Q3.

 A 208-V, Y-connected synchronous motor is drawing 50 A at unity power factor from a

208-V power system. The field current flowing under these conditions is 2.7 A. Its
synchronous reactance is 1.6 ohm. Assume a linear open-circuit characteristic. (14)
(a) Find the torque angle. (3)
(b) What is the static stability power limit under these conditions? (3)
(c) How much field current would be required to make the motor operate at 0.80 PF leading
with the same shaft load? (8)

Solutions:
(a) 𝐸  𝐴 =𝑉 𝜙 − 𝑗 𝑋 𝑠 𝐼 𝐴

  = 3 V 𝜙 𝐸𝐴
(b) 𝑃 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑋𝑠

(c) 𝐼  𝐴 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃1 =𝐼 𝐴 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃2 𝐸

  𝐴 =𝑉 𝜙 − 𝑗 𝑋 𝑠 𝐼 𝐴

𝐸
  𝐴2 = 𝐼 𝐹 2
𝐸 𝐴1 𝐼 𝐹 1
 Synchronous motors
Synchronous motors are synchronous machines used to convert electrical
power to mechanical power

Basic Principles of Motor Operation

Fig. 6.1
 Equivalent circuit of synchronous motor:

Fig. 6.2a
 

 
 The synchronous motor from a magnetic field perspectives:

Fig. 6.3

 
=
 The synchronous motor from a magnetic field perspectives:

Fig. 6.4
 Steady-state synchronous motor operation:

The synchronous motor Torque-Speed characteristic curve:

Fig. 6.5
 The synchronous motor Torque-Speed characteristic curve:

The torque equation,

 =

 =
Or,

• The loss of synchronization after the pullout torque is

exceeded is known as Slipping Poles
The synchronous motor Torque-Speed characteristic curve:

The maximum or pullout torque,

 =

 =
Or,

• There is a stability advantage in operating the motor with

large field current or a large EA
 The effect of load changes on a synchronous motor:

 =

Fig. 6.6
Solution:
Initially, the motor’s output power is 15 hp. This corresponds to an
output of,
  = 15 X 0.746 =11.19 kW
Therefore, the electric power supply to the machine is,
  =++
= 11.19 + 1.5 + 1.0 + 0
=13.89 kW
Since the motor’s power factor is 0.8 leading, the resulting line
current flow is,
 =

and, the armature current is,

 =

Now, we can write,

 =
(2.5)(

The resulting phasor diagram is shown in Fig. 6-7a.

 Fig. 6.7

As the power on the shaft is increased to 30 hp, the shat slows down
momentarily, and the internal generated voltage EA swings out to a larger
angle  while maintain phasor diagram is shown in Fig. 6-7b.
Fig. 6.7
After the load changes, the electric input power of the machine
becomes,

  =++
= 30 X 0.746 + 1.5 + 1.0 + 0
=24.88 kW

Now,
 P =
= =

  EA = 255 V
  
= = A

 
== 41.2 =71.4 A

Now, the final power factor,

 
== 0.966 leading
The effect of field current change on a synchronous motor:

Fig. 6.8
The effect of field current change on a synchronous motor:

Fig. 6.9
The effect of field current change on a synchronous motor:

Fig. 6.8b

Fig. 6.10
The inverted V-curves:

 =constant
Solution:

(a) From the previous example,

 𝑃 =13.69 𝑘𝑊
𝑖𝑛

Now, power factor = 0.85 lagging,

 = 25.8 A ;
 𝜃=𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.85=31.8 °

So, phasor current,  𝐼 𝐴 =25.8 ∠ −31.8 ° A

Now,  

The resulting phasor diagram is shown in Fig. 6-11, together with the results for part (b).

Fig. 6.11
(b) If the flux  is increased by 25%, then EA will increase by 25% too, as EA = k,

∴ 𝐸 𝐴 =182 X 1.25=227.5 V
 

However, the power supplied to the load must remain constant. Since P  EA sin , that
distance on the phasor diagram must be constant from the original flux level to the new
flux level. Therefore,
 𝐸 𝐴 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 1= 𝐸 𝐴 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 2
𝐸𝐴 1 182
 
⟹ 𝛿 2 =𝑠𝑖𝑛 −1
[ 𝐸𝐴 2 ] [
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 1 =𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
227.5 ]
sin ( −17.5 ° ) = −13.9 °

Now, the armature current,

 22.5
Finally, the motor’s power factor is now,
𝑃𝐹=cos
  ( 13.2 ° )=0.974𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔
The resulting phasor diagram is shown in Fig. 6-11.

(c) Because the flux  is assumed to increase linearly with field current, EA will also
vary linearly with field current. So,
 𝐸 𝐴2 𝐼𝐹 2
=
𝐸 𝐴1 𝐼𝐹 1
  𝐼𝐹2 𝐼 𝐹2
∴ 𝐸 𝐴 2 =𝐸 𝐴 1 =182 . =45.5 𝐼 𝐹 2
𝐼𝐹1 4
The torque angle  for any given field current can be found from the fact that the
power supplied to the load must remain constant:

 𝐸 𝐴 1 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 1= 𝐸 𝐴 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 2
𝐸𝐴
 
⟹ 𝛿 2 =𝑠𝑖𝑛
−1
[ 𝐸𝐴
1

2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛿 1
]
These two pieces of information give us the voltage E A. Once EA is available, the new
armature current can be calculated from the equation,
  𝑉 𝜙 − 𝐸𝐴 2
𝐼 𝐴 2=
𝑗 𝑋𝑠
Similarly, IA can be calculated for
Fig. 6.12
several values of IF and plotted as
shown in Fig. 6-12.

