IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

Speed control of Induction Motor

The conventional methods of speed control of induction motors are,
Stator Side
➢ Stator voltage control
➢ Variable frequency control
➢ Stator current control
➢ V/f control
➢ Changing the number of poles on stator
Rotor Side
➢ Rotor resistance control
➢ Injecting emf in the rotor

Stator Voltage Control of Induction Motor:

❖ Speed of induction motor can be varied in a narrow range by varying the voltage
applied to the stator winding.
❖ Torque developed by 3 phase induction motor is directly proportional to the square of
the stator voltage as given by the equation

Current is proportional to voltage

❖ Therefore, as voltage is reduced to reduce speed, for the same current motor develops
lower torque.
❖ Consequently, method is suitable for applications where torque demand reduces with
speed, which points towards its suitability for fan and pump drives.
❖ In low slip region (S.X2)² is very small as compared to R2. So, it can be neglected. So
equation 1 becomes

❖ Since rotor resistance R2 is constant, the torque equation becomes

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E2 is proportional to the supply voltage V1. Hence

❖ From equation 2, it is clear that any reduction in supply voltage will reduce the motor
speed.
❖ But from equation 3, it is seen that any reduction in supply voltage will reduce the
torque also.

a) Speed control of Induction motor using Stator Voltage

❖ By reducing Stator Voltage Control of Induction Motor, speed of a high-slip induction
motor can be reduced by an amount which is sufficient for the speed control of some
fan and pump drives (Fig.).
❖ While torque is proportional to voltage
squared , current is proportional to voltage
❖ Therefore, as voltage is reduced to reduce
speed, for the same current motor develops
lower torque.
❖ Consequently, method is suitable for
applications where torque demand reduces
with speed, which points towards its
suitability for fan and pump drives.
❖ If stator copper loss, core loss, and friction and windage loss are ignored, then from
eqns , motor efficiency η is given by

b) Control by AC Voltage Controllers and Soft Start:

❖ Domestic fan motors, which are always single-phase, are

controlled by a single-phase triac voltage controller (Fig.
(a)).
❖ Speed control is obtained by varying firing angle of the
triac.
❖ These controllers, commonly known as solid state fan regulators, are now preferred
over conventional variable resistance regulators because of higher efficiency.
❖ Industrial fans and pumps are usually driven by three-phase motors.
❖ Fig. (b) shows a commonly used thyristor voltage controller for speed control of 3-
phase motors.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

❖ Motor may be connected in star or delta. In delta connection, third harmonic voltage
produced by motor back emf causes circulating current through the windings which
increases losses and thermal loading of motor.
❖ Speed control is obtained by varying conduction period of thyristors.
❖ For low power ratings, anti-paralleled thyristor pair in each phase can be replaced by
a triac.

c) Pole Changing of Induction Motor

❖ Pole Changing of Induction Motor – For a given frequency, the synchronous speed is
inversely proportional to the number of poles.
❖ Synchronous speed, and therefore, motor speed can be changed by changing the
number of poles.
❖ Provision for changing the number of poles has to be incorporated at the
manufacturing stage and such machines are called, ‘pole changing motors‘ or ‘multi-
speed motors‘

❖ In wound-rotor motor, arrangement for changing the number of poles in rotor is also
required, which complicates the machine.
❖ Therefore, this Pole Changing of Induction Motor method of speed control is only
used with squirrel-cage motors.
An economical and common alternative is to use a single stator winding divided into
few coil groups.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

For simplicity, winding is divided only in two coil groups. This allows the change in pole
number by a factor 2. A winding arrangement for this particular case is explained as follows:

For variable torque control

For constant power control

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

d) Pole Amplitude Modulation Induction Motor

❖ Pole changing method as already discussed allows a change of speed by a factor 2.
❖ In some applications, speed change is required only by a small amount, e.g. some fan
and pump drives require speed reduction to reduce power output at the most to half of
rated.
❖ Since, torque is proportional to speed squared in a fan drive, power is proportional to
(speed)3.
❖ Half of rated power is obtained when speed is reduced approximately by 20%. Such a
small change in speed is possible by Pole Amplitude Modulation Induction Motor.
❖ The mmf distribution in air-gap owing to stator winding of a three-phase induction
motor may be written generally as

