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Electric Motor
Introduction
This article will take an in-depth look at electric
motors.

The article will bring more understanding on

topics such as:

Principle of Electric Motors

Types of Electric Motors
Applications and Benefits of Electric Motors
And Much More…

Chapter 1: Principle of Electric

Motors
This chapter will discuss what electric motors
are, their construction, and how they function.

What is an Electric Motor?

An electric motor is an electric machine that
converts electrical energy to mechanical energy.
Most electric motors work via the interaction of
the motor magnetic field and electrical current
in a wound wire to produce force in the manner
of torque supplied on the motor shaft. An
electrical generator is identical mechanically to
an electrical motor but functions with a
reversed flow of energy, converting mechanical
power to electrical power.

Electric motors may be driven by direct current

(DC) supplies, like from rectifiers or batteries, or
by alternating current (AC) supplies, like a power
grid, electrical generators, or inverters. Electric
motors can be categorized by concerns such as
power supply type, application, construction,
and type of movement output. They may be
energized by DC or AC, be brushless or brushed,
three-phase, two-phase, or single-phase, radial
flux or axial, and can be liquid-cooled or air-
cooled.

Standardized motors o!er appropriate

mechanical energy for industrial use.
Applications include blowers and pumps,
industrial fans, machine tools, power tools,
household appliances, disk drives, and vehicles.
Small motors can be found in electrical watches.
In certain uses, like in regenerative braking in
traction motors, electric motors may be utilized
in reverse as generators that recover power that
may otherwise be lost as friction and heat.

Construction of an Electric Motor

Two mechanical components of electric motors
are the stator, which is fixed and the rotor,
which moves. It also has two electrical
components, magnets set and an armature, one
of them is attached to the stator and the other
to the rotor, together making a magnetic circuit.

Field magnets produce a magnetic field that

passes through the winding. These may be
permanent magnets or electromagnets. The
field magnet is generally on the stator and the
winding on the rotor, but in other motor types
these are reversed.

Electric Motor Bearings

Bearings support the rotor and allow the rotor

to spin on its axis. The motor housing in turn
supports the bearings.

Electric Motor Rotor

The rotor is the mobile part that supplies the

mechanical power. The rotor generally holds
conductors which carry current and the stator
magnetic field applies a force on to spin the
shaft. Alternatively, other rotors have
permanent magnets, and conductors are held
by the stator. Permanent magnets give high
e"ciency over a bigger power range and
working speed.

The air gap between the rotor and stator allows

it to spin. The breadth of the gap has an
important e!ect on the motor electrical
properties. It is commonly made to be as small
as possible, since a large gap produces weak
performance. It is the primary source for the
low power factor with which motors function.
The energizing current rises and power factor
reduces with the air gap, hence narrow gaps are
better. Conversely, gaps which are very small
may cause mechanical problems on top of
losses and noise.

The motor shaft protrudes through bearings to

the motor’s outer side, where the load is placed.
Because the force of the load is applied beyond
the furthest outer bearing, load is overhung.

Electric Motor Stator

The stator surrounds the rotor, and generally

holds the field magnets, these are either
electromagnets consisting of wound wire on a
ferromagnetic core of iron or permanent
magnets. These produce a magnetic field that
passes through the rotor winding, applying
force on the winding. The stator iron core is
made of many thin metallic sheets which have
insulation from each other, known as
laminations.

Lamination is utilized to lower energy loss which

results if a solid core is utilized. Resin-packed
motors, utilized in air conditioners and washing
machines, utilize the damping attributes of
plastic to lower vibration and noise.

Electric Motor Armature

The armature comprises wound wire on a

ferromagnetic core. Current flowing through
wire makes the magnetic field exert a Lorentz
force onto it, rotating the rotor, which supplies
the mechanical output. Windings are wires
which are applied in coils, generally wrapped
around a soft, laminated, iron, ferromagnetic
core to produce magnetic poles when supplied
with current.

Electric motors come in non-salient and salient-

pole setups. In salient-pole motors, the cores on
the stator and rotor have projections known as
poles facing one another, with a wound wire
around every pole under the pole face, which
becomes south or north poles of the field when
current moves through the wire. In non-salient-
pole (or round-rotor or distributed field) motors,
the core is a cylinder, with the wound wire
distributed equally in slots around the
circumference. Supplying AC current in the
windings generates poles in the ferromagnetic
core which spin continuously. Shaded-pole
motors have windings around a part of the pole,
which delays the magnetic field phase for that
pole.

