INDUCTION MOTOR

Introduction
In ac motors, the rotor does not receive electric power by conduction but by induction in exactly the same way as
the secondary of a 2-winding transformer receives its power from the primary. That is why such motors are known
as induction motors. In fact, induction motor can be treated as a rotating transformer.
Induction motor is very commonly used since it is very cheap, robust, efficient and reliable. It has good speed
regulation and high starting torque. It requires little maintenance. It has a reasonable overload capacity.

Squirrel Cage and Slip-Ring (Phase-Wound) Induction Motors

S.No
1

Characteristics
Construction

Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

Simple and Rugged

2
3
4
5

Copper Losses
Efficiency
Power factor
Speed Control

Less
High
Better
No possibility

Starting Torque

Starting torque is low with large

starting current

Cooling

Cooling better because of its bare

end rings and availability of more
space for rotor fans.

Slip Ring Induction Motor

Needs Slip-Rings, brushes shortcircuiting devices etc.
High
Low
Poor
Possible by insertion of external resistor
in the rotor circuit
Possibility of increasing starting torque
by insertion of external resistances in
the rotor circuit
Not quite efficient

Slip Ring induction Motor

The purpose of slip-ring and brushes is to provide a means for connecting external resistors in the rotor circuit. The
resistors enable the variation of each rotor phase resistance to serve two purposes.
i.
To increase the starting torque and decrease the starting current from the supply.
ii.
To control the speed of the motor.

Squirrel-Cage Induction Motor

The skewing of cage rotor conductors offers the following advantages:
i.
More uniform torque is produced and the noise is reduced during operation.
ii.
The locking tendency of the rotor is reduced. During locking, the rotor and stator teeth attract each other
due to magnetic action.

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Production of Rotating magnetic Field

o

When 3-phase windings displaced in space by 120 are supplied by 3-phase currents displaced in time by 120 , a
magnetic field is produced which rotates in space.
1 = sin
2 = sin 120
3 = sin + 120

The horizontal component of the flux is given by:

= 1 2 cos 600 3 cos 600
= 1 2 + 3 cos 600
1
= sin sin 1200 + sin + 1200
2
3
= sin
2
The resultant vertical component of flux is given by:
= 0 2 cos 300 + cos 300
3
=
sin 1200 + sin + 1200
2
3
= cos
2
2
Resultant flux,
= + 2
3
=
2

Also,
tan = = tan

=
2
It can be seen that the resultant flux rotates in space in the clockwise direction with angular velocity of rad/sec.
Since, = 2 and =

120

, the resultant flux rotates with synchronous speed.

Principle of Operation
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Consider a conductor placed on a stationary rotor. Let this conductor is subjected to a rotating magnetic field of
induction motor. Let the rotation of magnetic field as clockwise. By Faradays law of electromagnetic induction, a
voltage will be induced in the conductor and hence a current flows in the rotor conductor. Since the magnetic field
is rotating clockwise and the conductor is stationary, we can assume that the conductor is in motion in the
anticlockwise direction with respect to the magnetic field. By right hand rule, the direction of the induced current
is outwards (dot). The current in the rotor conductor produces its own magnetic field.
We know that when a conductor carrying current is put in a magnetic field, a force is produced on it. Thus, a force
is produced on the rotor conductor. The direction of force can be found by left-hand rule. It is seen that the force
produced on the conductor is in the same direction as the direction of the rotating magnetic field. Since the rotor
conductor is in a slot on the circumference of the rotor, this force acts in a tangential direction to the rotor and
develops a torque on the rotor. Similar torque is produced on all rotor conductors. Since the rotor is free to move,
it starts rotating in the same direction as the rotating magnetic field. Thus, a three phase induction motor is self
starting. Since the operation of this motor depends upon the induced voltage in its rotor conductors, it is called an
induction motor.

