University of Technology

Electrical Engineer
4th Stage

Synchronous Motor Operation

EXP Date:2021/10/31

Instructor Name‫احمد البهادلي‬.‫أ‬:

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General:-
A 3-phase synchronous motor is not self starting i.e. it does not start when the rotor is excited by
dc and stator is applied with 3-phase voltage in order to start a synchronous motor the following
methods are usually used.

Object: to know how to operate a synchronous motor and obtain the V curve

a) Using a Pony Motor:

A separate small dc motor is used to bring the speed of the synchronous motor to near
about synchronous speed and then the drive motor is disconnected and the rotor is
connected to dc supply
b) Using the Synchronous induction motor
Using a wound rotor induction motor to start as an induction motor (rotor is shorted through
external resistance) and run as a synchronous motor by connecting the rotor to dc supply.
c) Using Damper Windings:
In the pole shoes of the salient poles of the synchronous motor, thus obtaining the starting torque
by induction motor action. The last method is used in this lab. As all the synchronous motors used
are of salient pole construction and have been provided with damper Windings for starting
purpose.
Theory: -
The variation of the excitation for a constant load and constant applied voltage, cause the
armature current to change and the graph of a I e I i.e. a I =f ( ) e I will be

in the form of V fig. (1) thus the armature current a I required by the synchronous motor
can be brought into phase or to lagging or leading with respect to the terminal voltage by
suitable adjustment of the excitation current. It leads the terminal voltage at over
excitation and lags at under excitation fig. (2) This behavior is very important, since it
enables the motor to be used for power factor correction.
Experimental Investigation
V – Curve of the Synchronous Motor
To obtain the V-curve it is recommended to start with maximum excitation current e I ,
and then smoothly reduce it. The variation of the excitation current is limited by the value
of armature current a I which should not exceed 1.2 times Irated i.e. 1.2Ir. It is easier to
evaluate the motor load by the required power input from the supply. It must be noted
that the required power input to the motor is not strictly constant; it is different values of
the armature current due to the variation of motor losses.

Procedure
1. Connect the circuit diagram as show in fig. (3)
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2. Keeping the field circuit open and start the motor, when the motor has attained a speed
near about synchronous speed, close the field circuit with no load on the motor. adjust the
field excitation such that a I =1.2Ir . Reduce the excitation current and observe the
armature current and input power according to table 1
3. Repeat 2 above for P=0.25Pr, and P=0.5Pr the synchronous motor is loaded by the dc
machined coupled to it. The dc machine is operated as a generator and loaded by a load
rheostat.