Electric Motor Commutator

A commutator is a rotary electric switch which

supplies alternating or direct current to the
rotor. It periodically reverses the current flow in
the rotor winding as the shaft spins. It
comprises a cylinder made of multiple metal
contact sections on the armature. Electrical
contacts named "brushes" consisted of a soft
conductor material like carbon pressed onto the
commutator. The brushes create sliding
contacts with consecutive commutator sections
as it spins, o!ering current onto the rotor.

The rotor wire wounds are connected to the

commutator sections. The commutator reverses
the direction of current periodically in the rotor
windings with each a half turn (180°), hence
torque exerted to the rotor is in the same
direction always. Without this current reversal,
the torque direction on every winding of the
rotor would reverse on each half a turn, hence
the rotor stops. Commutators are incompetent
and commutator motors have been frequently
replaced by brushless DC motors, induction
motors and permanent magnet motors.

How an Electric Motor Functions

Electric motors function by changing electrical
power (AC or DC) to mechanical power in order
to produce motion. Force is created within a
motor via the interaction between winding
direct (DC) or alternating (AC) current and a
magnetic field. As the current flow strength
rises, so does the magnetic field strength. With
Ohm's law (V = R*I) in mind, voltage should rise
so as to maintain constant current as resistance
rises.

Considerations When Choosing

Electric Motors
The considerations when choosing electric
motors include:

Voltage – Is there access to a wall socket or is

there a need for a product that can run on
batteries. If a wall socket is available, the voltage
standard could be 230VAC or more for
industrial use.

Frequency – Motors operate at 60Hz for

products working within the United States, but if
a product will be utilized outside of the United
States, there is a need to consider a 50Hz
option. Speed – Is there a speed range at which
the motor must operate. If adjustable or exact
speeds are imminent, there may be a need to
improve control to the motor.

Torque – How much starting torque is needed

for an application? Does the torque needed
from the motor change throughout the motor’s
period of function? The worst case scenario
torque amount of an application must be
considered.

Power – When o!ering specifications, it should

be known if the motor will be running on
maximum power.

Duty Cycle – It is pertinent to know a motor's

duty cycle. If the application will be running
continuously such that the motor reaches full
operating temperature or in short spans for the
motor to cool down completely between cycles.
Motors that run discontinuously can sometimes
use small motors with the same torque and
speed, but run continuously.

Life Cycle – Applications that operate very

discontinuously can at times get on with a short
life cycle and high maintenance needs of
Universal and DC motors. Applications that
operate continuously and need to function for
numerous hours without maintenance may
need a brushless DC or an AC motor with a very
long lifespan.

Chapter 2: Types of Electric

Motors
The di!erent types of electric motors include:

DC Motors
A DC motor is any motor of a type of rotary
electrical machine which converts electrical
energy from direct current (DC) into mechanical
energy. The most general types depend on the
force created by magnetic fields. Almost all
kinds of DC motors have some internal
operation, either electronic or
electromechanical, to change the current
direction periodically in a part of the motor.

DC motors were the first kind of motor

commonly utilized, as they can be powered
from present direct current lighting energy
distributing systems. DC motor speed may be
controlled over a broad range, utilizing either a
variable voltage supply or by altering the
current strength in its field winding. Small DC
motors are applied in appliances, toys, and
tools. The universal DC motor can work on
direct current but it is a light brushed motor
utilized for portable appliances and power tools.
Large DC motors are presently utilized in the
propulsion of elevators and hoists, electric
vehicles, and in drives for rolling mills for steel.
With the arrival of power electronics
replacement of DC motors with AC motors has
been made conceivable in many applications.

12V Motors

A 12V DC motor is inexpensive and small, but

powerful enough to be utilized for various
applications. One property of a 12V DC motor is
its operating voltage. When a battery powers a
DC motor, low operating voltage is generally
preferred because fewer cells are needed to
achieve the specified voltage. However, at high
voltages, electronic devices to drive a motor are
generally more e"cient. Although functioning is
possible with voltage as low as 1.5V which goes
up to 100, the most usual are the 12V DC motor,
6V DC motor, and 24V DC motor. Other key
characteristics of a 12V DC motor include the
operating torque, speed, current, and power.

Most typically, 12V DC motors are brushless and

are able to operate without the usage of
brushes to move the electrical current. Whereas
brushed motors can face possible problems due
to their more complicated design. The design of
the 12V DC brushless motor has eradicated
most of these issues. The main parts of a 12V
brushless DC motor are an external rotor
permanent magnet, either a single coil or three
coils. Accessories could be drive electronics and
a type of sensor.