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

e) Variable Frequency Control of Induction Motor Drive

➢ Varying the voltage alone or frequency alone has some disadvantages with regards to
the operation of induction motor.
➢ The maximum torque in an induction motor is given by,

❖ Here K is a constant and Ls & Lr’ are the stator and stator referred rotor inductances.
❖ At high frequencies, the value of (Rs / f) will be very much less than 2π (Ls+ Lr’). So
(Rs / f) can be neglected and hence the torque equation becomes

➢ From above equation , it is clear that if the ratio (V / f) is kept constant, the motor can
produce a constant maximum torque, Tmax. i.e constant torque operation.
➢ Hence if maximum torque needs to be maintained constant at low speeds, then (V / f)
ratio must be increased.
➢ Near to base speed (or rated speed), the supply voltage will be maximum and it cannot
be increased further.
➢ Therefore, above base speed, the frequency is changed by keeping supply voltage
constant.
➢ But this will decrease the maximum torque produced by the motor as per the equation

From the graph of Fig., it is clear that

➢ (V/f) ratio is increased at low frequency to keep maximum torque constant.
➢ (V/f) ratio is kept constant at high frequencies up to base frequency

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ V is kept constant and frequency is varied above base frequency

From Fig., it is clear that the maximum torque is same at all different speeds. This volts /
Hertz control offers speed control from standstill up to rated speed of IM.
➢ This (V/f) control is achieved by using VSI and CSI fed induction motor drives.
➢ If a six step inverter is used, the frequency alone can be varied at the inverter output
and the output voltage is controlled by varying the input dc voltage.
➢ If a PWM inverter is used, both voltage and frequency can be varied inside the
inverter itself by changing the turn on and off periods of the devices.

➢ This volts / Hertz control offers speed control from standstill up to rated speed of IM.
➢ This (V/f) control is achieved by using VSI and CSI fed induction motor drives.
➢ If a six step inverter is used, the frequency alone can be varied at the inverter output
and the output voltage is controlled by varying the input dc voltage.
➢ If a PWM inverter is used, both voltage and frequency can be varied inside the
inverter itself by changing the turn on and off periods of the devices
➢ The Variable Frequency Control of Induction Motor Drive provides good running and
transient performance because of the following features:
❖ Speed control and braking operation are available from zero speed to above base
speed.
❖ During transients (starting, braking and speed reversal) the operation can be carried
out at the maximum torque with reduced current giving good dynamic response.
❖ Copper losses are low, and efficiency and power factor are high as the operation is
restricted between synchronous speed and maximum torque point at all frequencies.
❖ Drop in speed from no load to full load is small.
❖ Block diagram of Variable Frequency Control of Induction Motor Drive scheme is
shown in Fig.
❖ The motor is fed from a variable frequency variable voltage source (VFVS). V* and
f* are voltage and frequency commands for VFVS.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

❖ Flux control block produces a voltage command V* for VFVS in order to maintain
the relationship of Fig. 6.33(a) between V* and f*.

➢ Reference frequency f* is changed to control speed.

➢ A delay circuit is introduced between f* and fr, so that even when ft is changed by a
large amount, f* will change only slowly so that motor speed can track changes in ft,
thus restricting the motor operation for each frequency between synchronous speed
and the maximum torque point. VFVS can be a voltage source inverter or a
cycloconverter.

Voltage Source Inverter Control

➢ In voltage source inverters, the input voltage is kept constant.
➢ The magnitude of output voltage of VSI is independent of the load.
➢ But the magnitude of output current depends on the type of load.
➢ A VSI converts the input dc voltage into an ac voltage with variable frequency at its
output terminals
➢ VSI using normal transistors is shown in below Fig. Any other self-commutated
device can be used in place of transistors.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ MOSFET is used in low voltage and low power inverters.

