Classification of Motors

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DC vs. AC motors

Compared to AC motor designs, DC motor are faster, more efficient and offer more accurate speed
and position control. Even more, while Ac produces an “audible” 60Hz “hum”. Dc motors are much
quieter. DC motors are usually smaller than AC motors.

DC motors, however requires DC power supply which needs power conversion from AC to DC that
will require additional investment. DC motors offers smooth and safe operation.

In cases requiring quick stops, a DC motor eliminates the need for mechanical brake by using
dynamic or regenerative motor braking.

DC motor speed can be controlled smoothly down to zero. Due to high torque inertia ratio, DC
motors respond more quickly to changing control signals. Ac motor speed are difficult to control,
frequency, frequency-to-voltage ration and phase relationship must be varied to compete with DC
response time.

One strong advantage of AC motor is life expectancy. AC motors are more or less brushless and
therefore do not have any wearing parts except bearings.

CONCLUSION

Though DC motor have several advantage over its counterpart, AC motors dominates the Marine
sectors, hence supply voltage on board as AC, converting this supply into DC requires additional
investment in terms of money and space.

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DC motors

There are three general types of motor, namely, series, shunt and compound, all of which are
widely used in many applications. Each type of motor has very definite operating characteristics
that differ markedly from those of the other two, so that it is important to know the load
requirements before a proper selection is made.

When d-c motor is loaded, it does more mechanical work per unit of time, under this condition, it
always slows down. In general, if a change from no load to full load causes the speed to drop
approximately 8% or less, the motor is said to be of the constant speed type; shunt motor falls into
this classification.

Counter Electromotive Forces is the voltage generated by a motor due the reaction of the rotor
magnetic flux with respect to the stator magnetic flux. When a coil is placed under a magnetic
field, that coil produces its own current that will produce its own magnetic field that will oppose
the field where it is placed ( LENZ Law).

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DC SERIES motors

The armature and field are connected in series. Magnetic flux is very small at motor starting; this is
the main reason why series motor should not be started without a load, because this might lead to
motor over speeding. This motor however has a high starting torque.

If= Ia since the

two coils are in
series

Basic Motor Formula for DC series motors.

Vs = Ia (Ra + Rf) + EMFc

<Pf = k x If
EMFc = k x w x <Pf
p = EMFc x Ia
Vs terminal voltage

Ia armature (rotor) current

EMFc counter EMF

Ea armature voltage

Фf flux produces by the stator winding

ω angular velocity of rotor (2π N)

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Rotational speed, direction and Torque

Using the above formula

EMFc = k x w x <Pf
Speed (ω) can be controlled by varying the flux in the stator field (Фf) or by increasing the voltage
in the rotor. Motor speed control can be achieved by controlling the voltage applied to the motor.
This essentially controls the Torque developed by the motor. To increase the speed of a series
motor, a low resistance is placed in parallel with the series field. This shunt resistance lowers the
field current which produces a drop in magnetic flux and an increase in speed.

To lower the speed an external resistance is connected in series with the field and the armature.
The result is armature voltage reduction and a fall in speed.

When the armature speed increase the field current reduces, reducing EMFc. This result in further
increase in speed, and virtually there is no upper limit. Running a series motor with no load is very
risky as it can accelerate to destruction.

Reversing the direction of rotation of a motor requires reversing the polarity of the field flux, or
reversing the flow of current going to the rotor.

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DC Shunt motors

In shunt motors, the field winding and the rotor (armature winding) are connected in shunt or
“parallel”. Shunt motors are said to be constant speed motors.

Vs = Ia Ra + EMFc
<Pf = k x If
EMFc = k x w x <Pf
p = EMFc x Ia
Unlike the series field winding, the shunt field winding cannot carry large currents, so many turns
are needed to produce strong magnetic field. Shunt motor has different speed characteristics from
a series motor. Once the motor reaches its full speed, it remains constant even when additional
loads are placed on the shaft.

Speed of a shunt motor is a function of the field current and the current going to the armature.

