Unit II

Synchronous Motor

Introduction:
The same synchronous machine can be used as a generator or as a motor.
When it converts mechanical power or energy into electric power or
energy, it is called a synchronous generator. On the other hand, when it
converts electric power or energy into mechanical power or energy, it is
called a synchronous motor.

For instance, if two alternators A and B are operating in parallel and the
power input to one of the alternator say ‘A’ is increased, it starts
delivering more power. Since the demand of the load is unaltered, the
alternator ‘B’ will thus be relieved off load by an equal amount. If this
process is continued till output power of alternator ‘A’ becomes more
than the total load supplied, then the alternator ‘B’ instead of supplying
power starts receiving power from the bus-bars. Thus, the machine starts
working as a motor. However, when two alternators A and B (or any
number of alternators) are operating in parallel and the driving force
(power input) of any one of them is removed, it continues to run as a
motor by receiving power from the other alternator (or bus bars).

Thus, the machine starts working as a motor and is called synchronous

motor.
Note: The construction of synchronous motor is same as that of synchronous
generator or alternator.
 2.1 Principle of operation
The stator is wound for the similar number of poles as that of rotor, and
fed with three phase AC supply. The 3 phase AC supply produces
rotating magnetic field in stator. Suppose the stator is wound for 2 poles
with 50 Hz supply, the speed of the rotating magnetic field will be 3000
r.p.m. This effect is similar to the physical rotation of two poles with a
speed of Ns r.p.m. For simplicity of understanding, let us assume that the
stator poles are rotating at a speed of N s. The rotor winding is fed with
DC supply which magnetizes the rotor. Now, the stator poles are
revolving with synchronous speed (let’s say clockwise). If the rotor
position is such that, N pole of the rotor is near the N pole of the stator (as
shown in fig.1.a), then the poles of the stator and rotor will repel each
other, and the torque produced will be anticlockwise.
The stator poles are rotating with synchronous speed, and they rotate
around very fast and interchange their position. But at this very soon,
rotor cannot rotate with the same angle (due to inertia), and the next
position will be likely as in fig.1.b. In this case, poles of the stator will
attract the poles of rotor, and the torque produced will be clockwise.
Hence, the rotor will undergo to a rapidly reversing torque, and the motor
will not start. But, if the rotor is rotated up to the synchronous speed of
the stator by means of an external force (in the direction of revolving
field of the stator), and the rotor field is excited near the synchronous
speed, the poles of stator will keep attracting the opposite poles of the
rotor (as the rotor is also, now, rotating with it and the position of the
poles will be similar throughout the cycle). Now, the rotor will undergo
unidirectional torque. The opposite poles of the stator and rotor will get
locked with each other, and the rotor will rotate at the synchronous speed.

Fig.1.a

Fig.1.b
 2.2 Torque equation

It may be seen that torque is directly proportional to the

mechanical power because rotor speed (i.e., Ns) is fixed.

2.3 Operation on infinite bus bars

To connect a synchronous motor to an infinite bus bar, the
procedure is same as connecting a synchronous generator to
an infinite bus bar. Infinite bus bar is one, which keeps
constant voltage and frequency although load varies. Fig 1.
shows a synchronous machine which is to be connected to the
infinite bus bar with the help of switch K. The motor is run by
an auxiliary device such as small dc or induction motor
initially and then synchronized to the bus bars.
Since the synchronous motors are not self-starting hence if
switch K is closed when the rotor is stationary, the average
torque will be zero as the two fields run at synchronous speed
relative to each other so the motor fails to start. They are made
self-starting by providing short circuited bars placed on the
rotor which produce torque as produced in case of induction
motors.
 Fig.1

2.4 V and Inverted V curves

V Curve:
In a synchronous motor when load changes, for constant excitation,
current drawn by the motor increases. But if excitation is i.e. field current
is changed keeping load constant, the synchronous motor reacts by
changing its power factor of operation.
While changing the excitation of a 3-phase synchronous
motor, keeping the load constant, the curve plotted
between field current If and armature or load current I is
called V-curve.

