Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Final Assignment
Question 3
A 460 V, 50 kW, 50 Hz, three-phase synchronous motor has a synchronous reactance of Xs = 4.15 Ω
and an armature-to-field mutual inductance of Laf = 83 mH. The motor is operated with rated
terminal voltage and an input power of 40 kW. Calculate the magnitude and phase angle of the
generated phase back-emf, Eaf, and the corresponding field current, If, if the motor is operating at
(a) 0.85 power factor lagging, (b) unity power factor, and (c) 0.85 power factor leading.
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Question 4
Explain why a synchronous motor is not self-starting. Describe at least three commonly used
techniques for starting a synchronous motor.
A synchronous motor works by the rotor chasing the stator magnetic field. To generate a
continuous torque, the two fields must be stationary with respect to each other.
The magnetic field is rotating at a high speed which makes it unable to rotate the rotor from
its initial position as a result from the inertia of the rotor. Hence, no matter what starting
position the rotor is in, the synchronous motor is not self-starting.
The synchronous motor is doubly excited with a 3-phase supplied stator and DC excited
rotor. In the air-gap of the 3-phase AC to stator, a rotating magnetic field is generated to
rotate at synchronous speed. The DC excitation to rotor produces fixed magnetic poles. For
example, we take a two-pole synchronous machine.

The generated poles from the positive half cycle is rotating at synchronous speed with the
fixed rotor poles from the constant DC supply excitation. In the first case, the rotor flux
creates poles as above with the rotor and stator repelling each other due to same polarity.
Thus, creating a force in the anticlockwise direction making the torque -T (for reference
sake, clockwise is positive). For the negative cycle, the opposite happens which produces a
positive torque, +T, from the stator poles interchange but not the rotor due to inertia and
friction. The average torque in one cycle will then be Tavg = -T + T = 0. The net torque is 0,
hence, motor not starting.

Starting with induction motor

The rotor is brought to synchronous speed of the synchronous motor prior the motor is
switched on. A small induction motor is directly coupled to the synchronous motor. The
induction motor must have a smaller number of poles than the synchronous motor to
achieve synchronous speed. Once the induction machine rotates the rotor to synchronous
speed, the DC supply is switched on and the induction machine is de-coupled from the
motor shaft.
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Starting with DC machine

A DC machine is coupled instead of the induction machine as mentioned previously. The DC
machine acts as a motor to bring synchronous speed to the motor. Once achieved, the DC
machine acts as a generator with the power supply switched off. The generated DC is
supplied to the rotor of the synchronous motor.

Starting using Damper Windings

There is a normal field winding in the synchronous motor and a winding of copper bars is added and
placed in the slots in the pole faces. The ends of the bars are short-circuited. This winding
configuration is called damper winding. With no excitation, the winding is naturally short-circuited
and acts like a squirrel cage rotor winding in an induction motor as the image shows below.

The stator is excited by a 3-phase supply and the motor starts to rotate as an induction motor at a
speed lower than the synchronous speed. Field winding is supplied with DC and the motor is brought
towards synchronous speed. The relative motion between the damper winding and rotating
magnetic field is zero. Therefore, there is no induced emf in the damper winding and the motor is at
synchronous speed.

Starting using Slip Ring Induction motor

The damper winding used above is configured in either a three-phase star or delta winding. The
three ends of the winding are brought out through slip rings. An external rheostat is connected in
series with the rotor circuit. The stator is excited, and the motor starts as a slip induction motor with
high starting torque due to added resistance. As the resistance is gradually reduced, the motor’s
speed increases towards synchronous speed. The DC excitation is then provided to the rotor to
synchronise the speed. This then shorts the slip rings and damper windings.

Question 5
Explain why a single-phase induction motor is not self-starting. Describe at least three
commonly used techniques for starting a single-phase induction motor.

A single-phase induction motor consists of a distributed stator winding and a squirrel-cage rotor.
A single-phase supply is fed into the motor which produces a flux in the stator winding that
alternates along one axis only. Alternating flux cannot cause rotation within a stationary
squirrel-cage rotor. There is no rotating flux present that produces the rotation. Hence, a single-
phase motor is not self-starting.

