Module 5 - Introduction to Generators and Motors
Navy Electricity and Electronics Training Series (NEETS)
Chapter 4:  Pages 4-11 through 4-18

turn. To obtain maximum interaction between the fields, the air gap between the rotor and stator is very small.

As you know from Lenz's law, any induced EMF tries to oppose the changing field that induces it. In the case of an induction motor, the changing field is the motion of the resultant stator field. a force is exerted on the rotor by the induced EMF and the resultant magnetic field. This force tends to cancel the relative motion between the rotor and the stator field. The rotor, as a result, moves in the same direction as the rotating stator field.

It is impossible for the rotor of an induction motor to turn at the same speed as the rotating magnetic field. If the speeds were the same, there would be no relative motion between the stator and rotor fields; without relative motion there would be no induced voltage in the rotor. In order for relative motion to exist between the two, the rotor must rotate at a speed slower than that of the rotating magnetic field. The. difference between the speed of the rotating stator field and the rotor speed is called slip. The smaller the slip, the closer the rotor speed approaches the stator field speed.

The speed of the rotor depends upon the torque requirements of the load. The bigger the load, the stronger the turning force needed to rotate the rotor. The turning force can increase only if the rotor- induced EMF increases. This EMF can increase only if the magnetic field cuts through the rotor at a faster rate. To increase the relative speed between the field and rotor, the rotor must slow down. Therefore, for heavier loads the induction motor turns slower than for lighter loads. You can see from the previous statement that slip is directly proportional to the load on the motor. Actually only a slight change in speed is necessary to produce the usual current changes required for normal changes in load. This is because the rotor windings have such a low resistance. As a result, induction motors are called constant-speed motors.

Q8.    Why is the ac induction motor used more often than other types?

Q9.    The speed of the rotor is always somewhat less than the speed of the rotating field. What is the difference called?

Q10.    What determines the amount of slip in an induction motor?

Single-Phase INDUCTION MOTORS

There are probably more single-phase ac induction motors in use today than the total of all the other types put together.

It is logical that the least expensive, lowest maintenance type of ac motor should be used most often. The single-phase ac induction motor fits that description.

Unlike polyphase induction motors, the stator field in the single-phase motor does not rotate. Instead it simply alternates polarity between poles as the ac voltage changes polarity.

Voltage is induced in the rotor as a result of magnetic induction, and a magnetic field is produced around the rotor. This field will always be in opposition to the stator field (Lenz's law applies). The interaction between the rotor and stator fields will not produce rotation, however. The interaction is shown by the double-ended arrow in figure 4-10, view A. Because this force is across the rotor and through the pole pieces, there is no rotary motion, just a push and/or pull along this line.

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Figure 4-10. - Rotor currents in a single-phase ac induction motor.

Now, if the rotor is rotated by some outside force (a twist of your hand, or something), the push-pull along the line in figure 4-10, view A, is disturbed. Look at the fields as shown in figure 4-10, view B. At this instant the south pole on the rotor is being attracted by the left-hand pole. The north rotor pole is being attracted to the right-hand pole. All of this is a result of the rotor being rotated 90º  by the outside force. The pull that now exists between the two fields becomes a rotary force, turning the rotor toward magnetic correspondence with the stator. Because the two fields continuously alternate, they will never actually line up, and the rotor will continue to turn once started. It remains for us to learn practical methods of getting the rotor to start.

There are several types of single-phase induction motors in use today. Basically they are identical except for the means of starting. In this chapter we will discuss the split-phase and shaded-pole motors; so named because of the methods employed to get them started. Once they are up to operating speed, all single-phase induction motors operate the same.

Q11.    What type of ac motor is most widely used?

Split-Phase Induction Motors

One type of induction motor, which incorporates a starting device, is called a split-phase induction motor. Split-phase motors are designed to use inductance, capacitance, or resistance to develop a starting torque. The principles are those that you learned in your study of alternating current.

