Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Objectives:
Unit 33 ●
Discuss the operation of wound rotor motors.
Three-Phase Motors ●
Discuss the operation of selsyn motors.
●
Discuss the operation of synchronous motors.
●
Determine the direction of rotation of a three-
phase motor using a phase rotation meter.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

• Three-phase motors are used throughout the
Objectives: U.S. and Canada as the prime mover for
industry.
●
Discuss the basic operating principles of • These motors convert three-phase AC into
three-phase motors. mechanical energy to operate all types of
●
List factors that produce a rotating magnetic machinery.
field. • They are smaller, lighter, and have higher
efficiencies per horsepower than single-phase
●
List different types of three-phase motors.
motors.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Objectives:
• Three-phase motors are extremely rugged and
●
Discuss the operation of squirrel-cage motors. require minimal maintenance.
●
Show connection of dual-voltage motors for • These motors can be operated 24/7 for years
proper operation on the desired voltage. without problems.
●
Discuss the operation of consequent pole • Nikola Tesla patented the first induction
motors. motors as rotating transformers.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Construction
The magnetic field
There are three basic types of three-phase is concentrated
motors: between poles A1
and A2.
1. squirrel-cage induction motor
2. wound-rotor induction motor
3. synchronous motor

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Rotating Magnetic Field
The magnetic
• The principle of operation for all three-phase
motors is the rotating magnetic field. field is
• The magnetic field rotation is caused by: concentrated
between poles
– voltages are 120° out of phase.
of phases A
– voltages periodically change polarity.
and B.
– the arrangement of the stator windings.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Three-phase stator
The magnetic field
and three voltage
is concentrated
sine waves.
between poles B1
and B2.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic field The magnetic field

is concentrated is concentrated
between phases B between poles A1
and C. and A2. The field
has rotated 180°.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic
The magnetic field is field is
concentrated concentrated
between poles C1 between
and C2. phases B and
C and has
rotated 270°.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

The magnetic
The magnetic field is
field is
concentrated
concentrated
between phases A
between poles
and C.
A1 and A2 and
has rotated 360°.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous Speed
• Synchronous speed is the rotational speed of
the magnetic field.
• Synchronous speed is determined by:
– the number of stator poles per phase.
– the frequency of the applied voltage.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Phase Rotation
• The direction of rotation is either clockwise or
counterclockwise.
• Reversing any two of the stator leads will
reverse the direction of rotation.
• A phase rotation meter can determine the
direction of rotation.
• Motor stator leads are often called T leads.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

RPM STATOR POLES

3600 2

1800 4

1200 6

900 8
Connecting the phase rotation meter to the motor.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous Speed

• S = (120 x F) / P
• S = synchronous speed in RPM
• F = frequency in Hz
• P = number of stator poles

Connecting the phase rotation meter to the line.

 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Dual-Voltage Motors
• Many motors are designed to operate on two
different voltages, such as 240 V and 480 V.
• This type of motor has two windings for each
phase.
• Most dual-voltage motors bring out 9 leads to
the terminal box.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Dual-Voltage Motors
• The other 3 leads are connected internally.
• Review: There are two connection leads per
winding; there are two windings per phase;
there are three phases. This makes 12
connection leads. Of these 12 leads 9 are
usually brought out to the terminal box, 3 are
connected internally.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Dual-Voltage Motors
• When motors are connected to their higher-
rated voltage on the name plate, a high-
voltage connection pattern is required.
• When motors are connected to their lower-
rated voltage on the name plate, a low-voltage
connection pattern is required.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Dual-Voltage Motors
• The identification of connection leads is
standardized to T1 through T12.
• The correct connection patterns are usually
shown on the motor name plate.
• The NEC® states the required name plate data.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Standard numbering for three-phase motors.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
High-Voltage Connections
• High-voltage connections require the windings
to be series configured.
• The high-voltage connections can be either
wye or delta, depending on how the motor was
constructed and designed.
• A terminal chart is another way to identify
proper T lead connections.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard high-voltage wye connections. Standard low-voltage wye schematic.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard high-voltage delta connections. Standard low-voltage wye chart and diagram.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Low-Voltage Connections
• Low-voltage connections require the windings
to be parallel configured.
• The low-voltage connections can be either
wye or delta, depending on how the motor was
constructed and designed.
• A terminal chart is another way to identify
proper T lead connections.
Standard low-voltage delta schematic.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Squirrel-Cage Induction Motors
• The rotor on this type of motor resembles a
squirrel cage.
• The rotor contains bars connected to the end
rings.
• The current flow in the rotor is produced by
induced voltage from the rotating magnetic
field of the stator.
Standard low-voltage delta chart and diagram.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

12-Lead Dual-Voltage Motors
• Some motors will have 12 T leads brought to
the terminal box instead of the usual 9 leads.
• These motors are intended for wye-delta
starting.
• Wye-delta starting helps limit inrush starting
current.

Basic squirrel-cage rotor without laminations.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Standard 12-lead motor schematic. Basic squirrel-cage rotor cutaway view.

