Understanding Modern Electrical Motors

Modern electrical motors are available various forms, similar to single phase motors, three phase motors, brake motors, synchronous motors, asynchronous motors, special customised motors, two speed motors, three speed motors, etc, all with their very own performance and characteristics.

For each form of motor there are lots of different mounting arrangements, as an example foot mounting, flange mounting or combined foot and flange mounting. The cooling method may differ a great deal, from the most straightforward motor with free self-circulation of air to a more complex motor with totally enclosed air-water cooling with an interchangeable cassette kind of cooler.

To ensure an extended lifetime for the motor it is very important keep it with the precise degree of protection when under heavy-duty conditions in a servere environment. The 2 letters IP (International Protection) state the degree of protection followed by two digits, the primary of which indicates the degree of protection against contact and penetration of solid objects, whereas the second one states the motor’s degree of protection against water.

The end of the motor is defined within the IEC-standard as follows:

• The D-end is frequently the drive end of the motor.
• The N-end is often the non-drive end of the motor.

Squirrel Cage Motors

In this book the main target have been put on the squirrel cage motor, the most typical kind of motor out there. It’s far relatively cheap and the upkeep cost is generally low. There are a lot different manufacturers represented available on the market, selling at various prices. Not all motors have an identical performance and quality as as an example motors from ABB. High efficiency enables significant savings in energy costs in the course of the motor’s normal endurance. The low level of noise is something else this is of interest today, as is the power to face up to severe environments.

There also are other parameters that differ. The design of the rotor affects the starting current and torque and the difference could be really large between different manufacturers for a similar power rating. When using a Softstarter it’s good if the motor has a high starting torque at Direct-on-line (D.O.L) start. When these motors are used along side a softstarter it’s possible to cut back the starting current further when put next to motors with low starting torque. The collection of poles also affects the technical data. A motor with two poles often has a lower starting torque than motors with four or more poles.

Voltage

Three-phase single speed motors can normally be connected for 2 different voltage levels. The 3 stator windings are connected in star (Y) or delta (D).

The windings will also be connected in series or parallel, Y or YY to illustrate. If the rating plate on a squirrel cage motor indicates voltages for both the star and delta connection, it’s possible to take advantage of the motor for both 230 V, and 400 V let’s say.

The winding is delta connected at 230 V and if the foremost voltage is 400 V, the Y-connection is used.

When changing the key voltage it is very important keep in mind that for a similar power rating the rated motor current will change reckoning on the voltage level.

The method for connecting the motor to the terminal blocks for star or delta connection is shown within the picture below.

Power Factor

A motor always consumes active power, which it converts into mechanical action. Reactive power also is required for the magnetisation of the motor however it doesn’t perform any action. Within the diagram below the active and reactive power is represented by P and Q, which together give the facility S.

The ratio between the active power (kW) and the reactive power (kVA) known as the ability factor, and is frequently designated because the cos -. a regular value is between 0.7 and nil.9, when running where the lower value is for small motors and the better for giant ones.

Speed

The speed of an AC motor depends upon two things: the collection of poles of the stator winding and the most frequency. At 50 Hz, a motor will run at a speed associated with a relentless of 6000 divided by the variety of poles and for a 60 Hz motor the constant is 7200 rpm.

This speed is the synchronous speed and a squirrel-cage or a slip-ring motor can never reach it. At unloaded condition the rate shall be very with reference to synchronous speed and should then drop when the motor is loaded.

The difference between the synchronous and asynchronous speed also named rated speed is “the slip” and it’s possible to calculate this using here formula:

Table for synchronous speed at different choice of poles and frequency:

Torque

The starting torque for a motor differs significantly counting on the dimensions of the motor. A small motor, e.g. – 30 kW, normally has a cost of between 2.5 and three times the rated torque, and for a medium size motor, say as much as 250 kW, a standard value is between 2 to two.5 times the rated torque. Really big motors generally tend to have an overly low starting torque, sometimes even below the rated torque. It isn’t possible to begin this type of motor fully loaded not even at D.O.L start.

The rated torque of a motor could be calculated using the ensuing formula:

Slip-Ring Motors

In some cases when hasta hoy.O.L start isn’t very permitted end result of the high starting current, or when starting with a celebrity-delta starter will give too low starting torque, a slip-ring motor is used. The motor is started by changing the rotor resistance and when speeding up the resistance is gradually removed until the rated speed is achieved and the motor is operating on the equivalent rate of a conventional squirrel-cage motor.

The benefit of a slip-ring motor is that the starting current shall be lower and it’s far possible to regulate the starting torque as much as the utmost torque. In most cases, if a softstarter goes for use for this application you furthermore mght have got to replace the motor.