Classification of Electric Motors

Main Types of Motor

Electric motors are broadly classified into two categories as follows:
1. AC Motors.
2. DC Motors.
Within those two main categories there are subdivisions as shown in the below
image.


Motor Types


Notes: Recently, with the development of economical and reliable power
electronic components, there are numerous ways to design a motor and the
classifications of these motors have become less rigorous and many other types of
motor have appeared. Our classification of motors will be comprehensive as can as
possible.


First: DC motors

DC motors

DC power systems are not very common in the contemporary engineering practice.
However, DC motors have been used in industrial applications for years Coupled
with a DC drive, DC motors provide very precise control DC motors can be used
with conveyors, elevators, extruders, marine applications, material handling,
paper, plastics, rubber, steel, and textile applications, automobile, aircraft, and
portable electronics, in speed control applications.


Advantages of DC motors:
1. It is easy to control their speed in a wide range; their torque-speed
characteristic has, historically, been easier to tailor than that of all AC
motor categories. This is why most traction and servo motors have been DC
machines. For example, motors for driving rail vehicles were, until recently,
exclusively DC machines.
2. Their reduced overall dimensions permit a considerable space saving
which let the manufacturer of the machines or of plants not to be
conditioned by the exaggerated dimensions of circular motors.

Disadvantages of DC motors
1. Since they need brushes to connect the rotor winding. Brush wear
occurs, and it increases dramatically in lowpressure environment. So they
cannot be used in artificial hearts. If used on aircraft, the brushes would
need replacement after one hour of operation.
2. Sparks from the brushes may cause explosion if the environment
contains explosive materials.
3. RF noise from the brushes may interfere with nearby TV sets, or
electronic devices, Etc.
4. DC motors are also expensive relative to AC motors.

Thus all application of DC motors have employed a mechanical switch or
commutator to turn the terminal current, which is constant or DC, into alternating
current in the armature of the machine. Therefore, DC machines are also called
commutating machines.


Types of DC motors:


Types of DC motors


The DC motors are divided mainly to:
1. Brush DC motors (BDC).
2. Brushless DC motors (BLDC).

1. A Brush DC motors

Brush DC motors

A brushed DC motor (BDC) is an internally commutated electric motor designed to
be run from a direct current power source.


Applications:
Brushed DC motors are widely used in applications ranging from toys to push-
button adjustable car seats.


Advantages:
Brushed DC (BDC) motors are inexpensive, easy to drive, and are readily available
in all sizes and shapes


Construction:


Brushed DC motor Construction

All BDC motors are made of the same basic components: a stator, rotor, brushes
and a commutator.


1- Stator
The stator generates a stationary magnetic field that surrounds the rotor. This
field is generated by either permanent magnets or electromagnetic windings.


2- Rotor

Rotor (Armature)


The rotor, also called the armature, is made up of one or more windings. When
these windings are energized they produce a magnetic field. The magnetic poles of
this rotor field will be attracted to the opposite poles generated by the stator,
causing the rotor to turn. As the motor turns, the windings are constantly being
energized in a different sequence so that the magnetic poles generated by the
rotor do not overrun the poles generated in the stator. This switching of the field
in the rotor windings is called commutation.


3- Brushes and Commutator


Commutator Example







Segments and Brushes




Unlike other electric motor types (i.e., brushless DC, AC induction), BDC motors do
not require a controller to switch current in the motor windings. Instead, the
commutation of the windings of a BDC motor is done mechanically. A segmented
copper sleeve, called a commutator, resides on the axle of a BDC motor. As the
motor turns, carbon brushes (ride on the side of the commutator to provide supply
voltage to the motor) slide over the commutator, coming in contact with different
segments of the commutator. The segments are attached to different rotor
windings, therefore, a dynamic magnetic field is generated inside the motor when
a voltage is applied across the brushes of the motor. It is important to note that
the brushes and commutator are the parts of a BDC motor that are most prone to
wear because they are sliding past each other.


How the Commutator Works:


How the Commutator Works

As the rotor turns, the commutator terminals also turn and continuously reverse
polarity of the current it gets from the stationary brushes attached to the battery.



