Synchronous Motor

Example: A 75 kW, 3-phase, Y-connected, 50 Hz, 440 V cylindrical rotor synchronous motor operates at rated
condition with 0.8 power factor leading. The motor efficiency excluding field and stator losses are 95% and XS=2.5
ohm. Calculate: (i) mechanical power developed, (ii) armature current, (iii) back EMF, (iv) power angle, and (v)
maximum or pull-out torque of the motor.
Solution: 50
𝑁𝑆 = 120 × = 1500 𝑟𝑝𝑚 = 25 𝑟𝑝𝑠
4
𝑃𝑜 𝑢 103
𝑖 𝑃𝑖 𝑛 = 𝑃𝑚 = = 75 × = 78950 𝑊
𝜂 0.95
(ii) Since power input is known, we know that
78950
3𝑉𝐿 𝐼𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = 3 × 440 × 𝐼𝑎 × 0.8 = 78950 𝑊 𝐼𝑎 = = 129 𝐴
3 × 440 × 0.8
(iii) Applied voltage/phase = 440/ 3 = 254 Let, V = 254∠00

Now, 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑏 + 𝑗𝐼𝑋𝑠 and 𝜙 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠−1 0.8 = 36.90

Or, 𝐸𝑏 = 𝑉 − 𝑗𝐼𝑋𝑠 = 254∠00 − 129∠36.90 × 2.5∠900 = 516∠ − 300

(iv) Power angle, 𝛼 = −300

(v) Maximum or Full-out torque occurs when 𝛼 = 900

3𝐸𝑏 𝑉 3 × 254 × 516

𝑃𝑚 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛90 = 157276.8 𝑊
𝑋𝑠 2.5
Pull-out torque = 9.55 X 157276.8/1500 =1001.328 N-m
 Synchronous Motor
Synchronous Motor with Different Excitations
• A synchronous motor is said to have normal excitation when its Eb = V

• If field excitation is such that Eb < V, the motor is said to be under-excited.

• In both these conditions, it has a lagging power factor as shown in following figure.

• If DC field excitation is such that Eb > V, then motor is said to be over-excited and draws a leading current as
shown in following figure.

• There will be some value of excitation for which armature current will be in phase with V, so that power factor
will become unity.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation
• The effect of increased load on a synchronous motor will be studied under conditions of normal, under and
over-excitation (ignoring the effects of armature reaction).

• With normal-excitation, Eb = V, with under-excitation, Eb <V and with over excitation Eb >V. The value of
excitation would be kept constant.

• Ra is considered negligible as compared to XS so that phase angle between ER and Ia i.e. θ = 900 .

Normal Excitation (Eb =V)

• Fig. shows the condition when motor is running with light load so
that (a) torque angle α1 is small, (b) so ER1 is small, (c) hence Ia1 is
small and (d) φ1 is small so that cosφ1 is large.

• Now, suppose that load on the motor is increased as shown in Fig.

• For meeting this extra load, motor must develop more torque by
drawing more armature current.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation (Cont’d)
• What actually happens is as under:

1. Rotor falls back in phase i.e. load angle increases to α2 as shown in Fig.

2. The resultant voltage in armature is increased considerably to new value ER2

3. As a result, Ia1 increases to Ia2, there by increasing the torque developed by the motor.

Φ1 increase to φ2, so that power factor decreases from cosφ1 to the new value cosφ2.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation (Cont’d)

• Since increase in Ia is much greater than the slight decrease in power factor, the torque developed by the motor

is increased (on the whole) to a new value sufficient to meet the extra load put on the motor.

• The effect of increased load on a synchronous motor at normal excitation is shown in Fig.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation
Under Excitation (Eb < V)
• As shown in Fig, with a small load and hence, small torque angle α1, Ia1 lags behind V by a large phase angle
φ1 which means poor power factor.

• A much larger armature current must flow for developing the same power because of poor power factor.
• As load increases, ER1 increase to ER2, consequently Ia1 increases to Ia2 and power factor angle decreases
from φ1 to φ2.

• Due to increase both in Ia and power factor generated by the armature increases to meet the increased load.

• As seen in this case change in power factor is more than the change in Ia.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation
Over Excitation (Eb > V)
• When running on light load α1 is small but Ia1 is comparatively larger and leads V by a larger angle φ1.

• Like the under excited motor, as motor load is applied the power factor improves and approaches unity.
• The armature current also increases there by producing the necessary armature power to meet the increased
load.

• In this case, power factor angle φ decreases (or power factor increases) at a faster rate than the armature
current there by producing the necessary increased power to meet the increased load to the motor.
 Synchronous Motor
Effect of Increased Load with Constant Excitation

The main points regarding the above three cases can be summarized as under:

1.As load on the motor increases, Ia increases regardless of excitation.

