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Three-Phase Induction Motors:

Starting and Speed Control Methods

Prof. Kumar
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
King Abdulaziz University Jeddah
Need for Starters for 3-Phase Induction Motors 2

 3-Phase IM is like a transformer with the secondary short-

circuited. E2 is maximum Sec. SC current is maximum
 If started at full rated voltage, at the time of starting, the IM
draws very high current .
 This is about 5 to 7 times the full load current
 The amount of current drawn by the motor depends upon its
design and size.
 As the rotor starts rotating, Relative speed (Ns-Nr)
decreases Secondary induced voltage (E2) decreases
Rotor SC decreases Stator current decreases.
 Starters reduces the starting current and ensures safe-starting
Starters for 3-Phase Induction Motors 3

 Direct-On-line (DOL) Starter

 Star-Delta Starter

 Auto-Transformer Starter

 Rotor-Resistance Starter (For Slip-Ring IM)

 Direct On-line Starter (DOL Starter) 4
Directly switch the motor on to the supply mains 
we apply Full Supply Voltage to the stator winding
Motor at the time of starting draws very high starting
current (about 5 to 7 times the full load current) for
the very short duration.
The amount of current drawn by the motor depends
upon its design and size.
Used for small induction motors
Merits: Simple design, low cost, high starting torque
Initial Switch Positions:
i. L1, L2,L3 : Open 5
ii. Start Button S1: Open
iii. Stop Button S2: Closed
iv. Remote Stop S3: Closed
v. Contact D: Closed
vi. Main Contacts (M) and Aux. Contact
(A) : Open
To start the motor: Press S1 S1 closed Coil
C gets energized  pulls the liver Aand Ms
gets closed motor starts. If S1 open, still C is
energized through A.  motor continue to
rotate.
To stop: Press S2 S2 Opens  Circuit
opens C gets de-energized A and Ms
goes to open position motor stops.
 Star-Delta Starter
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 Used for the motors with delta connected winding.
aB, bC, cA
 The stator phases are first connected to the star by the
triple pole double throw switch (TPDT switch): Position-1
 When the steady state speed is reached the switch is
thrown to position 2 (Delta Connection)
 In the first position the terminals of the motor are short
circuited  Star Mode
 in second position, terminals a, b and c are respectively
connected to B, C and A  Delta Mode
 Compared to DOL starter:
 Starting current is reduced by 1/√3  by 57%
 Starting torque and power is reduced by 1/3 (by
33%)
Star-Delta Starter
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 Auto-transformer Starter
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 The auto transformer reduces the per phase supply voltage from V1 to xV1.
 The reduction in voltage reduces current from Is to xIs.
 After the motor reaches to its normal operating speed, the auto transformer
is disconnected and then full line voltage is applied.
Auto-transformer Starter
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 Starting of Slip-Ring Induction Motors
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 At the time of starting of the motor, the entire external resistance is added in
the rotor circuit.
 Then the external rotor resistance is decreased in steps as the rotor speeds up
 External resistance is fully removed as the motor attains the rated speed
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 Speed Control of 3-Phase Induction Motors
Ns = 120f/P 14

N is the speed of rotor of induction motor, Ns is the synchronous speed, S is the slip

Speed of Induction Motor is changed from Both Stator and Rotor Side
From Stator Side
 Changing the Number of Stator Poles
 Controlling Supply Frequency
 Controlling Supply Voltage
 V / f Control
From Rotor Side
 Adding external resistance on rotor side (for Slip Ring IM)
 Injecting slip frequency emf into rotor circuit (for Slip Ring IM)
Speed Control of 3-Phase Induction Motors
Pole Changing Method 15

 As P changes  Synchronous Speed changes  Motor Speed Changes

 Pole changing is achieved by having two or more independent stator

windings wound for different number of poles
 Or by providing appropriate switching mechanism to change the end
connections of the coils
 Pole Changing Method 16

Ns = 120f/P
Motor Torque

N1>N2>N3>N4>N5
T1<T2<T3<T4<T5 T = (P/2ΠN)

Motor Speed
Supply Frequency Control
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Ns = 120f/P

N1>N2>N3>N4>N5
T1<T2<T3<T4<T5 T = (P/2ΠN)

Motor Speed
 As freq. decreases, Ns decreases and hence the rotor speed decreases.
 Supply Voltage Control 18
 Motor Torque ∝ SV2.
 if we decrease supply voltage, torque will also decrease.
 But for supplying the same load, the torque must remains the same
 it is possible only if the slip gets increased
 If the slip increases the motor will run at reduced speed.
 Rotor Speed = Ns(1-S)
 This method of speed control is rarely used because small change in
speed requires large reduction in voltage, and hence the current drawn
by motor increases, which cause over heating of induction motor.

As we Decrease Supply Voltage  Slip will Increase  Rotor speed Decreases

Supply Voltage Control 19

 Torque ∝ SV2.
S1<S2<S3
Ns = 120f/P
N1>N2>N3

T = (P/2ΠN)

As V changes, Ns does not change

As V S N
 V/F Speed Control Ns = 120f/P
• If we change frequency, synchronous speed changes
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V = 4.44 f Φ Tph Kp Kd  Φ = (1/4.44 T ph Kp Kd)(V/f)
With decrease in frequency, for a given supply voltage, flux density will increase  causes
saturation of rotor and stator cores  Cause increase in no load current of the motor .
So, it is important to maintain flux density constant and it is only possible if we change voltage.

 if we decrease frequency, flux density increases

but at the same time if we decrease voltage, flux density decreases causing no change in flux
density and hence it remains constant.
So, here we are keeping the ratio of V/f as constant. Hence its name is V/ f method.

For controlling the speed of three phase induction motor by V/f method we have to apply
variable voltage and variable frequency supply which is easily obtained by using converter and
inverter set.
 V/F Speed Control
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Ns = 120f/P
Motor Torque

T = (P/2ΠN)

Tmax remains the Same

Motor Speed
V1/f1 > V2/f2 > V3/f3 > V4/f4 > V5/f5
Instead of independent Frequency Control and Voltage Control methods,
V/f Control Method is preferred
Rotor Resistance Control
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Maximum Torque occurs when Rotor Resistance =Rotor Reactance

Rotor Resistance Control (Applicable to Slip-Ring 3-ph. IM)
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Injects slip frequency emf into rotor side
 When the speed control of three phase induction motor is done by adding resistance in rotor
circuit, some part of power called, the slip power, is lost as I2R losses.
 This slip power loss can be recovered and supplied back to the rotor.
 This is done by connecting an external source of emf of slip frequency to the rotor circuit.
 The injected emf can either oppose the rotor induced emf or aids the rotor induced emf.
 If it oppose the rotor induced emf, the total rotor resistance increases and hence speed
decreases and
 if the injected emf aids the main rotor emf the total rotor resistance decreases and hence
speed increases.
 Therefore by injecting induced emf in rotor circuit the speed can be easily controlled.
 The main advantage of this type of speed control is that wide range of speed control is
possible whether its above normal or below normal speed.
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