Speed and Slip

An induction motor cannot run at synchronous speed.
If induction motor runs at synchronous speed, there would be no cutting of flux by the rotor conductors, and there
would be no generated voltage, no current and no torque. The rotor speed is therefore slightly less than the
synchronous speed.
An induction motor may also be called as Asynchronous motor as it does not run at synchronous speed. The
difference between the synchronous speed and actual speed is called the slip speed. Thus, slip speed expresses
the speed of the motor relative to the field.
=
=
=

= = = =

Also,
=

Frequency of Rotor Voltage and Current

The frequency of current and voltage in the stator must be the same as the supply frequency given by

=
120
The frequency in the rotor winding in variable an depends on the difference between the synchronous speed and
the rotor speed. Hence the rotor frequency depends upon slip. The rotor frequency is given by

=
120
Hence,
=
=

Rotor EMF, Rotor Current, Power Factor and Equivalent Circuit

When the rotor is at standstill, the motor is equivalent to a 3-phase induction motor with secondary shortcircuited. So induced emf per phase 2 in the rotor, when it is at standstill i.e. at the instant of starting is given by
2
2 = 1
1

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Where 1 is applied voltage per phase to primary i.e. stator winding, 1 and 2 are the number of turns per phase
on stator and rotor respectively.
When the rotor starts running, the relative speed of the rotor with respect to stator flux drops in direct proportion
with the relative speed and is given by 2 .
Hence for slip, the induced emf in the rotor is times the induced emf in the rotor at standstill.
Let the resistance and inductance per phase of rotor be 2 and 2 respectively and induced emf per phase is rotor
at standstill be 2 .
At standstill
Induced emf per phase in rotor = 2
Rotor winding resistance per phase = 2
Rotor winding reactance per phase = 2 = 22 where is supply frequency.
2 2 + 2 2

Rotor winding impedance = 2 =

Rotor current, 2 =

2
2

2
2 2 +2 2

At slip s
Induced emf per phase in rotor winding = 2 .
Rotor winding resistance per phase = 2
Rotor winding reactance per phase = 2 = 2 2 = 22 = 2
2 2 + 2 2

Rotor winding impedance per phase = 2 =

Rotor current, 2 =

2
2

2
2 2 + 2 2

Power factor of rotor current, cos 2 =

2
2 2 + 2 2

The rotor current can be re-written as: 2 =

2
2 2
+2 2

The above equation gives convenient form of rotor equivalent circuit. The resistance
be splitted into two parts 2 and 2

where 2 is rotor resistance and 2

is a function of slip and can

is the fictitious resistance

representing electrical load on the rotor.

The power consumed by the fictitious resistance representing the rotor electrical load is given by:
2 2 2

and this power is converted into mechanical power.

R2

I2
sX2

sE2

Circuit Diagram of Induction Motor rotor

X2

E2

I2

R2/s

Rotor Equivalent Circuit

Stator Circuit Model

Stator circuit model consists of a stator phase winding resistance 1 , a stator phase winding leakage reactance 1 .
These two components appear right at the input to the machine model.

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0 = +
The total magnetizing current 0 is considerably larger in the case on induction motor as compared to a
transformer. This is due to higher reluctance caused by air gap on the induction motor.

I1

X1

R1

V1

X0

R0

Stator Circuit Model

Equivalent Circuit of an Induction Motor

The complete per phase equivalent circuit for an induction motor can be obtained by referring rotor part of the
model over to the stator circuit.

I1

V1

R1

X1

R0

R2 '

X0

R2
K2

RL '

X2'

X2
K2

RL
R 1
2 1
K2 K2 s

Rotor Equivalent Circuit

The exciting circuit may be transferred to the left, because inaccuracy involved is negligible but the circuit and
hence calculations are very much simplified. This is known as approximate equivalent circuit of the induction
motor.

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I2'
R01=R1+R2' X01=X1+X2'

I1

V1

RL '

X0

R0

RL
R 1
2 1
K2 K2 s

Rotor Equivalent Circuit

Rotor Torque
The torque of an induction motor is due to interaction between rotor and staor fields and depends on the strength
of those fields and the phase relation between them.
The torque developed by the rotor of an induction motor is directly proportional to a) rotor current 2 , b) stator
flux per pole c) power factor of the rotor current, cos
2 cos 2
Since the rotor emf per phase at standstill,
= 2 2 cos 2

Torque developed,

where K is any constant.

