Single Phase Induction Motors

Introduction

There are two basic Reasons for the use of single-phase induction motors rather than three-
phase induction motors :

1. For reason of economy, most houses, offices and rural areas are supplied with single
phase AC supply, as power requirements of individual load items are rather small

1-phase motor
2. The economics of the motor and its branch circuit.

✓ Fixed loads requiring not more than 0.5KW can generally be served most economically with
single phase power and a single-phase induction motor.
✓ Single phase induction motors are simple in construction, reliable, easy to repair and
comparatively cheaper in cost and therefore, find wide use in our practical life

Because of the above reasons, motors of comparatively small ratings are manufactured in
large number to operate on single phase AC at standard frequencies
 Applications of single-phase induction motors

single phase induction motors are used in smaller equipment where we require less
horsepower. Some of the examples of real life are :

❑ Pumps
❑ Compressors
❑ Small fans
❑ Mixers
❑ Toys
❑ High-speed vacuum cleaners
❑ Electric shavers
❑ Drilling machines
 Construction of single-phase induction motors

1. Stator :
It is cylindrical and slotted all over
It carries a single-phase winding ( main winding )
Main winding is fed from a single-phase supply

2. Rotor :
Always a squirrel cage rotor
 Operation of single-phase induction motor

➢ When single phase supply is applied to the stator winding , magnetic field is produced
➢ This magnetic field is a pulsating magnetic field not a rotating magnetic field

Pulsating field : it is a magnetic field that has a same position in the space and pulsates
Rotating field : it is magnetic field that has a constant magnitude and rotates with a constant
speed

Double revolving theory :

➢ Any pulsating field can be resolved into two rotating magnetic field, equals in the
magnitude but rotating in opposite direction with same synchronous speed
➢ The magnitude of each rotating field is half that of the pulsating field
 Torque speed characteristics
➢ Since we have a pulsating magnetic field which is resolved into two rotating fields :
- Forward rotating field
- Backward rotating field
➢ So , The torque speed characteristics of the single-phase induction motor is the sum of two
torques :
- Forward torque due to forward rotating field
- Backward torque due to backward rotating field
 Why single-phase induction motor is not self starting

From the torque speed characteristics :

At starting of the motor :

❖ Speed of the motor = 0 ( N = 0 )
❖ Starting torque = 0 ( Tst = 0 )
❖ Thus , Single phase induction motor is not self starting

Hint
• We can start the motor by giving an initial rotation to the rotor in any direction , the
resultant average torque increases in the direction in which rotor is initially rotated and the
motor starts rotating in that direction
• It is not a practical method to start the motor , So we need an active solution to start the
single-phase induction motor
 Starting of single-phase induction motors

❑ To make single-phase induction motor start , We need to produce a rotating magnetic field
❑ This is done by introducing another winding on the stator
❑ This winding is called ( auxiliary winding ) or ( starting winding )
❑ To produce a rotating magnetic field , auxiliary winding is introduced in the stator with the
main winding under two conditions :

(1) Auxiliary winding is placed perpendicular to the main winding

( phase shift between them is 90 degrees in space )
(2) Making a phase shift in time between the main current ( Imain ) and the auxiliary
current ( Iaux )

❖ For example :
Imain = Im cos(wt)
Iaux = Im cos ( wt + Ɵ ) ; where Ɵ is the phase shift
 Types of single-phase induction motors

❑ There are different techniques used to make a time phase shift between the main current
( Imain) and the auxiliary current ( Iaux )
❑ According to these techniques , single-phase induction motors are classified into many
types as follows :

1. Split phase induction motor

2. Capacitor start induction motor

3. Capacitor run induction motor

4. Capacitor start – Capacitor run induction motor

Split phase induction motor
➢ The auxiliary winding is highly resistive in nature. So, the current ( Iaux ) is almost in phase
with supply voltage ( Vsup )

➢ The main winding is highly inductive in nature. So, the current ( Imain ) lags the supply
voltage with a large angle

➢ Phase shift is created between ( Imain ) and ( Iaux ) , thus rotating magnetic field is
produced and the motor starts to rotate
 Features of split phase induction motor

Auxiliary winding is only used to start the motor. This winding is not useful in running
condition

When the motor reaches 75 to 80 % of synchronous speed, the centrifugal switch opens.
So, the auxiliary winding is out from the circuit. And motor runs on only main winding

The phase difference created by this method is very small. Hence, the starting torque of
this motor is poor

So, this motor is used in low starting torque applications like a fan, blower, grinder and
pumps
 Capacitor start induction motor

➢ In this method , A capacitor is inserted in series with the auxiliary winding in order to
achieve a 90-degree phase shift between ( Imain ) and ( Iaux ) at starting

