3-phase Induction Motor

The motor which works on the principle of electromagnetic induction is known as the
induction motor. The electromagnetic induction is the phenomenon in which the
electromotive force induces across the electrical conductor when it is placed in a rotating
magnetic field.

Construction of Induction Motor:

Like any other type of electrical motor induction motor, a 3 phase induction motor is
constructed from two main parts, namely the rotor and stator:

1. Stator: As its name indicates stator is a stationary part of induction motor. A

stator winding is placed in the stator of induction motor and the three phase
supply is given to it.
2. Rotor: The rotor is a rotating part of induction motor. The rotor is connected
to the mechanical load through the shaft.

The rotor of the three phase induction motor are further classified as

1. Squirrel cage rotor

2. Slip ring rotor or wound rotor or phase wound rotor

Depending upon the type of rotor construction used the three phase induction motor are
classified as:

1. Squirrel cage induction motor

2. Slip ring induction motor or wound induction motor or phase wound
induction motor.

The other parts of a 3 phase induction motor are:

1. Shaft for transmitting the torque to the load. This shaft is made up of steel.
2. Bearings for supporting the rotating shaft.
3. One of the problems with electrical motor is the production of heat during its
rotation. To overcome this problem, we need a fan for cooling.
4. For receiving external electrical connection Terminal box is needed.
5. There is a small distance between rotor and stator which usually varies from
0.4 mm to 4 mm. Such a distance is called air gap.
Stator of induction motor:

The stator of the three-phase induction motor consists of three main parts :

1. Stator frame,
2. Stator core,
3. Stator winding
The main function of the stator core is to carry the alternating flux. To reduce the
eddy current loss, the stator core is laminated. The laminated stamping is made
up of silicon steel, which helps to reduce the hysteresis loss occurring in the
motor.

The slots on the periphery of the stator core of the three-phase induction motor
carry three phase windings. We apply three phase ac supply to this three-phase
winding. The three phases of the winding are connected either in star or delta.

The winding wound on the stator of three phase induction motor is called it as
stator winding and when this winding is excited by three phase ac supply, it
produces a rotating magnetic field.

Stator of induction motor

Squirrel cage rotor of induction motor:

The rotor of the squirrel cage three phase induction motor is cylindrical and have
slots on its periphery. The slots are not made parallel to each other but are bit
skewed. The skewing prevents magnetic locking of stator and rotor teeth and
makes the working of the motor more smooth and quieter. The squirrel cage
rotor consists of aluminum, brass or copper bars. These aluminum, brass or
copper bars are called rotor conductors and are placed in the slots on the
periphery of the rotor. The rotor conductors are permanently shorted by the
copper, or aluminum rings called the end rings. To provide mechanical strength,
these rotor conductors are braced to the end ring and hence form a complete
closed circuit resembling like a cage and hence got its name as squirrel cage
induction motor.

Advantages of Squirrel Cage Induction Rotor

1. Its construction is very simple and rugged.
2. As there are no brushes and slip ring, these motors requires less
maintenance.
Applications of Squirrel Cage Induction Rotor
We use the squirrel cage induction motors in lathes, drilling machine, fan, blower
printing machines, etc.
Slip ring rotor of induction motor:

These type of three phase induction motor the rotor is wound for the same
number of poles as that of the stator. The rotor also carries star or delta winding
similar to that of the stator winding.

The rotor consists of numbers of slots and rotor winding are placed inside these
slots. The three end terminals are connected together to form a star connection.
As its name indicates, three phase slip ring induction motor consists of slip rings
connected on the same shaft as that of the rotor.

The three ends of three-phase windings are permanently connected to these slip
rings. The external resistance can be easily connected through the brushes and
slip rings and hence used for speed controlling and improving the starting torque
of three phase induction motor. The brushes are used to carry current to and
from the rotor winding. These brushes are further connected to three phase star
connected resistances. An electrical diagram of a slip ring three phase induction
motor is shown below:
Advantages of Slip Ring Induction Motor
1. It has high starting torque and low starting current.
2. Possibility of adding additional resistance to control speed.
Application of Slip Ring Induction Motor
Slip ring induction motor are used where high starting torque is required i.e in
hoists, cranes, elevator,lifts etc.