➢ IGBTs and power transistors are used up to medium power levels.
➢ GTO and IGCT are used for high power levels.
➢ VSI may be a six step inverter or a PWM inverter.
➢ When VSI is operated as a six step inverter, the transistors are turned ON in the
sequence of their numbers with a time interval of T/6 seconds if T is the total time
period of one output cycle.
➢ Frequency of the inverter output is varied by varying the time period (T) of one cycle
.
➢ If the supply is dc, then a variable dc voltage is obtained by connecting a chopper
between input dc and the inverter as shown in below Fig. a
➢ If the input supply is ac, then a variable dc is obtained by connecting a controlled
rectifier between the input ac and the inverter as shown in below Fig. b

The output voltage waveform of a six step inverter is shown in below Fig.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ When VSI is operated as a six-step inverter, the transistors are turned ON in the
sequence of their numbers with a time interval of T/6 seconds if T is the total time
period of one output cycle.
➢ Frequency of the inverter output is varied by varying the time period (T) of one cycle

Disadvantages of six step inverter

➢ Low frequency harmonics are more and hence the motor losses are increased at all
speeds.
➢ Motor develops pulsating torques due to 5th, 7th, 11th and 13th harmonics.
➢ Harmonic content increases further when the motor rotates at low speeds. This will
overheat the machine
The above said problems are rectified when a PWM inverter is used.

❖ If a PWM inverter is used as VSI as shown in below Fig c & d, then the input voltage
may be a constant dc which is obtained from a simple diode rectifier.
❖ The output of a PWM inverter is a variable voltage and variable frequency

❖ In a PWM inverter, it is possible to control the output voltage and frequency as well
as the harmonic content can be minimized.
❖ The output voltage waveform of a PWM inverter is shown in Fig.
❖ The motors having high leakage inductance are used when a VSI is used to feed the
induction motors

➢ In a PWM inverter, it is possible to control the output voltage and frequency as well
as the harmonic content can be minimized.
➢ The output voltage waveform of a PWM inverter is shown in below Fig. c
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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ The motors having high leakage inductance are used when a VSI is used to feed the
induction motors.

➢ The harmonics in the motor current produce torque pulsation and derate the motor.
➢ For a given harmonic content in motor terminal voltage, the current harmonics are
reduced when the motor has higher leakage inductance, this reduces derating and
torque pulsations.
➢ Therefore, when fed from Voltage Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor with
large (compared to when fed from sinusoidal supply) leakage inductance are used.

Braking and Multi-quadrant Operation of VSI Induction Motor

Drives
➢ The power input into the motor is given by
where
V = fundamental component of the motor phase voltage
Is = fundamental component of the motor phase current
Φ = phase angle between V and Is.
➢ In motoring operation Φ < 90°, therefore Pin is positive i.e. power flows from the
inverter to the machine.
➢ A reduction in frequency makes the synchronous speed less than the rotor speed and
the relative speed between the rotor conductors and air-gap rotating field reverses.
➢ This reverses the rotor induced emf, rotor current and component of stator current
which balances the rotor ampere turns.
➢ Consequently, angle Φ becomes greater than 90° and power flow reverses.
➢ The machine works as a generator feeding power into the inverter, which in turn feeds
power into dc link by reversing the dc link current Id. Regenerative braking is
obtained when the power flowing from the inverter to the dc link is usefully employed
and dynamic braking is obtained when it is wasted in a resistance.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

Dynamic Braking

➢ Let us first consider the dynamic braking of pulse-width modulated inverter drive
➢ With dynamic braking the drive will be as shown in Fig.
➢ For dynamic braking, switch SW and a self-commutated switch (here transistor) in
series with braking resistance RB connected across the dc link are added to the drive.
➢ When operation of the motor is shifted from motoring to braking switch SW is
opened.
➢ Generated energy flowing into the dc link charges the capacitor and its voltages rises.
➢ When it crosses a set value, switch S is closed, connecting the resistance across the
link.
➢ The generated power and a part of energy stored in the capacitor flow into the
resistance, and dc link voltage reduces.
➢ When it falls to its nominal value, S is opened. Thus by closing and opening switch S
based on the value of dc link voltage, generated energy is dissipated in the resistance,
giving dynamic braking.