Capacitor-START. - The first type of split-phase induction motor that will be covered is the capacitor-start type. Figure 4-11 shows a simplified schematic of a typical capacitor-start motor. The stator consists of the main winding and a starting winding (auxiliary). The starting winding is connected in parallel with the main winding and is placed physically at right angles to it. a 90-degree electrical

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phase difference between the two windings is obtained by connecting the auxiliary winding in series with a capacitor and starting switch. When the motor is first energized, the starting switch is closed. This places the capacitor in series with the auxiliary winding. The capacitor is of such value that the auxiliary circuit is effectively a resistive-capacitive circuit (referred to as capacitive reactance and expressed as X_C). In this circuit the current leads the line voltage by about 45º  (because X_C  about equals R). The main winding has enough resistance-inductance (referred to as inductive reactance and expressed as X_L) to cause the current to lag the line voltage by about 45º  (because X_L about equals R). The currents in each winding are therefore 90º  out of phase - so are the magnetic fields that are generated. The effect is that the two windings act like a two-phase stator and produce the rotating field required to start the motor.

Figure 4-11. - Capacitor-start, ac induction motor.

When nearly full speed is obtained, a centrifugal device (the starting switch) cuts out the starting winding. The motor then runs as a plain single-phase induction motor. Since the auxiliary winding is only a light winding, the motor does not develop sufficient torque to start heavy loads. Split-phase motors, therefore, come only in small sizes.

Resistance-START. - Another type of split-phase induction motor is the resistance-start motor. This motor also has a starting winding (shown in fig. 4-12) in addition to the main winding. It is switched in and out of the circuit just as it was in the capacitor-start motor. The starting winding is positioned at right angles to the main winding. The electrical phase shift between the currents in the two windings is obtained by making the impedance of the windings unequal. The main winding has a high inductance and a low resistance. The current, therefore, lags the voltage by a large angle. The starting winding is designed to have a fairly low inductance and a high resistance. Here the current lags the voltage by a smaller angle. For example, suppose the current in the main winding lags the voltage by 70º.  The current in the auxiliary winding lags the voltage by 40º. The currents are, therefore, out of phase by 30º. The magnetic fields are out of phase by the same amount. Although the ideal angular phase difference is 90º for maximum starting torque, the 30-degree phase difference still generates a rotating field. This supplies enough torque to start the motor. When the motor comes up to speed, a speed-controlled switch disconnects the starting winding from the line, and the motor continues to run as an induction motor. The starting torque is not as great as it is in the capacitor-start.

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Figure 4-12. - Resistance-start ac induction motor.

Q12.    How do split-phase induction motors become self-starting?

Shaded-Pole Induction Motors

The shaded-pole induction motor is another single-phase motor. It uses a unique method to start the rotor turning. The effect of a moving magnetic field is produced by constructing the stator in a special way. This motor has projecting pole pieces just like some dc motors. In addition, portions of the pole piece surfaces are surrounded by a copper strap called a shading coil. a pole piece with the strap in place is shown in figure 4-13. The strap causes the field to move back and forth across the face of the pole piece. Note the numbered sequence and points on the magnetization curve in the figure. As the alternating stator field starts increasing from zero (1), the lines of force expand across the face of the pole piece and cut through the strap. a voltage is induced in the strap. The current that results generates a field that opposes the cutting action (and decreases the strength) of the main field. This produces the following actions: As the field increases from zero to a maximum at 90º , a large portion of the magnetic lines of force are concentrated in the unshaded portion of the pole (1). At 90º  the field reaches its maximum value. Since the lines of force have stopped expanding, no EMF is induced in the strap, and no opposing magnetic field is generated. As a result, the main field is uniformly distributed across the pole (2). From 90º  to 180º , the main field starts decreasing or collapsing inward. The field generated in the strap opposes the collapsing field. The effect is to concentrate the lines of force in the shaded portion of the pole face (3). You can see that from 0º  to 180º , the main field has shifted across the pole face from the unshaded to the shaded portion. From 180º  to 360º , the main field goes through the same change as it did from 0º  to 180º ; however, it is now in the opposite direction (4). The direction of the field does not affect the way the shaded pole works. The motion of the field is the same during the second half-cycle as it was during the first half of the cycle.

