Polyphase Induction Motor

Introduction
 Scientist Nikolas Tesla invented the three-
phase induction motor.
 It is used as electric motor and workhorse in
the industry.
 It is named as induction motor because rotor
receives power from the stator by induction
phenomenon.
 It runs at constant speed and requires less
maintenance.
 It is a self-starting device.
Construction

 Two main components:

1. The stationary part called stator.

2. The rotating part called rotor.

 There is a small clearance between stator

and rotor called air gap. It ranges from
0.4mm to 4mm.
Stator
 It is the outer part of an induction motor.

 It consists of steel frame that encloses a

hollow cylindrical core made up of thin
laminations of silicon steel.

 It provides suitable slots in its inner

periphery for winding purposes.
 Fig:6.2

 It is wound for a definite number of poles.

 The windings are geometrically spaced.
 A three-phase AC supply is connected to
stator.
Rotor

 It is the inner part of the motor, which

moves during running.

 Rotor receives energy from the stator by a

process of induction.

 Types:
1. Squirrel cage rotor
2. Phase-wound rotor / wound rotor
Induction Motors

Figure 7.9 Rotor of a large induction motor.

(Courtesy Siemens).

11/28/2008 360 Chapter 7 Induction Motor 7

Squirrel cage rotor

 It consists of a highly laminated cylindrical

core having parallel slots on its outer surface.

 Thick copper bars are placed on each slot

and metal rings (end rings) short these bars.

 It is used for low and medium starting torque

motor.
 Rotor bars (slightly skewed)

End ring
 Fig: 6.3

Skew angle
 The slots in the squirrel cage rotor are not
always parallel to the shaft. These are twisted
through an angle called skew angle.
Wound rotor

 This is used for high starting torque.

 It consists of a laminated cylindrical core and

carries a three-phase double layer distributed
winding.

 The resistances can be varied by suitable

switchgear and finally short-circuited when
motor runs at rated speed.
 Fig 6.4
Stator and rotor are made
up of thick wafers of
silicon steel that are put
together with a varnish
coating as insulation

Both are cut out of same

sheet to save silicon steel

13
Working Principle
 The three-phase stator winding of an
induction motor is energized by a three-
phase supply.
 This produces a constant magnitude
magnetic field which rotates at synchronous
speed around the stator.
 This rotating field crosses the air gap and
cuts the stationary rotor conductors.
 Fig: 6.5

 As a result, an emf will be induced in the rotor

conductors by transformer action.
 Due to this voltage, current will flow through
the rotor conductors.
 The current carrying conductors placed in the
magnetic field experience a force that helps
to rotate the induction motor.

 If the load torque is less than the starting

torque, the motor will rotate continuously.
Rotating Field of a 3-phase Induction
Motor
 In a stator, the 3-phase windings (aa’, bb’,
cc’) are placed 120° part from each other.

 A rotating magnetic field of constant

magnitude is produced when a 3-phase
voltage is applied to the stator winding.

 This rotating field is produced by the

contributions of space-displaced currents.
 Fig:6.6

 The fluxes are,

φa = φm sin wt
φb = φm sin (wt - 120°)
φc = φm sin (wt - 240°)
 The sinusoidal waveforms are,

 Fig:6.7
 At point 1, angle φ = wt = 0°

φa = φm sin wt = 0
φb = φm sin (wt-120°) = -0.86 φm
φc = φm sin (wt-240°) = 0.86 φm

 The resultant vector is,

φr = 2 * 0.86φm * cos30° = 1.5 φm

 The phase angle for resultant flux is 90°.

