Effective Energy Conservation for the Agricultural
Sector using Line Start Permanent Magnet
Synchronous Motors
R. T. Ugale, Gaurav Singh, Srinivas Baka, and B. N. Chaudhari
Department of Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering, Pune [COEP]
Pune, India
Abstract—The growing demand for electricity in developing
countries calls for a continuous increase in the installed capacity.
However, with installed capacity unable to meet the pace of
increase in demand, increase in efficiency of energy conversion
devices is a vital requirement. The present paper considers one
such energy improvement method in the form of a Line Start
Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (LSPMSM) which is
intended as a substitute for induction motors in developing
countries. The economic benefits due to the utilization of such
machines, their commercial viability and their life cycle costing
have all been considered here. The paper also presents theoretical
results obtained for various rotor configurations of the LSPMSM
and practical results for the selected spoke type rotor geometry.
Keywords-Line start permanent magnet synchronous motor;
energy conservation; agricultural sector
I. INTRODUCTION
In the present global energy scenario, where phenomena
like global warming are becoming a concern, renewable
energy sources and technology associated with them is
becoming a hotbed of research. However, while technological
development in this area continues, an overnight switch to
energy conversion devices utilizing such technology will be
impossible. In such a case, it becomes necessary to make
current energy conversion devices more efficient [1], [2]. With
increasing emphasis on electrical energy conservation, there
have been significant efforts by most motor manufacturers to
improve the overall efficiency of currently available motors
and drives. Electric motors convert about 60% of all electrical
energy generated. Approximately three quarters of electric
motors are induction motors.
Manufacturers have concentrated on improving classical
electrical motor designs, and in addition, now offer high
efficiency lines of motors at premium prices [4],[6]. The
improved efficiency is obtained by reducing air gap power
density, by replacing aluminum conductors with copper
conductors, by increasing conductor cross section, and by
using higher quality magnetic iron. These techniques can be
combined to reduce total losses by 20-40%. There are,
however, limits to the possible efficiency improvement that
can be obtained by using these classical techniques. With any
particular machine, there exists a point beyond which it is not
economical, and in some cases impossible, to increase
978-1-4244-4547-9/09/$26.00 ©2009 IEEE
efficiency by adding materials. In addition, with increasing
loss reductions, it becomes more difficult to maintain a
specified minimum starting torque, minimum starting current,
and maximum power factor. Moreover, for an induction
motor, the losses cannot be completely eliminated considering
the fact that the rotor copper losses are an essential and
integral part of the torque production process.
Hence, in the last 25-30 years efforts to increase motor
efficiency have been concentrated on reducing motor losses by
utilizing PM excitation and making a new motor with the
desirable characteristics of an induction motor.
The resulting PM synchronous machine fits into the
envelope of a polyphase induction machine, has the line start
capability of the induction machine and the desirable qualities
of a synchronous machine [7]-[10]. The motor operates at a
single synchronous speed only and is less sensitive to voltage
changes. These characteristics make the motor ideal for use in
the agricultural sector in developing countries where the
remote agricultural load is subject to large voltage fluctuations
and poor supply quality. Most of the rural feeders are
dominated by agricultural load. Though, utilities have installed
power factor improvement devices on such feeders and it is
mandatory to install power factor improvement device at the
load, due to wide diversity of the load locations, it becomes
impossible to compensate the reactive power demanded at the
load point. This in turn burdens the limited capacity of the
distribution transformers. Theoretical analysis for various
rotor configurations of a LSPMSM utilizing Ansoft’s Maxwell
RMxprt has been presented in the next section with
subsequent sections focusing on the practical results and
economic implications.
II. COMPARISON OF LSPMSM GEOMETRIES
The present study considers the potential for saving in the 5
hp rating category considering the fact that the 5 hp induction
motor is the most widely used machine in the agricultural and
Industrial sector. Typical values for efficiency and power
factor of 5 hp, 415 V, 7.3 A, 4 pole, 50 Hz, three phase
induction motors manufactured in India are 85 % and 0.82.
These are the average values for 5 different manufacturers.
Attempts are made to fit the LSPMSM in the same frame size
as that of the commercial induction motor. To limit the cost of
the prototypes, the available stator of induction motor is used
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while rotors are designed so as to get requiired synchronous type circumferential magnet orientation
o design offers
performance characteristics, and have been provided with cage satisfactory performance in all resppects. However, due to the
bars to provide required line start capability. T
The various rotor flux squeezing arrangement, it req quires a non-magnetic shaft
configurations are differentiated on the basis oof the orientation which increases cost. The circum mferential arrangement of
of the permanent magnets within the rotor. Various rotor magnets leads to increased air gap flux
f density.
configurations which have been reported in litterature based on Comparison of the perfo ormance of individual
magnet arrangement and which have been cconsidered in the configurations against each other is shown in figure 2.
present study are shown in figure 1. power factor vs
s load angle
1.2

