Single Phase Induction

Motors Questions and

Answers
by Editorial Staff

Please Name some Single-phase induction motors?

(i) split-phase type

(ii) capacitor type
(iii) shaded-pole type

Please name two types of Repulsion motors?

(i) Repulsion-start induction-run motor

(ii) Repulsion-induction motor

What are different types of single phase

Synchronous motors?

(i) Reluctance motor

(ii) Hysteresis motor

How a single phase motor is similar to 3 phase

motor?

A single phase induction motor is very similar to a

3-phase squirrel cage induction motor. It has
(i) a squirrel-cage rotor identical to a 3-phase motor
(ii) a single-phase winding on the stator

What is major difference between a 3-phase

induction motor and a single-phase induction
motor?

Unlike a 3-phase induction motor, a single-phase

induction motor is not self- starting but requires some
starting means.

Why single phase induction motor does not self

starts?

The single-phase stator winding produces a magnetic

field that pulsates in strength in a sinusoidal manner.
The field polarity reverses after each half cycle but the
field does not rotate. Consequently, the alternating flux
cannot produce rotation in a stationary squirrel-cage
rotor.

What is basic method to start single phase induction

motor and why it is not preferred?

If the rotor of a single-phase motor is rotated in one

direction by some mechanical means, it will continue to
run in the direction of rotation. As a matter of fact, the
rotor quickly accelerates until it reaches a speed slightly
below the synchronous speed. Once the motor is
running at this speed, it will continue to rotate even
though single-phase current is flowing through the
stator winding. This method of starting is generally not
convenient for large motors. Nor can it be employed fur
a motor located at some inaccessible spot.

Explain why single phase induction motor does not

start in the light of Double-Field Revolving Theory?

The double-field revolving theory is proposed to

explain this dilemma of no torque at start and yet
torque once rotated. This theory is based on the fact
that an alternating sinusoidal flux can be represented by
two revolving fluxes, each equal to one-half of the
maximum value of alternating flux (i.e., m/2) and each
rotating at synchronous speed in opposite directions.

Therefore, an alternating field can be replaced by two

relating fields of half its amplitude rotating in opposite
directions at synchronous speed. Note that the
resultant vector of two revolving flux vectors is a
stationary vector that oscillates in length with time
along X-axis.

What is the position of rotor at standstill?

Consider the case that the rotor is stationary and the

stator winding is connected to a single-phase supply.
The alternating flux produced by the stator winding can
be presented as the sum of two rotating fluxes 1 and 2,
each equal to one half of the maximum value of
alternating flux and each rotating at synchronous speed
(Ns = 120 f/P) in opposite directions.

At standstill, these two torques are equal and opposite

and the net torque developed is zero. Therefore, single-
phase induction motor is not self-starting.

What is the value of slip at standstill?

Note that each rotating field tends to drive the rotor in

the direction in which the field rotates. Thus the point
of zero slip for one field corresponds to 200% slip for
the other . The value of 100% slip (standstill condition)
is the same for both the fields.

Explain motor action from standstill to running

condition?

At standstill, s = 1 so that impedances of the two

circuits are equal. Therefore, rotor currents are equal i.e.,
I2f = I2b. However, when the rotor rotates, the
impedances of the two rotor circuits are unequal and
the rotor current I2b is higher (and also at a lower
power factor) than the rotor current I2f. Their m.m.f.s,
which oppose the stator m.m.f.s, will result in a
reduction of the backward rotating flux.

Consequently, as speed increases, the forward flux

increases, increasing the driving torque while the
backward flux decreases, reducing the opposing torque.
The motor-quickly accelerates to the final speed.

How to make Single-Phase Induction Motor Self-

Starting?

The single-phase induction motor is not self- starting

and it is undesirable to resort to mechanical spinning of
the shaft or pulling a belt to start it. To make a single-
phase induction motor self-starting, we should
somehow produce a revolving stator magnetic field.

This may be achieved by converting a single-phase

supply into two-phase supply through the use of an
additional winding. When the motor attains sufficient
speed, the starting means (i.e., additional winding) may
be removed depending upon the type of the motor.

Name the types of single phase motors with respect

to the method employed to make them self-
starting?

(i) Split-phase motors-started by two phase motor

action through the use of an auxiliary or starting
winding.

(ii) Capacitor motors-started by two-phase motor

action through the use of an auxiliary winding and a
capacitor.

(iii) Shaded-pole motors-started by the motion of the

magnetic field produced by means of a shading coil
around a portion of the pole structure.

How to produce Rotating Magnetic Field From

2-Phase Supply?

As with a 3-phase supply, a 2-phase balanced supply

also produces a rotating magnetic field of constant
magnitude. With the exception of the shaded-pole
motor, all single-phase induction motors are started as
2-phase machine. Once so started, the motor will
continue to run on single-phase supply.

What is the major cause of noisy operation of the

single phase induction motor?

If the two windings arc displaced 90° electrical but

produce fields that are not equal and that are not 90°
apart in time, the resultant field is still rotating but is not
constant in magnitude. One effect of this non uniform
rotating field is the production of a torque that is non-
uniform and that, therefore, causes noisy operation of
the motor. Since 2-phase operation ceases once the
motor is started, the operation of the motor then
becomes smooth.

Describe the principal of operation of Split-Phase

Induction Motor?

The stator of a split-phase induction motor is provided

with an auxiliary or starting winding S in addition to the
main or running winding M. The starting winding is
located 90° electrical from the main winding and
operates only during the brief period when the motor
starts up. The two windings are so resigned that the
starting winding S has a high resistance and relatively
small reactance while the main winding M has relatively
low resistance and large reactance as shown in the
schematic connections in Fig. Consequently, the
currents flowing in the two windings have reasonable
phase difference c (25° to 30°) as shown in the phasor
diagram in Fig.

When the two stator windings are energized from a

single-phase supply, the main winding carries current
Im while the starting winding carries current Is. Since
main winding is made highly inductive while the
starting winding highly resistive, the currents Im and Is
have a reasonable phase angle a (25° to 30°) between
them as shown in Fig. Consequently, a weak revolving
field approximating to that of a 2-phase machine is
produced which starts the motor. where k is a constant
whose magnitude depends upon the design of the
motor.

When the motor reaches about 75% of synchronous

speed, the centrifugal switch opens the circuit of the
starting winding. The motor then operates as a single-
phase induction motor and continues to accelerate till it
reaches the normal speed. The normal speed of the
motor is below the synchronous speed and depends
upon the load on the motor

What is starting torque and starting current of split

phase induction motor?

The spinning torque is 15 to 2 times the full-loud

torque mid (lie starting current is 6 to 8 times the full-
load current.

Why split-phase induction motors are most popular

single- phase motors in the market?

Due to their low cost, split-phase induction motors are

most popular single- phase motors in the market

Why built-in-thermal relay is necessary in split

phase induction motor and what is its purpose?

Since the starting winding is made of fine wire, the

current density is high and the winding heats up
quickly. If the starting period exceeds 5 seconds, the
winding may burn out unless the motor is protected by
built-in-thermal relay. This motor is, therefore, suitable
where starting periods are not frequent

What is speed variation of split phase induction

motor from no load to full load?

An important characteristic of these motors is that they

are essentially constant-speed motors. The speed
variation is 2-5% from no-load to full- load

Usually where split phase induction motors are

used?

These motors are suitable where a moderate starting

torque is required and where starting periods are
infrequent e.g., to drive:

(a) fans
(b) washing machines
(c) oil burners
(d) small machine tools etc.
The power rating of such motors generally lies between
60 W and 250 W.