlockwise direction as shown in the Fig. 1(a).
Now stator poles are rotating very fast i.e. at a speed Ns r.p.m. Due to inertia, before rotor
hardly rotates in the direction of anticlockwise torque, to which it is subjected, the stator poles
change their positions. Consider an instant half a period latter where stator poles are exactly
reversed but due to inertia rotor is unable to rotate from its initial position. This is shown in the
Fig. 1(b).
7
At this instant, due to the unlike poles trying to attract each other, the rotor will be subjected
to a torque in clockwise direction. This will tend to rotate rotor in the direction of rotating
magnetic field.
But before this happen, stator poles again change their position reversing
the direction of the torque exerted on the rotor.
As a result, the average torque exerted on the rotor is zero. And hence the
synchronous motor is not self starting.
The question is obvious that will happen if by chance the rotor position is in
such a way that the unlike rotor and stator poles are facing each other ? But

Er. Prabin Gautam

owing to the large inertia of the rotor, the rotor fails to rotate along with the
stator poles.
Hence again the difference of position of magnetic axes gets created and
rotor gets subjected to quickly reversing torque. This is because the speed
with which rotating magnetic field is rotating is so high that it is unable to
rotate the rotor from its initial position, due to the inertia of the rotor. So
under any case, whatever may be the starting position of the rotor,
synchronous motor is not self-starting.

8
STARTING METHOD OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

 Motor Starting with an External Prime Mover

In this method, an external prime mover drives the
synchronous motor and brings it to synchronous
speed. The synchronous machine is then synchronized
with the bus bar as a synchronous generator. The
prime mover is then disconnected. Once operating in

Er. Prabin Gautam

parallel condition, the synchronous machine will work
as a motor. Thus, the load can be connected to the
synchronous motor.
Since the load is not connected to the synchronous motor before synchronizing, the
starting motor has to overcome the inertia of the synchronous motor at no load. Therefore,
the rating of the motor which has to be started is much smaller than the rating of the
synchronous motor. Now a day, a Brushless excitation system is provided on the shafts of
the large synchronous motor. These exciters are used as starting motors.
Different methods used are;
i. A dc motor coupled to the shaft of synchronous motor.
ii. Using field exciter of synchronous as dc motor. 9

iii. A small induction motor of at least one pair less than the synchronous motor
In 1st method is the unexcited rotor is rotated by means of a dc motor
coupled to the shaft of synchronous motor. As the speed reach near to
synchronous speed, the field winding of synchronous motor is excited
by the dc current and dc motor is switched off. Then the motor

Er. Prabin Gautam

continuously rotates with synchronous speed.
The 2nd method is similar to 1st method except the exciter of the
synchronous motor (ie dc shunt generator) is operated as dc motor for
the time being and as the speed reaches close to the synchronous speed;
the dc machine is again used as exciter.
In 3rd method, using auxiliary induction motor at least one pair pole
less and involves the same synchronizing process as that of 1st method.

10
 Motor Starting with Damper Windings
Damper Windings is the most widely used method to start a synchronous
motor. A Damper Winding consists of heavy copper bars inserted in the slots of
the pole faces of the rotor as shown in the figure below.
These copper bars are short-circuited by end
rings at both ends of the rotor. Thus, these

Er. Prabin Gautam

short-circuited Bars form a squirrel cage
winding. When a three phase supply is
connected to the stator, the synchronous
motor with Damper Winding will start. It
works as a three-phase induction motor. As
soon as the motor approaches the
synchronous speed, the DC excitation is
applied to the field windings. As a result, the
rotor of the motor will pull into step with the
stator magnetic field.
• Using damper winding as a squirrel cage induction motor
This method is designed to a form a three phase star or delta connected winding.
11
The three ends of this winding are brought out through slip rings. An external
rheostat then can be introduced in series with the rotor circuit.
So when stator is excited, the motor starts as a slip ring induction motor and due to
resistance added in the rotor provides high starting torque. The resistance is then gradually
cut off, as motor gathers speed. When motor attains speed near synchronous. d.c.
excitation is provided to the rotor, then motors gets pulled into synchronism and starts
rotating at synchronous speed. The damper winding is shorted by shorting the slip rings.
The initial resistance added in the rotor not only provides high starting torque but also
limits high inrush of starting current. Hence it acts as a motor resistance starter. The
synchronous motor started by this method is called a slip ring induction motor is shown in
the Fig.

Er. Prabin Gautam

It can be observed from the Fig that the same three phase rotor winding acts as a normal
rotor winding by shorting two of the phases. From the positive terminal, current 'I' flows
in one of the phases, which divides into two other phases at start point as 1/2 through 12
each, when switch is thrown on d.c. supply side.
MOTOR ON LOAD WITH CONSTANT EXCITATION
In dc motor running with supply of V volts, then on rotating, a back emf Eb is
set-up in its armature conductor.
The resultant voltage across the armature is (V-Eb)
& & it causes an armature current.
Ia= (V-Eb)/Ra to flow
where, Ra is armature circuit resistance

Er. Prabin Gautam

Value of Eb depends, among other factors, on the speed of rotating armature.
Mechanical power developed in armature depends on EbIa (Eb and Ia being in
opposition to each other).
In synchronous machine, a back emf Eb in the armature (stator) by the rotor
flux which opposes applied voltage V.
This back emf depends on rotor excitation only.
• Net voltage in the armature is the vector difference (not arithmetical,
as in dc motors) of V and Eb.
Armature current is obtained by dividing this vector difference of voltages
by armature impedance ( ont only Ra). 13
 Eb V

Fig (i) Fig (ii) Fig(iii)

Figure (i) is the condition when the motor (properly synchronized to supply) is running on

Er. Prabin Gautam

no load and has no losses & is having excitation which makes Eb=V
Vector difference of Eb and V is seen to be zero & so the armature current.
→ Motor intake is zero
 there is neither load nor losses to be met by it ⇒ motor just floats

Figure (ii) is the condition when motor is on No load but has losses
Here vector Eb fall back ( vector rotate clockwise by certain small angle α
So that a resultant voltage ER and hence current Ia is brought into existence
→ which supplies losses
Figure (iii) shows the loaded condition, with loading the rotor will fall back in phase by a
greater value of angle α → called load angle or coupling angle
o Resultant emf ER increased & motor draws an increased armature current, though at a
slightly decreased power factor. 14