 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Torque
• Three factors determine the amount of motor
torque:
– the strength of the stator magnetic fields.
– the strength of the rotor magnetic fields.
– the phase angle difference between the
rotor and stator fields.
External resistors are connected to the rotor of a
wound-rotor motor.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Slip

• An induction motor never reaches

synchronous speed.
• Slip is the difference between synchronous
speed and rotor speed.
• Percent slip is the ratio of slip to synchronous
speed times 100.
Wound-rotor motor schematic symbol.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Wound-Rotor Induction Motor Synchronous Motors

• This motor is very popular in industry because
of its high starting torque and low starting
current.
• A squirrel-cage motor and a wound-rotor
motor have similar stator windings.
• The rotor has wire windings instead of bars.
• This motor is not an induction motor. It does
not depend on induced current in the rotor to
produce a torque.
• It operates at constant speed from no load to
full load.
• This motor must have DC excitation to
operate.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous motor with DC excitation supplied
through sliprings.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous Motors
• The operating speed and the speed of the
rotating magnetic field (synchronous speed)
are the same.
• It operates at constant speed from no load to
full load.
• This motor can be used for power factor
correction.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous Motors
• A set of squirrel-cage bars known as the
amortisseur winding are used to start the
synchronous motor.
• A synchronous motor must never be started
with DC current connected to the rotor.
• A field-discharge resistor is used to safely
control excessive current and voltage.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
The field-discharge resistor is connected in parallel
with the rotor winding during starting.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Synchronous motor schematic.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Selsyn Motors
• Selsyn motors are used for position control
and angular feedback information.
• Selsyn motors contain three-phase windings,
although they operate on single-phase AC.
• A differential selsyn unit can be used to
determine the algebraic rotation sum of two
other selsyn units.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Selsyn motor schematic. Schematic of differential selsyn motor connections.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

1. The basic types of three-phase motors are:

– squirrel cage induction motor
– wound rotor induction motor
– synchronous motor

Selsyn motor schematic symbol.

Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors

Review:

2. All three-phase motors operate on the

principle of a rotating magnetic field.
3. The speed of the rotating magnetic field is
called the synchronous speed.
4. The direction of rotation of any three-phase
motor can be changed by reversing the
connection of any two stator leads.

Schematic of two selsyn motors connected.

 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
5. Three factors that cause a magnetic field to
rotate are:
a. The fact that the voltages of a three-
phase system are 120°out of phase with
each other.
b. The fact that voltages change polarity at
regular intervals.
c. The arrangement of the stator windings.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
6. Two factors that determine the synchronous
speed are:
a. number of stator poles per phase.
b. frequency of the applied voltage.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
7. The direction of rotation of a three-phase
motor can be determined with a phase rotation
meter before power is applied to the motor.
8. Dual-voltage motors will have 9 or 12 leads
brought out at the terminal connection box.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
9. Dual-voltage motors intended for high-voltage
connection have their phase windings
connected in series.
10. Dual-voltage motors intended for low-voltage
connection have their phase windings
connected in parallel.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
11. Motors that bring out 12 leads are generally
intended for wye-delta starting.
12. Maximum torque is developed when stator
and rotor flux are in phase with each other.
13. The code letter on the nameplate of a squirrel-
cage motor indicates the type of rotor bars
used in the rotor construction.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
14. The torque of an induction motor is
determined by:
a. the magnetic field strength of the stator.
b. the magnetic field strength of the rotor.
c. the phase angle difference between
rotor and stator flux.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
15. Wound-rotor motors have three sliprings on
the rotor shaft to provide external connection
to the rotor.
16. Wound-rotor motors have higher starting
torque and lower starting current than squirrel-
cage motors of equal horsepower.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
17. The speed of a wound-rotor motor can be
controlled by permitting resistance to remain in
the rotor circuit during operation.
18. Synchronous motors operate at a
synchronous speed.
19. Synchronous motors operate at a constant
speed from no load to full load.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
20. When load is connected to a synchronous
motor, stress develops between the magnetic
fields of the rotor and stator.
21. Synchronous motors must have DC excitation
from an external source.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
22. DC excitation is provided to some
synchronous motors through two sliprings
located on the rotor shaft, and other motors
use a brushless exciter.
23. Synchronous motors have the ability to
produce a leading power factor by
overexcitation of the DC current supplied to
the rotor.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
24. Synchronous motors have a set of type A
squirrel-cage bars used for starting. This
squirrel-cage winding is called the amortisseur
winding.
25. A field-discharge resistor is connected across
the rotor winding during starting to prevent high
voltage in the rotor due to induction.
Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:
26. Changing the DC excitation current does not
affect the speed of the motor.
27. Selsyn motors are used to provide position
control and angular feedback information.
 Unit 33 Three-Phase Motors
Review:

28. Although selsyn motors contain three-phase

windings, they operate on single-phase AC.
29. A differential selsyn unit can be used to
determine the algebraic sum of the rotation of
two other selsyn units.