SYNCHRONOUS

MOTOR
 Introduction
 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
 Construction of
Synchronous Motor

 Normally it’s
construction is
almost similar to
that of a 3 phase
induction motor,
except the fact
t h a t t h e ro t o r i s
given dc supply.
 The stator is given
three phase supply
and the rotor is
given dc supply.
Main Parts

 Stator – Armature  Rotor – Field

Stator
Construction

 The winding consists of copper bars

insulated with mica and epoxy resin.

 The conductors are secured by steel

wedges.

 The iron core is supported by a steel

housing
Stator
 From an electrical standpoint, the stator
of a synchronous motor is identical to
that of a 3-phase induction motor
(cylindrical laminated core containing
slots carrying a 3-phase winding).
 The nominal line voltage of a
synchronous generator depends upon its
kVA rating — the greater the power, the
higher the voltage
 Stator
 Stationary armature
 Coils is placed in slots of stator
core.
 Stator is made of laminates.
 Whole stator is fixed in the
frame.
 Rotor
 Field winding
 External D.C.supply
of 120-600 volt
 Supply by Brush &
Slip ring
 N pole & S pole
developed
alternatively
Synchronous Motor: Rotor

Salient-pole rotors
— Used for low speed applications
(<300rpm) which require large number of
poles to achieve required frequencies
Cylindrical rotor
— Used for high-speed applications
— Minimum number of poles is 2, so for
50Hz the maximum speed is 3000rpm.
Cylindrical rotor Machines
Salient Rotor Machine
 Main Features of Synchronous
Motors
 Synchronous motors are inherently not self
starting. They require some external means to
bring their speed close to synchronous speed
to before they are synchronized.
 This motor has the unique characteristics of
operating under any electrical power factor.
This makes it being used in electrical power
factor improvement.
 Principle of Operation
Synchronous Motor

 Synchronous motor is a doubly excited machine i.e

two electrical inputs are provided to it.
 The 3 phase stator winding carrying 3 phase
currents produces 3 phase rotating magnetic flux.
 The rotor carrying DC supply also produces a
constant flux.
 At a particular instant rotor and stator poles might
be of same polarity (N-N or S-S) causing repulsive
force on rotor and the very next second it will be
N-S causing attractive force.
But due to inertia of the rotor, it is unable to
ro tate i n an y d i re c t i o n d u e t o a t t r a c t i v e o r
repulsive force and remain in standstill condition.
Hence it is not self starting.
Principle of Operation
Synchronous Motor
Principle of Operation
Synchronous Motor

 To overcome this inertia, rotor is initially fed

some mechanical input which rotates it in same
direction as 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.
 Application of Synchronous
Motor

 Synchronous motor having no load connected to its

shaft is used for power factor improvement.
 Owing to its characteristics to behave at any
electrical power factor, it is used in power system in
situations where static capacitors are expensive.
 S y n c h ro n o u s m o t o r f i n d s a p p l i c a t i o n w h e re
operating speed is less (around 500 rpm) and high
power is required.
 For power requirement from 35 kW to 2500 KW, the
size, weight and cost of the corresponding three
phase induction motor is very high.
 Hence these motors are preferably used. Ex-
Reciprocating pump, compressor, rolling mills etc.
Number of Poles

 The number of poles on a synchronous

depends upon the speed of rotation and
desired frequency
f = pn /120
 Where f = frequency of the induced
voltage (Hz)
 p = number of poles on the rotor n =
speed of the rotor (rpm)
Methods of Starting of
Synchronous Motor
 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.
 Excitation
 The synchronous motor is doubly fed electrical motor
i.e it converts electrical energy to mechanical
energy via magnetic circuit. Hence it comes
under electromagnetic device.
 It receives 3 phase a c el ec tri c a l s u p p l y to i ts
armature winding and DC supply is provided to rotor
winding.
 Synchronous motor excitation refers to the DC
supply given to rotor which is used to produce the
r e q u i r e d m a g n e t i c f l u x .

