PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Category – B Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors

MODULE 3
Sub Module 3.18

AC MOTORS

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Category – B Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors

Contents

INTRODUCTION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
PRODUCTION OF A ROTATING FIELD ----------------------------------------------------------- 1
TYPES OF AC MOTOR --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
THE SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR ----------------------------------------------------------- 3
SUMMARY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
INDUCTION MOTORS --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
THREE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTORS -------------------------------------------------- 5
SLIP, TORQUE AND SPEED ---------------------------------------------------------------- 6
TWO-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR -----------------------------------------------------10
SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTORS ------------------------------------------------12
INDUCTION MOTOR ---------------------------------------------------------------------13
ADDING A CAPACITOR AND AN AUXILIARY WINDING TO THE SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION
MOTOR ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
ADDING A CAPACITOR TO THE SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR ALLOWS THE MOTOR TO
DEVELOP STARTING TORQUE. -----------------------------------------------------------------15
SHADED-POLE INDUCTION MOTOR ------------------------------------------------------------16
OPERATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
CHARACTERISTICS -----------------------------------------------------------------------------17
HYSTERESIS MOTORS --------------------------------------------------------------------------17

SINGLE-PHASE COMMUTATOR MOTOR ---------------------------------------------20

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INTRODUCTION
The basic principles of magnetism and electromagnetic
induction are the same for both ac and dc motors, but the
application of the principles is different because of the rapid
reversals of direction and changes in magnitude characteristic
of alternating current. Certain characteristics of ac motors make
most types more efficient than dc motors, therefore such motors
are used commercially whenever possible. During recent years,
ac power systems have been developed for large aircraft with
the result that a much larger amount of electrical power is
available on aircraft than would be available with dc systems of
FIG 3.18.1 TYPICAL THREE-PHASE STATOR
the same weight. Thus, one of the main advantages of the ac
power system is that it provides more power for less weight. Fig 3.18.1(a) shows a typical three-phase stator. The two
windings in each phase (for example A and A1) are connected in
AC motors offer significant advantages over their DC series and are so wound that current flowing through the two
counterparts. AC motors can, in most cases, duplicate the windings produces a North pole at one of them and a South
operation of DC motors and they are significantly more reliable. pole at the other. So, if a current is flowing in the A phase in the
The main reason for this is that the commutator arrangements direction from the A to the A1 terminals, pole piece A becomes a
(i.e. brushes and slip rings) fitted to DC motors are inherently North Pole and A1 a South pole.
troublesome. As the speed of an AC motor is determined by the
frequency of the AC supply that is applied, AC motors are well The three-phase stator is connected in delta, so that only three
suited to constant-speed applications. The principle of all AC terminals, each common to two of the windings, are provided for
motors is based on the generation of a rotating magnetic field. It the three-phase ac input.
is this rotating field that causes the motor’s rotor to turn.
At any instant, the magnetic field generated by one particular
PRODUCTION OF A ROTATING FIELD phase is proportional to the current in that phase. Therefore, as
the current alternates, so does the magnetic field. As the
A rotating field may be produced by applying a three-phase currents in all three phases are 120 out of phase with each
supply to a three-phase stator. The field produced is of other, then so must the magnetic fields be and the resultant
unvarying strength and its speed of rotation depends upon the magnetic field will be the vector sum of these three.
frequency of the supply.

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magnetically form a single resultant axis with which any

permeable material located within its sphere of influence would
tend to align.

Staying with position 1, the current in the A phase is zero, the

current in the C phase is positive and flows in the direction C to
C1 and the current in the B phase is negative and flows in the
direction B to B1. Equal currents therefore flow in opposite
directions through the B and C windings and magnetic poles are
established as shown in Fig 2. The shortest path for the
magnetic lines of flux is such that the lines leave B1 (North Pole)
and go to C1 (South Pole) with a similar result for C to B.
Because the magnetic fields of the B and C phases are equal in
amplitude (due to equal currents) the resultant field lies in the
direction of the arrow.