We can see from the plot that for IF =

4.0 A armature current IA = 25.8 A,
which agrees with the result obtained
in part (a) of this example.
The synchronous motor and power
factor correction:

Fig. 6.13
Solution:
(a) Load 1:  
 

Load 2:  

Load 3:  

 
So, overall,

Now,   𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡 3
450 𝑋 10
𝐼 𝐿= = =667 A
√3 𝑉 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 √ 3 X 480 X 0.812
(b)  

 
So, overall,

  𝑃𝑡𝑜𝑡 450 𝑋 10
3
Now,
𝐼 𝐿= = =566 A
√3 𝑉 𝐿 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 √ 3 X 480 X 0. 957
 𝑃 2 2
(c) First case:
𝐿𝐿 =3 𝐼 𝑅
𝐿 𝐿 =3 X 667 X 𝑅 𝐿 =1,334,667 𝑅 𝐿
Second case:  

Note that in second case the power loss is 28% less than in the first case, while
power supplied to the load is the same for both cases.
Having one or more leading loads (overexcited synchronous motors) on the system
can be useful for the flowing reasons:

1. A leading load can supply some reactive power Q for nearby lagging loads,
instead of it coming from the generator. It reduces transmission line losses

2. Since the transmission lines carry less current, they can be smaller for a given
power flow. A lower equipment current rating reduces the cost of power system

3. To operate with leading power factor motor needs to run overexcited. It

increases maximum torque that reduces the chance of accidentally exceeding the
pullout torque

• The use of synchronous motor or other equipment to increase the overall

power factor of a power system is called “power factor correction”.
 The synchronous capacitor or synchronous condenser:

Fig. 6.14

The voltage equation for motor:

𝑉 𝜙=𝐸 𝐴 − 𝑗 𝑋 𝑠 𝐼 𝐴
 
The synchronous capacitor or synchronous condenser:

Fig. 6.15

• Today conventional static capacitors are more economical to buy and use than
synchronous capacitors
 Starting synchronous motors
60 Hz generator: one
complete rotation
needs 1/60 seconds

𝜏 𝑖𝑛𝑑 =𝑘 𝐵𝑅 ×𝐵 𝑠
 

Fig. 6.16
Starting synchronous motors
Three basic approaches can be used to safely start a synchronous motor:
• Using reduced frequency power supply
• Using external prime mover
• Using damper/ amortisseur windings

Motor starting using reduced frequency power supply:

• Regular power systems are regulated at 50/60 Hz

• Until recently, variable frequency source had to from dedicated generator

• Was impractical except for very unusual circumstances

• Today, use of rectifier-inverter and cyclo-converter can provide any desired

frequency
Starting synchronous motors
Motor starting using reduced frequency power supply:

• When a motor operates at reduced frequency, its internal voltage is

lower, since   𝐸 =𝑘 𝜙𝜔
𝐴
• Terminal voltage must be reduced to limit IA
• Terminal voltage should be varied roughly linearly with frequency

Motor starting with an external prime mover:

• Using a starting motor start the synchronous motor as a generator
• Parallel it to the power system and remove the starting motor
• Then load the motor loaded in ordinary fashion
Starting synchronous motors
Motor starting using amortisseur windings:

• Amortisseur/damper windings are squirrel cage type bars used on the

pole faces, which are shorted at each eand by end rings
• Amortisseur windings are used to start the motor as an induction
motor.
• When speed reaches near to synchronous speed, the main field is
excited

Fig. 6.17
Fig. 6.18
 𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑑=( 𝑣×𝐵 ) ⋅𝑙
 

v = velocity of the bar relative to

the magnetic field

B = magnetic flux density vector

l = length of conductor in magnetic

field

 𝜏 𝑖𝑛𝑑 =𝑘 𝐵𝑊 × 𝐵𝑠

Fig. 6.19
Starting synchronous motors
Steps to start synchronous motor using amortisseur windings:

• Disconnect the field windings from their dc power supply source and
short them out

• Apply 3-phase voltage to stator and start it as induction motor without

any load.

• Connect dc field circuit to its power when speed is near synchronous

speed

• After that loads may be added to the motor

The effect of amortisseur windings on motor stability

• The torque produced by the amortisseur windings speed up slow

machines and slows down fast machines

• Amortisseur windings dampen out load or other transients on the

machine

• Amortisseur windings are also used in synchronous generators, where

they serve similar stabilizing function

• Amortisseur windings are responsible for most of the sub-transient

current in a faulted synchronous machine
Synchronous generators and synchronous motors

Fig. 6.20
 Synchronous motor ratings

• The basic machine ratings are the same as those of a synchronous

generator

• The difference is, large EA gives leading power factor, instead of lagging
one

• Maximum field current limit is expressed as a rating at a leading power

factor

• Synchronous motor’s ratings is usually given in horse power, rather than

killowatts
Synchronous motor ratings

Fig. 6.21

In addition to the information given in above nameplate for a large synchronous

motor, a smaller synchronous motor would have a service factor on its nameplate