EE 205: Introduction to Electrical Systems

Lecture 34 : Three-phase Induction Motors

 Starting of 3-phase Induction Motors

3-phase induction motors may be started with full voltage or with reduced
voltage, across its stator terminals. Reduced voltage reduces the starting
current but at the same time reduces starting torque also.

Starting of squirrel cage induction motors

• Direct-on-line starting
• Stator resistor or reactor starting
• Auto-transformer starting
• Star-delta starting
Starting of wound rotor induction motors
• Adding external rotor resistance
 Direct-on-Line Starting
— This method involves the direct switching of 3-phase
stator on to the supply mains
— The motor takes low pf starting current of 5 to 7 times
its full-load current.
— Such large currents of short duration don’t harm the
rugged squirrel cage motor, but the high currents cause
objectionable voltage drops in the power supply lines.
— These large voltage drops cause undesirable dip in the
supply line voltage and affects the performance of other
equipments connected to the same supply line
 Relation between Test and Tefl
Let Ist and Ifl are the per-phase stator currents drawn from the supply mains at
starting and full-load conditions

Here, I2st and I2fl are the per-phase rotor

currents at starting and full-load conditions.

If no-load current is neglected, then

 Relation between Test and Tefl
If V1 is the per phase stator voltage and Zsc is the standstill per phase leakage
impedance referred to stator, then per phase short-circuit current at standstill is

Here, shunt branch is neglected

 Stator resistor or reactor starting

As the motor speeds up the reactor is cut out

in steps and finally short-circuited when the
motor speed is near to its operating speed.

Since per phase voltage is reduced to xV1, the per phase starting current Ist is
given by

Series reactor is more costly than series

resistor but it has lower energy loss and is
more effective in reducing the voltage
because the IM pf at starting is quite low.

In an induction motor, torque is proportional to (voltage)2

 Auto-transformer starting

When the motor speed reaches near to its

operating speed, autotransformer is
disconnected and full line voltage is applied
to the IM

With auto-transformer, per phase starting current in motor winding is given by

If no-load current of auto-transformer is neglected, then its per phase output VA must be
equal to its per phase input VA

Per phase motor starting current is reduced only to x times the direct switching
current Isc but the per phase starting current from the supply mains is reduced to x2
times Isc
 Auto-transformer starting

In terms of the per phase starting current Ist from the supply mains
 Star-Delta starting

Used for motors designed

to operate normally in delta

Let VL is the line voltage, then per phase motor starting

current Ist,y with stator winding in star is given by

If stator winding were delta connected, then

with direct switching, the per phase starting
current Ist,d would be given by

Starting line current with direct switching would be equal to

 Star-Delta starting

Thus, with star-delta starter, the starting current from the mains as well as the starting
torque is reduced to one third of that produced with direct switching in delta

Star-delta starter is cheap as compared to auto-transformer starter and is therefore

used extensively.
 Starting of Wound Rotor Induction Motors

— Methods used for squirrel cage IM can also be employed for starting of slip
ring IM.
— Started by means of added external rotor resistances with full line voltage
across the stator terminals.
— Adding external resistance in rotor circuit reduces starting current, increases
starting torque and improves starting pf.
— At the time of start, the entire external resistance is added in the rotor circuit.
— As the rotor speeds up, the external resistance is decreased in steps so that
motor torque tends to remain maximum during the accelerating period.
— Finally, under normal operation, the external resistance is fully cut off and the
slip rings are short circuited so that motor torque now develops full-load
torque at low value of slip
 Speed Control

• There are 3 types of speed control of 3 phase induction machines

• Varying rotor resistance
• Varying supply voltage
• Varying supply voltage and supply frequency
 Speed Control: varying rotor resistance
— For wound rotor only

— Speed is decreasing T

R1< R2< R3
— Constant maximum torque nr1< nr2< nr3
R1
R2
R3
T
— The speed at which max torque
occurs changes
nr3 nr2 nr1 n ~n n
s NL
— Disadvantages:
§ large speed regulation
§ Power loss in Rext – reduce
the efficiency
 Speed Control: Varying supply voltage
— Maximum torque changes

— The speed at which max torque T

occurs is constant (at max torque, V1
V
XR = RR/s decreasing
V2 V1> V2 > V3
nr1> nr2 > nr3
V3
— Relatively simple method – uses
power electronic circuit for the T
voltage controller

— Suitable for fan-type load nr3 nr2 nr1 n ~n n

s NL

— Disadvantages :
Large speed regulation since ~ ns
 Speed Control: Varying supply voltage and supply
frequency

— The best method since supply

T f
voltage and supply frequency is decreasing
varied to keep V/f constant

— Maintain speed regulation

T

— Power electronic converter for

frequency and voltage controller nr3 nr2 nr1 nNL1 n
nNL3 nNL2

— Constant maximum torque