Starting using Split Phase Induction Motor

The split phase motor, or also known as resistance start motor consists of a single cage rotorand a
stator of two windings. They are the main and starting winding which are displaced 90 degrees in
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

space with the main winding with low resistance and high inductive reactance and the starting
winding as the opposite. The diagram below shows the layout.

Auxiliary winding has a resistor connected in series. Since the rotating field is not uniform, the
current through the two windings is not equal. As a result, the starting torque is small. At the
starting of the motor, both windings are connected in parallel. When the motor reaches to
approximately 70-80% of the synchronous speed, starting winding is disconnected from main
supply. A centrifugal switch is used for motors rated 100W or higher to disconnect the starting
winding and for lower ratings, a relay is used.

The relay is connected in series to the main winding. At the starting, the heavy current flows in
the circuit, and the contact of the relay gets closed. This connects the starting winding and as
the motor gains more speed, the current in the relay reduces until it opens. Thus, disconnecting
it and only allowing the main winding to run the motor.

Starting using Capacitor Start Induction Motor

A capacitor start motor utilises a capacitor to produce a greater phase difference between the
current in the main and auxiliary windings and it is placed in series with the starting motor.

The capacitor start motor has a cage rotor and has two windings on the stator. They are known as
the main winding and the auxiliary or the starting winding. The two windings are placed 90 degrees
apart. Capacitor will allow the starting current to lead the voltage in the supply, while the main
current still lags the voltage. The large phase angle of this resultant current creates a rotating
magnetic field that produces a high starting torque. As the motor approaches its rated speed, the
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

auxiliary winding and the starting capacitor is disconnected automatically by the centrifugal switch
provided on the shaft of the motor.

Starting using Capacitor start capacitor run induction motor

This method has two capacitors with one being used at the time of the starting and is known as
starting capacitor. The other one is used for continuous running of the motor and is known as RUN
capacitor.

As the motor reaches the synchronous speed, the starting capacitor Cs is disconnected from the
circuit by a centrifugal switch Sc. The capacitor CR is connected permanently in the circuit and thus it
is known as RUN Capacitor. The run capacitor is long time rated and is made of oil filled paper.

Question 6
A three-phase induction motor, operating at rated voltage and frequency, has a starting torque of
1.35 times and a maximum torque of 2.2 times, both with respect to its rated-load torque. Ignoring
the effects of the stator resistance and rotational losses and assuming constant rotor resistance,
determine

(a) the slip at the maximum torque;

(b) the slip at rated load; and

(c) the rotor current at starting (as a percentage of the rotor current at rated load).
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Sm=0.3429, 0<sm<1
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Question 7
The following figure shows the cross-section structure of a 4/2 pole variable reluctance
motor with dimensions as R=3.8 cm, α=60o, β=45o, g=0.254 mm, and D=13 cm. The
poles of each phase winding are connected in series such that there are a total of N=100
turns (50 turns per pole) in each phase winding. Assume that rotor and stator to be of
infinite magnetic permeability.
(a) Ignoring the leakage and fringing fluxes, plot the phase-1 inductance L(θm) as a
function of θm.
(b) Plot the torque, assuming (i) i1=I1 and i2=0; and (ii) i1=0 and i2= I2.
(c) Calculate the net torque acting on the rotor when both windings are excited such that
i1=i2=5 A and at angles (i) θm =0o, (ii) θm =45o, (iii) θm =75o
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Question 8
Summarise and compare the advantages and drawbacks of the major types of electric motors: DC
motor, AC synchronous motor, AC induction motor and switched reluctance motor.

DC motor
Advantages

1. Wide Range speed control: DC motors offers the wide range of speed control both above
and below the rated speeds. This can be achieved in dc shunt motors by methods such as
armature control method and field control method. DC motors are widely used in fine speed
applications
2. High Starting torque: DC series motors are termed as best suited drives for applications used
for driving heavy loads in starting conditions. DC series motors will have a starting torque as
high as 500% compared to normal operating torque.
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

3. Accurate steep less speed with constant torque: Constant torque drives are one such the
drives will have motor shaft torque constant over a given speed range. In such drives, shaft
power varies with speed.
4. Quick starting, stopping, reversing and acceleration.
5. Free from harmonics, reactive power consumption and many factors.