0.8

power factor
0.6

0.4
spoke
v-rotor
0.2
u-rotor
radial
0 w-rotor
swastik

-0.2
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
load angle(d
degrees)

Figure 2.a. Power factor versus load

d angle curves for various rotors
efficiency vs load angle
100

Figure 1. Various LSPMSM rotor configuurations 90

80
A comparative study of the various rotorr geometries has
70
been reported in [3], [4], [6]. However, for thhe purpose of this
study, various rotor geometries are compareed keeping some 60
%efficiency

motor parameters as standard. Initially, for tthe same magnet 50

volume motor performance is evaluated and ccompared. Such a 40
comparison has been shown in table I. spoke
v-rotor
30
u-rotor
TABLE I : PERFORMANCE COMPARISON OF VARIOUSS LSPMSM ROTOR 20 radial
GEOMETRIES w-rotor
10 swastik
[MOTOR SPECIFICATIONS : 5 HP / 3.7 KW,415 V, 50 HZ,15000 RPM,3Φ, 4 POLE]
0
B air 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Load load angle(d
degrees)
Various Effici Powe Tstar gap I no
Tmaxx Angle Figure 2.b. Efficiency versus load an
ngle curves for various rotors
LSPMS ency r t (N- no load
(N-m
m) δ
M Rotor η (%) factor m) load (A) airgap power vs
s load angle
(deg) 10000
(T)
9000 spoke
Spoke v-rotor
91.66 0.999 63.31 0.653 84.100 69.72 0.26 8000 u-rotor
type radial
7000 w-rotor
Radial
airgap power(watts)

swastik
91.68 0.997 60.20 0.570 83.166 67.46 1.12 6000
type
5000
U type 92.86 0.998 60.76 0.401 82.277 73.34 1.85
4000
V type 92.28 0.988 61.61 0.561 81.899 63.45 1.50
W type 92.55 0.996 61.28 0.501 83.022 66.82 1.72 3000

Swastik 2000
92.27 0.973 63.09 0.467 86.055 83.53 1.66
type 1000

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
The optimal performance of the motor for each rotor is also load angle(d
degrees)

compared to draw the conclusions. It is seen that the spoke Figure 2.c. Air gap power versus load
d angle curves for various rotors

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 efficiency vs input current SPEED in Per Unit
100

90
1
80

70
0.8

Speed in Per Unit

60
%efficiency

50 0.6

40
spoke
30 v-rotor 0.4
u-rotor healthy condition
20 radial 2 cycle SAG
w-rotor 0.2 4 cycle SAG
10 swastik 6 cycle SAG
0 8 cycle SAG
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0
input current(amps) 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
time in sec
Figure 2.d. Efficiency versus input current for various rotor configurations
Figure 3.b. Full load Speed variations under 20 % voltage sag after start of
Figure 2. Performance comparison of various LSPMSM rotors 2-4-6 and 8 cycles

Figure 3. Full load torque and speed variations

By comparing the performance of reported LSPMSM rotor
configurations it is seen that the spoke type rotor
configuration gives satisfactory performance in almost all
respects. The swastik type rotor configuration, although good
in certain output parameters, has a larger value of the torque
angle. It attains its maximum efficiency at a considerably
larger value of the torque angle. This limits the stability
margin for the LSPMSM.
The other configurations have performance parameters
which have their own advantages and disadvantages. The ideal
configurations will be the ones which have a satisfactory
performance in all respects. The optimum configuration is thus
a trade-off between the required maximum values of torque
and power factor and minimal values of the no-load current
and torque angle. On the basis of the above conclusions, the
spoke type rotor configuration is selected for manufacturing
the prototype.
Electro magnetic Torque
5 residential consumer [1]. The cost of electricity from the
Tem
From figure 3, the performance of LSPMSM under voltage
sag can be analyzed. If the LSPMSM experiences a voltage
sag of 20% after start the motor will regain its steady state
speed for all 2, 4, 6 and 8 cycle voltage sags.
III. ECONOMIC BENEFITS
In order to demonstrate the economic benefits of the
LSPMSM, the case of the Agricultural sector in India is
considered, where as stated earlier, the supply is marked by
voltage sag and short disturbances and is often of poor quality.
It is here that the LSPMSM makes a strong case for itself with
its immunity to voltage variations. Consider the following
facts for the Maharashtra state in India:
Electricity rates are subsidized for the agricultural sector at
the expense of industrial and commercial consumers.
Agricultural consumers get electricity supply at Rs 1.1/kWh
[0.0229 $/kWh] as against Rs 5.5/kWh [0.1146$/kWh] for the
industrial consumer and Rs 3/kWh [0.0625$/kWh] for a
utility perspective is Rs. 3.50/kWh [0.073 $/kWh]. In

