AN 

AC MOTOR IS AN ELECTRIC
MOTOR DRIVEN BY AN ALTERNATING
CURRENT (AC).
THE AC MOTOR COMMONLY CONSISTS OF TWO BASIC PARTS,

• an outside stator having coils supplied with alternating current to produce

a rotating magnetic field.

• Rotar
• and an inside rotor attached to the output
shaft producing a second rotating

magnetic field.

ROTAR- Rotating Part

AC motors can be divided into two main categories –

(i) Synchronous motor 

Synchronous motor: Stator has axial slots which consist stator winding wound for a specific
number of poles. Generally a salient pole rotor is used on which rotor winding is mounted.
Rotor winding is fed with a DC supply with the help of slip rings.
(ii) Asynchronous motor.

Induction motor: Stator winding is similar to that of a synchronous motor. It is wound

for a specific number of poles. A squirrel cage rotor or a wound rotor can be used. In
squirrel cage rotor, the rotor bars are permanently short-circuited with end rings. In
wound rotor, windings are also permanently short-circuited, hence no slip rings are
required
 Speed of motor
The speed of the AC motor is determined primarily by the frequency
of the AC supply and
the number of poles in the stator winding, according to the relation:

  N = Ns = 120f/P
Where,
Ns = Synchronous speed, in revolutions per minute
F = AC power frequency
p = Number of poles per phase winding

Synchronous motor always runs at a speed equal to its synchronous speed. 

i.e. Actual speed = Synchronous speed
The difference between the synchronous speed (Ns) and actual speed  (N) of the rotor is

called as slip.

Actual speed = (1 - S) Ns.

Numerical
• Ex.1 A particular load is to be driven at about 700 r.p.m.. what should be the
number of poles for a three phase induction motor when
1. F = 60Hz 2.f = 50Hz ?
Calculate the actual speed in each case if the rated slip is 4%?

• Ex.2 A three phase induction motor is wound for 4 pole and is supplied from 50Hz
supply system. Calculate the synchronous speed & the speed of motor when slip is
4%?

• Ex.3 A three phase, 6 pole 50Hz induction motor runs at 900 r.p.m. Determine
synchronous speed, %slip & frequency induced in rotor.
Solutions

• Ex1
1) TO FIND P FOR F= 60HZ
Ns = 120 f/P
P = 120 f/Ns
= 120*60/700
= 10 3) P = 8

2) TO FIND N FOR F = 60Hz 4) TO FIND N FOR F = 50Hz

Ns = 120 f/P Ns = 120 f/P
= 120*60/10 = 120*50/8
=720rpm = 750rpm
Hence, N = (1-S) Ns Hence, N = (1-S)Ns
= (1-0.04)*720rpm = (1-0.04)750rpm
= 691.2rpm = 720rpm
Solutions

• Ex 2
1. Synchronous speed:
Ns = 120f/P
= 120*50/4
= 1500rpm

2. speed when s = 0.04

s= Ns – N/Ns

Hence N = (1-s)Ns
= (1-0.04)*1500
= 1440rpm
Solutions

• Ex.3
1) Synchronous speed Ns
Ns = 120f1/P
= 120*50/6
= 1000 r.p.m
2) Percent slip
%S = Ns – N / Ns
= 1000- 900/1000 X 100
= 10%
3) Frequency of rotor induced emf
F2= S*F1
= 0.1*50
= 5Hz
Numerical
• Ex.4 A 4 pole, 3 phase, 50Hz induction motor runs at 1440 r.p.m. calculate the
synchronous speed. When it will have unity slip?

• Ex. 5 Define the term slip of an induction motor. A 50Hz, 4 pole, 3 phase induction
motor has a rotor current of frequency 2Hz. Calculate
1. slip
2. speed of motor

• Ex. 6 A three phase motor is wound for 4 pole and is supplied from 50Hz supply.
Calculate the synchronous speed and speed of motor, ifslip is 4%. What will be the
value of % slip if motor runs at speed of 1470rpm? Find the frequency of rotor
induced emf in these case.
Torque

Torque is a measure of the force that can cause

an object to rotate about an axis. Just as force is
what causes an object to accelerate in linear
kinematics, torque is what causes an object to
acquire angular acceleration.
The torque produced by three phase induction
motor depends upon the following three factors:
• magnitude of rotor current.
• flux which interact with the rotor.
• power factor of rotor of the three phase induction motor.
• The flux φ produced by the stator is proportional to stator emf E1.

