bright hub engineering

AC induction motors
and the phenomenon
of crawling
Commercial Applications & Electrical
Projects / By Ricky / Electrical
Engineering

Introduction

We understand what exactly is

meant by the term crawling as
applied to living organisms but there

is a similar effect in the world of ac

induction motors, so we will try and

understand what exactly does the

term crawling specify in context of

these motors.

Before delving deeper into the

concept of crawling, we must

understand what exactly is meant by

the term synchronous speed of a

motor. We know that electrical

motors turn as the rotating magnetic

flux is induced to the AC current

which in turn makes the rotor rotate.

Ideally the speed of the rotor would

be equal to the speed of flux rotation

but it is not so in actual practice.

The speed at which the stator flux

rotates is known as the synchronous

speed, whilst the speed of actual

rotation of the rotor is obviously

known as actual speed, the

difference between the two being

known as the slip for that motor. This

relation can be expressed

mathematically as follows

Slip =

Synchron
ous speed

– Actual

speed

Percentag
e Slip =

{Sync

speed –
Actual

speed}*10

0/Sync

speed
Crawling

Coming back to the question of

crawling, it has been observed that in

induction motors especially the

squirrel cage type motors, there is a

tendency of the motor to run stably

as speeds which are nearly one-

seventh of the synchronous speed

and this phenomenon is known as

crawling. If we think in terms of the

above equation, crawling occurs

when

actual speed = 1/7 * sync speed

or in other words when the

percentage slip = 85.71%

So basically the definition of crawling

is quite simple but why does a motor

rotate at 1/7th of the sync speed or

why does it crawl?

Let us take a look at the reasons

behind crawling by observing the

diagram shown below which shows

the torque vs. % speed of the motor.

The diagram is clearly marked and is

fairly self descriptive with the various

regions of stable and unstable

rotation shown with red coloured

arrows. Please correlate that

diagram to what I am explaining now.

We know that the winding of the

motor is used to produce rotating

flux which acts as a driving force to

rotate the stator. Ideally this flux

should be a pure sine wave but in

actual practice it is not so. Rather it

is a complex wave which consists

not only of the fundamental

frequency but also contains odd

harmonics which either rotate in

forward or back direction at a speed

which is in proportion to the

harmonic. So for example say a 7th

harmonic would revolve at a speed

of Ns/7 where Ns is the synchronous

speed.
The main odd harmonics which

effect rotor motion are the 3rd, 5th

and 7th harmonic waves. Even out of

these, the 3rd harmonic is normally

not present in a balanced 3 phase

system so only 5th and 7th come in

the actual picture.

Out of these two the braking effect

produced by the 5th harmonic is

insignificant since they have a phase

difference of -120 degrees in the

three stator windings, and it revolves

at Ns/5 speed in opposite direction

of main harmonic.

Similarly the 7th harmonic phase

difference in three stator windings is

+120 degrees and there is a forward

rotating field which speed Ns/7 in

this case.

So the overall effect is the

combination of the main harmonic

and this 7th harmonic. Now if you see

the diagram again you will notice

that the 7th harmonic reaches its

maximum positive value just before

the 1/7th synchronous speed and

becomes negative after that. Hence

the resultant torque shows a dip as

can be identified in the diagram. So if

the motor is loaded at constant

torque due to external mechanical

engagement, it is quite possible that

motor torque is lower than that

applied torque. In this case the motor

will not accelerate to its normal

speed but continue to rotate at 1/7

speed which is exactly what crawling

means.

Previous Post

Next Post

Copyright © 2019 Bright Hub

Engineering. All Rights Reserved.
About | Copyright Policy | Privacy
Policy | Terms of Use
 report this ad

report this ad

Recent
A Comprehensive Guide to Electrical
Laws and Formulas

Electrical Motors and Motor Controls

Standard Insulating Materials Used in

Electrical Engineering.

Inverter Technology for Air Conditioners

How to Connect Electrical Cable Ends

Securely for Efficient Power Supplies

Earthing or Grounding Methods,

Resistance Connection Monitoring &
Measurement

Popular

Diagnostics: How to Test a 3-Phase

Motor
How to Build a Homemade Mains Surge
Protector Device

What is impedance in electric circuits

and what is its importance?
How to Build a Water Ionizer? Making a
Water Ionizer

How do you get Electricity from a

Lemon? Making Electricity from Lemon
Common Causes for Electric Motor
Failure - Motor Failure Analysis

Standard Insulating Materials Used in

Electrical Engineering.

Related
Commercial Applications & Electrical
Projects

Consumer Appliances & Electronics

Hobbyist & DIY Electronic Devices &

Circuits

Power Transmission and Distribution

Quick Links

Civil
Electrical
Mechanical
Marine

Follow Us

Privacy Policy

© 2019 brighthubengineering.com. All rights reserved.