Module-3: Position Selsyn (Synchros)

1. Introduction:
 In many installations it is desirable that the positions of some item of an equipment in a remote
place be known at a central control point. Position selsyns or synchros may be used for this
purpose.
 They may also be used as a part of a servo mechanism to control the position of some large
device and for several other control purposes, too.
2. Types:
The synchros are generally of four types:
(a) Transmitter selsyn,
(b) Receiver selsyn,
(c) Differential selsyn and
(d) Transformer selsyn.
3. Construction:
 The stators of all the four types have three phase distributed winding connected either in star
or in delta similar to the stators of poly- phase induction motors.
 The rotors differ according to the type of selsyn as:
 The transmitter and receiver selsyns have salient-pole rotors with a single-phase rotor
winding. The rotors of the receiver selsyns are provided with damper windings to prevent
oscillations.
 The differential selsyns have cylindrical rotors with three-phase distributed winding on
the rotor connected either in star or in delta similar to their stator windings.
 The transformer selsyns have cylindrical rotors with single-phase distributed rotor
windings.
4. Transmitter-receiver selsyn:
 Fig, 3.1 shows the connections of a transmitter-receiver selsyn.

Receiver
Trasmitter

Stator Stator

Rotor Rotor

Single-phase a.c. supply

Fig. 3.1 Connection of transmitter-receiver selsyn.

 Pulsating magnetic field produced by the single-phase supply to the rotor windings induces
cophasal e.m.fs in the stator windings.
 These stator e.m.fs balance each other, so long as two rotors are in alignment and there is no
resultant stator current.
 But if the rotor of the transmitter is moved through an angle  by the movement of the
device to which it is mechanically linked, the induced e.m.fs in the transmitter and the
receiver stators will not be cophasal. This results in a current flowing through the stator
windings.
 The axis of the consequent stator m.m.fs will coincide with the changed axis of the
transmitter rotor.
 The receiver rotor whose axis is presently different from that of its stator m.m.f. will
experience a torque which will make the receiver rotor to rotate to a position identical with
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Module-3: Position Selsyn (Synchros)
that of the transmitter rotor where again the resultant stator current and the consequent
torque will be zero.
 Therefore, any movement of the transmitter rotor, whether backward or forward, will always
be followed by a similar movement of the receiver rotor. One transmitter may actuate a large
number of receivers provided that it has sufficient capacity to supply the current.
5. Differential selsyn:
 Fig.3.2 shows the connections of differential selsyn.
Single phase a.c supply

Rotor Rotor

Rotor

Stator
Stator
Stator

Transmitter selsyn-1 Differential selsyn Transmitter selsyn-2

Fig.3.2 Connection of differential selsyn.

 When the two transmitter rotors are moved independently, the differential selsyn rotor will
move through an angle which will be equal to either the sum or the difference of the angular
displacements of the transmitter rotors, depending upon the relative connections.
6. Transformer selsyn:
 Fig. 3.3 shows the connections of a transformer selsyn.

Transmitter Transformer
selsyn sylsyn

Stator Stator

Rotor

Single phase
a.c supply Error voltage

Fig. 3.3 Connection of transformer selsyn.

 Single phase a.c. supply to the transmitter rotor winding produces a pulsating field which
induces cophasal e.m.fs in the stator of the transmitter.
 These e.m.fs will cause some current to flow through the interconnected stator windings.
 The axis of the consequent stator m.m.f of the transformer selsyn will coincide with the axis
of the transmitter rotor.
 Therefore, this stator m.m.f. will induce an e.m.f. in the rotor winding of the transformer
selsyn whose magnitude will depend on the relative positions of the two rotors. This e.m.f.,
which is usually called error voltage, will be maximum when the two rotor axes coincide
and will be zero when the two rotor axes are mutually at right angles.
 This error voltage then can be applied to amplifiers etc. for positioning some large
equipment.
7. Rating:
 The position selsyns described in this section are usually of fractional horse-power
rating.
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