Three-phase induction motor design software
Gheorghe Scutaru1, Andrei Negoita1, Razvan Mihai Ionescu1
1
“Transilvania” University of Brasov, Romania; scutaru@unitbv.ro, andrei.negoita@yahoo.com,
ionescu.razvan.mihai@gmail.com
Abstract— the paper presents a program for optimized design
or re-design of three-phase induction motors conceived in
VISUAL BASIC language. The program structure is modular
and can thus be adjusted to the most varied requirements of
induction motor design. For its users, the program offers several
facilities, i.e. a friendly interface, different ways of formulating the
optimum problem, an updatable database including information
on the characteristics of the materials used and the manufactured
motors, the user’s guide that comprises the detailed description of
the program and explanations for each computation step.
I. INTRODUCTION
An optimized design computing program for induction
motors shall meet the following requirements ([1], [2] and [3]):
a) to allow for an easy design data supply;
b) to offer several possibilities of formulating the optimum
problem;
c) to have an available data base including information on
the characteristics of the materials used and the motors being
currently manufactured;
d) to reach a solution of acceptable accuracy;
e) to offer an user-friendly interface.
The produced software is able to offer the following
facilities ([4], [5] and [6]):
− In the case in which it is necessary to achieve an
induction motor with operation parameters different
from the ones of the currently manufactured motors, the
software can inform in a few seconds, if the new
product can be obtained by using a magnetic circuit
already existing in current manufacturing. If this is not
possible, it will offer the optimum constructive solution
for the new product.
− It allows setting up of a custom database comprising
information on the current motor manufacturing.
− It has a user-friendly interface, offering all information
required for designing or re-designing an induction
motor.
− By reducing the designing time of a new product to a
few seconds, a significant decrease of costs is obtained.
II. USE AND OPERATING CONDITIONS
In its standard version the program enables optimized
designing of three-phase induction motors with rated power
below 15 kW and squirrel-cage rotor.
In order to obtain a new product by using magnetic circuits
already existing in current manufacturing, the design
computations of an induction motor can be performed in five
variants in which the limitations of the magnetic circuit
dimensions are gradually eliminated.
Choosing any of the five variants one can start program
operation. If initially one of the first four variants has been
chosen, and after completing computations the desired motor
has not been obtained, the program will automatically switch to
the next variant, thus obtaining a suitable design solution for
the motor.
III. STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM MAIN MENU
The main menu of the program includes the following
components:
A. General data
This option enables modifications of the program work files
to be carried out according to the characteristics of the
materials used for motor manufacturing.
On selecting this option, the image shown in Fig. 1 becomes
visible. The following can be selected:
a) Quality of the electro-steel sheet.
b) Changes of the computation coefficients for iron losses.
c) Values of insulated and un-insulated conductor diameters
Fig. 2).
d) Correction of the magnetic field non-uniformity
coefficient variation.
e) Correction of the ideal pole pitch covering coefficient
variation with respect to the saturation degree of the machine.
f) Insulation class. Classes B, E, F, and H can be chosen.
g). Updating the database related to currently manufactured
motors. This database includes information regarding: rated
parameters; the stator (Fig. 3) and rotor armature core disk
geometry (Fig. 4); the stator winding; (Fig. 5) motor operating
parameters (Fig. 6). The database updating function covers
modifying, deleting and adding operations.
B. Computational variants
The following variants can be selected:
a) Recalculation; this option allows the recalculation of a
motor from the database in order to assess the computation
accuracy of the program by comparing the computed results
with the measured ones.
b) Transversal and longitudinal geometry is imposed.
c) Transversal geometry is imposed.
d) Only the transversal geometry of the stator is imposed.
e) No geometry is imposed.
 Fig. 1. Modifications of the program work files.
Fig. 3. Data base content related to the stator.
Fig. 5. One-layer chain winding.
Choosing one of the options b), c), d), or e) initializes the
process of defining the designing problem of a three-phase
induction motor.
When proceeding to run the program, a dialogue box is
initialized which specifies the design problem to be solved.
Depending on the expressed options, the program
automatically defines the optimum problem to be solved.
After having specified the motor rated values, the following
have to be selected: the number of stator slots from a list of
recommended values, (the stator winding is drawn in
accordance with the expressed option) and the slot shape as
one of the four available predefined shapes.
Fig. 2. Data on the electrotechnical steel sheet.
Fig. 4. Data base content related to the rotor.
Fig. 6. Selecting the values for the motor operation parameters.
As to the rotor, the following will be chosen: slot type: skew
or straight; slot shape; the number of slots from a list of
recommended values.
If one of the variants b), c) or d) has been selected it is
necessary to specify the dimensions defining the stator and
rotor armature core disks, reference values can be given on
either side or values corresponding to a magnetic circuit
available in the database can be adopted. Depending on the
selected computation variant and slot shape options the
program demands the values of the dimensions required in
each case, separately.