Instead of utilizing brushes to move electric

current, 12V DC brushless motors move the
current through a sensor, which is commonly
known as a Hall E!ect sensor. While 12V DC
motors may also mean a type of AC motor, it is
very uncommon in relation to the overwhelming
status of 12V DC motors.

Brushless Motor

A brushless motor is a type of DC motor (BL

motor or BLDC motor), also referred to as an
electronic commutated motor (EC or ECM
motor). It could also be called a synchronous DC
motor. This is a motor utilizing direct current
electric power. It utilizes an electronic controller
to turn on DC currents to the windings creating
a magnetic field that successfully rotates in
space and the permanent magnet rotor rotates
by following. The controller adjusts the
amplitude and phase of the DC current pulse to
control the torque and speed of the motor. This
control mechanism is a substitute for the
brushes or mechanical commutator utilized in
numerous conventional electric motors.

The manufacture of a brushless DC motor is

generally similar to a permanent magnet DC
motor, but may also be an
asynchronous/induction motor, or switched
reluctance motor. They may also utilize a
neodymium magnet and be out-runners (the
rotor surrounds the stator), in-runners (the
stator surrounds the stator), or axial (the stator
and rotor are parallel and flat).

The benefits of brushless motors over a

brushed motor are high speed, high power-to-
weight ratio, close to instantaneous torque and
speed control (rpm), low maintenance, and high
e"ciency. Brushless motors find use in
computer peripherals (printers, disk drives),
portable power devices, and vehicles varying
from automobiles to model aircraft. In current
washing machines, brushless motors have
enabled the replacement of gearboxes and
rubber belts using a direct-drive design.

Stepper Motors

A stepper motor, also referred to as a stepping

motor or step motor, is a brushless DC motor
that divides a full revolution into a number of
equivalent steps. The motor's position may be
instructed to change and hold at one of the
equal steps without using any positional sensor
for feedback, as long as the motor is
appropriately sized for the use in respect to
speed and torque. Brushed DC motors
continuously rotate when direct voltage is put
on their terminals. A stepper motor is known for
its characteristic of conversion of a chain of
input pulses square waves to precisely defined
increments in the shaft’s rotational point. Each
pulse spins the shaft in a fixed angle.

Stepper motors ultimately have numerous

toothed electromagnets placed as a stator
surrounding a central rotor, which is a gear-
shaped iron piece. The electromagnets are
powered by a microcontroller or an external
driver circuit.

To make the shaft first rotate, one

electromagnet is powered, which attracts the
gear's teeth magnetically. When the teeth are
aligned to the initial electromagnet, they are
marginally o!set from the following
electromagnet. This means when the following
electromagnet is switched on and the initial is
switched o!, the gear spins a little to align with
the following one. From there the procedure is
repeated. Each of those spins is called a "step,"
with an integer number of steps completing a
full rotation. In that way, a motor may be turned
using a precise angle.

AC Motors
An AC motor is an electric motor powered by an
alternating current (AC). The AC motor generally
comprises two primary parts: an outer stator
with coils energized by an alternating current to
create a spinning magnetic field. An inner rotor
attached to the shaft creates a second spinning
magnetic field. The rotor’s magnetic field could
be created by reluctance saliency, permanent
magnets, or AC or DC electrical windings.

Less popular, AC linear motors function on

similar rules as rotating motors but they have
their moving and stationary components laid
out in a straight line set up, creating linear
movement instead of rotation.

The two primary kinds of AC motors are

synchronous motors and induction motors. The
induction or asynchronous motor always
depends on a small variance in speed between
the rotor shaft speed and the stator spinning
magnetic field called slip which induces rotor
current in the AC winding of the rotor.
Therefore, the induction motor can’t create
torque close to synchronous speed where slip
(induction) ceases to exist or is irrelevant. In
comparison, a synchronous motor doesn’t
depend on induction of slip for functioning and
utilizes either salient poles (projecting magnetic
poles), permanent magnets, or an individually
excited rotor winding. The synchronous motor
creates its ranked torque at accurately
synchronous speed. The brushless wound-rotor
double supplied synchronous motor
mechanism has an individually excited rotor
winding which does not depend on the rules of
slip induced current. The brushless wound-rotor
double supplied motor is a synchronous motor
which can work exactly at the power source
frequency. Other kinds of motors involve eddy
current motors and DC and AC mechanically
commutated machinery where speed relies on
winding connection and voltage.