Torque under running Conditions

Substituting, 2 =

2
2
2 2 + 2 2

cos 2 =

2
2
2 2 + 2 2

Therefore torque developed by induction motor will be

2
= 2

2 2 + 2 2

2 2 + 2 2

2 2 2
2 2 + 2 2

Rotor Cu Loss
= 32 2 cos 2 = 32

2 2 + 2 2

2
2 2 + 2 2

=
2

2 2 2 2
2 2 + 2 2

This energy to the rotor is dissipated as the rotor copper loss.

Therefore,
=

2 2 2 2
2 2 + 2 2

Starting Torque
At start, the rotor is stationary and so slip=1 and starting torque may be obtained by substituting s=1
2 2 2
= = 2
2 + 2 2
Condition for Maximum Running Torque

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Torque under running condition

=

2 2 2

2 2 + 2 2
Torque for fixed supply voltage will be maximum when
2
2 2 + 2 2

or

2
22
+2 2

For maxima or minima,

Therefore

or

2
2
2
2 +22 2

is maximum.

2 = 0

2
2

=
Conclusions
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)

2 2 2

2 2 + 2 2

2 2
22

Maximum torque is independent of rotor circuit resistance.

The slip at which maximum torque occurs is governed by rotor resistance.
Maximum torque varies inversely as standstill reactance of the rotor.
Maximum torque varies directly as the square of supply voltage.

Starting Torque and Maximum Torque

2
= 2

+1
where

2
2

Condition for Maximum starting torque

2
2
2 = 2

=1=

Torque-Slip Characteristics
Torque developed by an induction motor rotor is given by the equation
2 2 2
= 2
2
2 + 2 2
From the relation, following conclusions can be made:
I.
When speed is synchronous i.e. when slip () is zero, the torque is zero. So torque-slip characteristics
starts from origin.
II.
When the speed is very near to synchronous speed (slip is very less), the value of 2 is very small and
is negligible in comparison with rotor resistance 2 . Therefore torque is directly proportional to slip .
III.
As the slip increases, i.e. speed drops with increase in load, torque increases, reaches its maximum value
when =

2
2

. The maximum torque is also known as breakdown or pull-down torque. The slip

corresponding to breakdown torque is called the breakdown slip .

IV.
With further increase in slip or drop in speed due to increase in load beyond the point of maximum
torque, the torque begins to decrease. The result is that the motor slows down and eventually stops.
With higher value of slip, 2 becomes negligible as compared to 2 and the torque inversely to slip is standstill
reactance 2 is constant.

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Variation of Starting torque With Rotor Resistance

If the rotor resistance 2 were zero, then the rotor current at standstill would lag 90 behind the rotor induced emf
and the induction motor would, therefore develop no torque at start. On the other hand, if the rotor resistance
were infinitely large, there would be no rotor current, and therefore, no torque. Since the starting torque is zero
when 2 and when 2 is infinitely large, so there must be some intermediate value of rotor resistance that will
give a maximum value of starting torque.

Modes of Operation
Depending upon the value of slip, there can be following three modes of operation of an induction motor.
Motor Action (0< 1): In this mode, the rotor rotates in the same direction as the stator field. The speed is less
than the synchronous speed.
Brake Action ( > 1): There are two ways of making slip greater than unity. First, the rotor can be driven by a
prime mover in a direction opposite to the rotating magnetic field. Second, we can reverse any two of the phase
supplies while operating the machine as motor. The effect of reversing two supply-phases is to make the stator
field rotate in the opposite direction. Thus, at the time of switch over, the rotor is rotating almost at synchronous
speed in one direction and the stator field is rotating at synchronous speed in the opposite direction. The
difference is almost twice the synchronous speed and hence slip is almost 2.
Generator Action ( < 0): The slip can be made negative if rotor is made to rotate at a speed higher than
synchronous speed with the help of prime mover. Induction motors are rarely used as generators .