Further on, the conditions to be met by the motor operating
parameters are specified. Any of the values given in Fig. 6,
can be modified according to the requirements in practice.
Even more, the weight of each specified value can be
determined in establishing the constructive solution.
Due to the great number of possible combinations and since
some of the limit values can be contradictory the optimizing
computation shall establish the constructive solution with
closest operating parameter values to the imposed ones. Thus,
there is the possibility that some of the motor operating
parameters obtained by calculation will have values which do
not strictly meet the conditions imposed by the specified limit
values with respect to the weight assigned to each value.
C. Gauging
The reason for having such an option is that no computing
method can force deviations caused by technical reasons or by
the quality of the materials used. The correction factor values
can be set for the following quantities: iron loss, rotor
aluminum losses, stator phase resistance, magnetizing current
and stator slots filling factor. Should the calculated values of
the specified parameters deviate systematically from the
Fig. 7. Results referring to the stator of a three-phase motor.
Fig. 9. The motor winding.
Fig. 11. The equivalent diagram.
measured ones this option will enable performing of the
necessary corrections.
Initially, correction values can be set through re-calculating
an already available motor and then comparing it with the
obtained results.
The values of the correction factor are specific to each user
and can be kept valid as long as the user wishes to.
IV. RESULTS
Fig. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 show the results obtained in the
case of the three-phase induction motor of 2.2 kW and 1500
rot/min. The results are displayed in an accessible form and
include the following data:
The dimensions and the electromagnetic load of the stator
(Fig. 7); the dimensions and the electromagnetic load of the
rotor (Fig. 8); the stator winding (Fig. 9); operating parameters
(Fig. 10); equivalent diagram (Fig. 11); torque-speed
characteristic (Fig. 12).
The results can be displayed in any sequence.
Fig. 8. Results referring to the rotor of a three-phase motor.
Fig. 10. The motor operation parameters.
Fig. 12. The mechanical characteristic.
 Fig. 13. Defining the simulation conditions.
Simulation: This option allows establishing the behavior of a
three-phase asynchronous motor in starting regime. The
computation consists in integration of the system of differential
equations which describe the operation of a three-phase
asynchronous motor, considering zero initial conditions.
Simulation of the starting regime can be achieved by
specifying the values of the following quantities (Fig. 13):
• The feeding voltage.
• The frequency of the feeding voltage.
• The resistant torque; no-load starting or under-load
starting can be selected.
• Duration of the starting process to simulate.
• The integration step; a value used in the integration
process of the system of differential equations.
By simulation calculus, the following time related
dependencies are available:
• Variation in time of the torque developed by the motor.
• Variation in time of the current absorbed on a phase, by
the motor (Fig. 14).
• Variation in time of the motor speed and of the rotor
position at various moments of time. Thus the number of
revolutions made by the rotor during starting can be
established. This result is useful in situations when the
number of rotor revolutions for starting of the designed
motor (reaching the rated speed) is imposed.
Further the mechanical characteristic of the motor can be
represented, by the two dependencies, i.e.:
• Torque versus slip.
• Speed versus torque.
Should different values from the rated ones have been
selected for the feeding voltage and its frequency, the two
dependencies are represented for both the rated values (natural
mechanical characteristic) and the selected ones (artificial
mechanical characteristic). The co-ordinates of any point of
the graphs will be displayed by clicking with the left mouse
button on it.
Fig. 14. The phase current variation.
V. CONCLUSION
The presented program features several qualities, which
qualify it as useful both in designing and in teaching. Here are
the most remarkable ones:
- The program database offers a rapid access to information
on the general designing computation of induction motors
as well as on data related to motors currently
manufactured.
- Due to the different possibilities to formulate the designing
problem, this program is useful in designing and especially
in re-designing motors.
- The possibility of customizing the program offers an
opportunity to customize it for different users.
- The way of entering data simplifies the definition of the
problem to be solved and especially its modification.
- The way of presenting results is suggestive and enables the
user to display them on screen as desired.
- The graphic representation of the windings represents a
real facility for the designers.
- The obtained results are largely consistent with the values
measured in the experimental models.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This paper is supported by The National University Research
Council of Romania (CNCSIS) under the contract number
848/2009.
REFERENCES
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Applications, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2002.
[3] J. Chiasson, Modeling and High Performance Control of Electric
Machines, Wiley-IEEE Press, 2005.
[4] Gh. Scutaru, D. Sorea, D., C. Vişa, CAD-electrical engineering
applications, ISBN 973-8474-31-4, Transilvania University of Brasov
Publishing House, 2000.
[5] Gh. Scutaru, Numerical methods, ISBN 973-8124-78-6, Transilvania
University of Brasov Publishing House, 2001.
[6] Gh. Scutaru, A. Gogioiu A, L. Rodrigues, Electrical Machines, ISBN
973-9458-37-8, Lux Libris Publishing House, 2004.