Regenerative Braking
➢ When the operation shifts from motoring to braking Id reverses but Vd remains in the
same direction.
➢ Thus for regenerative braking capability, a converter capable of dealing with dc
voltage of one polarity and dc current of either direction is required.
➢ A dual converter has this capability and was employed in the past.
➢ The recent drives use synchronous link converter (SLC) because it takes sinusoidal
current at unity power factor from the ac source, both during motoring and braking
operations.
➢ Thus while its performance is superior, it requires less devices than a dual converter.
➢ A regenerative drive with a SLC and PWM inverter is shown in Fig.
➢ The inductors Ls and PWM inverter I constitute a SLC. PWM inverter I is operated to
produce voltage VI of required magnitude and phase and with a low harmonic
content, so that source current Is is nearly sinusoidal and in phase with Vs for
motoring and 180° out of phase for braking, thus giving unity power factor.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ The phasor diagrams are shown. For each value of Is, V1 of given phase and
magnitude is required.

➢ This can be easily realized in sinusoidal pulse-width modulation (PWM). In

sinusoidal PWM magnitude and phase of V1 depends on the magnitude and phase of
modulation signal [1].

➢ When the power supplied by SLC to the dc link equals the power taken by PWM
inverter II, no energy will be supplied or taken from the capacitor C and its voltage
will be constant and equal to the reference value Vd*.
➢ If now the load on IM is increased, power taken by PWM inverter II from the dc link
will be higher than the power supplied by the SLC. Hence, the capacitor voltage Vd
will fall below its reference value Vd*.
➢ Since SLC works as a boost converter, the closed loop control of dc link voltage
provides the drive with ride through capability against a voltage sag and under
voltage.
➢ When ac source voltage falls, the closed loop voltage control maintains the dc link
voltage constant by increasing Is, and thus, the motor continues to be provided
constant voltage, and therefore, produces same maximum power and torque.
➢ Four quadrant operation can be obtained by any drive with braking (regenerative or
dynamic) capability.
➢ A reduction of the inverter frequency, to make synchronous speed less than the motor
speed, transfers the operation from quadrant I (forward motoring) to II (forward
braking).

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ The inverter frequency and voltage are progressively reduced as speed falls to brake
the machine up to zero speed.

Variable Frequency Control from Current Source

➢ Control of induction motor employing variable frequency voltage sources was
considered in previous section.
➢ This section considers motor control by Variable Frequency Control From Current
Source (VFCS).
➢ An equivalent circuit for motor fed from a current source is obtained when voltage
source V is replaced by a current source Is.

➢ Motor speed-torque curves for various values of Is and natural speed-torque curve,
which corresponds to the operation at rated constant flux.
➢ Or a given Is, operation of motor above the natural characteristic takes place for a flux
higher than rated and below it at lower than rated.
➢ Since rated flux operation is preferred due to reasons explained already, the natural
characteristic is locus of preferred, operating points.
➢ Drive is operated such that relationship of Fig (b) is maintained between stator current
Is and rotor frequency (sf), when frequency is changed to control the speed.

➢ When operating at a constant flux, the operating points are located mostly on the part
of speed torque curve, which gives unstable operation with most loads.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ Hence, closed loop control is mandatory. Since motor is constraint to operate at

constant flux, its steady-state behavior is identical to that with VFVS.
➢ Thus at a given slip speed (or rotor frequency), the motor draws a constant current and
develops a constant torque at all frequency.
➢ The motor, therefore, operates in constant torque mode from zero to base speed. At
base speed, either rated machine voltage is reached or VFCS voltage saturates.
➢ In either case machine operates at a constant terminal voltage above base speed,
providing constant power mode.
➢ Variable frequency current supply is provided by a Variable Frequency Control From
Current Source inverter.

Current Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor

➢ A thyristor Current Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor (CSI) is shown in Fig.
➢ Diodes D1-D6 and capacitors C1-C6 provide commutation of thyristors T1-T6, which
are fired with a phase difference of 60° in sequence of their numbers.
➢ It also shows the nature of output current waveforms.

➢ Inverter behaves as a current source due to the presence of large inductance Ld in dc

link.

The fundamental component of motor phase current from Fig. is

➢ For a given speed, torque is controlled by varying dc link current Id by changing the
value of Vd.
➢ Therefore, when supply is ac, a controlled rectifier is connected between the supply
and inverter and when supply is dc, a chopper is interposed between the supply and
inverter.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ The maximum value of dc output voltage of fully-controlled rectifier and chopper are
chosen so that the motor terminal voltage saturates at rated value.

