Synchronous Motor
Methods of Starting Synchronous Motor
The various methods to start the synchronous
motor are,
1. Using pony motors
2. Using damper winding.
3. as a slip ring induction motor
4. Using small d.c. machine coupled to it.
Behaviour of Synchronous Motor on
Loading
Torques in Synchronous Motor
1) Starting torque: This is the torque developed
by the synchronous motor at start when
rated voltage is applied to the stator. It is
also called breakaway torque. It is necessary
to overcome friction and inertia.
2) Running torque: It is the torque developed
by the motor under running conditions. It is
decided by the output rating of the motor
and speed of the driven machine.
3) Pull in torque: Initially synchronous motor is
rotated at a speed slightly less than the
synchronous speed. When speed is near to
synchronous, excitation is switched on and
motor gets pulled into synchronism and starts
rotating at the synchronous speed. The
amount of torque developed by the motor at
the time of pulling into synchronism is called
pull in torque.
4) Pull out torque: When the synchronous
motor is loaded, the rotor falls back with
respect to stator by an angle called load angle
δ. As δ increases, magnetic locking between
stator and rotor decreases. At δ = 90deg , the
torque developed is maximum by the motor
and magnetic locking is very weak. Any
further increase in the load pulls motor out of
synchronism and motor stops. Thus the
maximum torque developed by the
synchronous motor without pulling out of
synchronism is called pull out torque.
OPERATION OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
AT CONSTANT LOAD VARIABLE
EXCITATION
If excitation i.e. field current is changed
keeping load constant, the synchronous motor
reacts by changing its power factor of
operation.
Consider a synchronous motor operating at a
certain load. The corresponding load angle is
δ.
Normal Excitation
Under Excitation
Over Excitation
Critical Excitation
V-Curves and Inverted V-Curves
SYNCHRONOUS CONDENSERS
When synchronous motor is over excited it
takes leading p.f. current. If synchronous
motor is on no load, where load angle is very
small and it is over excited (Eb > V) then
power factor angle increases almost upto 90°.
And motor runs with almost zero leading
power factor condition.
This characteristics is similar to a normal
capacitor which always takes leading power
factor current.
Hence over excited synchronous motor
operating on no load condition is called as
synchronous condenser or synchronous
capacitor.
This is the property due to which synchronous
motor is used as a phase advancer or as
power improvement device.
Use of Synchronous Condenser in Power
Factor Improvement
The low power factor increases the cost of
generation, distribution and transmission of
the electrical energy. Hence such low power
factor needs to be corrected. Such power
factor correction is possible by connecting
synchronous motor across the supply and
operating it on no load with over excitation.
Synchronous Motor Applications
Synchronous motors find extensive application
for the following classes of service:
1. Power factor correction
2. Constant-speed, constant-load drives
3. Voltage regulation
1. Power factor correction
Overexcited synchronous motors having
leading power factor are widely used for
improving power factor of those power
systems which employ a large number of
induction motors and other devices having
lagging p.f. such as welders and flourescent
lights etc.
2. Constant-speed, constant-load drives
Because of their high efficiency and high-
speed, synchronous motors (above 600 r.p.m.)
are well-suited for loads where constant speed
is required such as centrifugal pumps, belt-
driven reciprocating compressors, blowers,
line shafts, rubber and paper mills etc. Low-
speed synchronous motors (below 600 r.p.m.)
are used for drives such as centrifugal and
screw-type pumps, ball and tube mills,
vacuum pumps, chippers and metal rolling
mills etc.
3. Voltage regulation
By installing a synchronous motor with a field
regulator (for varying its excitation), the
voltage rise can be controlled. When line
voltage decreases due to inductive load,
motor excitation is increased, thereby raising
its p.f. which compensates for the line drop. If,
on the other hand, line voltage rises due to
line capacitive effect, motor excitation is
decreased, thereby making its p.f. lagging
which helps to maintain the line voltage at its
normal value.