INDUCTION MACHINES azahar.ahmed786@gmail.

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UNIT-IV
INDUCTION MOTORS

SYLLABUS:
Principle of operation and construction of three phase Induction Motors- slip ring and
squirrel cage motors-Torque Equation - Torque-Slip Characteristics- Brake test on
three phase Induction motor- Simple Problems.
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THREE PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR

A Three phase (or) poly phase induction motor is a singly excite ac machine
which is supplied power from a single ac source i.e. only or STATOR no supply for
ROTOR.
⎯ STATOR is directly connected to 3-phase ac source where as its rotor winding
receives its energy from STATOR by means of Induction (or) Transformer
Action.

Construction: A three phase Induction motor essentially consists of two main parts
(a) a STATOR and (b) a ROTOR.
a) STATOR: It is a stationary part in 3- Induction motor.
⎯ It consists of STEEL frame which encloses hallow cylindrical core made up of

silicon steel lamination to reduce Hysteresis and eddy current loss.

⎯ The insulated conductors are placed in stator and suitably connected to form a

balanced 3-phase STAR (or) DELTA connected circuit as shown in fig (c).
⎯ The Stator winding is wounded to definite number of poles, more the poles less

will be the speed.

⎯ When a balanced 3- ac supply given to Stator 3- Induction motor a rotating

magnetic field ill setup in Stator and rotates at a synchronous speed i.e. NS = 120fs
P
which passes through airgap and cuts the stationery Rotor conductors and
hence an EMF induced is Rotor conductors by Mutual Induction Principle.

b) ROTOR: Rotating part in 3- Induction motor.

⎯ Rotor is classified into two types depending upon the starting torque. (i)

Squirrel-Cage Rotor (ii) Slip-Ring (or) wound Rotor.

i. Squirrel-Cage Rotor: Almost 90 percent of Induction motors are Squirrel-
Cage type because this type of Rotor has the simplest, most Rugged
construction and almost indestructible.
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⎯ The Rotor consists of a cylindrical laminated core with parallel slots for
carrying the Rotor conductors.
⎯ Each slot consists of heavy bars of copper, aluminum (or) alloys.
⎯ The Rotor bars are welded and short-circuited through End Rings.
⎯ It means there is no possibility of adding external resistance to Rotor circuit.
⎯ As the Rotor bars are permanently short-circuited on themselves through End
Rings, hence it is not possible to add any EXTERNAL Resistance in series
with Rotor circuit for starting purpose as shown in fig (a).
⎯ Induction motor with Squirrel Cage type Rotor is known as Squirrel Cage
Induction Motor.

ii. Slip-Ring (or) Wound Rotor: Construction of wound Rotor is similar to

Squirrel Cage type Rotor but the rotor conductors are not permanently short
circuited by End Rings.
⎯ It means there is a possibility of adding EXTERNAL Resistance through Slip-
Rings and starting Torque can be improved.
⎯ The Rotor is wound for as many poles as the number of stator poles and it
always 3-phase even when the stator is wound for two-phase.
⎯ The Rotor three winding terminals are brought out and connected to three-
insulated Slip-Rings mounted on the shaft with Brushes Resisting on them and
three Brushes further connected to a 3- star connected Rheostat as shown in
fig (b).
⎯ Hence this makes possibility of adding EXTERNAL Resistance (adding
Resistance) to Rotor at starting period for increasing starting Torque of motor.
⎯ During running condition Slip-Rings are automatically short circuited by
means of metal collars.
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Comparison between Squirrel Cage & Slip Ring Rotor:

S.NO Squirrel Cage Rotor Slip Ring Rotor
1. Robust and Rugged construction. Delicate in construction
2. Rotor bars are permanently short- Rotor bars are not permanently short-circuited but added
circuited through End Rings with EXTERNAL Resistance through Sliprings.
3. No possibility of adding Possibility of adding EXTERNAL Resistance
EXTERNAL Resistance
4. Starting Torque is very less High starting Torque compared to Squirrel Cage
5. Rotor & Stator may (or) may not Rotor & Stator most be wounded with same number of
be wounded for same number of poles
poles
6. Cost is less Cost is high due to Slip Rings & EXTERNAL
Resistance
7. Maintenance is low High maintenance due to replacement of brushes & Slip
Rings regularly