Moving on to position 2, where the supply cycle has advanced

by 60, the current in C is now zero, A is positive and B is
negative. The resultant magnetic field is produced in the same
way as described for position 1, and the other positions show
the conditions at intervals of 60. Thus, the magnetic field
rotates one complete revolution (in a clockwise direction in this
case) during one complete cycle of three phase supply, so it is
in time with, or synchronous with, the ac input.

FIGURE 3.18-2 AC waveforms and magnetic field direction Example

From earlier studies, it will be remembered that the flux path An input frequency of 50 Hz produces a field rotating at 50
follows the line of least resistance and this can be clearly seen revolutions per second or 3000 rpm.
in Fig 3.18.2. At position 1, phase A of the input supply is
inactive with both B and C phases providing an output. The two
flux paths B-C and B1-C1 are the lines of least reluctance and

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TYPES OF AC MOTOR the rotor then rotates synchronously with the field of its own
There are three principal types of ac motors. They are the accord.
commutator motor, the induction motor and the synchronous motor.
THE SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
The ac generator, like the dc generator, is a reversible machine;
if supplied with electrical energy, it runs as a motor. Thus
synchronous motors have the same construction as rotating-
field ac generators.

The input alternating current is applied to the stator and the

rotor carries the magnetic field windings which are supplied with
dc from a separate source.

NOTE: The rotor may in theory (and practice) be either a

permanent magnet or a wound rotor separately
excited from a dc source.

If the rotor is energized with dc it acts like a bar magnet and will
therefore try to line itself up with the magnetic field produced by
the stator. In the synchronous motor the three-phase ac
produces a rotating magnetic field, which causes the rotor to
follow the field, (assuming that the motor is already running).
The synchronous motor will not start of its own accord, because
the rotating magnetic field moves too quickly to provide a
starting force. The inertia of the rotor does not allow it to
respond to the rapidly rotating field. It has to be started and run
up to speed by another motor, usually a small induction motor.
When the speed of the driven rotor approaches that of the
rotating magnetic field, the rotor and the field ‘lock together’ and
FIG 3 SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR CHARACTERISTIC
The synchronous motor is a ‘single-speed’ machine, its speed
of rotation being determined by the speed of the rotating
magnetic field which, in turn, is decided by the frequency of the
three-phase ac input to the stator windings. The synchronous
motor is therefore most useful for applications requiring
constant speed, e.g. fans for ventilation and gyroscopes.
Equally, it is clear that the synchronous motor is most
appropriate to light mechanical loads, because if the load

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became excessive, the ‘synchronous lock’ would be broken and magnetic field which, in turn, is decided by the frequency of the
the motor would stop. three-phase ac input to the stator windings. The synchronous
motor is therefore most useful for applications requiring
The speed of rotation of the magnetic field depends on the constant speed, e.g. fans for ventilation and gyroscopes.
frequency of the three-phase AC supply and, provided that the Equally, it is clear that the synchronous motor is most
supply frequency remains constant, the rotor will turn at a appropriate to light mechanical loads, because if the load
constant speed. Furthermore, the speed of rotation will remain became excessive, the ‘synchronous lock’ would be broken and
constant regardless of the load applied. Another way of putting the motor would stop.
this is simply that a synchronous motor (in its pure form) has no
starting torque. Instead, it is usually started with the help of a
small induction motor (or with windings equivalent to this
incorporated in the synchronous motor). When the rotor has
been brought near to synchronous speed by the starting device,
the rotor is energized by connecting it to a DC voltage source.
The rotor then falls into step with the rotating field. The
requirement to have an external DC voltage source as well as
the AC field excitation makes this type of motor somewhat
unattractive!

SUMMARY
The synchronous motor is so called because its rotor is
synchronized with the rotating field setup by the stator. Its
construction is essentially the same as that of a simple AC
generator (alternator).