Difference between Slip Ring and Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

Slip ring or phase wound Induction

Squirrel cage induction motor
motor

Construction is complicated due to

Construction is very simple
presence of slip ring and brushes

The rotor consists of rotor bars

The rotor winding is similar to the
which are permanently shorted with
stator winding
the help of end rings

Since the rotor bars are permanently

We can easily add rotor resistance by
shorted, its not possible to add
using slip ring and brushes
external resistance

Due to presence of external resistance Staring torque is low and cannot be

high starting torque can be obtained improved

Slip ring and brushes are present Slip ring and brushes are absent

Frequent maintenance is required due

Less maintenance is required
to presence of brushes

The construction is complicated and The construction is simple and

the presence of brushes and slip ring robust and it is cheap as compared
makes the motor more costly to slip ring induction motor
 Due to its simple construction and
This motor is rarely used only 10%
low cost. The squirrel cage induction
industry uses slip ring induction motor
motor is widely used

Rotor copper losses are high and Less rotor copper losses and hence
hence less efficiency high efficiency

Speed control by rotor resistance Speed control by rotor resistance

method is possible method is not possible

Slip ring induction motor are used Squirrel cage induction motor is used
where high starting torque is required in lathes, drilling machine, fan,
i.e in hoists, cranes, elevator etc blower printing machines etc

Principle of Operation:

1. The windings of the stator are equally displaced by space from each other by an
angle of 120° as shown below.

2. When the three-phase supply is given to the stator, three phase currents will flow in
stator windings, which are displaced by 120° by time, then rotating magnetic field
 produced on it. The speed of Rotating Magnetic Field (RMF) is equal to synchronous
speed which is given by,

120𝑓
𝑁𝑠 = , 𝑟𝑝𝑚
𝑃

3. At starting rotor(stand still condition) of induction motor is stationery, that is rotor

speed𝑁𝑟 = 0. The rotating magnetic field will cut the stationery rotor conductors
which results in Induced EMF(𝐸𝑟 ) in the rotor conductors.

4. Due to this rotor EMF, rotor current will flow in the rotor conductors, which intern
produces rotor flux.

5. Due to the interaction of Rotating Magnetic Field and Rotor Flux, Torque is produced
in rotor conductors and rotor starts rotating at speed of𝑁𝑟 , which is less than
synchronous speed 𝑁𝑠 .

6. Rotor (𝑁𝑟 )always tries to catch the speed of Rotating Magnetic Field (𝑁𝑠 ), but it
never happens.

1. 𝐼𝑓 𝑁𝑟 < 𝑁𝑠 , 𝑀𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

2. 𝐼𝑓 𝑁𝑟 > 𝑁𝑠 , 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

3. 𝐼𝑓 𝑁𝑟 = 𝑁𝑠 , 𝑁𝑜 𝑀𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒

If 𝑁𝑟 = 𝑁𝑠 , the relative speed between Rotating Magnetic Field and Rotor is zero,
then no EMF will be induced in the rotor conductors.

Concept of Slip Speed and Slip:

We know that in an induction motor, Rotor (𝑁𝑟 ) always tries to catch the speed of Rotating
Magnetic Field (𝑁𝑠 ), but it never happens. The difference between speed of Rotating
Magnetic Field (𝑁𝑠 ), and speed of Rotor (𝑁𝑟 ) is called Slip Speed.

𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟

Slip is the ratio of slip speed to synchronous speed. The term ‘slip’ is descriptive of the way
in which the rotor ‘slips back’ from synchronism and
𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟
𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑝 = 𝑆 =
𝑁𝑠

𝐼𝑓 𝑁𝑟 = 0, 𝑆 = 1

𝐼𝑓 𝑁𝑟 = 𝑁𝑠 , 𝑆 = 0
Sometimes it is expressed in %
𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟
%𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑝 = %𝑆 = × 100
𝑁𝑠

Rotor Parameters:

