INDUCTION MOTOR

Problem statement:

Examine the use of an induction motor designed to operate at 60

Hz, when the actual operating frequency of the connected supply
is 50 Hz at the rated voltage of the machine.

Assumptions:

- motor is a squirrel cage type

- rated voltage is applied at both frequencies
- load torque is constant

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Methods of controlling speed:

- varying stator voltage

- varying input frequency
- varying stator voltage and frequency

Stator voltage control (frequency is kept constant) :

If a motor is supplied from a fixed voltage and constant frequency,

the developed torque is a function of the slip and the torque-speed
characteristics can be determined by equation 1.

3RrVs2
Td  ................equation 1
ss [( Rs  Rr s)  ( X s  X r ) ]
2 2

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
From equation 1 it can be seen that the developed torque is
proportional to the square of the stator supply voltage, i.e.,

Td  Vs2 ..............equation 2

Therefore, a reduction in voltage will produce a reduction in

speed. If the terminal voltage is reduced to bVs then equation 1
becomes:

3Rr (bVs ) 2
Td  ................equation 3
ss [( Rs  Rr s)  ( X s  X r ) ]
2 2

where b  1. Figure 1 shows the torque-speed characteristics for

various values of b.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Figure 1 Torque-speed characteristics with variable stator voltage

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
In any magnetic circuit, the induced voltage is proportional to the flux
and frequency, and the rms air-gap flux can be expressed as,

Va  bVs  K m ............equation 4

or
bVs
  ............equation 5
K m
where Km is a constant and depends on the number of turns of the
stator winding and  is the supply frequency in rad/s.

It can be seen that reducing the stator voltage results in a reduction in

the air-gap flux, which results in a reduction in the torque.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC (Distinction),

Energy Systems, MIEEE
Frequency control (stator voltage is kept constant) :

The torque and speed can also be controlled by changing the supply
frequency. It must be noted that at rated voltage and rated frequency,
the flux will be at rated value.

It can be seen in equation 5 that if the voltage is maintained at rated

value and the frequency is reduced below the motor’s rated frequency
then:
→ the flux will increase
→ saturation of the air gap would occur
→ the motor parameters would not be valid in
determining the torque-speed characteristics.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Also, as the frequency varies below the rated value,
→ the reactances will decrease
→ and the motor currents will increase

This is because X = 2fL and since L is constant then the inductive

reactance will decrease with a decrease in f.

In addition, the synchronous speed of the motor will be affected by

changes in the supply frequency since;
2
s  ..............equation 6
p

where  is the supply frequency in rad/s and p is the number of poles

of the motor.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
If the synchronous speed corresponding to the rated frequency is
called the base speed b, the synchronous speed at any other
frequency would be;

 s  b ..............equation 7

b  m
 slip s  .......equation 8
b
The torque-speed characteristic is given by equation 9 and shown in
Figure 2. It shows that changes in  will result in significant changes
in the torque with the voltage being kept constant.

3RrVs2
Td  ................equation 9
sb [( Rs  Rr s)  ( X s  X r ) ]
2 2

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC (Distinction),

Energy Systems, MIEEE
Figure 2 Torque-speed characteristics with frequency control

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Voltage and Frequency control

It can be seen from equation 5 that if the ratio of the voltage to frequency
is kept constant then the flux remains constant and consequently the rated
torque is maintained. Equation 9 and Figure 3 shows the torque-speed
characteristics for volts/hertz control.

3Rr d 2b2 ( b  m )

Td  2 ................equation 9
b [( Rs  Rr )  [(b  m )( X s  X r )]
2 2

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Figure 3 - Torque-speed characteristics with volts/hertz control

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC

(Distinction), Energy Systems, MIEEE
Hence if a motor is designed for a supply frequency of 60 Hz and ‘V’
volts then to operate the motor at 50 Hz the stator applied voltage would
have to be decreased to 5/6 of ‘V’ to maintain a constant flux.

This would result in slight reduction in the losses, however the power
output would be reduced almost in proportion to the frequencies, i.e.
approximately 5/6. The efficiency will also be reduced, however, the
rated torque will be maintained.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC (Distinction),

Energy Systems, MIEEE
Recommendation:

To maintain the rated torque of an induction motor, rated at 60 Hz and

installed to operate at 50 Hz at rated voltage ‘V’, it is recommended that
the volts/hertz approach in maintaining the rated torque be adopted.
Hence the operating voltage at 50 Hz should be 5/6 of ‘V’, i.e. if the rated
voltage is 600 volts at 60 Hz then the supply voltage should be reduced to
500 volts at 50 Hz to maintain constant flux and torque.

This method will ensure that the rated flux is maintained constant with
the rated torque being maintained.

Prepared by Alvin Ramsaran - BSc (Hons), Elec. Eng., MASC (Distinction),

Energy Systems, MIEEE