Synchronous Motor
Definition: The motor which runs at synchronous speed is known
as the synchronous motor.
The synchronous speed is the constant speed at which the motor
generates the electromotive force.
The synchronous motor is used for converting the electrical energy
into mechanical energy.
A synchronous motor is a AC type electric motor, where the
rotational speed of the motor is synchronized with the frequency of electrical
current.
The term “synchronous motor” derives from the rotor’s speed
matching the speed of the rotating magnetic field. It is a fixed speed motor
because it has only one speed, which is synchronous speed. This speed is
synchronized with the supply frequency. The synchronous speed is given by:
Where:
N= The Synchronous Speed (in RPM – i.e. Rotations Per Minute)
f = The Supply Frequency (in Hz)
p = The number of Poles
Construction of Synchronous Motor
What are the main components of Synchronous Motor 03 Marks
Construction of Synchronous Motor
The stator and the rotor are the two main components of the synchronous
motor.
The stator becomes stationary, and it carries the armature winding of the
motor. The armature winding is the main winding because of which the EMF
induces in the motor.
The rotator carry the field windings. The main field flux induces in the
rotor. The rotor is designed in two ways, i.e., the salient pole rotor and the non-
salient pole rotor.
The synchronous motor uses the salient pole rotor and the non-salient pole
rotor.
The synchronous motor uses the salient pole rotor. The word salient means
the poles of the rotor projected towards the armature windings.
The rotor of the synchronous motor is made with the laminations of the
steel. The laminations reduce the eddy current loss that occurs on the winding of
the transformer.
The salient pole rotor is mostly used for designing the medium and low-
speed motor. For obtaining the high-speed cylindrical rotor is used in the motor.
Synchronous Motor Working
The three-phase AC supply is given to the stator of the motor.
The stator and rotor both are excited separately.
When the three-phase supply is given to the stator, the rotating
magnetic field developed between the stator and rotor gap. The field having
moving polarities is known as the rotating magnetic field.
The rotating magnetic field develops only in the polyphase system.
Because of the rotating magnetic field, the north and south poles develop on
the stator.
The rotor is excited by the DC supply. The DC supply induces the
north and south poles on the rotor. As the DC supply remains constant, the flux
induces on the rotor remains the same. Thus, the flux has fixed polarity. The
north pole develops on one end of the rotor, and the south pole develops on
another end.
The AC is sinusoidal. The polarity of the wave changes in every
half cycle, i.e., the wave remains positive in the first half cycle and becomes
negative in the second half cycle. The positive and negative half cycle of the
wave develops the north and south poles on the stator respectively.
When the rotor and stator both have the same pole on the same
side, they repel each other. If they have opposite poles, they attract each
other. This can easily be understood with the help of the figure shown
below:
The rotor attracts towards the pole of the stator for the first half cycle
of the supply and repels for the second half cycle. Thus the rotor becomes
pulsated only at one place. This is the reason because of which the
synchronous motor is not self-starting.
The prime mover is used for rotating the motor. The prime mover
rotates the rotor at its synchronous speed.
When the rotor starts rotating at its synchronous speed, the prime
mover is disconnected from the motor. And the DC supply is provided to the
rotor because of which the north and south pole develops at their ends.
The north and south poles of the rotor and the stator interlock
each other. Thus, the rotor starts rotating at the speed of the rotating magnetic
field. And the motor runs at a synchronous speed.
The speed of the motor can only be changed by changing the
frequency of the supply.