1. Frequency of Rotor Current 𝑓𝑟 :

When the rotor is stationary (stand still condition), the frequency of rotor current is the
same as the supply frequency. But when the rotor starts revolving, then the frequency
depends upon the relative speed or on slips peed.
120𝑓𝑟
𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑, 𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟 =
𝑃

120𝑓
𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑, 𝑁𝑠 =
𝑃

𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑁𝑠 − 𝑁𝑟 𝑓𝑟
= =𝑆=
𝑆𝑦𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑁𝑠 𝑓

Therefore, the frequency of Rotor Current 𝑓𝑟 = 𝑆𝑓

2. Rotor EMF in running (𝐸𝑟 ) and standstill conditions (𝐸2 ):

Let 𝐸2 is standstill rotor EMF per phase

Let 𝐸𝑟 is running rotor EMF per phase

Running Rotor EMF 𝐸𝑟 = 𝑆𝐸2

3. Rotor Reactance in running (𝑋𝑟 ) and standstill conditions (𝑋2 ):

Let 𝑋2 is standstill rotor Reactance per phase

Let 𝑋𝑟 is running rotor Reactance per phase

Since rotor reactance depends on frequency of rotor current, we can write as,

Running rotor Reactance𝑋𝑟 = 𝑆𝑋2

4. Rotor Resistance in running (𝑅𝑟 ) and standstill conditions (𝑅2 ):

Rotor Resistance never depends on frequency of rotor current, therefore

Rotor Resistance is same under bit standstill and running conditions.
Therefore,
 Running rotor Resistance 𝑅𝑟 = 𝑅2

5. Rotor Impedance in running conditions is (𝑍𝑟 ):

Consider the impedance diagram of rotor circuit under running condition.

We can write running rotor Impedance as 𝑍2 = √(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2

𝑅2 𝑅2
Power factor of the rotor = cos(𝜃2 ) = =
𝑍𝑟 √(𝑅2 )2 +(𝑆𝑋2 )2

6. Torque under running condition (𝑇) and standstill conditions (𝑇𝑠𝑡 ):

The torque under running condition is proportional to the product of stator flux per
pole, the rotor current/phase under running 𝐼𝑟 and the power factor of the rotor
cos(𝜃2 ).Therefore Torque is given by,
𝑇 ∝ Φ𝐼𝑟 cos(𝜃2 ) or 𝑇 = 𝑘Φ𝐼𝑟 cos(𝜃2 )

The induced voltage 𝐸2 is proportional to flux Φ, we can write 𝑇 ∝ 𝐸2 𝐼𝑟 cos(𝜃2 )

We know that,

𝐸𝑟 𝐸𝑟 𝑆𝐸2
𝐼𝑟 = = and 𝐸𝑟 = 𝑆𝐸2 now 𝐼𝑟 =
𝑍𝑟 √(𝑅2 )2 +(𝑆𝑋2 )2 √(𝑅2 )2 +(𝑆𝑋2 )2

𝑅2
cos(𝜃2 ) =
√(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2

Now we can write,

𝑆𝐸2 𝑅2
𝑇 ∝ 𝐸2
√(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2 √(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2
 𝑆(𝐸2 )2 𝑅2
𝑇= 𝑘
(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2
180
The constant K is given by, 𝑘 = where 𝑁𝑠 is synchrounous speed in rpm.
2π𝑁𝑠

180 𝑆(𝐸2 )2 𝑅2
𝑇=
2π𝑁𝑠 (𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2

At starting S=1, therefore starting(stand still) torque is

180 (𝐸2 )2 𝑅2
𝑇𝑠𝑡 =
2π𝑁𝑠 (𝑅2 )2 + (𝑋2 )2

Condition for maximum torque is 𝑅2 = 𝑆𝑋2

𝑅2
Slip corresponding to maximum torque is 𝑆𝑚 =
𝑋2

180 (𝐸2 )2
Then maximum torque is 𝑇𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2π𝑁𝑠 2𝑋2

Note that the maximum torque is independent of rotor resistance, but Slip
corresponding to maximum torque depends on rotor resistance.