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Figure 4-13. - Shaded poles as used in shaded-pole ac induction motors.

The motion of the field back and forth between shaded and unshaded portions produces a weak torque to start the motor. Because of the weak starting torque, shaded-pole motors are built only in small sizes. They drive such devices as fans, clocks, blowers, and electric razors.

Q13.    Why are shaded-pole motors used to drive only very small devices?

Speed of Single-Phase Induction Motors

The speed of induction motors is dependent on motor design. The synchronous speed (the speed at which the stator field rotates) is determined by the frequency of the input ac power and the number of poles in the stator. The greater the number of poles, the slower the synchronous speed. The higher the frequency of applied voltage, the higher the synchronous speed. Remember, however, that neither frequency nor number of poles are variables. They are both fixed by the manufacturer.

The relationship between poles, frequency, and synchronous speed is as follows:

where n is the synchronous speed in rpm, f is the frequency of applied voltage in hertz, and p is the number of poles in the stator.

Let's use an example of a 4-pole motor, built to operate on 60 hertz. The synchronous speed is determined as follows:

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Common synchronous speeds for 60-hertz motors are 3600, 1800, 1200, and 900 rpm, depending on the number of poles in the original design.

As we have seen before, the rotor is never able to reach synchronous speed. If it did, there would be no voltage induced in the rotor. No torque would be developed. The motor would not operate. The difference between rotor speed and synchronous speed is called slip. The difference between these two speeds is not great. For example, a rotor speed of 3400 to 3500 rpm can be expected from a synchronous speed of 3600 rpm.

Summary

This chapter introduced you to the basic principles concerning ac motors. While many variations of types exist, the three types presented provide you with background for further study if you require more extensive knowledge of the subject. The following information provides a summary of the major subjects of this chapter for your review.

The three AC MOTOR TYPES presented are the series, synchronous, and induction ac motors.

AC Series MOTORS are nearly identical to the dc series motors. Special construction techniques allow ac series motors to be used as UNIVERSAL MOTORS, operating on either ac or dc power.

ROTATING FIELDS are developed by applying multiphase voltages to stator windings, which consist of multiple field coils. This rotating magnetic field causes the rotor to be pushed and pulled because of interaction between it and the rotor's own field.

TWO-Phase ROTATING FIELDS require two pairs of field coils displaced by 90º. They must be energized by voltages that also have a phase displacement of 90º.

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THREE-Phase ROTATING FIELDS require three pairs of windings 120º apart, energized by voltages that also have a 120-degree phase displacement.

SYNCHRONOUS MOTORS are specifically designed to maintain constant speed, with the rotor synchronous to the rotating field. Synchronous motors require modification (such as squirrel-cage windings) to be self-starting.

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INDUCTION MOTORS are the most commonly used of all electric motors due to their simplicity and low cost. Induction motors may be single-phase or multiphase. They do not require electrical rotor connection. Split-phase motors with special starting windings, and shaded-pole motors, are types of single-phase induction motors.

SYNCHRONOUS SPEED is the speed of stator field rotation. It is determined by the number of poles and the frequency of the input voltage. Thus, for a given motor, synchronous speed is constant.

SLIP is the difference between actual rotor speed and the synchronous speed in induction motors. Slip must exist for there to be torque at the rotor shaft.

Answers to Questions Q1. Through Q13.

A1.     Series, synchronous, induction.

A2.     To power small appliances.

A3.     They operate on either ac or dc.

A4.     The number of phases in the applied voltage.

A5.     90º.

A6.     Number and location of field poles.

A7.     Constant speed required by some loads.

A8.      They are simple and inexpensive to make.

A9.      Slip.

A10.    Load.

A11.    Single-phase induction motor.

A12.    By using combinations of inductance and capacitance to apply out-of phase currents in starting windings.

A13.    They have very weak starting torques.

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