SYNCHRONOUS INDUCTION MOTORS

This is fundamentally a wound rotor induction motor. The rotor slots are fewer and larger. The air gap is that of synchronous motor since the machine operates as a synchronous motor at normal loads. These machines are provided with a heavy rotor winding in order to have a low slip, which facilitates in pulling it into synchronism. Also in order that the induced emf in the field at starting may not be too high, the field turns provided are few in number and the excitation voltage is kept low. Although such machines have excellent characteristics but they are expensive and have lower efficiency than standard types. Synchronous induction motors are used where a high starting torque is required. They can be made to operate at any desired pf by varying its dc excitation. Induction Generator If a polyphase induction motor while connected to constant voltage and frequency mains is mechanically coupled to a prime-mover and is driven by it at a speed higher than synchronous speed, the machine will operate as a generator and deliver electrical energy to the mains instead of taking it from the mains. The induction generator differs from a synchronous generator in some respects such as 9i) it does not need dc excitation (ii) it only generates when its stator is connected to the mains of constant frequency, its exciting current being the reactive (lagging), magnetizing current drawn from the mains (iii) the frequency is independent of the speed of the generator and (iv)it does not require synchronization. Induction generator is simple and rugged in construction, cheaper in cost, easy in maintenance, does not hunt or drop out of synchronism and when short-circuited it delivers little or no sustained power, because its excitation quickly becomes zero. Inspite of all these advantages it is little used as it cannot be operated independently and it can deliver only leading current. It is very useful for braking purpose in railway work. Induction Voltage Regulator Single phase induction voltage regulator is similar in construction to single phase induction motor except that the rotor is not allowed to rotate continuously but can be turned through one pole pitch usually by worm and pinion gearing from a hand wheel or pilot motor drive. The primary winding is usually wound on the rotor and the secondary is wound on the stator. Both windings are usually two pole and spread over approximately 120. The primary winding is connected across the circuit to be regulated and the secondary is connected in series with the circuit. To have a voltage regulation of 20% or 10%, the induction voltage regulator of rating 10% of the kva rating of the circuit is required. Three phase induction regulators are some-what similar to single phase induction regulators in constructional features, there being one series (secondary) and one shunt (primary) winding for each phase placed on circular cores as in the single phase induction regulators. Induction voltage regulators like transformers are available in air-cooled or non-inflammable liquid cooled designs for indoor use. Oil cooled regulators are ordinarity used outdoors.