Disadvantages.

1. High initial cost

2. Higher cost operation: due to the commutator and brush gear, there is more maintenance
and cost required.
3. Sparking hazard: inoperable in explosive or hazardous conditions due to sparking at brushes.

AC Synchronous motor
Advantages

1. Power factor control: An over excited synchronous motor can have leading power factor and
can be operated in parallel to induction motors and other lagging power factor loads
thereby improving the system power factor.
2. Constant speed: speed remains constant irrespective of the load.
3. Stability: Synchronous motors can be constructed with wider air gaps than induction motors
which makes these motors mechanically more stable
4. High Efficiency: Synchronous motors usually operate with higher efficiencies (more than
90%) especially in low speed and unity power factor applications.

Disadvantages

1. DC excitation sourced externally: Requires dc excitation which must be supplied from

external sources.
2. Not self-starting
3. Cost: per KW is higher than induction motor.
4. Speed control: there is no speed control of the motor without varying the supply frequency.
5. No starting torque: cannot start with a load as starting torque is 0.
6. Increase maintenance: collector rings and brushes require often maintenance

AC Induction motor
Advantages

1. Simple construction: no slip rings or brushes makes it a low maintenance motor.

2. Can be operated in hazardous conditions
3. High starting torque and variable speed control

Disadvantages

1. No self-starting torque: external arrangements are required to start a single-phase induction

motor.
2. Low speed control as it is mainly used as constant speed
3. Low efficiency at light loads: power factor of the motor is reduced to a low value. At the
start, the motor draws a large magnetising current to overcome the reluctance offered by
the air gap between the Stator and the Rotor. High magnetising current, the copper losses of
the motor increase. Hence, decrease in efficiency of the motor.
4. Cannot be used for high starting torque applications due to the low starting torque.
Aamir Faiaz 12623195 Electrical Machines

Switched Reluctance motor

Advantages

1. Simple motor construction requiring few manufacturing steps

2. High torque to weight ratio means low moment of inertia and quick response.
3. Stator windings are concentrated, so it is simple to wind and repair
4. Bulk of losses appear in stator which is relatively easier to cool,
5. The absence of rotor excitation allows its operation at higher operating temperature and
speeds
6. Electromagnetic torque is independent of the polarity of current which leads to reduced
number of power devices and control complexity,
7. Stator winding is in series with semiconductor switch thereby eliminating the possibility of
shoot through faults
8. Very high speeds are possible as rotor has no winding or no permanent magnets

Disadvantages

1. Inherent torque ripple and acoustic noise is present due to doubly salient structure of SRM
2. For commutation and current control SRM drive requires an external or built in rotor
position sensor, which is costly as it increases the size of motor drive and increases the
complexity of the system and hence causes limitation for industrial application; also any
error in the rotor position can lead to failure of control
3. Due to extremely high winding inductance energy is stored, which has to be removed after
excitation, therefore, a long energy removal period is usually required, limiting the
maximum current to a relatively low-range.

Bibliography

https://www.ijltemas.in/DigitalLibrary/Vol.6Issue10/25-30.pdf

https://circuitglobe.com/capacitor-start-capacitor-run-motor.html

https://circuitglobe.com/capacitor-start-induction-motor.html

https://circuitglobe.com/split-phase-induction-motor.html

https://circuitglobe.com/starting-methods-of-a-single-phase-induction-motor.html

https://www.electrical4u.com/electrical-engineering-articles/electric-motor/

http://electricalquestionsguide.blogspot.com/2012/11/synchronous-motors-advantages.html

https://www.electrical4u.com/induction-motor-advantages-and-disadvantages

https://electricalvoice.com/dc-motors-advantages-disadvantages-over-ac-motors