Synchronous motors are not self-starting and must be brought

up to near synchronous speed before they can continue rotating
by themselves. In effect, the rotor becomes ‘frozen ’ by virtue of
its inability to respond to the changing field!
FIGURE 3.18-4 Squirrel cage rotor construction
The synchronous motor is a ‘single-speed’ machine, its speed
of rotation being determined by the speed of the rotating

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INDUCTION MOTORS

The ac motor most commonly used on aircraft is the induction type

and, dependent upon application, may be designed for operation from
a three-phase, two-phase or single phase power supply

THREE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTORS

The induction motor derives its name from the fact that AC
currents are induced in the rotor circuit by the rotating magnetic
field in the stator. The stator construction of the induction motor
and of the synchronous motor are almost identical, but their .
rotors are completely different. The induction motor rotor is a FIGURE 3.18-5 TYPICAL STATOR CONSTRUCTION
laminated cylinder with slots in its surface. The windings in
these slots are one of two types. The most common uses so
called squirrel cage construction (see Fig. 3.18-4) that is made
up of heavy copper bars connected together at either end by a
metal ring made of copper or brass. No insulation is required
between the core and the bars because of the very low voltages
generated in the rotor bars. The air gap between the rotor and
stator is kept very small so as to obtain maximum field strength.
The other type of winding contains coils placed in the rotor slots.
The rotor is then called a wound rotor. Just as the rotor
usually has more than one conductor, the stator usually has
more than one pair of poles per coil, as shown in Fig. 3.18-5.

FIGURE 3.18-6FORCE ON THE ROTOR OF AN INDUCTION

MOTOR

Regardless of whether a squirrel cage or wound rotor is used, the basic

principle of operation of an induction motor is the same. The rotating
magnetic field generated in the stator induces an e.m.f. in the rotor.

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The current in the rotor circuit caused by this induced e.m.f. sets
up a magnetic field. The two fields interact and cause the rotor
to turn. Fig. 3.18-6showshow the rotor moves in the same
direction as the rotating magnetic flux generated by the stator.
From Lenz’s law we know that an induced current opposes the
changing field which induces it. In the case of an induction
motor, the changing field is the rotating stator field and so the
force exerted on the rotor (caused by the interaction between
the rotor and the stator fields) attempts to cancel out the
continuous motion of the stator field. Hence the rotor will move
in the same direction as the stator field and will attempt to align
with it. In practice, it gets as close to the moving stator field but
never quite aligns perfectly with it !
FIGURE3.18-7 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TORQUEAND SLIP
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The induction motor has the same stator as the synchronous
motor. The rotor is different in that it does not require an
external source of power. Current is induced in the rotor by the
action of the rotating field cutting through the rotor conductors.
This rotor current generates a magnetic field which interacts
with the stator field, resulting in a torque being exerted on the
rotor and causing it to rotate.
SLIP, TORQUE AND SPEED
We have already said that the rotor of an induction motor is
unable to turn in sympathy with the rotating field and, in
practice, a small difference always exists. In fact, if the speeds
were exactly the same, no relative motion would exist between
the two, and so no e.m.f. would be induced in the rotor. For this
reason, the rotor operates at a lower speed than that of the
rotating magnetic field. This phenomenon is known as slip and
it becomes more significant as the rotor develops increased
torque, as shown in Fig. 3.18-7.
From Fig. 3.18-7, for a torque of A the rotor speed will be
represented by the distance AC whilst the slip will be
represented by distance AD. Now:
AD =AB -AC =CB
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FIGURE 3.18-8 Using an inverter to produce a variable

output speed from an AC induction motor

For values of torque within the working range of the motor (i.e.
over the linear range of the graph shown in Fig. 3.18-7), the slip
directly proportional to the torque and the per-unit slip is given
by:
The actual value of slip tends to vary from about6% for a small
motor to around 2% for a large machine. Hence, for most
purposes the induction motor can be considered to provide a
constant speed (determined by the frequency of the current
applied to its stator); however, one of its principal disadvantages
is the fact that it is not easy to vary the speed of such a motor!
Note that, in general, it is not easy to control the speed of an AC
motor unless a variable frequency AC supply is available. The
speed of a motor with a wound rotor can be controlled by
varying the current induced in the rotor but such an
arrangement is not very practical as some means of making
contact with the rotor windings is required. For this reason, DC
motors are usually preferred in applications where the speed
must be varied. However, where it is essential to be able to