One of the major and unique characteristics of

this motor is that it can be operated at any
electrical power factor leading, lagging or unity
 Excitation
 When the synchronous motor is working at
constant applied voltage V,. the resultant air
gap flux as demanded by V remains
substantially constant
 This resultant air gap flux is established by the
co operation of both AC supply of armature
winding and DC supply of rotor winding
 CASE 1: When the field current is sufficient
enough to produce the air gap flux, as
demanded by the constant supply voltage V,
t h e n t h e m a g n e t i z i n g c u rre n t o r l a g g i n g
reactive VA required from ac source is zero and
the motor operate at unity power factor.
 The field current, which causes this unity power
Excitation
 CASE 2: If the field current is not sufficient
enough to produce the required air gap flux as
demanded by V, additional magnetizing current
or lagging reactive VA is drawn from the AC
source.
 This magnetizing current produces the deficient
flux (constant flux- flux set up by dc supply rotor
winding).
 Hence in this case the motor is said to
operate under lagging power factor and the
is said to be under excited
Excitation
 CASE 3: If the field current is more than the
normal field current, motor is said to be
over excited.
 This excess field current produces excess flux
( f l u x s e t u p b y D C s u p p l y ro t o r w i n d i n g –
resultant air gap flux) must be neutralized by the
armature winding.
 Hence the armature winding draws leading
reactive VA or demagnetizing current leading
voltage by almost 90° from the AC source.
 Hence in this case the motor operate under
leading power factor.
 Excitation
 This whole concept of excitation and power factor of
s y n c h ro n o u s m o t o r c a n b e s u m m e d u p i n t h e
following graph. This is called V curve of synchronous
motor.
V Curve of a Synchronous
Motor

 V curve is a plot of the stator current

v e rsu s fie ld c u rre n t fo r d iffe r e n t
constant loads.
 Since the shape of these curves is similar
to the letter “V”, thus they are called V
curve of synchronous motor.

The power factor of the synchronous
motor can be controlled by varying the
field current If.
 The armature current Ia changes with the
change in the field current If.
 V Curve of a Synchronous
Motor

 Let us assume that the motor is running at

NO load.
 If the field current is increased from this small
value, the armature current Ia decreases until
the armature current becomes minimum.
 At this minimum point, the motor is operating
at unity power factor.
 The motor operates at lagging power factor
until it reaches up to this point of operation.
V Curve of a Synchronous
Motor

 If now, the field current is increased

further, the armature current increases
and the motor start operating as a leading
power factor.
 T h e graph dr a w n b e t w e e n a rm a t u re
current and field current is known as V
curve.
 If this procedure is repeated for various
increased loads, a family of curves is
o b t a i n e d .
V Curve of a Synchronous
Motor
Conclusion
 An overexcited synchronous motor
operate at leading power factor, under-
excited synchronous motor operate at
lagging power factor and normal excited
synchronous motor operate at unity power
factor.
Methods of starting
synchronous motor
Basically there are three methods that are
used to start a synchronous motor:
 By reducing the frequency of the applied

electric power
 By using an external prime mover to
accelerate the rotor of synchronous
motor near to its synchronous speed and
then supply the rotor as well as stator.
 By using damper windings or

amortisseur windings.
Motor Starting by Using
damper (Amortisseur) Winding
 T h e l a rg e s y n c h ro n o u s m o t o r s a re
provided with damper windings.
 Damper windings are special bars laid
into slots cut in the pole face of a
synchronous machine and then shorted
out on each end by a large shorting ring,
similar to the squirrel cage rotor bars.
Damper Winding
Damper Winding

 When the stator of such a synchronous

machine is connected to the 3-Phase AC
supply, the machine starts as a 3-Phase
induction machine due to the presence of
the damper bars, just like a squirrel cage
induction motor.
 Once the motor picks up to a speed near
about its synchronous speed, the DC
supply to its field winding is connected
and the synchronous motor pulls into step
i.e. it continues to operate as a
Synchronous motor running at its
Equivalent circuit model and phasor
diagram of a synchronous motor

Equivalent-circuit model for one phase of a

synchronous motor armature
 Equivalent circuit
Applying Kirchhoff’s voltage law

Combining reactances :

where:
Ra = armature resistance (/phase)
Xl = armature leakage reactance
(/phase)
Xs = synchronous reactance
(/phase)
Zs = synchronous impedance
(/phase)
 Phasor Diagram

EMF which is obtained from the phasor equation;

Ef = VT − IaZs
The phase angle between the terminal voltage VT and the
excitation voltage Ef is usually termed the torque angle.
The torque angle is also called the load angle or power
angle.
Synchronous-motor power
equation
 Except for very small machines, the armature
resistance of a synchronous motor is relatively
i n s i g n i f i c a n t c o m p a re d t o i t s s y n c h ro n o u s
reactance, so that Eqn. to be approximated to
VT = Ef + jIaXs
 From this phasor diagram, we have,
IaXs cos φi = −Ef sin δ
 Multiplying through by VT and rearranging terms we
have,

