By

Dr. Fadhil Abbas

2017-2018
 Single Phase Induction Motor
A single phase induction motor
is very similar to 3phase
squirrel cage induction motor. It
has a squirrelcage rotor
identical to a 3 - phase squirrel
cage motor and a single phase
winding on the stator. Unlike 3-
phase induction motor, a single
phase induction motor is not
self starting but requires some
starting means.
If the stator winding is connected to single phase a.c.
supply, the stator winding produces a magnetic field that
pulsates in strength in a sinusoidal manner. The field
polarity reverses after each half cycle but the field does
not rotate. Consequently, the alternating flux cannot
produce rotation in a stationary squirrel cage rotor.
However, if the rotor is started by auxiliary means, the
motor will quickly attain the final speed. The behavior of
single phase induction motor can be explained on the
basic of double field revolving theory.
Double Field Revolving Theory
The pulsating field produced in single phase AC motor is
resolved into two components of half the magnitude and
rotating in opposite directions at the same synchronous
speed. Let m be the pulsating field which has two
components each of magnitude m / 2 . Both are rotating
at the same angular speed rad./sec. but in opposite
direction as shown in the Figure (2-a).
The resultant of the two fields is m cos . Thus the
resultant field varies according to cosine of the angle .
The wave shape of the resultant field is shown in Figure
(2-b).
Thus the alternating flux produced by stator winding can be
presented as the sum of two rotating fluxes 1 and 2 each
equal to one half of the maximum value of alternating flux
and each rotating at synchronous speed in opposite
directions. Let the flux 1 (forward) rotate in anticlockwise
direction and flux (backward) 2 in clockwise direction. The
flux 1 will result in the production of torque T1 in the
anticlockwise direction and flux 2 will result in the
production of torque T2 in the clockwise direction. At
standstill, these two torques are equal and opposite and the
net torque developed is zero. Therefore, single phase
induction motor is not self starting. This fact is illustrated
in figure(3).
Rotor Running
Assume that the rotor is started by spinning the rotor or
by using auxiliary circuit, in say clockwise direction. The
flux rotating in the clockwise direction is the forward
rotating flux f and that in the other direction is the
backward rotating flux b . The slip with respect to the
forward flux will be:
Thus for forward rotating flux, slip is s (less
than unity) and for backward rotating flux,
the slip is 2-s (greater than unity) since for
usual rotor resistance/reactance ratios, the
torque at slips of less than unity are greater
than those at slips of more than unity, the
resultant torque will be in the direction of the
rotation of the forward flux. Thus if the motor
is once started, it will develop net torque in
the direction in which it has been started and
will function as a motor.
 Starting Methods of Single Phase
Induction Motors
The single phases induction motors are classified based on
the method of starting method and in fact are known by the
same name descriptive of the method.
1. Split phase Induction Motor The stator of a split
phase induction motor has two windings, the main
winding and the auxiliary winding. These windings are
displaced in space by 90 electric degrees as shown in
figure (4-a).
The auxiliary winding is made of thin wire so that it has
a high R/X ratio as compared to the main winding which
has thick copper wire. When the two stator windings are
energized from a singlephase supply, the current Im and
Ia in the main winding and auxiliary winding lag behind
the supply voltage V, and Ia leading the current Im as
shown in figure (4-b).
This means the current through auxiliary winding
reaches maximum value first and the mmf or flux due to
Ia lies along the axis of the auxiliary winding and after
some time the current Im reaches maximum value and
the mmf due to Im lies along the main winding axis.
Thus the motor becomes a 2phase unbalanced motor.
Because of these two fields a starting torque is developed
and the motor becomes a self starting motor. After the
motor starts, the auxiliary winding is disconnected
usually by means of centrifugal switch that operates at
about 75% of synchronous speed. Finally the motor runs
because the main winding. Since this being single phase
some level of humming noise is always associated with
the motor during running. The power rating of such
motors generally lies between 60- 250W.
Characteristics
The typical torque speed characteristic is shown in fig (4-c).
Due to their low cost, split phase induction motors are most
popular single phase motors in the market
Since the starting winding is made of thin wire, the current
density is high and the winding heats up quickly. If the starting
period exceeds 5 seconds, the winding may burn out unless the
motor is protected by built in thermal relay. This motor is,
therefore, suitable where starting periods are not frequent.
2. Capacitor Start Motor
Capacitors are used to improve the starting and running
performance of the single phase inductions motors. The
capacitorstart motor is identical to a splitphase motor
except that the starting winding has as many turns as the
main winding. Moreover, a capacitor C is connected in series
with the starting winding as shown in figure (5-a). The value
of capacitor is so chosen that Ia leads Im by about 90o (Fig.5-
b) so that the starting torque is maximum for certain values
of Ia and Im. Again, the starting winding is opened by the
centrifugal switch when the motor attains about 75% of
synchronous speed. The motor then operates as a single-
phase induction motor and continues to accelerate till it
reaches the normal speed.
Characteristics
The typical torque speed characteristic is shown in fig (5-c).
Although starting characteristics of a capacitorstart
motor are better than those of a splitphase motor, both
machines possess the same running characteristics
because the main windings are identical.
The phase angle between the two currents is about 90o
compared to about 25o in a split phase motor.