It is named as V-curve because its shape resembles with

the shape of English alphabet ‘V’.

If

P = 3 VI cos Φ

Where P = Power input, V = Terminal voltage (phase

value)

I = Armature current (phase value) and cosΦ = Power

factor.

then for constant power input P and terminal voltage V,

only increase in power factor causes decrease in armature
current I and vice versa. Armature current will be
minimum at unity power factor and increases when the
power factor decreases on either side (lagging or leading).

Hence variation in excitation (field current) causes the variation in

armature current I. If we plot a curve taking field current I f on X-axis
and the armature current I on Y-axis, the curve so obtained is called V-
curve because of its shape.

Inverted V-Curves:
If we plot a family of curves between power factor and field current (I f ),
the curves so obtained are called inverted V-curves, as shown in Fig.
8.22, because of their shape.
Experimental set up to obtain V-curves
Stator is connected to three phase supply through wattmeters and
ammeter. The two wattmeter method is used to measure input power of
motor. The ammeter is reading line current which is same as armature
(stator) current. Voltmeter is reading line voltage. A rheostat in a
potential divide arrangement is used in the field circuit. By controlling the
voltage by rheostat, the field current can be changed. Hence motor can be
subjected to variable excitation condition to note down the readings.

SL.No. V (V) I (A) W1(W) W2(W) If

excitation(
A)
The result table is

SL.No. I (A) Cosφ (p.f) Nature of

If(A) p.f.

1) Ia Vs If gives V-curve
2) Cosφ Vs If gives Inverted V-curve.
The entire procedure can be repeated for various load
conditions to obtain family of V-curves and Inverted V-
curve

2.5 Power input and power developed equations

Power Input to Motor per Phase
Apparent power = Active power + j Reactive power
Power Developed in a Salient-pole Synchronous Motor

2.6 Starting methods

Since a synchronous motor is inherently not self-starting, the following
methods are generally adopted to start the synchronous motor:

1. By means of Auxiliary Motor: A small induction motor called

the pony motor (auxiliary motor) is mounted on the same shaft or coupled
to synchronous motor as shown in Fig. 8.25. The auxiliary motor should
have the same number of poles as that of synchronous motor or
preferably one pole pair less so that it can rotate the motor nearly at
synchronous speed. First of all supply is given to the pony motor. When it
rotates the rotor of the synchronous motor near to the synchronous speed
the main switch and DC switch of the main synchronous motor are
closed.
The rotor poles are pulled into synchronism with the rotating field (poles)
of the armature (stator) of the main motor. Then supply to the auxiliary
motor is disconnected and it acts as a load on the main motor.

2. By providing damper winding: This is a most common method

of starting a synchronous motor. In this method, the motor is first started
as a squirrel cage induction motor by providing a special winding on the
rotor poles, known as damper or squirrel cage winding. This damper
winding consists of number of copper bars embedded into the slots or
holes provided on the outer periphery of the pole shoes, where salient
poles are employed, and then short circuiting these bars by brazing them
to end rings as shown in Fig. 8.26. In a non-salient pole machine, the
damper winding conductors are placed in the rotor slots above the main
field winding and short circuited by the end rings.
When the synchronous motor (armature) is connected to
3-phase supply mains, a revolving field is set up which
causes the rotor to rotate as a squirrel cage induction
motor. As soon as motor attains about 65% synchronous
speed, the rotor winding is connected to DC mains
(exciter) and the rotor field is magnetically locked with the
stator rotating field and the motor starts running as a
synchronous motor.

2.7 Current loci for constant power input, constant

excitation and constant power developed
Back e.m.f: In synchronous motor also, once rotor starts rotating
at synchronous speed, the stationary stator (armature) conductors
cut the flux produced by rotor. The conductors are stationary and
flux is rotating. Due to this there is an induced e.m.f. in the stator
which according to Lenz’s law opposes the supply voltage. This
induced e.m.f. is called back e.m.f. It is denoted as E bph i.e. back
e.m.f. per phase.

