Three-Phase Synchronous Motors

Prof. Kumar
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Three-Phase Synchronous Motor
Main Features

 Inherently NOT self starting:

SMs require some external means to bring their speed close to synchronous
speed to before they are synchronized. Damper Windings are used to start
the synchronous motors.

 Operates at CONSTANT SPEED (Ns) irrespective of its load condition

Speed of operation depends on supply frequency: Ns = 120f/P

 Finds application for power factor improvement (Synchronous Condenser)

The power factor of operation of a synchronous motor can be varied by from
lagging to leading power factor by varying its field current.
 Normal Excitation: UPF
 Under Excitation: Lagging PF operation
 Over Excitation: Leading Power Factor
Principle of Operation

1. Apply DC voltage across the field winding  Fixed Main field

2. Apply 3-phase supply across the 3-ph. Stator winding  RMF
3. Rotor is Stationary (Not rotating)
4. After every half cycle, the pole on the stator mag. Field is
reversed. The position of the rotor remains same because of the
inertia. The inertia is the tendency of an object to remain fixed in
one position.
5. The torque produced is NOT unidirectional  Rotor tend to rotate
in one direction and then in the other direction synchronous motor
is not inherently NOT self-starting.
Principle of Operation
 Synchronous motor is a doubly excited machine, i.e., two electrical inputs are provided to it.
i. Three-phase supply to three-phase stator winding, and ii. DC supply to the rotor winding.
 The 3 phase stator winding carrying 3 phase currents produces 3 phase rotating magnetic field. The
rotor carrying DC supply produces a constant magnetic field.
 Considering the 50 Hz power frequency, from the above relation we can see that the 3 phase rotating
magnetic field rotates at 3000 RPM or 50 revolutions in 1 second.
 At a particular instant rotor and stator poles might be of the same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing a
repulsive force on the rotor and the very next instant it will be N-S causing attractive force. But due to
the inertia of the rotor, it is unable to rotate in any direction due to that attractive or repulsive forces,
and the rotor remains in standstill condition. Hence a synchronous motor is not inherently NOT self-
starting. Here we use some mechanical means which initially rotates the rotor in the same direction as
the magnetic field to speed very close to synchronous speed. At this speed magnetic locking occurs,
and the synchronous motor continues to rotate even after removal of external mechanical means.
Starting of 3-Phase Synchronous Motor

Motor starting with an external prime mover

Synchronous motors are mechanically coupled with another motor. It could be either 3 phase
induction motor or DC shunt motor. Here, we do not apply DC excitation initially. It rotates at speed
very close to its synchronous speed, and then we give the DC excitation. After some time when
magnetic locking takes place supply to the external motor is cut off.

Motor starting with damper winding

Damper windings are Cu or Al bars embedded in slots in the pole face which are short-circuited at
both ends.
Initially, when the rotor is not rotating, the relative speed between damper winding and rotating
magnetic field is large and an emf is induced in it which produces the required starting torque.
As speed approaches synchronous speed, emf and torque are reduced and finally when magnetic
locking takes place; torque also reduces to zero. Hence in this case synchronous motor first runs
as three phase induction motor using additional winding and finally it is synchronized with the
frequency.
V-Curves of a 3-Phase Synchronous Motor

 Variation of the stator current with the change in

field current for different constant loads.

 Armature current Vs field current plots for different

constant loads

 Let us assume that the motor is running at NO load.

If the field current is increased from this small
value, the armature current Ia decreases until the
armature current becomes minimum. At this
minimum point, the motor is operating at unity
power factor  Normal Excitation
 The motor operates at lagging power factor until it
reaches up to this point of operation
 Under Excitation
 If now, the field current is increased further, the
armature current increases and the motor start
operating as a leading power factor Normal Excitation
 Over Excitation Under Excitation Over Excitation
Inverted V-Curves of a 3-Phase Synchronous Motor
3-Phase Synchronous Motor Applications

1. Constant Speed Applications

 Low speed high power requirements where operating speed is around 500 rpm and
high power (around 2500 kW)

 Examples: Reciprocating pump, compressor, rolling mills etc.

2. Power Factor Improvement (Reactive Power Compensation)

Synchronous Condenser

 When the motor power factor is unity, the DC excitation is said to be

normal. Over-excitation causes the motor to operate at a leading power
factor. Under excitation causes it to operate at a lagging power factor.
When the motor is operated at no load with over-excitation, it takes a
current that leads the voltage by nearly 90 degrees.

 Thus, it behaves like a capacitor and under such operating conditions, the
synchronous motor is called a synchronous capacitor.

 Since a synchronous condenser behaves like a variable inductor or a

variable capacitor, it is used in power transmission systems to regulate
line voltage.
Synchronous Motor

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