Consequently, for the same starting torque, the current in
the starting winding is only about half that in a splitphase
motor. Therefore, the starting winding of a capacitor start
motor heats up less quickly and is well suited to
applications involving either frequent or prolonged
starting periods.
 Capacitor start motors are used where high starting
torque is required and where high starting period may
be long e.g. to drive:
a) Compressors b) large fans c) pumps d)high inertia
Loads The power rating of such motors lies between
120W and 0.75 kW.
3. Permanent Split Capacitor Motor
In this motor, as shown in fig.(6-a), the capacitor that is
connected in series with the auxiliary winding is not cut
out after starting and is left in the circuit all the time.
This simplifies the construction and decreases the cost
because the centrifugal switch is not needed. The power
factor, torque pulsation, and efficiency are also improved
because the motor runs as a two phase motor. The
motor will run more quietly. The capacitor value is of the
order of 2050 uF and because it operates continuously,
it is an ac paper oil type. The capacitor is compromise
between the best starting and running value and
therefore starting torque is sacrificed. The typical
torquespeed characteristic is shown in fig (6-b).
Characteristic
These motor are used where the required starting
torque is low such as air moving equipment i.e. fans,
blowers and voltage regulators and also oil burners
where quite operation is particularly desirable.
4. Capacitor-Start Capacitor-Run
Two capacitor, one for starting and one for running, can be used, as
shown in fig.(7-a).
Theoretically, optimum starting and running performance can be
achieved by having two capacitors. The starting capacitor is larger in value
and is of the ac electrolytic type. The running capacitor permanently
connected in series with the starting winding, is of smaller value and is of
the paper oil type. Typical values of these capacitors for a 0.5 hp are Cs
=300 uF, Cr =40 uF.
The typical torque speed characteristic is shown in fig. (7- b).
Characteristic
Ability to start heavy loads
Extremely quiet operation
Higher efficiency and power factor
Ability to develop 25 per cent overload capacity.
Hence, such motors are ideally suited where load
requirements are severe as in the case of compressors
and conveyors.
5. Shaded Pole Induction Motor
These motors have a salient pole construction. A shaded
band consisting of a short circuited copper turn,
known as a shading coil, is used on one portion of each
pole, as shown in fig(8-a). When alternating current
flow in the field winding, an alternating flux is produced
in the field core.
A portion of this flux links with the shading coil, which
behaves as shortcircuited secondary of a transformer. A
voltage is induced in the shading coil, and this voltage
circulates a current in it. The induced current produces a
flux called the induced flux which opposes the main
core flux. The shading coil, thus, causes the flux in the
shaded portion to lag behind the flux in the un-shaded
portion of the pole. At the same time, the main flux and
the shaded pole flux are displaced in space. This
displacement is less than 90o. Since there is time and
space displacement between the two fluxes, the
conditions for setting up a rotating magnetic field are
produced. Under the action of the rotating flux a
starting torque is developed on the cage rotor. The
direction of this rotating field (flux) is from the un-
shaded to the shaded portion of the pole.
Characteristic
The salient features of this motor are extremely simple
construction and absence of centrifugal switch
Since starting torque, efficiency and power factor are very
low, these motors are only suitable for low power
applications e.g. to drive: Small fans b) toys c) hair driers.
The power rating of such motors is up to about 30 W.
The typical torque-speed characteristic is shown in fig. (8-b).
 Equivalent Circuit of Single Phase
Induction Motor
When the stator of single phase induction motor is
connected to single-phase supply, the stator current
produces a pulsating flux. According to the double-
revolving field theory, the pulsating air-gap flux in the
motor at standstill can be resolved into two equal and
opposite fluxes with the motor. Since the magnitude of
each rotating flux is one-half of the alternating flux, it is
convenient to assume that the two rotating fluxes are
acting on two separate rotors. Thus, a single-phase
induction motor may be considered as consisting of two
motors having a common stator winding and two
imaginary rotors, which rotate in opposite directions.
The equivalent circuit of single -phase induction motor at standstill is shown in fig.(9).
R1m = resistance of stator winding
X1m = leakage reactance of stator winding
XM = total magnetizing reactance
R2= resistance of rotor referred to the stator
X2= leakage reactance of rotor referred to the stator
In this diagram, the portion of the equivalent circuit
representing the effects of air gap flux is split into two portions.
The first portion shows the effect of forward rotating flux, and
the second portion shows the effect of backward rotating flux.
The forward flux induces a voltage Emf in the main stator
winding. The backward rotating flux induces a voltage Emb in
the main stator winding. The resultant induced voltage in the
main stator winding is Em , where
Em = Emf + Emb
At standstill, Emf = Emb
Now suppose that the motor is started with the help of an
auxiliary winding. The auxiliary winding is switched out after
the motor gains it normal speed. The effective rotor resistance
of an induction motor depends on the slip of the rotor.
The slip of the rotor with respect to the forward rotating flux is S. The slip
the rotor with respect to the backward rotating flux is (2-S). When the
forward and backward slips are taken in account, the result is the
equivalent circuit shown in fig.(10) which represent the motor running on
the main winding alone.
The simplified equivalent circuit of single phase
induction motor with only main winding energized is
shown in fig.(11).
 Vm
The current in the stator winding is: I m
Z1m Z f Z b