Power Stages in Induction Motor

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Torque, Mechanical Power and Rotor output

, 1 = +
The stator output is transferred entirely inductively to the rotor circuit.
, 2 =
, = 2
This rotor output is converted into mechanical energy and gives rise to gross torque . Out of this gross torque
developed, some is lost due to windage and frictional losses in the rotor and rest appears as the useful or shaft
torque .
Let N rpm be the actual speed of the rotor and if is in N-m, then
2

=
60
If there were no copper losses in the rotor, then rotor output will equalrotor input and the rotor will run at
synchronous speed.
60 2
=
2
Rotor gross output,

= =

Rotor input,

2 = =

The difference of two equals to Cu loss

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60
2
60

 = 2 = 2

60

=
=

=
=
2
Q.1 An 1,100V, 50Hz delta connected induction motor has a star connected slip ring rotor with a phase
transformation ratio of 3.8. The rotor resistance and standstill leakage reactance are 0.012 ohm and 0.25 ohm per
phase respectively. Neglecting stator impedance and magnetizing current, determine (i) the rotor current at start
with slip rings shorted, (ii) the rotor power factor at start with slip-rings shorted, (iii) the rotor current at 4% slip
with slip rings shorted, (iv) the rotor power factor at 4% slip with slip-rings shorted, (v) the external rotor
resistance per phase required to obtain a starting current of 100-A in the stator supply lines.
Sol. Voltage applied to stator per phase, 1 = 1100 , the same as the line voltage
EMF induced per phase in the rotor at standstill, 2 = 1 =

1
3.8

1100 = 289.5

Rotor resistance per phase, 2 = 0.012

Rotor standstill resistance per phase, 2 = 0.25
At standstill:
Rotor impedance per phase, 2 = 2 + 2 = 0.012 + 0.25 = 0.2503 87.25

Rotor current, 2 =

2
2

289.5
0.2503

= 1156.6

Rotor power factor, cos 2 = cos 87.250 = 0.048

At 4% slip (with slip rings shorted):
Rotor impedance per phase, 2 = 2 + 2 = 0.012 + 0.04 0.25 = 0.012 + 0.1 = 0.0156 39.8

Rotor current, 2 =

2
2

0.04289.5
0.0156

= 742.3

Rotor power factor, cos 2 = cos 39.80 = 0.768

Rotor current per phase corresponding to stator line current of 100 A
2 =
Rotor impedance per phase, 2 =

2
2

289.5
219.4

1 100/ 3
=
= 219.4

1 3.8

= 1.32

Required rotor resistance per phase, 2 = 2 2 2 2 = 1.322 0.252 = 1.2956

External resistance required per phase = 1.2956 0.012 = 1.2836 ohm
Q.2 A 3-phase induction motor is wound for 4 poles and is supplied from 50-Hz system. Calculate i) the
synchronous speed, ii) the rotor speed, when slip is 4% and iii) rotor frequency when rotor runs at 600 rpm.

50

Sol. = 120 = 120

= 1500

, = 1 = 1500 1 0.04 = 1440

When rotor speed is 600 rpm, slip is

1500 600
=
=
= 0.6

1500
Rotor Current Frequency, = = 0.6 50 = 30

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Q.3 A 4-pole, 50 Hz, 7.46kW motor has, at rated voltage and frequency, a starting torque of 160 per cent and a
maximum torque of 200 per cent of full-load torque. Determine (i) full-load speed, (ii) speed at maximum torque.
T sh

Sol.