2. For under- and over-excited motors, power factor tends to approach unity with increase in load.

3. Both with under- and over-excitation, change in power factor is greater than Ia with increase in load.

4.With normal excitation, when load is increased change in Ia is greater than in power factor which tends to

become increasingly lagging.

 Synchronous Motor
Different Torques of a Synchronous Motor
Various torques associated with a synchronous motor are as Various torques associated with a synchronous motor
are as follows:

1.Starting torque,
2.Running torque,

3.Pull-in torque, and

4. Pull-out torque.

(a)Starting Torque : It is the torque developed by the motor when full voltage is applied to its stator (armature)

winding.

It is also sometimes called breakaway torque.

(b)Running Torque: As its name indicates, it is the torque developed by the motor under running conditions.

It is determined by the horse-power and speed of the driven machine.

The peak horse power determines the maximum torque that would be required by the driven machine.

The motor must have a breakdown or a maximum running torque greater than this value in order to avoid stalling.
 Synchronous Motor
Different Torques of a Synchronous Motor (Cont’d)

(c) Pull-in Torque: A synchronous motor is started as induction motor till it runs 2 to 5% below the synchronous

speed.

Afterwards, excitation is switched on and the rotor pulls into step with the synchronously rotating stator field.

The amount of torque at which the motor will pull into step is called the pull-in torque.

(d) Pull-out Torque:

The maximum torque which the motor can develop without pulling out of step or synchronism is called the pull-out

torque.

Normally, when load on the motor is increased, its rotor progressively tends to fall back in phase by some angle

(called load angle) behind the synchronously-revolving stator magnetic field though it keeps running synchronously.

Motor develops maximum torque when its rotor is retarded by an angle of 90o.

Any further increase in load will cause the motor to pull out of step (or synchronism) and stop.
 Synchronous Motor
Advantages

• Synchronous Motor can be used for power factor correction in addition to supplying torque to drive loads.

• Synchronous Motor are more efficient (at unity power factor) than IM of corresponding horsepower and voltage

rating.

• The filed pole rotor of synchronous motor can permit the use of wider airgap than the squirrel case IM.

• Synchronous motor can operate lagging, leading and unity power factor but IM can operate only lagging power

factor.

• Synchronous motor may less costly for the same horsepower, speed and voltage ratings.

• They give constant speed from no load to full load.

 Synchronous Motor
Disadvantages

• They require DC excitation which must be supplied from external source.

• They have tendency to hunt.

• They cannot be used for variable speed jobs as speed adjustment cannot be done.

• They cannot be started under load.

• They may fall out of synchronism and stop when overloaded.

Applications

1. Power Factor Correction

2. Constant Speed, constant load drives and

3. Voltage Regulation
 Synchronous Motor
Applications
Power Factor Correction:

An over-excited (back EMF, Eb > supply voltage, V) motor can be run with leading power factor.

When a synchronous motor operates at leading power factor, the behavior of its as like a capacitor or condenser.

That’s why a synchronous motor operated at leading power factor is referred to a synchronous capacitor

(synchronous condenser)

Constant Speed, Constant Load Drives:

Because of their high efficiency and high speed synchronous motors are well suited for loads where constant speed

is required such as centrifugal pumps, belt-driven reciprocating compressors, blowers, line shafts, rubber and paper

mills etc.

Voltage Regulation:

The voltage at the end of along transmission line varies greatly especially when large inductive load are present.

When an inductive load is disconnected suddenly, voltage tends to rises considerably above its normal value because

of the line capacitance. By installing synchronous motor with a field regulator (for varying its excitation), this voltage rise

can be controlled.
 Synchronous Motor
Example: A synchronous motor absorbing 60 kW is connected in parallel with a factory load of 240 kW having a

lagging power factor of 0.8. If the combined load has a power factor of 0.9, what is the value of the leading kVAR

supplied by the motor and what power factor is it working?

Synchronous Motor
 References
[1] B. L. Theraja, A. K. Theraja, “A Textbook of ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY in SI Units Volume II, AC & DC Machines”,S.
Chand & Company Ltd., (Multicolour illustrativeEdition).

[2] A. F. Puchstein, T. C. Lloyd, A.G. Conrad, “Alternating Current Machines”, © 1942, Asia Publishing House, Third Edition
(Fully revised and corrected Edition 2006-07).

[3] Jack Rosenblatt, M. Harold Friedman, “Direct and Alternating Current Machinery”, Indian Edition (2nd Edition), CBS
Publishers & Distributors.

[4] A. E. Fitzgerald, Charles Kingsley, Jr. Stephen D. Umans, Electric Machinery, 5thEditionin SI units, ©1992 Metric
Edition, McGraw Hill Book Company.

[5] Irving L. Kosow, Electrical Machinery and Transformers, Second Edition, Prentice –Hall India Pvt. Limited.

Acknowledgement
Ahmed Mortuza Saleque