1HP Electric Motors

Horsepower or HP is a standard unit utilized to

express the rate of mechanical energy
expenditure. A power level of one HP is roughly
equal to 746W or 0.746kW. While the
horsepower, and the kilowatt, can all be
reduced to similar dimensional units, the
horsepower is hardly utilized to express power
in any manner besides mechanical.

Nameplates on electrical motors display their

output power, not the input power. This is
power output at the shaft and not the power
supplied to drive the motor). This output power
is generally denoted in watts or kilowatts. In the
United States of America, the output power is
denoted in horsepower, which for this reason is
defined as precisely 746 W. 1HP electric motors
could be AC motors or DC motors. These types
of motors are usually found in vehicles or
electric boats.

2HP Electric Motors

Just like the 1HP electric motor, a 2HP electric

motor works the same way by outputting power
at its shaft. In kilowatts, this power is about
1.49kWIt could either be DC or AC type (Single
phase or three phase). A 2HP electric motor is
used to power boat propellers and industrial
cooling fans or as an induction motor.

3 Phase Motors

Three-phase motors are an AC motor type

which is an exact example of an induction
motor, also called an asynchronous motor. The
motors comprise three major components – the
rotor, the stator, and the enclosure.

The stator comprises a sequence of steel alloy

laminations that are wound with wires to make
induction coils, one for each power source
phase. Each stator coil is powered by a three-
phase electric supply.

The rotor also comprises metal bars and

induction coils connected to make a circuit. The
rotor surrounds the motor shaft and it is the
motor part which rotates to make output
mechanical energy of the motor.

The casing of the motor keeps a rotor with its

shaft on a collection of bearings to lower the
friction of the revolving shaft. The casing has
end caps which hold the bearing mountings and
contain a fan which is attached to the shaft
which rotates as the shaft turns. The rotating
fan draws in ambient air from outside the
casing and forces the air through the rotor and
stator to cool the motor parts and dissipate
heat which is created in the many coils from coil
resistance. The casing also commonly has
elevated mechanical fins on the outside, which
further dissipates heat to the outer air. The end
cap will also o!er a place to contain the
electrical networks for the three-phase source
to the motor.

Single Phase Motors

A single phase motor is a rotary machine

powered electrically which can convert electrical
energy into mechanical energy. It works by
utilizing a single phase power source. They have
two types of wires: live and neutral. Their power
can get up to 3kW and input voltage varies in
unison. They only have one alternating voltage.
The circuit functions with two wires and the AC
current that flows across them is always
constant. In many cases these motors are small
with a small torque.

However, some single phase motors have a

power of up to 10 HP which can operate with
connections reaching up to 440V. They do not
produce spinning magnetic fields, they can only
produce an alternating field, which implies that
for start-up they require a capacitor. They are
simple to maintain and repair, as well as
a!ordable. This type of motor is utilized mainly
in o"ces, stores, homes, and non-industrial
small companies. Their most popular uses
include home and business HVAC, home
appliances and other appliances like drills, air
conditioning systems, and garage door closing
and opening systems.

Industrial Motors
Industrial electric motors convert electrical
power into mechanical power. Industrial motors
produce either a rotary or linear force. Although
there are types of industrial motors powered by
DC current sources, they are very often
energized by alternating current (AC) supplies
like the power grid or generators.

The main components of an industrial motor

are the rotor (armature), stator, air gap, winding
(coil), and commutator. Types of motors used in
industrial motors include DC synchronous, AC
synchronous, and AC induction (asynchronous)
to name a few.

Servo Motors
A servomotor or servo motor is a linear actuator
or rotary actuator which enables precise control
of linear or angular position, acceleration, and
velocity. It comprises an appropriate motor
coupled with a sensor for feedback of position.
It also needs a relatively complex controller,
usually a dedicated device designed especially
for usage with servomotors.

Servomotors aren’t an exact class of motors,

though the name servomotor is often used to
state a motor appropriate for usage in a closed-
loop control system. Servomotors are utilized in
applications like CNC machinery, robotics, and
automated manufacturing.

The type of motor used is not important to a

servo motor and various types can be utilized.
At the most basic, brushed DC motors
(permanent magnet) are utilized, owing to their
low cost and simplicity. Small industrial servo
motors are generally brushless motors
electronically commutated. For big industrial
servo motors, AC induction motors are generally
used, at times with variable frequency drives
(VFD) to allow speed control. For ultimate
performance in compact packages, brushless
AC motors using permanent magnets are
utilized, e!ectively big versions of brushless DC
motors.

