Topic: Synchronous Motors

Q1 Why it is called a synchronous motor?

Ans Because the rotor and the stator field both run almost at the same speed or in other words,
they both are synchronized with each other hence, it is called as synchronous motor.

Q2 Is a synchronous motor self-starting?

Ans No.

Q3 Why a synchronous motor is not self-starting?

Ans A synchronous motor is not inherently self-starting because the stationary rotor is not
capable to respond to a quick reversal of poles on the stator field (due to its inertia) and a
torque is produced which is rapidly reversing, hence the motor does not start.

Q4 What is procedure of starting a synchronous motor?

Ans

1.First, main field winding is short circuited.

2.Reduced voltage with the help of autotransformer is applied across the terminal of stator.
The motor starts up.

3.When it reaches a steady speed, a weak DC excitation is provided on the rotor field winding.

4.Full supply voltage is provided by cutting out the auto transformer.

Q5 What is the purpose of rotor bars (squirrel cage winding) in synchronous motor?

Ans These provide a mean to develop a starting torque in synchronous motor, hence making it
self-starting.

The rotor bars also prevent the machine from hunting, surging or phase swinging (damper
winding)

Q1 What is hunting?

Ans Hunting also called as phase swinging or surging is a phenomenon under which a motor
undergoes oscillations when put on varying load. It may also happen if the supply frequency is
pulsating in nature.

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Q2 What are the distinguishing points between a synchronous motor and an induction motor?

Ans Some of these points are:

1.For a given frequency, the synchronous motor runs at a constant average speed whatever the
load, whereas the speed of induction motor falls somewhat with the increase in load.

2.The synchronous motor can be operated over a wide range of power factors both lagging and
leading but induction motor runs only at a lagging power factor.

3.A synchronous motor is inherently not self-starting whereas an induction motor is (three
phase induction motor)

4.A dc excitation is required by a synchronous motor.

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Q3 Mention some applications of synchronous motor?

Ans

1.Constant speed load services.

2.Reciprocating speed drives.

3.Power factor correction.

4.Voltage regulation of transmission lines.

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Q4 What is a synchronous capacitor?

Ans: An overexcited synchronous motor is called as synchronous capacitor because like a

capacitor it takes leading current.

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Q5 What could be the reasons if a synchronous motor fails to start?

Ans: The most probable reasons can be:

1.Voltage may be too low.

2.Too much starting load.

3.Open circuit in one phase or short circuit.

4.Field excitation may be excessive. etc

Hunting:

*Definition:

It is the phenomenon due to which a machine's rotor starts swinging about its position and
have to and fro oscillations.

*Cause:

It occurs due to load variation or pulsating supply frequency.

*Explanation:

When a synchronous motor is loaded its rotor falls back in phase by the coupling angle (say
alpha). As the load is progressively increased so this angle also increases to produce more
torque coping with the increased load.

If now, there is a sudden decrease on the load the rotor is pulled up or advanced to a new value
of alpha angle, corresponding to the new load. But in this process, the rotor overshoots and
hence is pulled back. In this way the rotor starts oscillating like a pendulum, about its new
position of equilibrium corresponding to the new load.

*Disadvantage: If the time period of these oscillations happens to be equal to the natural time
period of the machine then mechanical resonance is setup.

The amplitude of these oscillations builds up to a large value and may eventually become so
great as to pull the machine out of synchronism.

*How to stop hunting:

To stop the buildup of these oscillations, dampers or damping grids (called as squirrel cage
winding) are employed.

These dampers consist of short-circuited copper bars embedded in the faces of the field poles
of the motor.

The oscillatory motion sets up eddy current in the dampers which flow in such a way as to
suppress these oscillations.

Note: Dampers do not completely eliminate hunting they just dampen the oscillations out and
they serve the additional purpose that is of making the sync motor self-starting.