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adjust the speed of an AC motor, the motor is invariably

powered by an inverter. This consists of an electronic switching
unit which produces a high-current three-phase pulse-width-
modulated (PWM) output voltage from a DC supply, as shown
in Fig. 3.18-8 .

The rotor of an induction motor rotates at less than synchronous

speed, in order that the rotating field can cut through the rotor
conductors and induce a current flow in them. This percentage
difference between the synchronous speed and the rotor speed
is known as slip. Slip varies very little with normal load changes,
and the induction motor is therefore considered to be a
constant-speed motor.

Example 1

An induction motor has a synchronous speed of

3600 r.p.m. and its actual speed of rotation is measured
as 3450 r.p.m. Determine (a) the per-unit slip
and (b) the percentage slip.
(a) The per-unit slip is found from:

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Example 3

Example 2

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TWO-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR
A rotating magnetic field is also produced if two phases, 90° out
of phase with each other are used instead of a three-phase
supply. A two-phase induction motor is illustrated below in
Figure 3.18-9
FIGURE 3.18-9 TWO-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR
The production of a rotating magnetic field from a two-phase
supply, 90° out of phase, is shown in Figure 3.18-10. It is a
similar idea to the one previously drawn and described for a
three-phase supply, and its action may be deduced in a similar
manner.
Two-phase induction motors are less efficient than three-phase
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Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors
types and the latter are used, where possible, in preference to
two-phase motors.
Typically, two-phase induction motors find their greatest
applications in systems requiring a servo control of synchronous
devices, for example as servomotors in power follow up synchro
systems. In this instance the windings are also at 90° to each
other but, unlike the motors thus far described, they are
connected to different voltage sources. One source is the main
supply for the system and, being of constant magnitude, it
serves as a reference voltage. The other source serves as a
control voltage and is derived from a signal amplifier in such a
way that it is variable in magnitude and its phase can either lead
or lag the reference voltage, thereby controlling the speed and
direction of rotation of the field and rotor.
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FIG 3.18-10ROTATING MAGNETIC FIELD FROM A TWO-PHASE

SUPPLY

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SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTORS
Single-phase induction motors are used extensively in low-
power applications such as blowers and switch motors used in
communication equipment.
brake that brakes in an intermittent manner since the sinusoidal
current in the stator electromagnet continually passes from
peaks to zeros. One could even wonder how this motor can turn
since it seems to operate in a way similar to the eddy-current
brake.

A single-phase induction motor has only one stator winding so it

is not capable of producing a rotating magnetic field of the type
described earlier. The field produced by the single-phase
winding alternates according to the frequency of the supply and
can be said to alternate along the axis of the single winding,
rather than to rotate.

As the field changes polarity every half cycle, it induces currents

in the rotor which tries to turn it through 180°, but as the force is
exerted through the axis shown, there is no turning force on the
rotor.

This type of motor cannot, therefore be self-starting. If the rotor

is given a start however, it will be given a push every half cycle
that will keep it rotating. Since the field is pulsating, rather than
rotating, single-phase induction motors produce a pulsating
torque and are not as smooth running as two or three-phase
motors. Figure 3.18-11 Simple single-phase squirrel-cage

It is possible to obtain a single-phase squirrel-cage induction

motor, using a simple electromagnet connected to a single-
phase ac power source as shown in Figure 3.18-11. The
operating principle of the single-phase induction motor is
more complex than that of the three-phase squirrel-cage
induction motor. The simple single-phase induction motor of
Figure 3.18-11 can even be considered as an eddy-current

