Modes of Operation of Electric

Drives
 OBJECTIVES
•The objective of this module is to describe modes of operation of electric
drives
Applications of Drives
Applications of Drives
 Advantages of Electric Drives
1.Wide speed range
2.Flexible control characteristics
3.High efficiency
4.Do not pollute the environment
5.Four quadrant operation
 Modes of Operation
An electrical drive operates in three modes:

•Steady state
•Acceleration including Starting
•Deceleration including Stopping
Modes of Operation –Steady
State
 Modes of Operation –Steady
State
•The steady state operation for a given speed is
realized by adjustment of steady state motor
speed torque curve such that the motor and load
torques are equal at this speed.

•Change in speed is achieved by varying the

steady state motor speed torque curve so that
motor torque equals the load torque at the new
desired speed.
Modes of Operation –Transient
Modes of Operation –Transient
Acceleration and Deceleration modes are transient modes.

Drive operates in acceleration mode whenever an increase

in its speed is required.

For this motor speed torque curve must be changed so

that motor torque exceeds the load torque.

Time taken for a given change in speed depends on inertia

of motor load system and the amount by which motor
torque exceeds the load torque.
 Modes of Operation –Transient
Increase in motor torque is accompanied by an increase in
motor current.

Care must be taken to restrict the motor current with in a value

which is safe for both motor and power modulator.

In applications involving acceleration periods of long duration,

current must not be allowed to exceed the rated value.

When acceleration periods are of short duration a current

higher than the rated value is allowed during acceleration.

In closed loop drives requiring fast response, motor current

may be intentionally forced to the maximum value in order to
achieve high acceleration.
 Modes of Operation –Transient
In some applications the motor should accelerate
smoothly, without any jerk.

This is achieved when the starting torque can be

increased step lessly from its zero value.

Such a start is known as soft start.

 Types of Braking
•Regenerative Braking.

•Plugging type braking.

•Dynamic braking.
 Types of Braking
Regenerative braking

•In the Regenerative braking method the motor is not disconnected

from the supply.

•It remains connected to it and feeds back the braking energy or it

kinetic energy to the system.

•During braking the motor works in generator mode

•As no energy is wasted in this method and it is supplied back to the

system, thus overall energy is saved.

•Thus the regenerative braking is better than Plugging and Dynamic

braking.
•This type of braking is used in traction whenever the train runs on
down.
 Types of Braking
Plugging type braking.

•This is the simplest type electric braking.

•In this method, the torque of the motor is reversed.

•It makes the motor and the driven machine to standstill

condition.

•A special device is required to cut off the supply as soon as

the motor comes to rest.

•The Plugging braking method can be applied to AC and DC

motors.
 Types of Braking
Dynamic braking.
•In this method of braking, the motor is disconnected from the supply

•Then operated as a generator driven by the kinetic energy of the

rotor and the load.

•Thus the kinetic energy of rotation is converted into electrical

energy

•This electrical energy is dissipated in the external resistance

connected across the motor at the braking instant.

•The advantage of dynamic braking is that no energy is required

from the supply to brake the motor.

•The Dynamic braking method can be applied to brake DC motors,

induction motors and synchronous motors.
 Summary
•The modes of operation of drives has been discussed.
 References

•Bimal K.Bose. Modern Power Electronics and AC Drives, Pearson Education,

2002.

•R.Ramaprabha, R.Seyezhai, Solid State Drives DC and AC, SCITECH

Publications,2019

•G. K. Dubey Fundamentals of Electrical Drives CRC Press, 2002