LESSON 6

THREE-PHASE MOTORS

I. What is three-phase motor?

Three-phase motors is a motor supplied with 3-Phase power to operate. It is commonly used in
industry due to its wide industrial applications. These motors can be either an induction motor (also
called an asynchronous motor) or a synchronous motor. which of three main components – the
stator, the rotor, and the enclosure.

Three-phase motors vary from fractional to several thousand horsepower having fairly constant
speed characteristic and designs giving a variety of torque characteristics. These motors are
used to drive machine tools, pumps, elevators, fans, cranes, hoists, blowers and many other
machines.

II. Construction of Three-phase Induction Motor

A three-phase motor is shown in figure 6-01. Its construction is similar to that of the split-phase
motor and capacitor motor, but it has no centrifugal switch. Figure 6-02 shows the disassemble
parts of the three-phase motor.

The main parts of the motor are shown below.

Figure 6-01 – A three-phase motor

Figure 6-02 – Disassemble parts of three-phase motor

A. Stator
The stator of three phase induction motor is made up of numbers of slots to construct a 3 phase
winding circuit which we connect with 3 phase AC source shown in figure 6-03. It is fixed part of
induction motor, consisting of stator iron core, stator windings and motor frame.

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 Figure 6-03 – Stator of induction
three-phase motor

 Stator iron core. Part of the motor magnetic circuit which is installed inside the motor frame. It
has a slot where the stator windings are placed. In order to reduce the iron core loss, the stator iron
core is stacked up with 0.5 mm thick silicon steel sheets.

 Stator winding. It is a part of the motor electric circuit, generating the rotating magnetic field by
inducing three-phase alternating current. Stator windings are wound with insulated copper wires and
embedded in the stator slot, which are separated by insulating material between the windings and
the slot. Three-phase motor connected either delta connection(Δ connection) or star
connection(Y connection) shown in figure 6-04.

Figure 6-04 – 3-Phase Induction

Motor’s Stator Winding Wiring

 Motor frame

It fixes the stator core and stator windings and supports the rotor with two end bells. Meanwhile, it
protects the electromagnet part of the entire motor and dissipates the heat generated during motor
operation. The frame is typically made from iron or aluminum.

B. Rotor
Rotor is a rotating part of induction and consists of the following:

 Rotor iron core

It is also a part of the magnetic circuit, generally stacked by silicon steels and fixed on the shaft.

 Shaft
It plays a role of converting torque and support the rotor. It is generally made of medium carbon
steel or alloy steel.

 Rotor winding
It induced current as cutting the stator magnetic field, and under the effect of the rotating magnetic
field, it forces the rotor to rotate. According to the different structure, it can be divided into two types:
squirrel-cage rotor and wound rotor as shown in figure 6-05.

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 Figure 6-05 – Image of Squirrel
Cage Rotor and Wound Rotor

III. Types of Three Phase Induction Motors

Three phase motors are classified mainly in two categories based on the rotor winding (Armature
coil winding) i.e. squirrel cage and slip ring (wound rotor motor).

 Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

 Slip-ring or Wound Rotor Induction Motor

A. Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

The shape of this rotor is resembling the shape of the cage of a squirrel. Therefore, this motor is
known as a squirrel cage induction motor. The construction of this type of rotor is very simple and
rugged. So, almost 80% of the induction motor is a squirrel cage induction motor.

The rotor consists of a cylindrical laminated core and has slots on the outer periphery. The slots are
not parallel but it is skewed at some angle. It helps to prevent magnetic locking between the stator
and rotor teeth. It results in smooth operation and reduces the humming noise. It increases the length
of the rotor conductor due to this the rotor resistance is increased. The squirrel cage rotor consists
of rotor bars instead of the rotor winding. The rotor bars are made up of aluminum, brass, or copper.
Rotor bars are permanently shorted by end rings. So, it makes a complete close path in the rotor
circuit. The rotor bars are welded or braced with the end rings to provide mechanical support.

The rotor bars are short-circuited. Therefore, it is not possible to add external resistance to the rotor
circuit. In this type of rotor, the slip rings and brushes are not used. Hence, the construction of this
type of motor is simpler and more robust.

B. Slip-ring or Wound Rotor Induction Motor

Slip-ring induction motors are also known as wound

rotor motor. The rotor consists of a laminated cylindrical
core with slots on the outer periphery. The rotor winding is
placed inside the slots. In this type of rotor, the rotor
winding is wounded in such a way that, the number of poles
of rotor winding is the same as the number of poles of the
stator winding. The rotor winding can be connected as
a star or delta. End terminals of rotor windings are
connected to the slip-rings. So, this motor is known as a
slip-ring induction motor. The external resistance can
easily connect with the rotor circuit through the slip-ring and
brushes. And it is very useful for controlling the speed of
the motor and improving the starting torque of the three-
phase induction motor. An electrical diagram of slip-ring
three-phase induction motor with external resistance is
shown in the below figure 6-06. Figure 6-06 – 3-Phase Induction Motor’s with
external resistance.
The external resistance is used only for the starting purpose. If it is remains connected during the
running condition, it will increase the rotor copper loss. High rotor resistance is good for the starting
condition. So, the external resistance is connected with the rotor circuit during the starting condition.
When motor running near the speed of the actual speed, the slip-rings are short-circuited by the
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metal collar. By this arrangement, the brushes and external resistance is removed from the rotor
circuit. This reduces the rotor copper loss as well as friction in brushes. The rotor construction is a
little bit complicated compared to the squirrel cage motor due to the presence of brushes and slip-
rings.
The maintenance of this motor is more. So, this motor only used when variable speed control and
high starting torque are needed. Otherwise, the squirrel cage induction motor is more preferred over
slip-ring induction motor.

