3 Phase Induction Motor

3 phase Induction motors are the most common and frequently used machines in
industry.
It is the cheapest motor.
It is rugged and requires less maintenance.
It is simple in design.
It gives reliable operation.
Its efficiency is very high.
It is easy to control.
It runs at constant speed from zero to full load.
 Introduction:

i. 3 phase Induction machine is single excited machine.

ii. Stator is directly connected to 3 phase ac source.
iii. Rotor winding receives energy from stator by means of induction (like transformer
action).
120 f
iv. Induction motor cant run at synchronous speed (i.e., ns  )
p

v. Induction motors are two types based on rotor construction:

(a) Squirrel cage rotor
(b) Slip ring or wound rotor (used for high starting torque and wide speed control)
Construction
An Induction motor consists of mainly seven parts:
(a) Frame
(b) Stator
(c) Stator winding
(d) Rotor
(e) Rotor winding
(f) Cooling fan
(g) Bearings

Frame
It is a steel frame that supports a hollow, cylindrical core.

Stator : It is a stationary part of induction motor.

(i) Stator core is made of laminated steel stampings and has slots and teeth on
its inner periphery to accommodate stator windings.

(ii) Stator carries a 3 phase winding having space displacement of 1200 electrical.

(iii) The 3 phase winding is either star or delta connected and is fed from 3 phase
supply.
Cross sectional view of stator
Cut view of 3 phase Induction motor
Rotor
(i) Rotor comprises a cylindrical laminated iron core, with slots on outer
periphery.
(ii) It is the rotating part of the induction motor.
(iii) It is arranged on the shaft of the induction motor.
(iv) It has two ends, one is called driving end and another is called non-driving
end.
(v) Mechanical load is connected on driving end while cooling fan is connected
on non-driving end.
(vi) Both the ends are connected with bearings for free rotation which reduces
friction losses.
Windings

Stator windings:
 Star connected
 Delta connected

Rotor windings

It is wound as rotor bars and short circuited at both the ends through end rings.

Based on windings, rotors are of two types.

(a) Squirrel cage rotor
(b) Slip ring or wound rotor
Squirrel cage rotor

(i) This rotor consists of a cylindrical laminated core with parallel slots.
(ii) Rotor winding is composed of copper bars embedded in the rotor slots and shorted
permanently at both the ends by end rings.
(iii) No external resistance is possible.
(iv) It is simple, low cost, robust, low maintenance.
Slip Ring or Wound Rotor
(i) The rotor is wound for the same number of poles and number of phases as
that of stator.
(ii) Rotor winding is either star or delta but star connection is preferred.
(iii) The three star terminals are connected to three brass slip rings mounted on
rotor shaft.
(iv) These slip rings are insulated from rotor shaft.
(v) Slip rings connected with brushes and three brushes can further be connected
externally to 3 variable rheostats.
(vi) This makes possible introduction of additional resistance in the rotor circuit
during starting period.
 Comparison of Squirrel cage I.M and Slipring I.M

Squirrel cage Induction Motor

 Most of the application of industrial as well as domestic are this type of

induction motor.
 Its construction is simple and rugged.
 Cheap compare to slipring induction motor.
 Maintenance is easy.
 Can use at explosive area.
 Starting torque is low compared to slipring induction motor.

Application

 Leath machine, compressor, centrifugal pump, in agriculture etc. where cost

is most important factor.
Slipring Induction Motor

 It has high starting torque compare to squirrel cage I.M.

 Construction is complicated.
 Maintenance cost is high compared to squirrel cage I.M.
 Starter requires compulsory.
 Can not use at explosive area.

Application

 Crane, hoist, lift and where high starting torque required.

Principle of operation

Airgap

(i) When a 3-φ stator winding having a space displacement of 1200 electrical is energized
from a 3-φ supply having 1200 time displacement, then a rotating magnetic field is set
up in stator.
120 f
(ii) This rotating magnetic field rotates with synchronous speed ( ns  ) with respect to
p
stationary stator in the air gap.

(iii) This rotating field passes through the air gap and cuts the stationary rotor conductors.
(iv) Due to the relative speed between the rotating flux and the stationary rotor, e.m.f is
induced in the rotor conductors.

(v) If the rotor conductors are short circuited, then current start flowing in the rotor
conductors.

(vi) According to Lenz’s law the direction of the induced current is such that it opposes the
cause.

(vii) Cause is relative speed between rotating field and stationary rotor.

(viii) Hence, a rotor has a tendency to reduce the relative speed.

(ix) So, rotor begins to move in the direction of rotating field and continues towards
synchronous speed and the machine runs at a speed near but below the synchronous
speed depending upon load on shaft.

(x) As the speed of rotor reaches to synchronous speed (i.e., speed of field) relative speed
is zero. Hence, no e.m.f, no current and therefore no torque at synchronous speed.
Hence rotor never reaches to synchronous speed.
Slip speed

 The relative speed between the rotating magnetic field (ns) and rotor speed (nr)
is called slip speed.

Slip speed = ns – nr

Slip

 Percentage change in slip speed is slip.

ns  nr
Slip (%s) =  100
ns
 when rotor is stationary (nr = 0 ), s=1