Leading Electric Motor

Manufacturers and Suppliers

ElectroCraft, Inc. Carter Motor

Company

Composite Motors, WorldWide Electric

Inc. Corp.

Joliet Electric Motors WEG Electric Corp.

Chapter 3: Applications and

Benefits of Electric Motors
This chapter will discuss the applications and
benefits of an electric motor.

Applications of Electric Motors

The applications of electric motors primarily
include fans, blowers, machine tools, turbines,
pumps, power tools, compressors, alternators,
rolling mills, movers, ships, and paper mills. The
electric motor is an important device in various
applications like high voltage AC heating, cooling
& ventilating equipment, motor vehicles, and
home appliances.

Benefits of Electric Motors

The main cost of electric motors is less in
contrast with fossil fuel engines, however the
HP rating of both are alike.
Electric motors have moving parts, hence the
lifespan of electric motors is longer.
The capacity of electric motors reaches
30,000 hours when maintained properly.
Electric motors are very e"cient and
automatic control allows for automatic stop
and start functions.
Environmental friendly since they do not
release pollutants.

Drawbacks of Electric Motors

Big electric motors are di"cult to move, and
consideration must be done for the exact
current and voltage supply.
In other cases, costly line expansions are
compulsory for isolated zones where
electrical power is inaccessible.
When utilizing a high HP motor and a low
load factor, there may be a high expense per
hour of working.

Safety Rules of Electric Motors

Work area must always be kept well-lit and
clean.
All motors have many small components;
young children must be kept away from the
work area.
Motors rotate very fast; PPE must always be
worn.
Motor must not be left unattended.
If a battery is left shorted for long durations
of time it might rupture or explode.
Rated operating voltage must not be
exceeded. High voltages might cause
overheating and create fires.
Motors must be operated by qualified
personnel.

Electric Motor Maintenance

The maintenance of electric motors considers:

Cleaning and Maintenance Routine

Every company must have a cleaning schedule

in place. Simply keeping a motor clean
significantly improves lifespan and
performance. A motor must never have
excessive dust, grease, or other debris.

Motor Lubrication

It’s possible to over lubricate an electric motor,

which may lead to internal issues. However, a
motor needs lubrication to work at maximum
performance level. Every electric motor needs a
di!erent amount of lubrication. Lubricating a
motor very early or very late may lead to
premature tear and wear. Also, manufacturers
generally recommend specific lubricants
designed for their electric motor.

Bearing Inspection

Motor bearings face most of the tear and wear,

so it’s natural to expect issues from them from
time to time. To prevent bearings from wearing
out prematurely it must first be assured the
motor is aligned appropriately. Misalignment
may significantly stress the bearings. Also,
improper lubricants cause bearings to wear out
earlier than they must. One common sign a
bearing becomes faulty is an overheating
motor.

Reducing or Eliminating Vibrations

Every motor vibrates to some extent, but excess

vibration may cause severe damage. The
moment a motor vibrates more than normal, it
must be turned o!. The cause is usually a
mechanical misalignment, a damaged bearing,
or belt tension too high.

Rotor and Stator Inspection

The stator and rotor are the important parts of

the motor. Any gaps around these parts must
be measured and also with the diameter
clearance. Clearance may di!er depending on
the electric motor and bearings.

Recording Findings

Longevity and wear and tear can’t be monitored

if findings are not being recorded. Every time a
motor is inspected and bearings must be
replaced or the belt tension adjusted, and so
on, note must be taken. In addition, when
lubricant is added to the bearings or motor it
must be documented. Upcoming maintenance
and expenses can be better anticipated and
planned accordingly.

Conclusion
Electric motors convert electrical energy to
mechanical energy. Most of them work via the
interaction of the motor magnetic field and
electrical current in a wound wire to produce
force in the manner of torque supplied on the
motor shaft. The most important parts of a
motor are the rotor and the stator. They may be
energized by alternating or direct current. There
are many types of electric motors including
induction, servo, three phase, and industrial
motors to name a few. They are used in electric
vehicles, air conditioners, ships, and hydraulic
machines.

Leading Electric Motor

Manufacturers and Suppliers

ElectroCraft, Inc. Carter Motor

Company

Composite Motors, WorldWide Electric

Inc. Corp.

Joliet Electric Motors WEG Electric Corp.

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