Condition for maximum starting torque is 𝑅2 = 𝑋2

Torque – Slip Characteristics:

The relation between torque and slip can be written as,

𝑆(𝐸2 )2 𝑅2
𝑇= 𝑘
(𝑅2 )2 + (𝑆𝑋2 )2

A family of torque-slip can be drawn for a range when rotor resistance 𝑅2 is

varying as shown below.

1. When S=0 then T=0

2. When slip is close to zero, then sX2 is smaller than R2, that is sX2 is
negligible, therefore we can write for small value of slip,
𝑆
𝑇∝ or 𝑇 ∝ 𝑆
𝑅2
 As slip is close to zero, Torque proportional to slip S and curve is linear.
𝑅2
3. When slip increasing and if slip is equal to 𝑆𝑚 = then torque will be
𝑋2
maximum. This torque is also called pull-out torque or breakdown torque.

4. When slip is close to 1, then R2 is smaller than sX2, that is R2 is negligible,

therefore we can write for large value of slip,
𝑆 1
𝑇∝ or 𝑇 ∝
(𝑆𝑋2 )2 𝑆

As slip is close to 1, Torque inversely proportional to slip S and curve is

rectangular hyperbola.
 Production of Rotating Magnetic Field

It will now be shown that when three-phase windings displaced in space by 120º, are fed by
three phasecurrents, displaced in time by 120º, they produce a resultant magnetic flux,
which rotates in space as if actual magnetic poles were being rotated mechanically.

Consider a two-pole stator having three identical windings placed 120 space degrees apart
and the flux (assumed sinusoidal) due to three-phase windings is shown in Fig1.The
assumed positive directions of the fluxes are shown in Fig 2.

Let the maximum value of flux due to any one of the three phases be Φ𝑚 . The resultant flux
Φ𝑟 , at any instant, is given by the vector sum of the individual fluxes, Φ1 , Φ2 and Φ3 due to
three phases. We will consider values of Φ𝑟 at four instants 1/6th time-period apart
corresponding to points marked 0, 1, 2 and 3 in Fig.1

Fig.1 Fig.2

1. When 𝜃 = 0° that is the correspoding point 0 in Fig.1.

√3 √3
Here Φ1 = 0, Φ2 = − Φ𝑚 , Φ3 = Φ𝑚 .
2 2

√3 60 3
From fig.3 we write resultant flux Φ𝑟 = 2 Φ𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( ) = Φ𝑚
2 2 2

2. When 𝜃 = 60° that is the correspoding point 1 in Fig.1.

√3 √3
Here Φ1 = Φ𝑚 , Φ2 =− Φ𝑚 , Φ3 =0
2 2

√3 60 3
From fig.3 we write resultant flux Φ𝑟 = 2 Φ𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2 ) = 2 Φ𝑚
2
 3
It is found that the resultant flux is again 2 Φ𝑚 but has rotated by an agnle of 60°.

Fig. 3

3. When 𝜃 = 120° that is the correspoding point 2 in Fig.1.

√3 √3
Here Φ1 = Φ𝑚 , Φ2 = 0, Φ3 = − Φ𝑚
2 2

√3 60 3
From fig.4 we write resultant flux Φ𝑟 = 2 Φ𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2 ) = 2 Φ𝑚
2

3
It is found that the resultant flux is again 2 Φ𝑚 but has further rotated by an agnle
of 60°.

4. When 𝜃 = 180° that is the correspoding point 3 in Fig.1.

√3 √3
Here Φ1 = 0, Φ2 = Φ𝑚 , , Φ3 =− Φ𝑚
2 2

√3 60 3
From fig.4 we write resultant flux Φ𝑟 = 2 Φ𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 2 ) = 2 Φ𝑚
2

3
It is found that the resultant flux is again 2 Φ𝑚 but has further rotated by an agnle
of 60°or an agnle of 180°from start.
 Fig.4

Hence, we conclude that

3
1. The resultant flux is of constant value 𝛷𝑟 = 2 𝛷𝑚 = 1.5 𝛷𝑚i.e. 1.5 times the
maximum value of the flux due to any phase.
2. The resultant flux rotates around the stator at synchronous speed given by Ns =
120 f/P.