Revering the direction of rotation for a shunt motor is the same as that of the DC series motor.

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DC compound motors

The good characteristics of series motor (high torque) and that of the shunt motor (constant speed)
are combined into one by using the compound DC motor.

LONG compounded DC motor

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1. A 10kW, 250V, shunt DC motor has an armature winding resistance of Ra= 0.25Ω, and a field
winding of Rf=150Ω. At no-load and rated terminal voltage condition, the motor receives a
current of 8A and runs at 1000 rpm.

Calculate the speed and torque characteristics when the motor is operated at full load
conditions.

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Polyphase motors

Polyphase motors make up the largest single type in use today and usually are the first to be
considered for the average industrial application. There are several types of polyphase motors. The
most common type of motor in this group is the squirrel –cage polyphase induction motor.

What makes the polyphase motors special is that, the three phase power supply produces a rotating
magnetic field. When the terminal of a polyphase motor is connected into a 3-phase power supply,
rotating magnets are produced in the stator winding. In order to create torque, the rotor must be
made into a magnet as well. In order to accomplish this, the rotor can be supplied with current
inductively or conductively.

Polyphase Synchronous Motor

Polyphase Induction Motor

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Induction vs. Synchronous Motor

Synchronous Motor

The rotor turns exactly the same speed as the rotating magnetic field.

Requires two power supply (AC for the stator windings and DC for the rotor conductors)

Not self starting. Rotor must be turn by an external force or the coils must be shunted (just like an
induction motor)

Normally use for main propulsion.

Induction Motor

Comes in two variants (squirrel cage and the wound rotor)

Rotor turns less than the synchronous speed

Requires a single power supply ( AC only)

Current in the rotor is supplied from the stator by induction (transformer action)

Used to drive machineries on board (pumps, compressor, fans, etc)

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Polyphase Induction Motor

Wound Rotor Induction Motor

The wound rotor or slip ring induction motor differs from the squirrel cage motor only in the rotor
conductors. The rotor consists of windings of insulated coils, grouped to form definite polar areas
of magnetic force having the same number of poles as the stator.

The ends of these coils are brought out to slip rings. By means of brushes, the rotor resistance can
be adjusted so as its TORQUE by inserting resistor across each coils.

The wound rotor is an excellent motor for use on applications that require as adjustable-varying
speed and high starting torque.

Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

The operation of the squirrel cage is simple. The polyphase current produces a rotating magnetic
field in the stator. This rotating magnetic field causes a magnetic field to be set up in the rotor
also. The attraction and repulsion between these two magnetic fields causes the rotor to turn.
Essentially this is all there is to the operation of this type of motor.

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Slip in Polyphase Induction Motor

Slip is defined as the difference between the synchronous speed and the rotor actual speed,
expressed as a percentage of the synchronous speed.

As load of the motor increases, so as slip. Slip is necessary for the development of torque in an
induction motor. If the rotor will turn in the same speed as the rotating magnetic field, there will
be no cutting of flux, without change in flux; there will be no induction to the rotor.

Sync Speed - Rotor speed

Slip = x 100%
Sync Speed

Motor Size 1/2 5 15 50

Hp

Typical Slip 5 3 2.5 1.7

Exercise
What will be the actual speed of a 15Hp, 4 pole motor based on the given slip.

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Polyphase Induction Motor Design (squirrel cage)

The starting torque of a motor varies with the classification of the motor. Motors are classified by
NEMA as Design B,C, D or E.

Each class has a different motor design which provides a different value of starting torque. The
design type of the motor to be selected depends on the starting torque and running torque required
to drive the load.

Torque = Hp rating of motor x 5252

ft-lb
RPM

Exercise

1. Which motor has a higher torque, 100 Hp at 3600 rpm or 50 Hp at 1200 rpm?

Motor designer can change the characteristics of motors by modifying the windings, rotor slot
geometries, end ring size, rotor bar and end ring resistance, number of slots, number of rotor bars,
amount and type of magnetic steel.

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