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INDUCTION MOTOR

However, when the rotor of the simple single-phase induction

motor of Figure 3.18-11 is turned manually, a torque which acts
in the direction of rotation is produced, and the motor continues
to turn as long as ac power is supplied to the stator
electromagnet. This torque is due to a rotating magnetic field
that results from the interaction of the magnetic field produced
by the stator electromagnet and the magnetic field produced by
the currents induced in the rotor. Figure 3.18-12shows a graph
of the torque versus rotation speed for this type of motor. The
curve shows that the torque is very small at low speeds. It
increases to a maximum value as the speed increases, and
finally decreases toward zero again when the speed
approaches the synchronous speed ns

Figure 3.18-12

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The low torque values at low speeds are due to the fact that the
currents induced in the rotor produce magnetic fields that create
forces which act on the rotor in various directions. Most of these
forces cancel each other and the resulting force acting on the
rotor is weak. This explains why the single-phase induction
motor shown in Figure 3.18-11 must be started manually. To
obtain torque at low speeds (starting torque), a rotating
magnetic field must be produced in the stator when the motor is
starting. A rotating magnetic field can be produced by using two
alternating currents, I1 and I2, that are phase shifted 90° from
one another, and two electromagnets placed at right angles to
each other. Figure 3.18-13 shows the simple single-phase
induction motor of Figure 3.18-11 with the addition of a second
electromagnet placed at right angle to the first electromagnet.
The second electromagnet is identical to the first one and is
connected to the same ac power source. The currents I1 and I2
in the electromagnets (winding currents) are in phase because
the coils have the same impedance. However, because of the
inductance of the coils of the electromagnets, there is a phase FIGURE 3.18-13 Adding a second electromagnet to the single-phase
shift between the currents I1and I2and the ac source voltage es, induction motor of Figure 3.18-11.
as shown in the phasor diagram of figure 3.18-13.

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ADDING A CAPACITOR AND AN AUXILIARY WINDING TO ADDING A CAPACITOR TO THE SINGLE-PHASE

THE SINGLE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR INDUCTION MOTOR ALLOWS THE MOTOR TO DEVELOP
STARTING TORQUE.
Since currents I1 and I2in the electromagnets (winding currents)
of Figure 3.18-13 are in phase, there is no rotating magnetic
field produced in the motor stator. However, it is possible to
phase shift current I2 by connecting a capacitor (C1) in series
with the winding of electromagnet 2 as shown in Figure 3.18-14.
The capacitance of capacitor C1 can be selected so that current
I2 leads current I1 by 90° when the motor is starting. As a result,
a rotating magnetic field is created when the motor is starting.
The capacitor creates the equivalent of a two-phase ac power
source and allows the motor to develop starting torque.

Waveforms and phasors when the motor is starting

Figure 3.18-14

Another way to create a phase shift between currents I1 and I2 is

to use a winding with fewer turns of smaller-sized wire. The
resulting winding, which is called auxiliary winding, has more
resistance and less inductance, and the winding current is
almost in phase with the source voltage. Although the phase
shift between the two currents is less than 90° when the motor
is starting, as shown in Figure 3.18-15, a rotating magnetic field
is created. The torque produced is sufficient for the motor to
start rotating in applications not requiring high values of starting
torque.

