INDUCTION MACHINES · 3-PHASE MOTORS
SECTION 2 OF 6
Construction &
Types of Rotor
The stator, the air gap, and the two rotor families — squirrel-cage and wound (slip-ring) —
that define the machine.
SECTION 2 · CONSTRUCTION
Main Parts of an Induction Motor
Frame / Yoke Stator Core Stator Winding
Outer cast-iron or fabricated steel body; protects Slotted, laminated silicon-steel stampings that Three-phase distributed winding; when
the core and carries the bearings. house the three-phase winding. energised it sets up the rotating field.
Rotor Air Gap Shaft & Bearings
Laminated cylindrical core carrying either cage A small, uniform gap (0.4–4 mm); kept minimal Transmit the mechanical output and support the
bars or a wound winding. to reduce magnetising current. rotor accurately.
SECTION 2 · THE STATOR
Inside the Stator
Laminated Core Three-Phase Winding
• Built from thin insulated silicon-steel stampings to cut eddy-current • Three identical windings displaced 120° in space.
loss.
• May be connected in star or delta.
• Inner periphery is slotted to hold the winding.
• Number of poles is fixed by how the winding is laid out.
• Provides a low-reluctance path for the rotating flux.
• Carrying balanced 3-phase currents, it produces the rotating
magnetic field.
SECTION 2 · ROTOR TYPE 1
Squirrel-Cage Rotor
• Heavy copper or aluminium bars sit in slots around a laminated core.
• All bars are short-circuited at both ends by end rings — forming a 'cage'. Why It Dominates
• There is no external electrical connection to the rotor.
• Bars are skewed (set at a slight angle) to reduce magnetic noise and Extremely rugged and cheap
cogging.
Almost maintenance-free (no brushes/slip rings)
Higher efficiency and better power factor
Explosion-proof — no sparking parts
SECTION 2 · ROTOR TYPE 2
Slip-Ring (Wound) Rotor
• Carries a proper three-phase winding, wound for the same number of
poles as the stator.
What the Rings Enable
• Winding ends are brought out to three slip rings on the shaft.
• Carbon brushes on the rings connect to an external resistance bank. • High starting torque with low starting current.
• External resistance allows control of starting torque, starting current and • Rotor-resistance starting and speed control (Sections 4 & 6).
speed. • Smooth acceleration for heavy loads.
• Cost: more expensive, needs maintenance of brushes/rings.
SECTION 2 · COMPARISON
Squirrel-Cage vs. Wound Rotor
Feature Squirrel-Cage Wound / Slip-Ring
Rotor winding Solid bars + end rings 3-phase wound, brought to slip rings
External connection None Via brushes & slip rings
Starting torque Low to moderate High (with rotor resistance)
Starting current High (5–7× FLC) Low (resistance-limited)
Maintenance Minimal Higher (brushes, rings)
Cost Low Higher
Typical use General-purpose drives Cranes, hoists, high-inertia loads
SECTION 2 · DESIGN FEATURES
Why These Design Choices?
Laminated cores Small air gap
Thin insulated steel sheets break up eddy-current paths, cutting iron loss. Minimises magnetising current and improves the power factor.
Skewed rotor bars Distributed winding
Reduce cogging, magnetic locking and noise; smooth out torque. Spreads the winding over many slots for a near-sinusoidal field and better
utilisation.
SECTION 2 · RECAP
Key Takeaways
Common stator Cage rotor
Laminated slotted core + 3-phase winding makes the RMF; same for both Bars + end rings, no connections — rugged, cheap, low maintenance.
types.
Wound rotor Small air gap
3-phase winding + slip rings → external resistance for torque & speed Kept minimal for good power factor and low magnetising current.
control.