Principle of Operation Synchronous Motor

Synchronous motor is a doubly excited machine, i.e. two electrical inputs are provided to it.
Its stator winding which consists of a We provide three-phase supply to three-phase stator
winding, and DC to the rotor winding. The 3 phase stator winding carrying 3 phase currents
produces 3 phase rotating magnetic flux. The rotor carrying DC supply also produces a
constant flux. Considering 50 Hz power frequency, from the above relation we can see that
the 3 phase rotating flux rotates about 3000 revolutions in 1 min or 50 revolutions in 1 sec. At
a particular instant rotor and stator poles might be of the same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing
a repulsive force on the rotor and the very next instant it will be N-S causing attractive force.
But due to the inertia of the rotor, it is unable to rotate in any direction due to that attractive
or repulsive forces, and the rotor remains in standstill condition. Hence a synchronous motor
is not self-starting. Here we use some mechanical means which initially rotates the rotor in
the same direction as the magnetic field to speed very close to synchronous speed. On
achieving synchronous speed, magnetic locking occurs, and the synchronous motor continues
to rotate even after removal of external mechanical means.
Methods of Starting of Synchronous Motor
1. Motor starting with an external prime Mover: Synchronous motors are
mechanically coupled with another motor. It could be either 3 phase induction motor
or DC shunt motor. Here, we do not apply DC excitation initially. It rotates at speed
very close to its synchronous speed, and then we give the DC excitation. After some
time when magnetic locking takes place supply to the external motor is cut off.
2. Damper winding In this case, the synchronous motor is of salient pole type,
additional winding is placed in rotor pole face. Initially, when the rotor is not rotating,
the relative speed between damper winding and rotating air gap flux is large and an
emf is induced in it which produces the required starting torque. As speed approaches
synchronous speed, emf and torque are reduced and finally when magnetic locking
takes place; torque also reduces to zero. Hence in this case synchronous motor first
runs as three phase induction motor using additional winding and finally it is
synchronized with the frequency.
Application of Synchronous Motor
1. Synchronous motor having no load connected to its shaft is used for power factor
improvement. Owing to its characteristics to behave at any electrical power factor, it
is used in power system in situations where static capacitors are expensive.
2. Synchronous motor finds application where operating speed is less (around 500 rpm)
and high power is required. For power requirement from 35 kW to 2500 KW, the size,
weight and cost of the corresponding three phase induction motor is very high. Hence
these motors are preferably used. Ex- Reciprocating pump, compressor, rolling mills
etc.
Torque Slip Characteristics of Three Phase Induction Motor
The torque slip curve for an induction motor gives us the information about the variation
of torque with the slip. The slip is defined as the ratio of difference of synchronous speed
and actual rotor speed to the synchronous speed of the machine. The variation of slip can
be obtained with the variation of speed that is when speed varies the slip will also vary
and the torque corresponding to that speed will also vary.
The curve can be described in three modes of operation-

The torque-slip characteristic curve can be divided roughly into three regions:
 Low slip region
 Medium slip region
 High slip region
Motoring Mode In this mode of operation, supply is given to the stator sides and the
motor always rotates below the synchronous speed. The induction motor torque varies
from zero to full load torque as the slip varies. The slip varies from zero to one. It is zero
at no load and one at standstill. From the curve it is seen that the torque is directly
proportional to the slip.
That is, more is the slip, more will be the torque produced and vice-versa. The linear
relationship simplifies the calculation of motor parameter to great extent. Generating
Mode In this mode of operation induction motor runs above the synchronous speed and it
should be driven by a prime mover. The stator winding is connected to a three phase
supply in which it supplies electrical energy. Actually, in this case, the torque and slip
both are negative so the motor receives mechanical energy and delivers electrical energy.
Induction motor is not much used as generator because it requires reactive power for its
operation.
That is, reactive power should be supplied from outside and if it runs below the
synchronous speed by any means, it consumes electrical energy rather than giving it at the
output. So, as far as possible, induction generators are generally avoided. Braking Mode
In the Braking mode, the two leads or the polarity of the supply voltage is changed so that
the motor starts to rotate in the reverse direction and as a result the motor stops. This
method of braking is known as plugging. This method is used when it is required to stop
the motor within a very short period of time. The kinetic energy stored in the revolving
load is dissipated as heat. Also, motor is still receiving power from the stator which is
also dissipated as heat. So as a result of which motor develops enormous heat energy. For
this stator is disconnected from the supply before motor enters the braking mode. If load
which the motor drives accelerates the motor in the same direction as the motor is
rotating, the speed of the motor may increase more than synchronous speed. In this case,
it acts as an induction generator which supplies electrical energy to the mains which tends
to slow down the motor to its synchronous speed, in this case the motor stops. This type
of breaking principle is called dynamic or regenerative breaking.
Torque Slip Characteristics of Single Phase Induction Motor

From the figure, we see that at a slip of unity, both forward and backward field develops
equal torque but the direction of which are opposite to each other so the net torque
produced is zero hence the motor fails to start. From here we can say that these motors are
not self starting unlike the case of three phase induction motor. There must be some
means to provide the starting torque. If by some means, we can increase the forward
speed of the machine due to which the forward slip decreases the forward torque will
increase and the reverse torque will decrease as a result of which motor will start.
From here we can conclude that for starting of single phase induction motor, there should
be a production of difference of torque between the forward and backward field. If the
forward field torque is larger than the backward field than the motor rotates in forward or
anti clockwise direction. If the torque due to backward field is larger compared to other,
then the motor rotates in backward or clockwise direction.