-5
2 cycle SAG Maharashtra there are 2.399 million motor connections for
5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 agricultural pumps in 2008 with an annual increase of about
18,000 connections per year. In India, total agricultural pump
Tem

0
4 cycle SAG
motors till 2008 are 13.609 million with an annual rise of
-5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
2,22,000 [2]. The benefits of a LSPMSM can be calculated
5 from the utility as well as the consumer point of view. For
calculation purpose the performance characteristics of a spoke
Tem

-5
6 cycle SAG type rotor LSPMSM are considered. For agricultural pump
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 motors in Maharashtra state and India the average rating of the
5
motors has been considered to be 5 hp. The energy efficient
Tem

0
8 cycle SAG
LSPMSM motors will be a suitable alternative to induction
-5
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
motors. Average duty of agriculture pumps is 600 hrs / year.
Time in sec Assuming that the induction motors used in agricultural sector
Figure 3.a. Full load torque variations under 20 % voltage sag after start of are replaced by energy efficient LSPMSM, the annual saving
2-4-6 and 8 cycles per year are calculated [5].

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 S= 0.746 × hp × P ×H [ - 112 M frame induction motor design is used without any change
in the stator.
where,
S = annual saving, $/year
hp = horse-power output
P = power costs in, $/kWh
H = running time, hr/year
= efficiency of LSPMSM
= efficiency of induction motor

For agricultural consumers,

P = 0.073 $/kWh
H = 600 hr/year
= 91.57 % (experimental value)
= 85 %
S = 13.77 $/year.
Energy saving = 188.89 kWh/year

Figure 4. Full load flux plot for 5 hp LSPMSM at all surfaces

TABLE II. ENERGY AND COST SAVING BY INSTALLING NEW LSPMSM
Energy saving by Cost saving by
(MWh/year) agricultural pumps
($/year)
Case Utility Agricultural Utility Agricultural
perspective consumer perspective consumer
perspective perspective
Maharashtra 5100 3400 3,72,300 2,48,200
India 62900 41933 45,91,700 30,61,100

TABLE III. ENERGY AND COST SAVING BY REPLACING EXISTING 10%

INDUCTION MOTORS BY LSPMSM
Energy saving Cost saving by
(MWh/year) agricultural pumps
Case ($/year)
Utility Agricultural Utility Agricultural
[Number of perspective consumer perspective consumer
pump perspective perspective
motors] Figure 5. Complete assembly of 5 hp LSPMSM with spoke
Maharashtra 67,749 45,166 49,45,677 32,97,118 rotor geometry
[2,39,000]
India 3,85,802 2,57,201 2,81,63,546 1,87,75,673 Figure 4 shows the full load flux plot for the spoke rotor
[13,61,000] LSPMSM design. The NdFeB magnets are selected as they
offer high energy product and placed in the rotor in spoke
TABLE IV. PAY BACK PERIOD FOR NEW LSPMSM INSTALLATIONS
configuration. Due to the flux squeezing this configuration
Sr. Activity Utility gives more air gap flux density, so it is used in the final
No. perspective
1 Installing all new pump 4 years 6 prototype for experimentation. Figure 5, shows the final
motors with LSPMSM months, 22days assembly of the LSPMSM. The experimental and simulated
2 Retrofitting 10% 6 years, 1 results for LSPMSM are found to be in close agreement. The
Induction motors to month experimental rated load efficiency is 91.57% and the power
LSPMSM
factor is 0.98.
The calculations of energy saving from the utility
IV. CONCLUSION
perspective and the cost saving from consumer perspective have
been done and shown in the above tables II and III. The payback For emerging economies and developing countries like
period for industrial application is very less (around 1.5 years) India, it is absolutely essential that the available electricity be
due to continuous duty application. On the other hand, for converted as efficiently as possible. However, due to the poor
agricultural consumer payback period is much higher because quality of supply received in rural areas for agriculture,
these motors will be used only for 4 hours a day and 4-5 months efficient operation of motors becomes somewhat of a problem.
of summer time in India. The payback period for new LSPMSM In such cases the LSPMSM can be an effective alternative to
installations is calculated with utility perspective and it is given the induction motors in all applications. The properties and
in table IV. The design of 5 hp LSPMSM is carried out in the performance parameters of such a motor have been thoroughly
laboratory using the Ansoft’s Maxwell software package. The investigated and presented here along with the economic

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benefits. The economic benefits have been presented in the
form of a case study for the agricultural sector in India. The
study compared the various LSPMSM rotor geometries in
terms of performance and concluded that the spoke type rotor
configuration with circumferentially oriented magnets offers
better overall performance and is comparatively easy to
manufacture. Further investigation is, however required into
the change in manufacturing technique that is required if such
machines are to be manufactured as a replacement for standard
induction motors on a large scale.
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start permanent magnet synchronous motors with interior-magnet rotors
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