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Figure 3.18-15. Phase shift between the winding currents when an
auxiliary winding is used.
SHADED-POLE INDUCTION MOTOR
The single-phase motors considered in the preceding sections
all employed stators having uniform air gaps with respect to
their rotor and stator windings, which are uniformly distributed
around the periphery of the stator. The starting methods
employed thus far were generally based on a split-phase
principle of producing a rotating magnetic field to initiate rotor
rotation.
The shaded-pole motor is very popular for ratings below 0.05
H.P. (~ 40 W) because of its extremely simple construction. It
has salient poles on the stator excited by single-phase supply
and a squirrel cage rotor as shown in Fig. (3.18-16). A portion of
each pole is surrounded by a short-circuited turn of copper strip
called shading coil.
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Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors
Fig 3.18-16
OPERATION
The operation of the motor can be understood by referring to Fig.
(3.18-16) which shows one pole of the motor with a shading coil.
(i) During the portion OA of the alternating-current cycle [See Fig.
(3.18-17)], the flux begins to increase and an e.m.f. is induced in the
shading coil. The resulting current in the shading coil will be in such a
direction (Lenz’s law) so as to oppose the change in flux. Thus, the
flux in the shaded portion of the pole is weakened while that in the un-
shaded portion is strengthened as
shown in Fig. (3.18-17 (ii)).
(ii) During the portion AB of the alternating-current cycle, the flux has
reached almost maximum value and is not changing. Consequently,
the flux distribution across the pole is uniform [See Fig. (3.18-17 (iii))
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since no current is flowing in the shading coil. As the flux decreases
(portion BC of the alternating current cycle), current is induced in the
shading coil so as to oppose the decrease in current. Thus, the flux in
the shaded portion of the pole is strengthened while that in the un-
shaded portion is weakened as shown in Fig. (3.18-17 (iv)).
Fig 3.18-17
iii) The effect of the shading coil is to cause the field flux to shift
across the pole face from the un-shaded to the shaded portion. This
shifting flux is like a rotating weak field moving in the direction from
un-shaded portion to the shaded portion of the pole.
(iv) The rotor is of the squirrel-cage type and is under the influence of
this moving field. Consequently, a small starting torque is developed.
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Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors
As soon as this torque starts to revolve the rotor, additional torque is
produced by single-phase induction-motor action. The motor
accelerates to a speed slightly below the synchronous speed and runs
as a single-phase induction
motor.
CHARACTERISTICS
(i) The salient features of this motor are extremely simple construction
and absence of centrifugal switch.
(ii) Since starting torque, efficiency and power factor are very low,
these motors are only suitable for low power applications e.g., to
drive:(a) small fans (b) toys (c) hair driers (d) desk fans etc. The power
rating of such motors is up to about 30 W.
HYSTERESIS MOTORS
A Hysteresis motor works on the principle that in a material with
a large Hysteresis loop, the magnetic flux lags behind the
current which produced it by almost 90°, while in a material with
a small Hysteresis loop the two are almost in phase.
A stator of small Hysteresis loop material is supplied with a poly
phase input, as is the rotor which is made of large Hysteresis
loop material (usually cobalt steel). The result is that the flux in
the rotor lags that in the stator by almost 90°. The rotor will then
move in an attempt to line up its field with that of the stator.
Thus, as the stator field rotates, the rotor follows it.
The effect on the rotor of the rotating stator field is that if the
rotor is stationary or turning at a speed less than the
synchronous speed, every point on the rotor is subjected to
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successive magnetizing cycles. As the stator field reduces to
zero during each cycle, a certain amount of flux remains in the
rotor material, and since it lags on the stator field it produces a
torque at the rotor shaft which remains constant as the rotor
accelerates up to the synchronous speed of the stator field.
This latter feature is one of the principle advantages of
Hysteresis motors and for this reason they are chosen for such
applications as autopilot servomotors, which produce
mechanical movements of an aircraft’s flight control surfaces.
When the rotor reaches synchronous speed, it is no longer
subjected to successive magnetizing cycles and in this
condition, it behaves as a permanent magnet.
The hysteresis synchronous motor is so named because it
utilizes the phenomenon of hysteresis to produce mechanical
torque. In its simplest form, the rotor of a hysteresis motor is a
smooth cylindrical tube of high hysteresis loss permanent
magnet material without windings or slots. It is placed within a
slotted stator carrying distributed windings designed to produce,
as nearly as possible, a sinusoidal space distribution of flux. In
single-phase motors, the stator windings usually are the
permanent-split-capacitor type. The capacitor value is selected
to result in approximately balanced 2 phase conditions within
the motor windings: The stator then produces a rotating field,
approximately constant in space wave form and rotating at
synchronous speed.
Instantaneous magnetic conditions in the air gap are indicated
in Figure 3.18-18 for a 3.18-19 pole stator. The axis SS' of the
stator m.m.f. wave revolves at synchronous speed, because
of hysteresis the magnetization of the rotor lags behind the
inducing m.m.f. wave, and therefore the axis RR' of the rotor
flux wave lags behind the axis of the stator m.m.f. wave by the
ISO 9001 - 2008 Approved
PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01
3.18- 18
Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors
hysteresis lag angle "a". If the rotor is stationary, starting torque
is produced proportional to the product of the fundamental
components of the stator m.m.f. and rotor flux and the sine of
the torque angle "a". The rotor: hen accelerates if the counter
torque of the load is less than the developed torque of the
motor. When the rotor is turning at less than synchronous
speed, each particle of the rotor is subjected to a repetitive
hysteresis cycle at slip frequency. While the rotor is
accelerating, the lag angle "a" remains constant if the flux is
constant, since the angle "a" depends merely on the hysteresis
loop of the rotor and is independent of the rate at which the loop
is traversed.
The motor therefore develops constant torque right up to
synchronous speed, as shown in the ideal speed torque, Figure
3.18-19. This feature is one of the advantages of the hysteresis
motor in contrast to a reluctance motor which must snap its load
into synchronism from the induction motor torque speed
characteristic. Hysteresis motors can synchronize any load they
can accelerate, regardless of the inertia. After reaching
synchronism the motors continue to run at synchronous speed
and adjust their torque angle to develop torques required by the
loads. There are deviations from the ideal speed torque curves
for several reasons. In a single-phase capacitor motor, a true
two-phase condition occurs only at one load point. It is not
always possible to obtain a true sinusoidal winding distribution
tooth pulsation loss in the rotor etc., so that speed torque curves
A and B can be obtained. Therefore, there is some flexibility in
design possible to obtain curves A or B; curve A, when starting
torque is not required; curve B, when a high starting torque is
required.
For Training Purpose Only
Rev. 01
Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors

