AC motors can be divided into two main categories - (i) Synchronous motor and (ii) Asynchronous motor.

An
asynchronous motor is popularly called as Induction motor. Both the types are quite different from each other. Major
differences between a synchronous motor and an induction motor are discussed below.

Constructional Difference
 Synchronous motor: Stator has axial slots which consist stator winding wound for a specific number of poles.
Generally a salient pole rotor is used on which rotor winding is mounted. Rotor winding is fed with a DC supply with
the help of slip rings. A rotor with permanent magnets can also be used.

Synchronous motor
 Induction motor: Stator winding is similar to that of a synchronous motor. It is wound for a specific number of poles.
A squirrel cage rotor or a wound rotor can be used. In squirrel cage rotor, the rotor bars are permanently short-
circuited with end rings. In wound rotor, windings are also permanently short-circuited, hence no slip rings are
required.

Induction motor

Difference In Working
 Synchronous motor: Stator poles rotate at the synchronous speed (Ns) when fed with a three phase supply. The rotor
is fed with a DC supply. The rotor needs to be rotated at a speed near to the synchronous speed during starting. If
done so, the rotor poles get magnetically coupled with the rotating stator poles, and thus the rotor starts rotating at
the synchronous speed.
 Synchronous motor always runs at a speed equal to its synchronous speed.
i.e. Actual speed = Synchronous speed
or N = Ns = 120f/P
  Learn more about working of a synchronous motor here.
 Induction motor: When the stator is fed with two or three phase AC supply, a Rotating Magnetic Field (RMF) is
produced. The relative speed between stator's rotating magnetic field and the rotor will cause an induced current in
the rotor conductors. The rotor current gives rise to the rotor flux. According to Lenz's law, the direction of this
induced current is such that it will tend to oppose the cause of its production, i.e. relative speed between stator's RMF
and the rotor. Thus, the rotor will try to catch up with the RMF and reduce the relative speed.
 Induction motor always runs at a speed which is less than the synchronous speed.
i.e. N < Ns
 Learn more about working of induction motor here.

Other Differences
 Synchronous motors require an additional DC power source for energizing rotor winding. Induction motors do not
require any additional power source.
 Slip rings and brushes are required in synchronous motors, but not in Induction motors (except wound type
induction motor in which slip ring motors are used to add external resistance to the rotor winding).
 Synchronous motors require additional starting mechanism to initially rotate the rotor near to the synchronous
speed. No starting mechanism is required in induction motors.
 The power factor of a synchronous motor can be adjusted to lagging, unity or leading by varying the excitation,
whereas, an induction motor always runs at lagging power factor.
 Synchronous motors are generally more efficient than induction motors.
 Synchronous motors are costlier.

Synchronous motor and induction motor are the most widely used types of AC motor. Construction of a synchronous motor is similar to
an alternator (AC generator). A same synchronous machine can be used as a synchronous motor or as an alternator. Synchronous motors are available in a
wide range, generally rated between 150kW to 15MW with speeds ranging from 150 to 1800 rpm.

Construction Of Synchronous Motor

The construction of a synchronous motor (with salient pole rotor) is as shown in the figure at left. Just like any other motor, it consists of a stator and a
rotor. The stator core is constructed with thin silicon lamination and insulated by a surface coating, to minimize the eddy current and hysteresis losses. The
stator has axial slots inside, in which three phase stator winding is placed. The stator is wound with a three phase winding for a specific number of poles
equal to the rotor poles.

The rotor in synchronous motors is mostly of salient pole type. DC supply is given to the rotor winding via slip-rings. The direct current excites the rotor
winding and creates electromagnetic poles. In some cases permanent magnets can also be used. The figure above illustrates the construction of a
synchronous motor very briefly.

Working Of Synchronous Motor

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 a rotating
magnetic field in stator. The rotor winding is fed with DC supply which magnetizes the rotor. Consider a two pole synchronous machine as shown in
figure below.

 Now, the stator poles are revolving with synchronous speed (lets 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 first schematic of above figure), 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 can
not rotate with the same angle (due to inertia), and the next position will be likely the second schematic in above figure. 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.

Characteristic Features of a Synchronous Motor

 Synchronous motor will run either at synchronous speed or will not run at all.
 The only way to change its speed is to change its supply frequency. (As Ns = 120f / P)
 Synchronous motors are not self starting. They need some external force to bring them near to the synchronous speed.
 They can operate under any power factor, lagging as well as leading. Hence, synchronous motors can be used for power factor improvement.

Application of Synchronous Motor

 As synchronous motor is capable of operating under either leading or lagging power factor, it can be used for power factor improvement. A
synchronous motor under no-load with leading power factor is connected in power system where static capacitors can not be used.
 It is used where high power at low speed is required. Such as rolling mills, chippers, mixers, pumps, pumps, compressor etc.

Induction Motors are the most commonly used motors in many applications. These are also called as Asynchronous Motors, because an induction
motor always runs at a speed lower than synchronous speed. Synchronous speed means the speed of the rotating magnetic field in the stator.
There basically 2 types of induction motor depending upon the type of input supply - (i) Single phase induction motor and (ii) Three phase induction motor.

Or they can be divided according to type of rotor - (i) Squirrel cage motor and (ii) Slip ring motor or wound type

Basic Working Principle Of An Induction Motor

In a DC motor, supply is needed to be given for the stator winding as well as the rotor winding. But in an induction motor only the stator winding is fed with an
AC supply.

 Alternating flux is produced around the stator winding due to AC supply. This alternating flux revolves with synchronous speed. The revolving flux is called as
"Rotating Magnetic Field" (RMF).
 The relative speed between stator RMF and rotor conductors causes an induced emf in the rotor conductors, according to the Faraday's law of
electromagnetic induction. The rotor conductors are short circuited, and hence rotor current is produced due to induced emf. That is why such motors are
called as induction motors.
(This action is same as that occurs in transformers, hence induction motors can be called as rotating transformers.)

 Now, induced current in rotor will also produce alternating flux around it. This rotor flux lags behind the stator flux. The direction of induced rotor current,
according to Lenz's law, is such that it will tend to oppose the cause of its production.
 As the cause of production of rotor current is the relative velocity between rotating stator flux and the rotor, the rotor will try to catch up with the stator RMF.
Thus the rotor rotates in the same direction as that of stator flux to minimize the relative velocity. However, the rotor never succeeds in catching up the
synchronous speed. This is the basic working principle of induction motor of either type, single phase of 3 phase.

Synchronous Speed:
The rotational speed of the rotating magnetic field is called as synchronous speed.

where, f = frequency of the spply

P = number of poles

Slip:
Rotor tries to catch up the synchronous speed of the stator field, and hence it rotates. But in practice, rotor never succeeds in catching up. If rotor catches up the
stator speed, there wont be any relative speed between the stator flux and the rotor, hence no induced rotor current and no torque production to maintain the
rotation. However, this won't stop the motor, the rotor will slow down due to lost of torque, the torque will again be exerted due to relative speed. That is why the
rotor rotates at speed which is always less the synchronous speed.

The difference between the synchronous speed (Ns) and actual speed (N) of the rotor is called as slip.