Unit-4-Electrical Machines: Lecture-3 Starting methods of 3-Φ Induction Motor
Unit-4-Electrical Machines: Lecture-3 Starting methods of 3-Φ Induction Motor
Lecture-3
Merits
(i) Smooth acceleration since the resistance (or inductance) is reduced gradually.
(ii) Simple and less expansive
(iii) Higher pf during starting
Demerits
(i) Current is reduced by a fraction of x but the torque is reduced to fraction x2,
hence starting torque is poor.
(ii) More energy loss in the resistors, therefore, inductors are preferred. But still loss
is more.
(iii) Starting duration is comparatively more.
c. Star-Delta Starter:
This method is based upon the principle that in star connections, voltage across each
winding is phase voltage i.e., 1/3 times the line voltage, whereas the same winding
when connected in delta will have full line voltage across it. So at start, connections
of the motor are made in star fashion so that reduced voltage is applied across each
winding. After the motor attains speed the same windings through a change-over
switch, as shown in Fig. 10.3 are connected in delta across the same supply. The
starter is provided with overload and under voltage protection devices also.
Moreover, the starter is also provided with a mechanical inter-locking which
prevents the handle to put in run position first. Simplified connections of a star delta
starter are shown in Fig. 10.4.
Since at start stator windings are connected in star connection, so voltage across
each phase winding is reduced to 1/3 of line voltage, therefore, starting
current/phase becomes equal to
Isc/3 = Starting line current
Starting line current by direct switching with stator winding connected in delta = 3 Isc.
Thus, it concludes that when a 3-phase motor is started by a star/delta starter, the
current drawn by it is limited to 1/3rd of the value that it would draw without
starter.
Starting torque = 1/3 torque developed by direct switching.
The starting torque developed by the motor when started by star-delta starter is also
reduced to one-third of the starting torque developed by direct on line switching.
Merits
It is a simple, cheap, effective and most efficient method of starting of squirrel cage
induction motors.
It is the most suitable method of starting for high inertia and long acceleration loads.
Demerits
1. All the six terminals of the stator winding are to be brought out to starter through
six leads and the motor has to be operated in delta.
2. The starting current can only be limited to 1/3rd of the short circuit current.
3. Starting torque developed by the motor is reduced to 1/3rd which is very low to
pick the load.
Accordingly, such starters are employed with the squirrel cage induction moto rs
having capacity 4 kW to 20 kW
d. Auto-transformer Starter:
In this method, the voltage applied across the motor and hence current can be
reduced to a very low value at the time of start. At the time of start, the motor is
connected to supply through auto-transformer by a 6 pole double throw switch.
When the motor is accelerated to about full speed, the operating handle is moved to
run position. By this, motor is directly connected to the line as shown in Fig. 10.5.
Slip-ring motors are invariably started by rotor resistance starting. In this method, a
variable star-connected rheostat is connected in the rotor circuit through slip rings
and full voltage is applied to the stator winding as shown in Fig.10.6.
(i) At starting, the handle of rheostat is set in the OFF position so that maximum
resistance is placed in each phase of the rotor circuit. This reduces the starting
current and at the same time starting torque is increased.
(ii) As the motor picks up speed, the handle of rheostat is gradually moved in
clockwise direction and cuts out the external resistance in each phase of the rotor
circuit. When the motor attains normal speed, the change-over switch is in the ON
position and the whole external resistance is cut out from the rotor circuit.
Merits
(i) High starting torque with low starting current.
(ii) Smooth acceleration under heavy loads.
(iii) No abnormal heating during starting.
(iv) Good running characteristics after external rotor resistances are cut out.
(v) Adjustable speed.
Demerits
(i) The initial and maintenance costs are greater than those of squirrel cage motors.
(ii) The speed regulation is poor when run with resistance in the rotor circuit
Hence, the speed of an induction motor depends upon three factors i.e., frequency,
slip and number of poles for which the motor is wound. It also depends upon the
supply voltage. Thus, the speed of an induction motor can be controlled by changing
or controlling any one of these quantities.
Methods of speed control
a. By changing the supply voltage
b. By changing the applied frequency
c. By changing the number of stator poles
d. By variation of rotor resistance
a. By changing the applied voltage:
𝑠𝐸22 𝑅2
Running torque of induction motor is 𝑇 𝑅22 + 𝑠 2 𝑋22
If supply voltage is reduced below rated value, as per above equation, torque
produced also decreases. But to supply the same load it is necessary to develop same
torque hence value of slip increases so that torque produced remains same.
Slip increases means motor reacts by running at lower speed, to decrease in supply
voltage. So motor produces the required load torque at a lower speed.
This method, though the cheapest and the easiest, is rarely used because
(i) A large change in voltage is required for a relatively small change in speed
(ii) Due to reduction in voltage, current drawn by the motor increases. Due to
increased current, the motor may get overheated.
(iii) This large change in voltage will result in a large change in the flux density
thereby seriously disturbing the magnetic conditions of the motor.
b. By changing the applied frequency:
Synchronous speed of rotatin magnetic field of an induction motor is given by,
120 𝑓
𝑁𝑠 = 𝑟𝑝𝑚
𝑃
where, f = frequency of the supply and P = number of stator poles.
Hence, the synchronous speed changes with change in supply frequency. Actual
speed of an induction motor is given as N = Ns (1 - s). However, this method is not
widely used. It may be used where, the induction motor is supplied by a dedicated
generator (so that frequency can be easily varied by changing the speed of prime
mover). Also, at lower frequency, the motor current may become too high due to
decreased reactance. And if the frequency is increased beyond the rated value, the
maximum torque developed falls while the speed rises.
