Speed Control of

Induction Motor
The speed control of induction motor is done to modify the currents in an
induction motor to control speed. The expression for the speed (N) of an
induction motor is

N=Ns(1−s)

Hence, we can obtain control over the speed by varying its synchronous speed
(Ns) or changing its slip (s). The synchronous speed of the induction motor
depends on the supply frequency and the number of stator poles. The torque of
an induction motor while running is given by

T=[3×60/2πNs]×sE22R2/R22+(sX2)2

Hence for a given torque and load, we can vary the rotor voltage and rotor
resistance to vary the slip for the speed control of induction motor.

Speed Control Methods of Induction Motor

From the stator side, we can obtain the speed control of induction motor by
using the following methods, namely.

• Voltage Control Method

• Frequency Control Method
• Pole Changing Method
• Stator Resistance Method

From the rotor side, the speed control of induction motor can be achieved by the
following methods.

• Rotor Resistance Control Method

• Slip Power Recovery Method
• Cascading (or) Tandem connection

Let us briefly discuss these speed control methods of the induction motor.

Voltage Control Method

In this method of speed control of induction motor, the supply voltage is varied
using an autotransformer. Practically, we cannot increase the voltage levels
beyond the rated voltage as the insulation stress will increase and lead to
insulation failure.

T=[3×60/2πNs]×sE22R2/R22+(sX2)2

During running, the slip is tiny; hence (sX2)2 can be neglected

⇒T 𝛼 sE22

And the E.M. F induced in the rotor (E2) is proportional to the stator voltage (V)

⇒T 𝛼 sV22

The above equation makes it evident that torque will likewise drop if the supply
voltage is reduced. If the voltage reduces for a given load, the slip will increase
while reducing the speed to maintain the load torque constant. Voltage can be
reduced to a suitable value; the motor will become unstable if we reduce the
voltage below this value. This type of speed control of induction motor is rarely
employed since it results in an overheated induction motor because a minor
change in speed necessitates a considerable voltage reduction.

Frequency Control Method

The flux density of the stator core is inversely proportional to the applied
frequency. To reduce the core losses and for the better performance of the
motor, the maximum flux density (Bm) must be maintained constant.

Bm 𝛼 V/f

So, to maintain the maximum flux density as constant, we must vary the voltage
and frequency. This method cannot be possible for frequencies greater than the
rated frequency as voltage also needs to be increased, which is impossible due
to insulation constraints. This method requires variable voltage and variable
frequency converters, which makes this method an expansive one. Still, this
method offers a wide range of speed control without affecting the efficiency of
the motor.

Pole Changing Speed Control

This method of speed control of induction motor can only be applied to the
squirrel cage induction motor. The number of poles in the rotor of a slip ring
induction motor is fixed, whereas the squirrel cage rotor can be adapted to any
number of poles. The poles of the induction motor can be changed in two ways.
 • Multiple winding sets
• Consequent pole changing

In the first method, we use multiple winding sets of stator windings designed for
different sets of poles. While in operation, any one of them can be connected
according to the speed requirements of the user, and the other sets will keep in
open. We know that

Ns=120f/P

As the number of poles increases, the speed will be reduced. This method can
only vary the speed in steps, and it is expansive as it involves multiple stator
windings.

In the method of consequent pole changing, we can obtain another set of poles
by reversing the coils. This method can only give two sets of speeds.

Stator Resistance Method

This speed control method of induction motor is similar to the voltage control
method. It requires three rheostats to be connected in series with each phase of
the stator winding to reduce the voltage and achieve the required speed. As
there is some power loss due to the rheostats, this method will be preferred for
the low-rating machines for a small duration. This method is more advantageous
in starting than speed control.

Rotor Resistance Control Method

This speed control method of induction motor can be possible for the slip-ring
induction motor only as we cannot access the rotor of the squirrel cage
induction motor. This method connects external resistance to the rotor through
the slip rings and brushes while running. Hence it leads to the reduction of the
torque.

T=[3×60/2πNs]×sE22R2/R22+(sX2)2

For the given stator voltage, the E.M.F induced in the rotor E2 is constant, and
during running, the slip is tiny; hence (sX2)2 can be neglected.

⇒T 𝛼 s/R2

But to maintain the load torque constant, the speed of the rotor will decrease,
and the slip will increase. As the operating slip increases, this method is
inefficient and unsuitable for a wide range of applications. The main benefit of
this method is that starting torque increases with the addition of external
resistance, but it also has significant drawbacks.

• It is not possible to travel at speed higher than usual.

• Huge speed changes necessitate big resistance values, yet adding such
large values will result in significant copper loss and a drop in circuit
efficiency.
• More losses result from the presence of resistance.
• The squirrel cage induction motor cannot be operated using this method.

Slip Power Recovery Method

In this method of speed control of induction motor, we inject the external

voltage into the rotor through slip rings and brushes at a slip frequency (sf) To
obtain steady-state torque. This could be done in two ways.

In the first method, we increase the rotor voltage, which leads to an increase in
speed for a given load. We know that

T 𝛼 sE22

If the rotor voltage is increased, the torque will increase; subsequently, the rotor
speed will increase, and the slip will decrease.

In the second method, we decrease the voltage in the rotor, then the torque will
decrease, the speed will increase, and the slip will decrease. The Scherbius drive
is the best example of this kind of operation.

Cascading or Tandem Connection

In this method of speed control of induction motor, we need two induction

motors, one is essentially a slip ring induction motor, and the other is either a
slip ring induction motor or a squirrel cage induction motor. Both machines will
be mechanically coupled; the first motor is a slip ring induction motor which
feeds the second one through its slip rings.