 Since the left side of Eqn. is an expression for active

power input and as the winding resistance is assumed to
be negligible this power input will also represent the
electromagnetic power developed, per phase, by the
synchronous motor.
 Thus, for a three-phase synchronous motor,

 Above Eqn., called the synchronous-machine

power equation, expresses the electro magnetic
power developed per phase by a cylindrical-rotor
motor, in terms of its excitation voltage and power
angle.
 Assuming a constant source voltage and constant
supply frequency, Eqn. may be expressed as :
 Effect of changes in load on armature current,
power angle, and power factor of synchronous
motor

Phasor diagram showing effect of changes in shaft load on armature

current,
Effect of changes in load on armature current,
power angle, and power factor of synchronous
motor

 During all load variations, the rotor assumes a new

position in relation to the rotating magnetic field, the
average speed of the machine does not change.
 As the load is being increased, a final point is reached
at which a further increase in fails to cause a
corresponding increase in motor torque, and the
rotor pulls out of synchronism.
 the rotor poles at this point, will fall behind the stator
poles such that they now come under the influence of
like poles and the force of attraction no longer exists.
 The max. value of Torque whic h m otor c a n
develop at rated voltage and frequency without
losing synchronism is called Pull out Torque.
Effect of changes in load on armature current,
power angle, and power factor of synchronous
motor

If the load on a synchronous motor is increased

the following points are considered which are
given below.

 The motor continues to run at synchronous

speed.
 The torque angle δ increases.
 The excitation voltage Ef remains constant.
 The armature current Ia drawn from the supply
increases.
 The phase angle ϕ increases in the lagging
direction.
 Effect of changes in field
excitation on synchronous
motor performance

Phasor diagram showing effect of changes in field excitation on

armature current,
Effect of changes in field
excitation on synchronous
motor performance
 When the shaft load is assumed to be
constant, the steady-state value of Ef sinδ
must also be constant.
 An increase in Ef will cause a transient
increase in Ef sin δ , and the rotor will
accelerate.
 As the rotor changes its angular position,
decreases until Ef sin δ has the same
steady-state value as before, at which
t i m e t h e ro t o r i s a g a i n o p e r a t i n g a t
synchronous speed, as it should run only
at the synchronous speed.
Effect of changes in field
excitation on synchronous
motor performance
 Note that increasing the excitation from
Ef1 to Ef3 caused the phase angle of the
current phasor with respect to the
terminal voltage VT (and hence the power
factor) to go from lagging to leading.
 The value of field excitation that results in unity
power factor is called normal excitation.
 Excitation greater than normal is called over
excitation, and excitation less than normal is
called under excitation.
 when operating in the overexcited mode, |Ef | >
|VT |.
 In fact a synchronous motor operating under
over excitation condition is sometimes called a
 What is Hunting
 Unloaded synchronous machine has zero degree load
angle.
 On increasing the shaft load gradually load
angle will increase.
 Let us consider that load P 1 is applied suddenly to
unloaded machine shaft so machine will slow down
momentarily.
 Also load angle (δ) increases from zero degree
and becomes δ1.
 During the first swing electrical power developed is
equal to mechanical load P1.
 Equilibrium is not established so rotor swings further.
 Load angle exceeds δ1 and becomes δ2.
Hunting
 Now electrical power generated is greater
than the previous one.
 Rotor attains synchronous speed.
 But it does not stay in synchronous speed
and it will con tin u e to in crea se beyon d
synchronous speed.
 As a result of rotor acceleration above
synchronous speed the load angle decreases.
 So once again no equilibrium is attained.
Thus rotor swings or oscillates about new
equilibrium position. This phenomenon is
known as hunting or phase swinging.
Causes of Hunting in
Synchronous Motor
 Sudden change in load.
 Sudden change in field current.
 A load containing harmonic torque.
 Fault in supply system.
Effects of Hunting in
Synchronous Motor
 It may lead to loss of synchronism.
 Produces mechanical stresses.
 Increases machine losses and cause
temperature rise.
 Cause greater surges in current and
power flow.
Reduction of Hunting in
Synchronous Motor
Two techniques should be used to reduce hunting.
These are –
 Use of Damper Winding : It consists of low
electrical resistance copper / aluminium brush
embedded in slots of pole faces in salient pole
machine. Damper winding damps out
hunting by producing torque opposite to
slip of rotor. The magnitude of damping
torque is proportional to the slip speed.