IV. Working Principle of Three-Phase Induction Motor

The coils in the slots of the stator are connected to form three separate windings called phases. These
are shown in figure 6-07. The windings or phases are connected so that a magnetic field is formed
inside the stator that causes the rotor to turn at a certain speed.

Figure 6-07 – The coils of a three-phase

motor connected to produce three
windings, or phases.

The stator winding is overlapped at 120˚ (electrically) to each other. When a three-phase supply is
given to the stator winding, the rotating magnetic field (RMF) induced in the stator circuit. The speed
of the rotating magnetic field is known as synchronous speed (NS).

According to Faraday’s law, EMF induced in the conductor due to the rate of change of flux (dΦ/dt).
The rotor circuit cut the stator magnetic field and an EMF induced in the rotor bar or rotor winding.
The rotor circuit is a close path. So, due to this EMF current will flow through the rotor circuit. Now,
we know that the current-carrying conductor induces the magnetic field. So, the rotor current induces
a second magnetic field.

The relative motion between the stator flux and rotor flux, the rotor starts to rotate to reduce the
cause of relative motion. The rotor tries to catch the stator flux and starts rotating. The direction of
rotation is given by the Lenz’s law. And is in the direction of the rotating magnetic field induced by
the stator. Here, the rotor current is produced due to inductance. Therefore, this motor is known as
the induction motor.

The speed of the rotor is less than the speed of synchronous speed. The rotor tries to catch the
rotating magnetic field of the stator. But it never catches it. Hence, the speed of the rotor is slightly
less than the speed of synchronous speed. The synchronous speed depends on the number of poles
and supply frequency. The difference between the actual speed of the rotor and synchronous speed
is known as slip.

See the link below of 3 Phase Induction Motor: Construction and Working Principle for additional
input.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=184&v=cuwSCutTHEI&feature=emb_title
IV. Application of 3-Phase Induction Motors
The induction motor is mostly used in industrial applications. The squirrel cage induction
motors are used in residential and industrial applications especially where the speed control of
motors is not needed such as:
 Pumps and submersible, pressing machine, lathe machine, grinding machine, conveyor, flour
mills, compressor, and other low mechanical power applications
The slip ring motors are used in heavy load applications where the high initial torque is needed
such as:
 Steel mills, lift, crane machine, hoist, line shafts, and other heavy mechanical
workshops etc. (Note: In our next lesson we will be utilizing the squirrel cage induction motor)
References:
https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/machinery-tools-supplies/what-is-a-3-phase-motor-and-how-
does-it-work/
https://www.electrical4u.com/working-principle-of-three-phase-induction-motor/

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Electrical 4U, November 27, 2019
https://www.ato.com/three-phase-induction-motor-construction
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2020/05/three-phase-induction-motor.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=184&v=cuwSCutTHEI&feature=emb_title

ACTIVITY #6

A. Multiple Choice. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The following are correct statements except _____.
a. 3 phase motors is supplied with 3-phase power to operate.
b. 3-phase motors can either induction motor or synchronous motor.
c. 3-phase motors can operate on 1-phase power to operate.
d. 3-phase motors have fairly constant speed characteristics.
2. The stator winding is overlapped of how many electrical degrees?
a. 45 degree c. 120 degree
b. 90 degree d. 180 degree
3. The difference between the actual speed of the rotor and synchronous speed is _____.
a. phases c. speed
b. slip d. synchronous speed
4. The three separate windings of three phase motor.
a. coil c. slot
b. phase d. slip
5. Three-phase motor and single-phase are similar in construction except _________.
a. centrifugal switch c. rotor
b. frame d. stator

B. Matching Type. Match the column A and Column B by drawing a line.

A B
1. The stationary part which is made up of numbers of slots to Stator
construct a 3-phase winding circuit. Stator iron core
2. Installed inside the motor frame which is part of the motor Stator winding
magnetic circuit. Motor frame
3. Generate rotating magnetic field inducing three-phase AC Shaft
4. Support the rotor. Rotor winding
5. Converting torque and support the rotor. Rotor iron core
6. Induced current which forces the rotor to rotate. End bell
7. Part of the magnetic circuit which is fixed on the shaft.

C. Answer the following:

1. Give at least two other applications of three-phase motor not mentioned in the module.

2. In maximum of four sentences differentiate squirrel cage induction motor and wound
induction motor.

3. Discuss the operation of three-phase induction motor.

4. Why do three-phase motor is important?

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