- Home
- /
- News
- /
- Industry News
What is the operating principle of a 3 phase induction motor?
An electric motor converts electrical energy into a mechanical energy which is then supplied to different types of loads. AC motors operate on an a.c. supply, and they are classified into synchronous, single phase and 3 phase induction, and special purpose motors.
Out of all types, 3 phase induction motors are most widely used for industrial applications mainly because they do not require a starting device.
A 3 phase induction motor derives its name from the fact that the rotor current is induced by the magnetic field, instead of electrical connections.
The operating principle of a 3 phase induction motor is based on the production of r.m.f.
Production of a rotating magnetic field
The stator of an induction motor consists of a number of overlapping windings offset by an electrical angle of 120°. When the primary winding or stator is connected to a three phase alternating current supply, it establishes a rotating magnetic field which rotates at a synchronous speed.
The direction of rotation of the motor depends on the phase sequence of supply lines, and the order in which these lines are connected to the stator. Thus interchanging the connection of any two primary terminals to the supply will reverse the direction of rotation.
The number of poles and the frequency of the applied voltage determine the synchronous speed of rotation in the motor’s stator. Motors are commonly configured to have 2, 4, 6 or 8 poles. The synchronous speed, a term given to the speed at which the field produced by primary currents will rotate, is determined by the following expression.
Synchronous speed of rotation = (120* supply frequency) / Number of poles on the stator
Production of magnetic flux
A rotating magnetic field in the stator is the first part of operation. To produce a torque and thus rotate, the rotors must be carrying some current. In induction motors, this current comes from the rotor conductors. The revolving magnetic field produced in the stator cuts across the conductive bars of the rotor and induces an e.m.f.
The rotor windings in an induction motor are either closed through an external resistance or directly shorted. Therefore, the e.m.f induced in the rotor causes current to flow in a direction opposite to that of the revolving magnetic field in the stator, and leads to a twisting motion or torque in the rotor.
As a consequence, the rotor speed will not reach the synchronous speed of the r.m.f in the stator. If the speeds match, there would be no e.m.f. induced in the rotor, no current would be flowing, and therefore no torque would be generated. The difference between the stator (synchronous speed) and rotor speeds is called the slip.
What results is a motor that is:
Self-starting
Explosion proofed (because of the absence of slip rings or commutators and brushes that may cause sparks)
Robust in construction
Inexpensive
Easier to maintain
Key: Vertical 3 Phase ac induction motors, electric motor, Vertical Inverter Duty motor, DC Brake motor Oil Pressure Motor, helical gear motor, Electric motor three phase, AC mini Induction DC gear motor, Gear reducer motor series, NMRV NRV worm reducer series, Worm reducer series, Horizontal Inverter duty, worm gear series, ac motor, vertical gearmotor, helical horizontal gearmotor, gear reduce motor, bevel gearmotor, cyclo gear motor, NMRV gear motor, worm reducer
Newer articles
- Top 10 tips for working with gearmotors (03/03/2020)
- All you need to know about gear motors and their components (12/02/2020)
- What is a gearmotor? (13/03/2020)
- Applications and advantages of using gear motors (03/02/2020)
- How to select gear ratio for a gear reducer? (20/01/2020)
- What are Gear Motors Used For? (15/01/2020)
- Selecting a gear motor in 4 simple steps (19/11/2019)
- How to Ensure Greater Efficiency with Electric Motors (28/11/2019)
- How to Calculate Gear Ratio (20/01/2020)
- Construction of Three Phase Induction Motor (20/11/2019)
Older articles
- Advantages & Disadvantages of DC (09/09/2019)
- How to select the best type of gear reducer (31/01/2019)
- How do gearmotors impact reflected mass inertia from the load? (06/05/2019)
- Gearmotor Selection: Gearbox Reducer Housing Materials (10/10/2019)
- How to choose the gear reducer motors rightly? (11/11/2019)
- How a 3 Phase AC Induction Motor Works (01/10/2019)
- Know Basics of 3 Phase AC Induction Motor and Its Control using SVPWM (10/10/2019)
- Three Phase Induction Motor Definition & Working Principle (11/11/2019)
- Three causes of gearbox failure (07/11/2019)
- What are Power-Transmission Gears? Technical Summary (08/11/2019)
Join