Basic Principles of Synchronous

Motor Operation
What is an Electrical Motor?

 Electrical motors are an electro-mechanical device that converts

electrical energy to mechanical energy. Based on the type of input
we have classified it into single phase and 3 phase motors.
 The most common type of 3 phase motors are synchronous motors
and induction motors.
What is a Synchronous Motor?

 An AC motor in which at steady state, rotation of the shaft is in sync

with the frequency of applied current”.
 It is a fixed speed motor because it has only one speed, which is
synchronous speed. This speed is synchronized with the supply
frequency.
Working Principle of a Synchronous Motor

 The stator and the rotor are the two main parts of the synchronous
motor. The stator is the stationary part of the motor and rotor is their
rotating part. The stator is excited by the three-phase supply, and the
rotor is excited by the DC supply.
 The term excitation means the magnetic field induces in the stator
and rotor of the motor. The main aim of the excitation is to
convert the stator and rotor into an electromagnet.
 The three-phase supply induces the north and south pole on the
stator. The three-phase supply is sinusoidal. The polarity (positive
and negative) of their wave changes after every half cycle and
because of this reason the north and south pole also varies. Thus, we
can say that the rotating magnetic field develops on the stator.
 The magnetic field develops on the rotor because of the DC
supply. The polarity of the DC supply becomes fixed, and thus
the stationary magnetic field develops on the rotor.  The term
stationary means their north and south pole remains fixed.
 The speed at which the rotating magnetic field rotates is known as
the synchronous speed. The synchronous speed of the motor
depends on the frequency of the supply and the number of poles of
the motor.
 When the opposite pole of the stator and rotor face each other, the
force of attraction occurs between them. The attraction force
develops the torque in the anti-clockwise direction. The torque is the
kind of force which moves the object in the rotation. Thus, the poles
of rotor dragged towards the poles of the stator.
 After every half cycle, the pole on the stator is reversed. The
position of the rotor remains same because of the inertia. The
inertia is the tendency of an object to remain fixed in one
position.
 When the like pole of the stator and rotor face each other, the force
of repulsion occurs between them and the torque develops in the
clockwise direction.
 After the half cycle, the poles on the stator reverse. The same pole
of the stator and rotor face each other, and the force of repulsion
develops between them.
 The non-unidirectional torque pulsates the rotor only in one
place and because of this reason the synchronous motor is not
self-starting.
 For starting the motor, the rotor is rotated by some external means.
Thus, the polarity of the rotor also changed along with the stator. The
pole of the stator and rotor interlock each other and the
unidirectional torque induces in the motor. The rotor starts rotating at
the speed of the rotating magnetic field, or we can say at
synchronous speed.
 The speed of the motor is fixed, and the motor continuously rotates
at the synchronous speed.
Starting Synchronous Motors

 Motor starting with an external prime Mover: Synchronous

motors are mechanically coupled with another motor. It could be
either 3 phase induction motor or DC shunt motor. Here, we do not
apply DC excitation initially. It rotates at speed very close to its
synchronous speed, and then we give the DC excitation. After some
time when magnetic locking takes place supply to the external
motor is cut off.
 Damper winding In this case, the synchronous motor is of salient
pole type, additional winding is placed in rotor pole face. Initially,
when the rotor is not rotating, the relative speed between damper
winding and rotating air gap flux is large and an emf is induced in it
which produces the required starting torque. As speed approaches
synchronous speed, emf and torque are reduced and finally when
magnetic locking takes place; torque also reduces to zero. Hence in
this case synchronous motor first runs as 
three phase induction motor using additional winding and finally it
is synchronized with the frequency.
Application of Synchronous Motors

 Synchronous motor having no load connected to its shaft is used for 

power factor improvement. Owing to its characteristics to behave at
any electrical power factor, it is used in power system in situations
where static capacitors are expensive.
 Synchronous motor finds application where operating speed is less
(around 500 rpm) and high power is required. For power
requirement from 35 kW to 2500 KW, the size, weight and cost of
the corresponding three phase induction motor is very high. Hence
these motors are preferably used. Ex- Reciprocating pump,
compressor, rolling mills etc.
Advantages of Synchronous Motor
 It can be operated under a wide range of power factors both lagging
and leading. Hence, it can be used for power factor correction, in
addition to supplying torque to drive loads.
 Most synchronous motors are rated between 150 kW and 15 kW and
run at speeds from 150 to 1800 rpm.
 It is less costly in certain kW and speed ranges i.e. for 35 to 350
kW rating at speeds less than 500 rpm.
 It usually runs at higher efficiencies, especially in low-speed
unity power factor
 It can be constructed with wider air gaps than induction motors,
which makes it batter mechanically.
Disadvantages of Synchronous Motor

 It is not self-starting. Special methods are adopted to make it self-

starting.
 It needs frequent maintenance.
 External DC source is necessary for providing excitation.
 Additional damper winding is necessary.
 Hunting takes place if the load is changed suddenly.