i.e φ ∝ E1

We know that transformation ratio K is defined as the ratio of secondary voltage (rotor
voltage) to that of primary voltage (stator voltage).
• Rotor current I2 is defined as the ratio of rotor induced emf under running condition
sE2to total impedance Z2 of rotor side.

total impedance Z2 on rotor side is given by ,

• We know that power factor is defined as ratio of resistance to that of impedance.
The power factor of the rotor circuit is
Speed control of three phase induction motor

• The expression of actual speed of three phase induction motor is given by,
N = Ns(1 - s)
N = Actual speed
Ns= synchronous speed
S = slip

Another way to change the speed is to change the torque torque produced by motor
which is given by.
 Torque Slip Characteristics of Three Phase
Induction Motor
• The torque slip curve for an induction motor
gives us the information about the variation of
torque with the slip.
• Slip?
• Relation of torque with change in slip or
change in speed.
The torque-slip characteristic curve can be divided roughly into
three regions:

• Low slip region

• Medium slip region
• High slip region
 Motoring Mode
•
In this mode of operation, supply is given to the stator sides
and the motor always rotates below the synchronous speed.
The induction motor torque varies from zero to full load
torque as the slip varies. The slip varies from zero to one. It
is zero at no load and one at standstill. From the curve it is
seen that the torque is directly proportional to the slip.
That is, more is the slip, more will be the torque produced
and vice-versa. The linear relationship simplifies the
calculation of motor parameter to great extent.
 Generating Mode
•
In this mode of operation induction motor runs above
the synchronous speed and it should be driven by a
prime mover. The stator winding is connected to a three
phase supply in which it supplies electrical energy.
Actually, in this case, the torque and slip both are
negative so the motor receives mechanical energy and
delivers electrical energy. Induction motor is not much
used as generator because it requires reactive power for
its operation.
 Braking Mode
• Braking Mode
In the Braking mode, the two leads or the polarity of the supply voltage is
changed so that the motor starts to rotate in the reverse direction and as a result
the motor stops. This method of braking is known as plugging. This method is
used when it is required to stop the motor within a very short period of time.
The kinetic energy stored in the revolving load is dissipated as heat. Also, motor
is still receiving power from the stator which is also dissipated as heat. So as a
result of which motor develops enormous heat energy. For this stator is
disconnected from the supply before motor enters the braking mode.
If load which the motor drives accelerates the motor in the same direction as the
motor is rotating, the speed of the motor may increase more than synchronous
speed. In this case, it acts as an induction generator which supplies electrical
energy to the mains which tends to slow down the motor to its synchronous
speed, in this case the motor stops. This type of breaking principle is called
dynamic or regenerative breakin
Speed control method of induction motor

• Stator Voltage Control.

 The speed of a three phase induction motor can
be varied by varying the supply voltage
By Changing The Applied Voltage
The variable voltage for speed control of motors obtained by the following
methods given below.

• By connecting an external resistance in the

stator circuit of the motor.
• By using an Auto transformer.
• By using a Thyristor voltage controller
• By using a Triac Controller
 Advantages
• This method is the easiest
• cheapest
 Disadvantages
• large change in supply voltage is required for
relatively small change in speed.
• large change in supply voltage will result in a
large change in flux density, hence, this will
disturb the magnetic conditions of the motor
 Speed Control of Induction Motor by Variable
Frequency Control

N = Ns(1 - s)

However, this method is not widely used. It may be used where, the
induction motor is supplied by a dedicated generator (so that
frequency can be easily varied by changing the speed of prime
mover).
Constant V/F Control

But only change in f1, keeping v1 constant has an adverse effect on the air gap flux .

Core saturation .

Hence the ratio of v1/f1 is kept constant by changing the stator voltage v1and frequency
F1 simultaneously. This is necessary to kept air gap flux constant.

Hence this method is called constant v/f control

Advantages of v/f control
• Smooth control of speed.
• Airgap flux is constant so no possibility of core
saturation.

Disadvantages
• Control circuit is compilcated.
 Changing The Number Of Stator Poles

• For example, a stator is wound with two

3phase windings, one for 4 poles and other for
6 poles.
for supply frequency of 50 Hz
i) synchronous speed when 4 pole winding is
connected, Ns = 120*50/4 = 1500 RPM
ii) synchronous speed when 6 pole winding is
connected, Ns = 120*50/6 = 1000 RPM
Disadvantages
• The speed change take place in steps. Smooth
control is not possible to obtain,
• There are only a limited number of speed
values that are achieved by this methods.
Advantages
• The pole changing is easily achiveable
practically .