EXPERIMENT: 01

AIM : To study about construction of three phase induction motor

Construction:
A 3 phase induction motor consists essentially of two main parts :
1. Stator
2. Rotor

Construction of Stator :
As its name indicates stator is a stationary part of induction motor. A stator winding is
placed in the stator of induction motor and the three phase supply is given to it.

It has three main parts, namely The stator of the three-phase induction motor consists of
three main parts :

1. Stator frame,
2. Stator core,
3. Stator winding or field winding.

Stator frame :
It is the outer body of the motor. Its main function is to support the stator core and to
protect the inner parts of the machine. The frame is either made up of die-cast or fabricated
steel. The frame of three phase induction motor should be strong and rigid as the air gap
length of three phase induction motor is very small. The figure below shows the stator
construction.
Stator Core :
The main function of the stator core is to carry the alternating flux. In order to reduce the
eddy current loss, the stator core is laminated. These laminated types of structure are made
up of stamping which is about 0.4 to 0.5 mm thick. All the stamping are stamped together
to form stator core, which is then housed in stator frame. The stamping is made up of

silicon steel, which helps to reduce the hysteresis loss occurring in the motor.

Stator Winding or Field Winding :

The core of the stator carries three-phase windings which are usually supplied from a three-
phase supply system. The windings may be connected in star and delta. The winding wound
on the stator of three phase induction motor is also called field winding, and when this
winding is excited by three phase ac supply, it produces a rotating magnetic field.

Construction of Rotor :
The rotor is a rotating part of induction motor. The rotor is connected to the mechanical load
through the shaft.

The rotor of the three phase induction motor are further classified as

1. Squirrel cage rotor

2. Slip ring rotor or wound rotor or phase wound rotor.

Depending upon the type of rotor construction used the three phase induction motor are classified
as:
1. Squirrel cage induction motor
2. Slip ring induction motor or wound induction motor or phase wound induction
motor.

Types of Three Phase Induction Motor

Squirrel Cage Three Phase Induction Motor
Squirrel cage type rotor has very simple and almost indestructible construction. This type of rotor consist of a
cylindrical laminated core, having parallel slots on it. These parallel slots carry rotor conductors. In this type of
rotor, heavy bars of copper, aluminum or alloys are used as rotor conductors instead of wires.
Rotor slots are slightly skewed to achieve following advantages -
1. it reduces locking tendency of the rotor, i.e. the tendency of rotor teeth to remain under stator teeth due to
magnetic attraction.
2. increases the effective transformation ratio between stator and rotor
3. increases rotor resistance due to increased length of the rotor conductor

The rotor bars are brazed or electrically welded to short circuiting end rings at both ends. Thus this rotor
construction looks like a squirrel cage and hence we call it. The rotor bars are permanently short circuited, hence it is
not possible to add any external resistance to armature circuit.

Advantages of Squirrel Cage Induction Rotor

i. Its construction is very simple and rugged.
ii. As there are no brushes and slip ring, these motors requires less maintenance.
Applications of Squirrel Cage Induction Rotor
We use the squirrel cage induction motors in lathes, drilling machine, fan, blower printing
machines, etc.

Slip Ring or Wound Rotor Three Phase Induction Motor

Phase wound rotor is wound with 3 phase, double layer, distributed winding. The number of poles of
rotor are kept same to the number of poles of the stator.
The three phase rotor winding is internally star connected. The other three terminals of the winding are
taken out via three insulated sleep rings mounted on the shaft and the brushes resting on them. These
three brushes are connected to an external star connected rheostat.
When motor is running at its rated speed, slip rings are automatically short circuited by means of a metal
collar and brushes are lifted above the slip rings to minimize the frictional losses. Due to the presence of
slip rings and brushes the rotor construction becomes somewhat complicated therefore it is less used as
compare to squirrel cage induction motor.

Advantages of Slip Ring Induction Motor

i. It has high starting torque and low starting current.
ii. Possibility of adding additional resistance to control speed.
Application of Slip Ring Induction Motor
Slip ring induction motor are used where high starting torque is required i.e in hoists, cranes,
elevator etc.

The other parts of a 3 phase induction motor are:

1. Shaft for transmitting the torque to the load. This shaft is made up of steel.
2. Bearings for supporting the rotating shaft.
3. One of the problems with electrical motor is the production of heat during its
rotation. To overcome this problem, we need a fan for cooling.
4. For receiving external electrical connection Terminal box is needed.
5. There is a small distance between rotor and stator which usually varies from 0.4 mm
to 4 mm. Such a distance is called air gap.