Load Angle (δ): is the angle by which the rotor axis retards with
respect to stator axis.
As Ebph depends on flux, for constant excitation, E bph is constant.
For constant excitation, if load is varied then the load angle δ is
varied then δ keeps on changing, due to which V ph – Ebph = ERph
= IaphZs keeps on changing. The locus of extremities of E Rph
=IaphZs is a circle and Zs is constant, represents current locus for
the synchronous motor under constant excitation and variable load
conditions. As δ increases, IaphZs increases and motor draws more
current. As load decreases, δ decreases hence IaphZs decreases and
motor draws less current. Such a current locus is given in the fig.
It is clear that on no load, current drawn by the motor is very
small. This is because the stator and the rotor magnetic axes are
almost matching with each other. i.e. load angle δ is very small.
As load increases, rotor magnetic axis starts retarding with respect
to stator axis.i.e. load angle increases maintaining the magnetic
locking condition. And hence in case of synchronous motor load
affects the angle ‘δ’ without affecting the speed. As ‘δ’ increases,
the magnitude of ERph increases which shows that motor draws
more current from the supply. This satisfies the increased load
torque demand.
The load angle ‘δ’ is measured in degrees electrical.
 2.8 Hunting
When a synchronous motor is loaded, the rotor poles slightly fall back in
position with respect to the stator field (poles) by an angle known as
power angle or torque angle or retarding angle. As the load is gradually
increased, this angle also increases gradually so as to produce more
torque for coping with the increased load and the motor remains in
equilibrium. If the load is suddenly thrown off, angle decreases suddenly
and the rotor poles are pulled into almost exact opposition to the stator
poles, but due to inertia of rotor and rotor poles travel too far. They are
then pulled back again, and so on, thus oscillations are set up around the
equilibrium position, corresponding to new load. If these oscillations are
too large they may throw the motor out of synchronism and stops.

The oscillation of the rotor about its equilibrium position is known as

hunting.

The hunting (oscillations) can be prevented by providing damper winding

or squirrel cage winding on the rotor pole faces. This damper winding
consists of number of copper bars embedded into the slots provided on
the outer periphery of the pole shoes and then short circuited by end
rings. When hunting takes place, there is relative motion of the rotor with
respect to the stator field, which sets up eddy currents in this winding
which flow in such a way that it suppresses the oscillations.

The hunting may also occur when the machine is operating as an

alternator. In this case also because of sudden change in electrical output
or mechanical input oscillations are set up in the rotor called hunting;
which can be prevented by providing damper winding on the rotor.

2.9 Natural frequency of oscillations

Natural frequency is the rate at which an oscillatory system tends to
oscillate in the absence of disturbance.
The frequency at which a system oscillates when not subjected to a
continuous or repeated external force.
 2.10 Damper windings
The tendency of hunting can be minimized by the use of a
damper winding. Damper windings are placed in the pole
faces. No e.m.f.s are induced in the damper bars and no
current flows in the damper winding, which is not operative.
Whenever any irregularity takes place in the speed of rotation,
however, the polar flux moves from side to side of the pole,
this movement causing the flux to move backwards and
forwards across the damper bars. E.m.f.s are induced in the
damper bars forwards across the damper winding. These tend
to damp out the superimposed oscillatory motion by
absorbing its energy. The damper winding, thus, has no effect
upon the normal average speed, it merely tends to damp out
the oscillations in the speed, acting as a kind of electrical
flywheel. In the case of a three- phase synchronous motor the
stator currents set up a rotating mmf rotating at uniform speed
and if the rotor is rotating at uniform speed, no emfs are
induced in the damper bars. Fig: shows a salient pole
synchronous motor with damper winding.
 2.11 Synchronous condenser
The power factor of a synchronous motor can be controlled over a wide
range by adjusting its excitation. At no-load, when the motor is over-
excited it may draw the current from mains, which leads the voltage by
large angle nearly 90°. Hence, the motor acts like a static capacitor and is
known as a synchronous condenser.

Thus, an over excited synchronous motor operating at no-load is called a

synchronous condenser or synchronous capacitor.

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