INDUCTION MOTOR
Introduction:
An induction motor (also known as an asynchronous motor) is a commonly used AC electric
motor. In an induction motor, the electric current in the rotor needed to produce torque is
obtained via electromagnetic induction from the rotating magnetic field of the stator winding.
The induction motor can be treated as rotating transformer. Induction motors are referred to as
‘asynchronous motors’ because they operate at a speed less than their synchronous speed.
Construction of Induction Motor
A three phase Induction motor mainly consists of two parts called as the Stator and the Rotor.
The stator is the stationary part of the induction motor, and the rotor is the rotating part. The
stator is built up of high-grade alloy steel laminations to reduce eddy current losses.
Stator Core is built of high-grade silicon steel stampings. Its main function is to carry the
alternating magnetic field which produces hysteresis and eddy current losses. The stampings
are fixed to the stator frame. Each stamping are insulated from the other with a thin varnish
layer. The thickness of the stamping usually varies from 0.3 to 0.5 mm. Slots are punched on
the inner side of the stampings to accommodate stator winding.
The core of the stator carries three phase windings which are usually supplied from a three-
phase supply system. The stator of the motor is wound for a definite number of poles,
depending on the speed of the motor. If the number of poles is greater, the speed of the motor
will be less and if the number of poles is less than the speed will be high.
As the relationship between the speed and the pole of the motor is given as
Ns = 120f / P
Fig.1 Stator
Construction of Rotor
The rotor is also built of thin laminations of the same material as the stator. The laminated
cylindrical core is mounted directly on the shaft. These laminations are slotted on the outer side
to receive the conductors. There are two types of rotor.
(i) Squirrel Cage Rotor
(ii) Phase Wound Rotor
Squirrel Cage Rotor
Almost of 90% of Induction motors are Squirrel cage type. A squirrel cage rotor consists of a
laminated cylindrical core. Each slot contains uninsulated bar conductor of aluminium or
copper. At the end of the rotor the conductors the short-circuited by a heavy ring of copper or
aluminium. The rotor slots are usually not parallel to the shaft but are skewed. The skewing of
the rotor conductors reduces humming and provide smooth and noise free operation.
Fig.2 Squirrel cage Rotor
Phase Wound Rotor
The Phase wound rotor is also called as Slip Ring Rotor. It consists of a cylindrical core which
is laminated. The outer periphery of the rotor carries 3 phase insulated windings. The slip rings
are mounted on the shaft with brushes resting on them. The brushes are connected to the
variable resistor. The function of the slip rings and the brushes is to provide a means of
connecting external resistors in the rotor circuit.
Fig.3 Phase wound Rotor
Working Principle of Induction Motor
When the three-phase supply is given to the stator, the rotating magnetic field produced on it.
The conductors of the rotor are stationary. This stationary conductor cut the rotating magnetic
field of the stator, and because of the electromagnetic induction, the EMF induces in the rotor.
This EMF is known as the rotor induced EMF, and it is because of the electromagnetic
induction phenomenon. The conductors of the rotor are short-circuited either by the end rings
or by the help of the external resistance. The relative motion between the rotating magnetic
field and the rotor conductor induces the current in the rotor conductors. As the current flows
through the conductor, the flux induces on it. The direction of rotor flux is same as that of the
rotor current.
Now we have two fluxes one because of the rotor and another because of the stator. These
fluxes interact each other. On one end of the conductor the fluxes cancel each other, and on the
other end, the density of the flux is very high. Thus, the high-density flux tries to push the
conductor of rotor towards the low-density flux region. This phenomenon induces the torque
on the conductor, and this torque is known as the electromagnetic torque.
The direction of electromagnetic torque and rotating magnetic field is same. Thus, the rotor
starts rotating in the same direction as that of the rotating magnetic field.
The speed of the rotor is always less than the rotating magnetic field or synchronous speed.
The rotor tries to the run at the speed of the rotor, but it always slips away. Thus, the motor
never runs at the speed of the rotating magnetic field, and this is the reason because of which
the induction motor is also known as the asynchronous motor.
Slip
Induction motor rotor always rotates at a speed less than synchronous speed. The difference
between the main flux speed (Ns) and their rotor speed (N) is called slip.
It is usually expressed as a percentage of synchronous speed (Ns) and is represented by s.
% Slip s = (𝑁𝑠 – 𝑁)/𝑁𝑠 𝑋 100
Therefore, rotor speed N = Ns (1 - s)
The difference between synchronous speed and rotor speed is called slip speed i.e.,
Slip speed = Ns – N
The value of Slip is between 0 and 1
S = 0 never possible in an Induction motor
S =1 means that the rotor is stationary
Frequency of Rotor Current or EMF
The frequency of both the rotor emf and rotor current depends upon the rate of cutting flux by
the rotor conductors i.e. on the relative speed between the stator revolving magnetic field and
rotor and is given by the expression.
Frequency of rotor current, f’ = sf
Where s is the slip and f is the supply frequency.
Concept of rotating magnetic field
A rotating magnetic field (RMF) in an induction motor is produced by applying a three-phase
AC supply to stator windings physically spaced 120 degrees apart, producing three magnetic
fluxes that are 120 degrees out of phase in time; their vector sum creates a single, constant-
magnitude magnetic field that rotates at synchronous speed.
a) At θ =00
This corresponds to point O in the figure of waveforms of phases R,Y and B.
b) At θ =600, corresponding to point 1 in the figure of waveforms of phases R, Y and B.
c) At θ =1200, i.e. corresponds to point 2 in the figure of waveforms of phases R, Y and B.
d) At θ =1800, i.e. relating to point 3 in the figure of waveforms of phases R,Y and B.
From the above vector diagrams, we can infer that the resultant flux is of constant value of 1.5
times the maximum value of the flux and the resultant flux rotate around the stator at
synchronous speed Ns = 120f / P.
Rotor Torque:
The torque T on the rotor is directly proportional to
(i) Rotor current at standstill, I2
(ii) Magnitude of the rotating flux per stator pole
(iii)cosϕ2 (p.f. of the rotor circuit) -angle between rotor e.m.f. and rotor current
T α ϕI2 cosϕ2
T α E2I2 cosϕ2
Advantages
1. Rugged and robust construction – mechanically strong
2. Low maintenance – no brushes or commutator (especially squirrel cage type).
3. High efficiency and reliability
4. Simple and low-cost construction compared to other motors.
5. Self-starting – no auxiliary equipment is required.
6. Good speed regulation – nearly constant speed under load.
7. High over-load capacity.
8. Wide range of industrial applications.
Disadvantages
1. Starting torque is moderate (especially squirrel cage type).
2. Starting current is high, causing voltage drop in supply system.
3. Speed control is difficult and costly compared to DC motors.
4. Not suitable for variable-speed applications without special drives
5. Efficiency reduces at light load.
6. Requires three-phase supply, not suitable where only single phase is available.
Applications of three phase induction motors
Three-phase induction motors are widely used in industry due to their simple construction, high
efficiency, reliability, ruggedness, low cost, and minimal maintenance. Major applications
include:
Industrial Drives - Pumps, compressors, blowers, Conveyors and material handling systems,
Machine tools (lathe, drilling, milling), Crushers, grinders, mixers
Process Industries - Steel and cement plants, Paper and textile mills, Chemical plants
Commercial Uses - HVAC systems (large air conditioners, chillers), Refrigeration plants