*Synchronous Motor Application and Operation

Synchronous motors are like induction motors in that they both have stator windings
that produce a rotating magnetic field. Unlike an induction motor, the synchronous
motor is excited by an external DC source <#> and, therefore, requires slip rings
and brushes to provide current <#> to the rotor.

In the synchronous motor, the rotor locks into step with the rotating magnetic
field and rotates at synchronous speed. If the synchronous motor is loaded to the
point where the rotor is pulled out of step with the rotating magnetic field, no
torque is developed, and the motor will stop. A synchronous motor is not a self-
starting motor because torque is
only developed when running at synchronous speed; therefore, the motor needs some
type <#> of device to bring the rotor to synchronous speed.

Synchronous motors use a wound rotor. This type of rotor contains coils of wire
placed in the rotor slots. Slip rings and brushes are used to supply current to the
rotor.

Construction of Synchronous Motor

Normally it’s construction is almost similar to that of a 3 phase induction motor

except the fact that the rotor is given dc supply, the reason of which is explained
later. Now, let us first go through the basic construction of this type of motor

Main Features of Synchronous Motors

*Synchronous motors* are inherently not self starting_. They require some external
means to bring their speed close to synchronous speed to before they are
synchronized.

The speed of operation of is in synchronism with the supply frequency, hence for
constant supply frequency they behave as constant speed motor irrespective of load
condition

This motor has the unique characteristics of _operating under any electrical power
factor

Principle of Operation Synchronous Motor

Synchronous motor is a doubly excited machine i.e two electrical inputs are
provided to it. It’s stator winding which consists of a 3 phase winding is provided
with 3 phase supply and rotor is provided with DC supply. 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 frequency
to be 50 Hz, from the above
relation we can see that the 3 phase rotating flux rotates about 3000 revolution in
1 min <#> or 50 revolutions in 1 sec. At a particular instant rotor and stator
poles might be of same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing repulsive force on rotor and
the very next second it will be N-S causing attractive force. But due to inertia of
the rotor, it is unable
to rotate in any direction due to attractive or repulsive force and remain in
standstill condition. Hence it is not self starting.

To overcome this inertia, rotor is initially fed some mechanical input which
rotates it in same direction as magnetic field to a speed very close to synchronous
speed. After some time magnetic locking occurs and the synchronous motor rotates in
synchronism with the frequency.
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Methods of Starting of Synchronous Motor

1. Synchronous motors are mechanically coupled with another motor. It

could be either 3 phase induction motor or DC shunt motor
DC excitation is not fed initially. It is rotated at speed very
close to its synchronous speed and after that DC excitation is
given. After some time when magnetic locking takes place supply to
the external motor is cut off.
2. *_Damper winding_ :* In case, synchronous motor is of salient pole
type, additional winding is placed in rotor pole face. Initially
when rotor is standstill, relative speed between damper winding and
rotating air gap flux in large and an emf is induced in it which
produces the required starting torque. As speed approaches
synchronous speed , emf and torque is reduced and finally when
magnetic locking takes place, torque also reduces to zero. Hence in
this case synchronous is first run as three phase induction motor
using additional winding and finally it is synchronized with the
frequency.
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Applications of Synchronous Motors

For industrial squirrel cage induction motors are used mostly for the
motor and drive systems applications. Synchronous motors are very rarely
used below 40kW output because of the higher cost compared to induction
motors. In addition to the higher initial cost synchronous motors needs
dc excitation source <#> and starting and control devices are usually
more expensive. However for particular output range and speed high
initial cost of synchronous motor varnishes are economical compared to
induction motor. Where applications involve high kW output and low speed
synchronous motors are economical compared to induction motors.
The various classes of service <#> for which synchronous motors are
employed may be classified as:

* Power factor correction

* Voltage regulation
* Constant speed constant load drives

Applications:

* Synchronous motors are used in generating stations and in

substations connected to the busbars to improve the power factor.
For this purpose they are run without mechanical load on them and in
over-excited condition. These machines when over excited delivers
the reactive power to grid and helps to improve the power factor of
the system. The reactive power delivered by the synchronous motors
can be adjusted by varying the field excitation of the motor. These
motors used for power factor
<http://electricalquestionsguide.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-is-power-
factor.html>correction
applications can also be termed as "synchronous condensers".
Advantage of synchronous condensers compared to shunt capacitors is
that shunt capacitors generate constant reactive power whereas on
 the other hand synchronous condensers can able to deliver different
reactive power levels by varying the excitation of machine.
* Because of the higher efficiency compared to induction motors they
can be employed for loads which require constant speeds. Some of the
typical applications of high speed synchronous motors are such
drives as fans, blowers, dc generators, line shafts, centrifugal
pumps, compressors, reciprocating pumps, rubber and paper mills
* Synchronous motors are used to regulate the voltage at the end of
transmission lines
* In textile and paper industries synchronous motors are employed to
attain wide range of speeds with variable frequency drive system