Types of BDC motors:



Types of DC motors



The different types of BDC motors are distinguished by the construction of the
stator or the way the electromagnetic windings are connected to the power
source. These types are:
1. Permanent Magnet.
2. Shunt-Wound.
3. Series-Wound.
4. Compound-Wound.
5. Separately excited DC motor.
6. Universal Motor.
7. Servo Motors.

A- Permanent Magnet



Permanent Magnet Motor

A permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor is a motor whose poles are made out of
permanent magnets to produce the stator field.

Advantages:
1. Since no external field circuit is needed, there are no field circuit
copper losses.
2. Since no field windings are needed, these motors can be considerable
smaller.
3. Widely used in low power application.
4. Field winding is replaced by a permanent magnet (simple
construction and less space).
5. No requirement on external excitation.

Disadvantages:
1. Since permanent magnets produces weaker flux densities then
externally supported shunt fields, such motors have lower induced torque.
2. There is always a risk of demagnetization from extensive heating or
from armature reaction effects (Some PMDC motors have windings built into
them to prevent this from happening).


B- Shunt-Wound


Shunt-Wound Motor

Shunt-wound Brushed DC (SHWDC) motors have the field coil in parallel (shunt)
with the armature.

The speed is practically constant independent of the load and therefore suitable
for commercial applications with a low starting load, such as centrifugal pump,
machine tools, blowers fans, reciprocating pumps, etc.

Advantages:
1. The current in the field coil and the armature are independent of one
another. as a result, these motors have excellent speed control.
2. Loss of magnetism is not an issue in SHWDC motors so they are
generally more robust than PMDC motors.
3. Speed can be controlled by either inserting a resistance in series with
the armature (decreasing speed) or by inserting resistance in the field
current (increasing speed).

Disadvantages:
1. Shunt-wound Brushed DC (SHWDC) motors have drawbacks in
reversing applications, however, because winding direction relative to the
shunt winding must be reversed when armature voltage is reversed. Here,
reversing contactors must be used.


C- Series-Wound


Series-Wound Motor

Series-wound Brushed DC (SWDC) motors have the field coil in series with the
armature. These motors are ideally suited for high-torque applications such as
traction vehicles (cranes and hoists, electric trains, conveyors, elevators, electric
cars) because the current in both the stator and armature increases under load.

Advantages:
1. The torque is proportional to I2 so it gives the highest torque per
current ratio over all other dc motors.

Disadvantages:
1. A drawback to SWDC motors is that they do not have precise speed
control like PMDC and SHWDC motors have.
2. Speed is restricted to 5000 RPM.
3. It must be avoided to run a series motor with no load because the
motor will accelerate uncontrollably.


D- Compound-Wound


Compound-Wound Motor

Compound Wound (CWDC) motors are a combination of shunt-wound and series-
wound motors.

CWDC motors employ both a series and a shunt field. The performance of a CWDC
motor is a combination of SWDC and SHWDC motors. CWDC motors have higher
torque than a SHWDC motor while offering better speed control than SWDC motor.

It is used in Applications such as Rolling mills, sudden temporary loads, heavy
machine tools, punches, etc.


Advantages:
1. This motor has a good starting torque and a stable speed.


Disadvantages:
1. The no-load speed is controllable unlike in series motors.


E- Separately excited DC motor


Separately excited DC motor

In a separately excited DC motor the field coils are supplied from an independent
source, such as a motor-generator and the field current is unaffected by changes in
the armature current. The separately excited DC motor was sometimes used in DC
traction motors to facilitate control of wheel slip.


F- Universal Motor


Universal Motor

The universal motor is a rotating electrical machine similar to DC series motor,
designed to operate either from AD or DC source. The stator & rotor windings of
the motor are connected in series through the rotor commutator. The series motor
is designed to move large loads with high torque in applications such as crane
motor or lift hoist.



G- Servo Motors


Servo Motors

Servo Motors are mechanical devices that can be instructed to move the output
shaft attached to a servo wheel or arm to a specified position. Servo Motors are
designed for applications involving position control, velocity control and torque
control.


Servo Motors Components


A servo motor mainly consists of a DC motor, gear system, a position sensor which is
mostly a potentiometer, and control electronics.

Servo Motors Applications