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION OF 3-  INDUCTION MOTOR

It works on the principle of “Mutual Induction”. The Stator of three phase

induction motor is connected to a balanced 3- supply from mains.
➢ When a balanced 3- ac supply connected to Stator winding a rotating
magnetic field is produced an speed of rotating magnetic field given by
NS =
120fs r.p.m (or) nS =
2fs r.p.s. Where f s - supply frequency, P – number of
P P

poles of Stator.
➢ This rotating magnetic field passes through air gap and cuts the stationary
Rotor conductors at “pns” times per second.
➢ According to Faraday’s laws of Electro Magnetic Induction an EMF is induced
in the Rotor conductors.
➢ As the Rotor circuit is a closed path i.e., short circuited. The induced EMF
gives rise to flow of current in Rotor conductors.
➢ The interaction of the Rotor current with rotating magnetic field a Torque is
produced in Rotor and as a consequence Rotor begins to ROTOR. Hence, the
rotating magnetic flux (or) field produced in Stator induced EMF in Rotor
shows the three phase induction motor works on “Mutual Induction” principle.
➢ Now, according to Lenz’s law, ‘Effect opposes the cause” here the effect is
developed Torque and cause in flux cutting action by Rotor conductors.
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Therefore the developed Torque forces the Rotor to rotate in the direction of
rotating magnetic field (STATOR field) as per Lenz’s law.
➢ When this happens the relative speed between rotating flux and Rotor
conductors reduces and therefore flux cutting action also reduces.
➢ For example, if the rotor of 3- induction motor rotates at ‘nr’ r.p.s in the
direction of rotating magnetic field ‘ns’ r.p.s. The relative speed between
rotating flux and Rotor is (ns-nr) r.p.m and flux cutting action reduces from
“pns” at starting to “p (ns-nr)” during running condition as per Lenz’s law.
➢ This shows that Rotor rotates in the direction of rotating magnetic field.
➢ If the speed of Rotor rotates is “ns” as the Stator flux speed i.e., both Stator flux
and Rotor rotates at same speed, the relative speed is [(n s-ns) =0] is zero and
flux cutting action p(ns-nr)=0 i.e., no flux cutting action, hence no EMF induced
and no Torque will produced.
➢ Hence, 3- induction motor never rotates at synchronous speed. Therefore it is
known as Asynchronous Motor.

Synchronous Speed Ns:

The speed at which the flux produced by stator of 3- induction motor rotates is called
“synchronous speed” (or) speed of rotating magnetic field.

Where, fS - supply frequency, P – number of poles of Stator.

Slip (s):
The difference between the synchronous speed (N S) (or) speed of rotating
magnetic field and the actual Rotor speed (N r) is known as slip. It is denoted by ‘s’.
⎯ It is usually expressed in percentage of synchronous speed (N S). Slip speed is
defined as the difference between Stator field and Rotor speed.

% slip ( s ) =
( NS − N r ) 100
NS

% s - no units and slip speed is Slip speed ( NS − Nr ) rev/min

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At starting of motor stator field speed is (Ns) and Rotor speed (Nr) =0, slip (s) =1 at
starting.
When ( NS − Nr )  slip (s) =0 we know,

S=
( NS − N r )  S = 1−
Nr  Nr
= 1− S
NS NS NS

 Rotor speed ( N r ) = NS (1 − S)
Rotor frequency (fr) or frequency of rotor current:
At starting (Nr=0), when the motor is stationary the frequency off rotor current is the
120fs
same as supply frequency. NS =
P

……………. (1)

But at rotor starts revolving, the Rotor frequency depends upon the relative speed (or)
slip speed.

……………. (2)

Rotor Reactance:
As Rotor reactance (XL) depends upon the Rotor frequency (fr) which is slip
times the supply frequency (fr = sfs).
Let “L2” be the inductance of Rotor per phase,
At stand still condition: N r = 0 ; S = 1

f r = fs  Rotor frequency= supply frequency

Hence, the Rotor reactance per phase at standstill condition be X2

X 2 = 2 f r L 2 = 2  f s L 2 …….…………………(1)

At running condition: N r  0 ; S  1 & f r = Sf s

Hence, the Rotor reactance per phase at running condition be X12

X12 = 2f r L2 = 2Sfs L2 ……………………… (2)

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( 2 )  X12 =
2Sf s L 2
 X12 = SX 2
From
(1) X 2 2f s L 2