From the above equation of synchronous speed, it can be seen that synchronous
speed (and hence, running speed) can be changed by changing the number of stator
poles. This method is generally used for squirrel cage induction motors, as squirrel
cage rotor adapts itself for any number of stator poles. Change in stator poles is
achieved by two or more independent stator windings wound for different number
of poles in same slots.
For example; a stator is wound with two 3-phase windings, one for 4 poles and other
for 6 poles. Then for supply frequency of 50 Hz
i) Synchronous speed when 4 pole winding is connected, N s = 120*50/4 = 1500 RPM
ii) Synchronous speed when 6 pole winding is connected, N s = 120*50/6 = 1000 RPM
For low slip region, (sX2)2 << R2, and can be neglected & for constant supply voltage
E2 is also constant
𝑠 𝑅2 𝑠
𝑇
𝑅22 𝑅2
Thus if the rotor resistance is increased, the torque produced decreases. But when
the load on the motor is same, motor has to supply same torque as load demands. So
motor reacts by increasing its slip to compensate decrease in T due to R2 and
maintains the load torque constant. So due to additional rotor resistance R2, motor
slip increases i.e. the speed of the motor decreases.
Advantage
a. By increasing the rotor resistance R 2 speeds below normal value can be achieved
b. The starting torque of the motor increases proportional to rotor resistance.
Disadvantage
a. The large speed changes are not possible.
b. The method cannot be used for the squirrel cage induction motors.
c. The speeds above the normal values cannot be obtained.
d. Large power losses occur due to large 1 2R loss.
e. Due to large power losses, efficiency is low.
1. Stator: It is the stationary part of the motor. It has three main parts, namely. (i)
Outer frame,
(ii) Stator core and (iii) Stator winding.
(i) Outer frame: It is the outer body of the motor. Its function is to support the
stator core and to protect the inner parts of the machine. Usually, it is made of cost
iron. To place the motor on the foundation, feet are provided in the outer frame as
shown in Fig. 11.2(a).
(ii) Stator core: The stator core is to carry the alternating magnetic field which
produces hysteresis and eddy current losses. To minimize these losses high grade
silicon steel stampings are used to build core. The stampings are assembled under
hydraulic pressure and are keyed to the outer frame. The stampings are insulated
from each other by a thin varnish layer. The thickness of the stamping usually varies
from 0.3 to 0.5 mm. Slots are punched on the inner periphery of the stampings to
accommodate stator winding.
(iii) Stator winding: The stator core carries a single phase winding which is usually
supplied from a single phase AC supply system. The terminals of the winding are
connected in the terminal box of the machine. The stator of the motor is wound for
definite number of poles, as per the need of speed.
2. Rotor: It is the rotating part of the motor. A squirrel cage rotor is used in single
phase induction motors.
It consists of a laminated cylindrical core of some high quality magnetic material.
Semi-closed circular slots are punched at the outer periphery. Aluminium bar
conductors are placed in these slots and short circuited at each end by aluminium
rings, called short circuiting rings, as shown in Fig. 11.2(b). Thus, the rotor winding
is permanently short circuited.
The rotor slots are usually not parallel to the shaft but are skewed. Skewing of rotor
has the following advantages:
(a) It reduces humming thus ensuring quiet running of a motor,
(b) It results in a smoother torque curves for different positions of the rotor,
(c) It reduces the magnetic locking of the stator and rotor,
(d) It increases the rotor resistance due to the increased length of the rotor bar
conductors.
The other miscellaneous parts of a 1-phase induction motor are shaft, bearings, end-
rings, fan, nut-bolts, etc.
Now, it is observed that the starting torque (torque at slip = 1) is zero. And except at
starting there is always some magnitude of resultant torque, (see at position 1-1’, the
torque developed by field-1 is dominating, therefore, motor will pick-up the speed in
clockwise direction, similarly, at position 2-2’, the torque developed by field-2 is
dominating, therefore, motor will pick-up the speed in anti-clockwise direction).
This shows that if this type of motor is once started (rotated) in either direction it
will develop torque in that direction and rotor will pick-up the required speed.
The above analysis shows that single phase induction motor with single winding
develops no starting torque but if the rotor is rotated in any direction by some
auxiliary means in will develop torque in the same direction and will start rotating in
that direction.
Starting methods and types of single phase induction motor
As discussed, a single-phase induction motor inherently is not self-starting. To make
it self-starting, some method is required to be evolved to produce a revolving
magnetic field in the stator core. This may be obtained by converting a single-phase
supply into two-phase supply which can be achieved by using an additional winding
(this additional winding may be or may not be disconnected once the motor starts
and picks-up the speed) or by creating another field (by induction) using a short
circuiting band or ring. Accordingly, depending upon the method used to make a
single-phase induction motor self-starting; single-phase induction motors can be
classified as:
1. Split-phase motors: These motors are started by employing two-phase motor
action through the use of an auxiliary winding called starting winding.
2. Capacitor motors: These motors are started by employing two-phase motor
action through the use of an auxiliary winding with capacitor. The capacitor in the
starting winding may be connected permanently or temporarily. Accordingly,
capacitor motors may be
1. Capacitor start motors. 2. Capacitor run motors. 3. Capacitor start and capacitor
run motors.
3. Shaded-pole motors: These motors are started by the interaction of the field
produced by a shading band or short circuiting ring placed around a portion of the
pole structure.