 Use of Flywheels : The prime mover is provided

with a large and heavy flywheel. This increases
the inertia of prime mover and helps in
Different Torques in
Synchronous Motors
 STARTING TORQUE
 It is the torque developed by the synchronous
motor when full voltage at rated frequency is
applied.
 This torque is provided by the stator windings.

 This torque is also known as Breakaway

Torque or Locked rotor Torque.
 Different Torques in
Synchronous Motors
 RUNNING TORQUE
 It is the torque developed by the synchronous
motor under running conditions.
 It is determined by the output power and speed
of the driven machine.
 PULL-IN TORQUE
 A synchronous motor started as induction
motor till if runs near the synchronous speed.
 Afterward, synchronous is excited with DC
source and the rotor pull into step with the
synchronously rotating stator field.
 So it is ability of motor to pull-into
synchronism when changing from induction to
Different Torques in
Synchronous Motors
 PULL-OUT TORQUE
 It is the maximum value of torque which a
synchro n o u s m o to r c a n d ev el o p a t ra ted
voltage to remain in synchronous under rated
load condition.
 It value varies from 1.25 to 3.5 times the full
load torque.
Synchronous Condenser
 Synchronous Condenser is also known as
Synchronous Compensator or
Synchronous Phase Modifier.
 A synchronous condenser or a synchronous
compensator is a synchronous motor
running without a mechanical load.
 It can generate or absorb reactive volt-
ampere (VAr) by varying the excitation of its
field winding.
 It can be made to take a leading current
with over-excitation of its field winding.
Synchronous Condenser
 When the motor is operated at no load with over-
excitation, it takes a current that leads the
voltage by nearly 90 degrees.
 Thus, it behaves like a capacitor and under such
operating conditions, the synchronous motor is
called a synchronous capacitor.
 Since a synchronous condenser behaves like a
variable inductor or a variable capacitor, it is
used in power transmission systems to regulate
line voltage.
 Difference between Induction
Motor and Synchronous Motor
SYNCHRONOUS
DIFFERENCE INDUCTION MOTOR
MOTOR
A synchronous motor An induction motor is
Type of Excitation is a doubly excited a single excited
machine. machine.
Its armature winding is
energized from an AC Its stator winding is
Supply System source and its field energized from an AC
winding from a DC source.
source.
If the load increased
It always runs at the speed of the
synchronous speed. induction motor
Speed
The speed is decreases. It is always
independent of load. less than the
synchronous speed.
It is not self starting. It
has to be run up to
 Difference between Induction
Motor and Synchronous Motor
An induction motor
A synchronous motor
operates only at a
can be operated with
lagging power factor. At
Operation lagging and leading
high loads the power
power by changing its
factor becomes very
excitation.
poor.
It can be used for
power factor correction An induction motor is
Usage in addition to supplying used for driving
torque to drive mechanical loads only.
mechanical loads.
Its efficiency is lesser
It is more efficient than
than that of the
an induction motor of
Efficiency synchronous motor of
the same output and
the same output and
voltage rating.
the voltage rating.
A synchronous motor is An induction motor is
costlier than an cheaper than the
 Synchronous Machine Applications

 They are generally used in power stations to

attain appropriate power factor. They operate in
parallel to the bus bars and are often over-excited,
externally, to reach the desired power factor.

 They are also used in manufacturing industries

where a large number of asynchronous motors and
transformers are used to overcome the lagging p.f.

 Used in power stations to generate electricity at a

desired frequency.

 Used to control voltage by changing its excitation

in the transmission lines.
Synchronous-motor losses and
efficiency
 The flow of power through a synchronous motor,
from stator to rotor and then to shaft output, is
shown in Fig.
Synchronous-motor losses and
efficiency
 As indicated in the power-flow diagram, the total
power loss for the motor is given by

 where:
Pscl= stator-copper loss
Pfcl = fie1d-copper.loss
Pcore = core loss
Pf,w = friction and windage loss
Pstray = stray load loss
Synchronous-motor losses and
efficiency
 Except for the transient conditions that occur
when the field current is increased or decreased
(magnetic energy stored or released), the total
energy supplied to the field coils is constant and
all of it is consumed as I 2 R losses in the field
winding.
 the overall efficiency of a synchronous motor is
given by