➢ The major advantage of Current Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor is its
reliability. In case of VSI , a commutation failure will cause two devices in the same
leg (e.g. Tr1 and Tr4) to conduct.
➢ This connects conducting devices directly across the source. Consequently, current
through devices suddenly rises to dangerous values. Expensive high speed
semiconductor fuses are required to protect the devices.
➢ In case of Current Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor, conduction of two
devices in the same leg does not lead to sudden rise of current through them due to the
presence of a large inductance Ld.
➢ This allows time for commutation to take place and normal operation to get restored
in subsequent cycles. Further, less expensive HRC fuses are good enough for
protection of thyristors.

Regenerative Braking and Multiquadrant Operation

➢ When inverter frequency is reduced to make synchronous speed less than motor
speed, machine works as a generator.
➢ Power flows from machine to dc link and dc link voltage Vd (Fig. ) reverses.
➢ If fully-controlled converter of Fig. (a) is made to work as an inverter, the power
supplied to dc link will be transferred to ac supply and regenerative braking will take
place.
➢ Thus, no additional equipment is required for regenerative braking of CSI drive of
Fig. (a).

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ Change of phase sequence of Current Source Inverter Control of Induction Motor will
provide motoring and braking operations in the reverse direction.
➢ The drive of Fig.(b) can have regenerative braking capability and four-quadrant
operation if a two quadrant chopper providing current in one direction but voltage in
either direction is used

Rotor Resistance Control of Induction Motor

➢ Speed-torque curves for Rotor Resistance Control of Induction Motor are given in
Fig.
➢ While maximum torque is independent of rotor resistance, speed at which the
maximum torque is produced changes with rotor resistance.
➢ For the same torque, speed falls with an increase in Rotor Resistance Control of
Induction Motor.
➢ Advantage of Rotor Resistance Control of Induction Motor is that motor torque
capability remains unaltered even at low speeds.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

Static Rotor Resistance Control

➢ Rotor resistance can also be varied steplessly using circuit of Fig.
➢ The ac output voltage of rotor is rectified by a diode bridge and fed to a parallel
combination of a fixed resistance R and a semiconductor switch realized by a
transistor Tr

➢ Effective value of resistance across terminals A and B, RAB, is varied by varying

duty ratio of transistor Tr, which in turn varies rotor circuit resistance.
➢ Inductance Ld is added to reduce ripple and discontinuity in the dc link current Id.
➢ Rotor current waveform will be as shown.
Thus rms rotor current will be

Resistance between terminals A and B will be zero when transistor is on

and it will be R when it is off. Therefore, average value of resistance
between the terminals is given by

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

Suggests that rotor circuit resistance per phase is increased by 0.5R(1 – δ). Thus, total rotor
circuit resistance per phase will now be

❖ A closed-loop speed control scheme with inner current control loop is shown in Fig.
❖ Rotor current Ir and therefore, Id has a constant value at the maximum torque point,
both during motoring and plugging.
❖ If the current limiter is made to saturate at this current, the drive will accelerate and
decelerate at the maximum torque, giving very fast transient response.
❖ For plugging to occur, arrangement will have to be made for reversal of phase
sequence.
❖ Compared to conventional Rotor Resistance Control of Induction Motor, static rotor
resistance control has several advantages such as smooth and stepless control, fast
response, less maintenance, compact size, simple closed-loop control and rotor
resistance remains balanced between the three phases for all operating points.

Slip Power Recovery Scheme used in Induction Motor

❖ Slip Power Recovery Scheme used in Induction Motor – Figure shows an equivalent
circuit of a wound-rotor induction motor with voltage Vr injected into its rotor,
assuming stator-to-rotor turns ratio unity. When rotor copper loss is neglected

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

❖ where Pr is the power absorbed by the source Vr.

❖ The magnitude and sign of Pr can be controlled by
controlling the magnitude and phase of Vr.
❖ When Pr is zero, motor runs on its natural speed torque characteristic.
❖ A positive Pr will reduce Pm, and therefore, motor will run at a lower speed for the
same torque.
❖ When Pr is made equal to Pg, then Pm and consequently speed will be zero. Thus,
variation of Pr from 0 to Pg will allow speed control from synchronous to zero speed.

