3 Phase Induction Motors

Electrical Unit
Pakarab Fertilizers Ltd., Multan
 What is induction motor?
An induction motor or asynchronous motor is an AC
electric motor in which the electric current in
the rotor needed to produce torque is obtained
by electromagnetic induction from the magnetic field of
the stator winding. An induction motor can therefore be
made without electrical connections to the rotor.
 Classification of
induction motors
Depending on the rotor construction, induction motor can
be classified into two categories:
• Squirrel-cage induction motor.
• Slip-ring induction motor or wound rotor induction
motor.
Depending on the number of phases it can be classified
as:
• Single-phase induction motor
• Three-phase induction motor
 Squirrel Cage
Induction Motor
3 phase squirrel cage induction motor is a type of three phase induction motor which
functions based on the principle of electromagnetism. It is called a ‘squirrel cage’
motor because the rotor inside of it – known as a ‘squirrel cage rotor’ – looks like a
squirrel cage.
 Squirrel Cage
Induction Motor
Working Principle
• When an alternating current is run through the stator windings, a rotating
magnetic field is produced.
• This induces a current in the rotor winding, which produces its own
magnetic field. The interaction of the magnetic fields produced by the
stator and rotor windings produces a torque on the squirrel cage rotor.
 Applications of
Squirrel Cage
Induction Motors
• Centrifugal pumps
• Industrial drives (e.g. to run conveyor belts)
• Large blowers and fans
• Machine tools
• Lathes and other turning equipment
• t
 Advantages of
Squirrel Cage
Induction Motor
• They are low cost
• Require less maintenance (as there are no slip rings or brushes)
• Good speed regulation (they are able to maintain a constant
speed)
• High efficiency in converting electrical energy to mechanical
energy (while running, not during startup)
• Have better heat regulation (i.e. don’t get as hot)
• Small and lightweight
• Explosion proof (as there are no brushes which eliminate the
risks of sparking)
 Disadvantages of
Squirrel Cage Induction
Motor
• Very poor speed control
• Although they are energy efficient while running at full load
current, they consume a lot of energy on startup
• They are more sensitive to fluctuations in the supply voltage.
When the supply voltage is reduced, induction motor draws more
current. During voltage surges, increase in voltage saturates the
magnetic components of the squirrel cage induction motor
• They have high starting current and poor starting torque (the
starting current can be 5-9 times the full load current; the starting
torque can be 1.5-2 times the full load torque)
 Slip Ring Induction
Motor
A wound-rotor motor is a type of induction motor where the rotor windings
are connected through slip rings to external resistance. Adjusting the
resistance allows control of the speed/torque characteristic of the motor.
Wound-rotor motors can be started with low inrush current, by inserting high
resistance into the rotor circuit; as the motor accelerates, the resistance can
be decreased.
 Slip Ring Induction
Motor Working
Principle
The slip ring induction motor working in the induction principle. when ever
the supply is applied to stator winding and stator winding produced magnetic
flux. due to faradays law of electromagnetic induction the rotor winding get
induced and produce the magnetic flux current. These motors are usually
started with full line voltage . at starting time the induction motor drawn 6 to
7 times full load current but this high inrush current could be control by
external resistance connected in rotor circuit. this external resistance in the
rotor side should be adjusted to get minimum starting current in the slip ring
induction motor. That external resistance act like a variable rheostat when
the motor starting time it automatically adjusted to high resistance and once
motor obtain normal speed that resistance will be reduced. that external
resistance adjustment will decrease the rotor current and also decrease the
stator current. that’s why starting current of motor will reduced to normal and
it increase the starting torque of the motor.
 Applications of Slip
Ring Induction
Motors
• High torque required application
• low starting current application
• used in hoist , cranes and elevator applications
 Advantages of Slip
Ring Induction
Motor
• High starting torque with low starting current. The maximum
starting can be achieved in the slip ring motor compared to the
squirrel-cage motor by inserting an external resistor in each
phase of the rotor circuit and cutting the resistance during start-
up.
• The main advantage of slip ring induction motor is that its speed
can be controlled easily
• The speeds can be adjusted in the case of the slip ring induction
motor (wound rotor) by inserting a resistor. Therefore, slip ring
motors are considered variable speed motors.
• A squirrel cage induction motor takes 600% to 700% of the full
load current. But a slip ring induction motor takes a very low
starting current approximately 250% to 350% of the full load
current.
 Disdvantages of
Slip Ring Induction
Motor
• Higher maintenance of brushes and slip rings compared to
squirrel cage motor
• complicated construction
• copper loss is high
• efficiency low
• power factor low
• costly compared to 3 phase squirrel cage induction motor
 Comparison of squirrel
cage vs wound rotor
type motors
Squirrel Cage
Parameter Slip Ring Motor
Motor
Cost Low High
Maintenance Low High
Speed Control Poor Good
Efficiency on startup Poor Good
Efficiency during
Good Poor
operation
Heat regulation Good Poor
In rush current &
High Low
torque
 Why is power
transmitted in 3
phases? Why not
more than 3?
 Constant power
When you add up the power in each phase, you'll see that the total power
delivered turns out to be constant. This is great for reducing vibrations in
motors and improving power supply stability.
 Rotating Magnetic Field:
Three phase electricity can be used to easily generate a rotating magnetic
field, simply by the spatial arrangement of coils energized with each phase.
This is particularly good for the manufacture of efficient, simple motors
Single phase motors typically have more complicated designs in order to
generate a rotating magnetic field. Three is the smallest number of phases
necessary to generate a rotating magnetic field, all by itself.
 Fewer wires
A single phase supply requires two wires; a three phase supply requires
three wires. You eliminate the need for a neutral line with a three phase
supply. The cost of this adds up- copper is expensive.

Single phase
You can easily obtain single phase from a three phase supply.