The torque of the backward field is in opposite

direction to that of the forward field, and therefore the
total air gap power in a single phase induction motor
is: P2 P2 f P2b
Where P2f= air gap power for forward field:
P2 f I R f
2
m
Where P2b= air gap power for backward field:
P2 b I m2 Rb
P2 P2 f P2b I R f I Rb I ( R f Rb )
2
m
2
m
2
m
 P2 f
The torque produced by the forward field: T f
s
P2b
The torque produced by the backward field: Tb
s
The resultant gross torque is: Tg T f Tb
1 I m2
Tg ( I m2 R f I m2 Rb ) ( R f Rb )
s s
The total copper loss is the sum of rotor copper loss
due to the forward field and the rotor copper loss due
to the backward field.
Pcu Pcuf Pcub
Pcu sP2 f ( 2 s ) P2b
 The developed power converted from electrical to
mechanical form in a single phase induction motor is
given by:
Pd (1 s ) P2 (1 s )( P2 f P2b )
Or
Pd I ( R f Rb )(1 s )
2
m

The shaft output power:

Pout Pd Rotationallosses
Example-1: A 230 V, 50 Hz, 4 pole single phase induction motor has the
following equivalent circuit impedances: R1m=2.2 ohm, X1m=3.1 ohm, R2=4.5
ohm, X2=2.6 ohm, Xm=80 ohm. Friction, windage and core loss = 40 W. For a
slip of 0.03 pu, calculation (a) input current, (b) power factor, (c) developed
power, (d) output power, (e) efficiency, (f) gross torque and shaft torque, (g)
rotor copper loss.
= 69.2%