➢ When the motor reaches 75 to 80 % of synchronous speed , the capacitor is disconnected

by using a centrifugal switch
The value of the capacitor is calculated to obtain 90 phase shift at starting :

o
Ømain + Øaux = 90
 Features of capacitor start induction motor

❑ the starting torque of this motor is very high compared to the split-phase induction motor

❑ The values of Zmain &Zaux depend on the speed of the motor. So, We select the value of the

capacitance to make a 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at starting

❑ At starting , pure rotating magnetic field is produced

 Capacitor Run Induction Motor

Capacitor is permanently connected to the auxiliary winding

 Features of capacitor run induction motor

❑ Capacitor is selected to make a 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at running

❑ This method produces a pure rotating magnetic field at normal running

❑ No centrifugal switch is used

❑ The main disadvantages of this method is that the auxiliary winding is always connected

❑ The starting torque is not very high because the value of the capacitor is not designed to

make a 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at starting

 Capacitor start – Capacitor run Induction Motor

➢ In this method , Two capacitors are connected in parallel with series in auxiliary winding
➢ The 2 capacitors ( C1 & C2 ) are used at starting
➢ After reaching about 70% of synchronous speed , The capacitor ( C2 ) is disconnected
leaving (C1) only with the auxiliary winding
 Features of capacitor start-Capacitor run induction motor

❑ The values of ( C1 & C2 ) are selected to make a 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at both

starting and normal running

❑ The starting torque and efficiency of this motor are very high

❑ this type of motor can be used in the application where high starting torque is required like

a refrigerator, air conditioner, ceiling fan, compressor, etc

 1-phase induction motor

Capacitor
Capacitor Capacitor start
Split Phase
Start run Capacitor
run

Poor Best
Performance Performance
Example 1 :
0.75 HP , 120 V , 50 Hz Capacitor start single phase induction motor has the following
parameters for main and auxiliary winding at starting :
Zmain = 6.45+j8.15 Zaux = 11.5+j8.15

(a) Find the magnitude and phase angle of the main current and the auxiliary current at
starting conditions
(b) Find the value of the starting capacitor to make 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at
starting
 𝑉 120
(a) Imain = = = 11.44 ‫ہ‬−52.05o
𝑍𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 6.45+j8.15

𝑉 120
Iaux = = = 8.514 ‫ہ‬−35.33o
𝑍𝑎𝑢𝑥 11.5+j8.15

𝑋𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 8.15
(b) Ømain = tan-1 ( ) = tan-1 ( ) = 52.05
Rmain 6.45

➢ Ømain + Øaux = 90o , Øaux = 90o - Ømain = 90 – 52.05 = 37.95

𝑋𝑐 −𝑋𝑎𝑢𝑥 𝑋𝑐 −8.15 1
❑ Øaux = tan-1 ( tan-1
Raux ) = (
11.5
) = 37.95 , Xc = 17.12 Ω =
2𝜋𝐹𝐶

Thus , C = 186 µF
Example 2 :
Capacitor start – Capacitor run induction motor has the following parameters for main and
auxiliary winding

At starting : Zmain = 30+j40 Zaux = 30+j40

At running : Zmain = 100+j50 Zaux = 75+j40

❖ Calculate the values of the two capacitors to make 90o phase shift between Imain & Iaux at
starting
At starting : C1 & C2 are connected
Zmain = 30+j40 , Zaux = 30+j40

𝑋𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 40
➢ Ømain = tan-1 ( ) = tan-1 ( ) = 53.13
Rmain 30

➢ Øaux = 90o - Ømain = 90 – 53.13 = 36.87

𝑋𝑐 −𝑋𝑎𝑢𝑥 𝑋𝑐 −40 1
Øaux = tan-1 ( tan-1
Raux ) = (
30
) = 36.87 , Xc = 90 Ω =
2𝜋𝐹(𝐶1+𝐶2)

✓ C1 + C2 = 35.37 µF ……………….. (1)

At Running : C1 is only connected
Zmain = 100+j50 , Zaux = 75+j40

𝑋𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛 50
❑ Ømain = tan-1 ( ) = tan-1 ( ) = 26.57
Rmain 100

❑ Øaux = 90o - Ømain = 90 – 26.57 = 63.43

𝑋𝑐 −𝑋𝑎𝑢𝑥 𝑋𝑐 −40 1
➢ Øaux = tan-1 ( tan-1
Raux ) = (
75 ) = 63.43 , Xc = 190 Ω =
2𝜋𝐹𝐶1

C1 = 16.75 µF , C1 + C2 = 35.37 µF
C1 = 16.75 µF

C2 = 18.62 µF C2 = 18.62 µF