Hence, the Rotor reactance under running condition will be slip times the Rotor
reactance under standstill condition.
Rotor Resistance:
As the Rotor resistance is independent of frequency hence Rotor resistance
remains same as “R2”/phase at standstill and running condition.
Rotor Impedance:
The Rotor impedance per phase at standstill condition be Z2 = R 2 + jX 2 = R 22 + X 22

and under running condition Z12 = R12 + jX12

Z12 = R 2 + j ( SX 2 ) = R 22 + (SX 2 )
2

Rotor Current and Power factor:

Let I 2 = standstill Rotor current per phase

cos 2 = Rotor power factor at standstill

E 2 = Rotor induced emf at standstill

E2 E2 R2 R2
I2 = = and cos 2 = =
I2 R 2 + X 22
2 Z2 R 22 + X 22

Let I12 = Rotor current per phase under running condition

cos 21 = Rotor power factor under running condition

SE 2 = E12 = emf induced in Rotor under running condition

Rotor equivalent circuit under running shown in fig (b)

E12 SE 2 R2 R2
I12 = = and cos 21 = =
Z12 R 2 + ( SX 2 ) Z12 R 2 + ( SX 2 )
2 2 2 2

TORQUE EQUATION OF 3- INDUCTION MOTOR:

In dc motor Torque is directly relates with flux () and armature current (Ia) i.e.
T   Ia .

But in ac motor’s Torque developed by Rotor is directly proportional to

(i) Rotor current (ii) Rotor EMF (iii) Rotor circuit power factor.
 T  E 2 I 2 cos 2  T = kE 2 I 2 cos 2
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As   E 2 in induction motor. Where, I2 = Rotor current at standstill, E2 = Rotor

EMF at standstill and cos2 = Rotor power factor at standstill condition.
Torque during running condition:
Torque during running condition Tr  E12 I12 cos 21

Tr =  I12 cos 21

Where E12 = Rotor emf/phase under running condition

E12  

I12 = Rotor current/phase under running condition

As E12 = SE 2

SE 2 R2
I12 = and cos 21 =
R 22 + X 22 R 22 + X 22

S E 2 R 2 SE 22 R 2
Tr  = K1
R 22 + ( SX 2 ) R 22 + ( SX 2 )
2 2

E 2   - Emf induced/phase during starting also depends on flux

Condition for maximum Torque during running:

SE 22 R 2
Torque during running condition Tr = K1
R 22 + ( SX 2 )
2

dTr
Condition for maximum Torque (T max)  =0
ds

(R + SX 2 ) ( R 2 ) − ( SR 2 )( 2R 2 )
2 2

= =0
2
Tr ( max )
(R 2
2 +X 2)
2 2

R 22 = ( SX 2 )  R 2 = SX 2
2

TORQUE-SLIP AND TORQUE-SPEED CHARACTERISTICS

The curve drawn with Torque along Y-axis and slip (s) along X-axis is called
Torque-Slip characteristics of Induction motor.
SE 22 R 2
The Torque under running condition given as Tr = K1 ……… (1)
R 22 + ( SX 2 )
2

And slip (s) given as (s) =

( NS − N r ) 100
NS

The range of slip for motoring action is from s=0 to s=1

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i. When Rotor speed (Nr) equals to Stator flux speed then slip (s) is zero hence
Torque equals to zero. As the motor never runs at synchronous speed hence the
Torque produced is zero.

ii. When slip (s) is very low i.e. the speed is very near to synchronous speed, then
the term (SX2)2 is very small hence neglected in comparison with R22.(i.e.
(SX2)2  R22) at s=small
 T
S or T S if R2 is constant
R2
Hence at lower values of slip, Torque-slip curve is a Linear.

iii. When slip increases i.e., the speed decreases with increase in load hence
Torque increases and becomes maximum when S = Sm R 2 i.e., T = Tmax at S = Sm .
X2

The maximum Torque (Tm) is called pull-out or breakdown Torque.

iv. When slip is further increases beyond S=Sm , then at higher values of slip
(SX2)2 is more compare to R22 hence R22 is regulated i.e. (SX2)2  R22 at
s=high
From eq (1) T SR 2 2 or T 1 at R2 and X2 constant.
(SX 2 ) S

Hence at higher values of slip, Torque-slip curve is a rectangular hyperbola.

v. When slip is further increased at stationary condition of Rotor. The value of

slip (s) is one i.e. (s=1) Torque corresponding to unity slip is starting Torque.
i.e., T=Tst at S=1.

Shown below slip-torque characteristics with above five points.

Fig: Slip-Torque characteristics