An electrical motor is an electro-mechanical device that converts Electrical energy into mechanical Rotation. Based on the type of input we have classified it into single phase and 3 phase motors. Among 3 phase motors, Synchronous motor and induction motor are the most widely used types of AC motor. Synchronous motors are available in a wide range, generally rated between 150kW to 15MW with speeds ranging from 150 to 1800 rpm.
Synchronous motors is called so because the speed of the rotor of this motor is same as the rotating magnetic field. It is basically a fixed speed motor because it has only one speed, which is synchronous speed and therefore no intermediate speed is there or in other words it’s in synchronism with the supply frequency.
Physical Appearance
Construction
Construction of a synchronous motor is similar to an alternator and 3 Phase induction motor.except the fact that the rotor is given DC supply.
From the above picture, it is clear that how this type of motors is designed. The stator is given is given three phase supply and the rotor is given DC supply.
Working Principle
The synchronous motor is a doubly excited machine i.e two electrical inputs are provided to it. Its stator winding which consists of a 3 phase winding is provided with 3 phase supply and a rotor is provided with DC supply.
Stator – Rotating Magnetic Field
The field coil of a stator is excited by a 3 phase AC supply. This will produce a revolving magnetic field (RMF), Now the rotating magnetic field rotates at a certain speed, that speed is called synchronous speed.RMF produced in a synchronous motor and its direction is marked in Fig.
Rotor – Constant Magnetic Field
A rotor is excited by a D.C power supply, magnetic field produced around the rotor coil by DC excitation. It is clear that the rotor acts like a permanent magnet due to such magnetic field. Alternatively, a rotor can also be made of permanent magnet.
Now if This an electromagnet is present in this rotating magnetic field, the electromagnet is magnetically locked with this rotating magnetic field and rotates with the same speed of rotating field.
Synchronous motors is called so because the speed of the rotor of this motor is same as the rotating magnetic field. It is basically a fixed speed motor because it has only one speed, which is synchronous speed and therefore no intermediate speed is there or in other words it’s in synchronism with the supply frequency.
Synchronous Speed is Given By-
N(s)=120*F/P
Why synchronous Motors Are not Self Starting?
Considering the frequency to be 60 Hz, 2 poles Than from the above relation we can see that the 3 phase rotating flux rotates about 3600 revolutions in 1 min or 60 revolutions in 1 sec. At a particular instant rotor and stator poles might be of the same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing a repulsive force on the rotor and the very next second it will be N-S causing attractive force.
But due to an inertia of the rotor, it is unable to rotate in any direction due to attractive or repulsive force and remain in standstill condition. Hence it is not self-starting.
To overcome this inertia, a rotor is initially fed some mechanical input which rotates it in the same direction as a magnetic field to a speed very close to synchronous speed. After some time magnetic locking occurs and the synchronous motor rotates in synchronism with the frequency.
Method Of Starting of Synchronous Motor
Motor starting with an external prime Mover: Synchronous motors are mechanically coupled with another motor. It could be either 3 phase induction motor or DC shunt motor. DC excitation is not fed initially. It is rotated at speed very close to its synchronous speed and after that DC excitation is given. After some time when magnetic locking takes place supply to the external motor is cut off.
Damper winding: In case, the synchronous motor is of salient pole type, additional winding is placed in rotor pole face. Initially, when a rotor is a standstill, a relative speed between damper winding and rotating air gap flux in large and an emf is induced in it which produces the required starting torque. As speed approaches synchronous speed, emf and torque are reduced and finally when magnetic locking takes place, torque also reduces to zero. Hence in this case synchronous is first run as three-phase induction motor using additional winding and finally, it is synchronized with the frequency.
Application
1) As the synchronous motor is capable of operating under either leading and lagging power factor, it can be used for power factor improvement. A synchronous motor under no-load with leading power factor is connected to power system where static capacitors cannot be used.
2)It is used where high power at low speed is required. Such as rolling mills, chippers, mixers, pumps, pumps, compressor etc.