Tf

= 1.6 and

T max
Tf

=2

Therefore
Tsh
1.6
2a
=
= 0.8 =
Tmax
2
1 + a2
=

After solving the above equation, we can get

= 0.5

Also,
Tf
2asf
1
= 2
=
2
Tmax
a + sf
2
2 0.04
1
=
0.0016 + 2 2
After solving, we get
=?
(i)
Full-load speed occurs at a slip of 0.01. Now
= 120 50 4 = 1500
= 1500?
(ii)

Maximum torque occurs at a slip given by =

2
2

= 1500 1500 0.5 = 750

Q.4 A 440-V, 3-phase, 50Hz, 4-pole, Y-connected induction motor has a full-load speed of 1425 rpm. The rotor has
an impedance of (0.4+j4) ohm and rotor/stator turn ratio of 0.8. Calculate (i) full-load torque, (ii) rotor current and
full-load rotor Cu loss, (iii) power output if windage and friction losses amount to 500-W, (iv) maximum torque and
speed at which it occurs, (v) starting current, (vi) starting torque.
Sol.
Ns = 120 50 4 = 1500 rpm
1500 1425
s=
= 0.05
1500
1 = 440 1.73 = 254 /
Full-Load torque,
3 60 2 2 1
2 2 2 + 2 2 2
3 60 0.05 0.8 254 2 0.4
=
21500 0.42 + 0.052 42
= 78.87
=

Rotor Current
=

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0.05 0.8 254

= 22.73
0.42 + 0.05 4 2
2 + 2 2
2 + 2 2
= 3 2 = 3 22.732 0.4 = 620
2
2 1500
=
=
78.87 = 11745
60
60
= = 11745 500 = 11245

For Maximum torque, = 2 = 0.4 4 = 0.1

2
3 60 2 2 1
3 60 0.1 0.8 254 2 0.4
=
=
= 98.5
2
2
2 2 + 2 2
21500 0.42 + 0.12 42
2

 = 0.1
= = 0.1 1500 = 150
= 1500 150 = 1350
2
0.8 254
=
=
= 50.5
2
2
0.42 + 42
2 + 2
At start, = 1
Starting torque,
3 60 0.8 254 2 0.4
= 19.5
21500
0.42 + 42
Q.5 A 100-kW (output), 3300-V, 50-Hz, 3-phase, star connected induction motor has a synchronous speed of 500
rpm. The-full load slip is 1.8% and full-load power factor 0.85. Stator copper loss=2400-W, Iron loss=3500-W.
Rotational loss=1200-W. Calculate (i) the rotor copper loss, (ii) the line current, (iii) the full-load efficiency.
Sol.
Pm = output + rotational losses = 100 + 1.2 = 101.2 kW
s
0.018
rotor Cu loss =
Pm =
101.2 = 1.855 kW
1s
1 .018
, 2 = + = 101.2 + 1.855 = 103.055
= 2 + = 103.055 + 2.44 + 3.5 = 108.995
=

Therefore 1 = 3 cos
108.995 = 3 3300 0.85
= 22.4

100
=
=
= 0.917
1
108.955
Q.6 A 400-V, 4-pole, 3-phase, 50-Hz induction motor has a rotor resistance and reactance per phase of 0.01 and
0.1 respectively. Determine (a) maximum torque in N-m and the corresponding slip (b) the full-load slip and
power output in watts, if maximum torque is twice the full-load torque. The ratio of stator to rotor turns is 4.
Sol.
Applied voltage per phase, 1 = 400
= 231
3
231
Standstill emf induced in rotor, 2 = 1 =
= 57.75
4

Slip for maximum torque,

2 0.01
=
= 0.1
2
0.1
50
= 120
= 1500
4
3 60 2 2
3 60 57.752
=
=
= 320
2 22 2 1500 2 0.1
2 0.01
=
=
= 0.1
2
0.1

2
1
= 2
=
2
+
2
2 0.1 1
= = 0.027 0.373
0.12 + 2
2
= 0.373 is not in the operating range of the motor, therefore we select = 0.027
= 1500 1 0.027 = 1459.5
Full-load torque,
=

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320
= 160
2
2 2 1459.5 160
=
=
= 24454
60
60
=

NOTE: Some answers are just approximated one. Your answer may vary a bit.

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