ISO 9001 - 2008 Approved For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.18- 19 Nov 2017
 PIA Training Centre Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.18 – AC Motors

SINGLE-PHASE COMMUTATOR MOTOR
The synchronous and induction types of ac motor all have one
thing in common - they are essentially single-speed or constant-
speed motors, their running speed being determined by the
frequency of the supply. Constant speed motors have many
uses, but where a variable speed is required some other type of
motor must be used.
Since the ac series motor has the same general characteristics
as the dc series motor, a series motor has been designed which
can operate both on ac and dc. This ac/dc motor is called a
‘universal motor’ and finds wide application in small electric
appliances. Universal motors operate at a lower efficiency than
either the ac or dc series motor and are built in small sizes only.

The commonest single-phase variable-speed motors are series

or commutator motors. They are used as blower motors in
communication equipment.

In an ordinary dc motor the direction of rotation depends upon

both the direction of the current in the armature windings and
the direction of current in the field coils. If one changes
direction, the direction of rotation is reversed, if both change
direction together, the direction of rotation is not altered.

When alternating current is applied to a series motor, the

current through the armature and field change simultaneously
and, therefore, the motor will rotate in one direction.

The number of field turns in the ac series motor is less than in

the dc series motor, in order to decrease the reactance of the
field so that the required amount of current will flow. Cutting
down the size of the field reduces the motor torque.

The characteristics of the ac series motor are similar to those of

the dc series motor. It is a varying-speed machine, with low
speed for large loads and high speeds for light loads. The
starting torque is also very high.

ISO 9001 - 2008 Approved For Training Purpose Only

PTC/CM/B Basic/M3/01 Rev. 01
3.18- 20 Nov 2017