Static Scherbius Drive

❖ It provides the speed control of a wound rotor motor below synchronous speed.
❖ A portion of rotor ac power is converted into dc by a diode bridge.
❖ The controlled rectifier working as an inverter converts it back to ac and feeds it back
to the ac source.
❖ Power fed back (i.e. Pr) can be controlled by controlling inverter counter emf Vd2,
which in turn is controller by controlling the inverter firing angle.
❖ The dc link inductor is provided to reduce ripple in dc link current Id.
❖ Since Slip Power Recovery Scheme used in Induction Motor is fed back to the source,
unlike rotor resistance control where it is wasted in resistors, drive has a high
efficiency.
❖ The drive has higher efficiency than stator voltage control by ac voltage controllers
because of the same reasons.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

❖ Drive input power is the difference between motor input power and the power fed
back.
❖ Reactive input power is the sum of motor and inverter reactive powers.
❖ Therefore, drive has a poor power factor throughout the range of its operation.

❖ Transformer is used to match the voltages Vd1 and Vd2. At the lowest speed required from the

drive, Vd1 will have the maximum value Vd1m given by

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

➢ Figure(a) shows equivalent circuit of motor referred to the rotor, neglecting

magnetizing branch. Derivation of Eq. shows that when referred to dc link, resistance
(sR′s + Rr) will be 2(sR′s + Rr). This gives approximate dc equivalent circuit of the drive
(Fig.), where Vd1 and Vd2 are given in Eqs. Rd is the resistance of dc link inductor.
Equivalent circuit ignores the commutation overlap in the diode bridge.

❖ In fan and pump drives braking is not required, because the fluid pressure provides
adequate braking torque.
❖ To maintain constant fluid flow with variations in pressure head and the nature of
pumped fluid, the drive is operated with a closed loop speed control.
❖ This drive is widely used in medium and high power (up to around 10 MW) fan and
pump drives, because of high efficiency and low cost.
❖ This drive provides a constant torque control. Constant power control is obtained by
static Kramer drive described.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

Static Kramer Drive

❖ Rotor slip power is converted into dc by a diode bridge (Fig.(a)).
❖ The dc power is now fed to dc motor mechanically coupled to induction motor.
❖ Torque supplied to load is sum of torque produced by induction and dc motors. Speed
control is obtained by controlling field current of dc motor.

❖ (b) shows variations of Vd1 and Vd2 with speed for two values of dc motor field
current. The steady state operation is obtained when Vd1 = Vd2, i.e. at A and B for
field currents If1 and If2.

❖ Speed control is possible from synchronous speed to around half of synchronous

speed. When larger speed range is required, diode bridge is replaced by a thyristor
bridge.

Speed control of Single- Phase Induction Motor

❖ Speed of a single-phase induction motor is generally controlled by controlling its stator
voltage which can be controlled by connecting a variable resistance in series with the
stator. Because of poor efficiency the resistance control is now rarely used.
❖ Stator voltage can, also be controlled by the use of ac voltage controllers
❖ By reducing Stator Voltage Control of Induction Motor, speed of a high-slip induction
motor can be reduced by an amount which is sufficient for the speed control of some

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

fan and pump drives method is suitable for applications where torque demand reduces
with speed, which points towards its suitability for fan and pump drives.
❖ Domestic fan motors, which are always single-phase, are controlled by a single-phase
triac voltage controller below Fig. (a).
❖ Speed control is obtained by varying firing angle of the triac.
❖ These controllers, commonly known as solid state fan regulators, are now preferred
over conventional variable resistance regulators because of higher efficiency.
❖ Industrial fans and pumps are usually driven by three-phase motors.

❖ Below Fig. (b) shows a commonly used thyristor voltage controller for speed control
of 3-phase motors.
❖ Motor may be connected in star or delta.
❖ In delta connection, third harmonic voltage produced by motor back emf causes
circulating current through the windings which increases losses and thermal loading
of motor.
❖ For low power ratings, anti-paralleled thyristor pair in each phase can be replaced by
a triac.
❖ Speed control is obtained by varying conduction period of thyristors.

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IDA (18EE741)_Module-4 Notes

❖ The speed of the motor can also be controlled by variable frequency control.
❖ However, it is rarely used because for most of the variable speed applications of
single-phase motors, the stator voltage control is good enough.

25 | P a g e Department of EEE, ATMECE