 Fig:6.8
Synchronous Speed and Slip Speed

 The speed at which the revolving flux

rotates in between the stator and rotor free
space is called the synchronous speed Ns.
Ns = 120 f / P
 The slip speed is the difference between the
synchronous speed, Ns, and the speed of
the rotor, Nl. It is called relative speed, Nr.
Nr = N s - Nl
 The slip is the ratio of the slip speed to the
synchronous speed.

s = Nr / Ns = (Ns – Nl) / Ns

Nl = Ns (1-s)

 Speed = 0 means slip = 1

 Speed = Ns means slip = 0
Rotor Circuit Frequency
 The rotor frequency will be,
fr = (P * Nr) / 120
fr = (P * (Ns - Nl)) / 120
fr = (P * s Ns) / 120
= (s * P Ns) / 120
 At s=1(under blocked rotor condition), fr = fBR
fBR = PNs / 120
fr = s * fBR
Example 6.1

 The full load speed of 3-phase, 230 V, 4-pole,

50 Hz induction motor is 1445 rpm.
Determine the
 (i) Synchronous speed
 (ii) Slip
 (iii) Rotor frequency
Practice Problem 6.1

 A 3-phase, 440 V, 8-pole, 60 Hz induction

motor has a rotor speed of 690 rpm.
Determine the
 (i) Synchronous speed
 (ii) Slip
 (iii) Rotor frequency
Rotor Voltage
 According to working principle, three-phase
induction motor is comparable with three
phase transformer.
 The expression of rotor voltage is,
Er = 4.44 frNφm

 At s=1, Er = EBR
EBR = 4.44 fBRNφm
Er = sEBR
Example 6.2

 A 4-pole, 50Hz 3-phase induction motor is

operating at 1450rpm. Under blocked rotor
condition, the voltage is found 120V.
Determine the synchronous speed , rotor
frequency and rotor voltage.
Practice Problem 6.2

 A 6-pole, 60Hz 3-phase induction motor is

operating at 1100rpm. Under blocked rotor
condition, the voltage is found 120V.
Determine the synchronous speed , rotor
frequency and rotor voltage.
Rotor Torque

 In 3-phase induction motor torque is

proportional to the product of rotor current,
flux and power factor,
T α φI2cosφ2
But E2 α φ so equation becomes
T = k1E2I2cosφ2
For constant E2
T = k2I2cosφ2
Starting Torque

 The expression is,

Tst = k2I2cosφ2

Tst = k2R2
2 2
R 2 + X2

Condition for Maximum starting torque is R2 = X2

Starting Current

 The starting current can be reduced in two

ways
 Reduced stator voltage
 External Resistance in Rotor,

Ist = Io (Vs / Vo)

Where o subscript represents original/rated
values
Example 6.3

 The original starting torque of a 4-pole, 230V,

3-phase induction motor is 230N-m and the
starting current at rated voltage is 560A. A
reduced 3-phase voltage of 150V is applied
to the motor terminals. Find the value of
starting torque and current.
Practice Problem 6.3

 The original starting torque of a 6-pole, 208V,

3-phase induction motor is 180N-m and the
starting current at rated voltage is 300A. A
reduced 3-phase voltage of 108V is applied
to the motor terminals. Find the value of
starting torque and current.
Running Torque

 The initial expression,

Tr α ErIrcosφ2
 The final expression,
Tr = krsR2
2 2
R2 + (s X2)
 Condition for Maximum starting torque is R2 = X2
 The maximum torque,
Tm α 1 / (2 X2)
Relationships between Different Torque

a = R 2 / X2
 For starting and maximum torque,
Tst = 2a
2
Tm 1 + a

 For full load/running and maximum torque,

Tf = 2as
2 2
Tm s + a
Example 6.4

 The full load slip of a 50Hz, 8-pole induction

motor is 3%. The rotor resistance and
standstill reactance per phase are 0.01ohm
and 0.1ohm respectively. Find the
1. Speed at which maximum torque occurs.
2. Ratio of maximum torque to full load torque.
Practice Problem 6.4

 The full load slip of a 60Hz, 4-pole induction

motor is 4%. The rotor resistance and
standstill reactance per phase are 0.03ohm
and 0.4ohm respectively. Find the
1. Speed at which maximum torque occurs.
2. Ratio of maximum torque to full load torque.