Synchronous Motor

A synchronous motor is electrically identical with an alternator or a.c. generator

Some characteristic features of a synchronous motor are worth noting :

• It runs either at synchronous speed or not at all i.e. while running it maintains a
constant speed. The only way to change its speed is to vary the supply frequency
(because Ns = 120 f / P).
• It is not inherently self-starting. It has to be run unto synchronous (or near
synchronous) speed by some means, before it can be synchronized to the supply.
• It is capable of being operated under a wide range of power factors, both lagging
and leading. Hence, it can be used for power correction purposes, in addition to
supplying torque to drive loads
 Synchronous Motor
Principle of Operation
• when a 3 phase winding is fed by a 3- phase supply, then a magnetic flux of constant
magnitude but rotating at synchronous speed, is produced.
• Consider a two-pole stator in which shown two stator poles (marked NS and SS )
rotating at synchronous speed, say, in clockwise direction.
• With the rotor position as shown, suppose the stator poles are at that instant
situated at points A and B. The two similar poles, N (of rotor) and 𝑁𝑠 (of stator) as
well as S and 𝑆𝑠 will repel each other, with the result that the rotor tends to rotate in
the anticlockwise direction.
• But half a period later, stator poles, having rotated around, interchange their
positions i.e. 𝑁𝑠 is at point B and 𝑆𝑠 at point A. Under these conditions, 𝑁𝑠 attracts S
and 𝑆𝑠 attracts N. Hence, rotor tends to rotate clockwise (which is just the reverse of
the first direction).
 Synchronous Motor
Principle of Operation
• Hence, we find that due to continuous and rapid rotation of stator poles, the rotor is
subjected to a torque which is rapidly reversing i.e., in quick succession, the rotor is
subjected to torque which tends to move it first in one direction and then in the
opposite direction. Owing to its large inertia, the rotor cannot instantaneously
respond to such quickly-reversing torque, with the result that it remains stationary.
 Synchronous Motor
Principle of Operation
• Now, consider the condition shown in Fig. 38.3 (a). The stator and rotor poles are
attracting each other. Suppose that the rotor is not stationary, but is rotating
clockwise, with such a speed that it turns through one pole-pitch by the time the
stator poles interchange their positions, as shown in Fig. 38.3 (b).
• Here, again the stator and rotor poles attract each other. It means that if the rotor
poles also shift their positions along with the stator poles, then they will
continuously experience a unidirectional torque i.e., clockwise torque
 Synchronous Motor
Method of Starting
• The rotor (which is as yet unexcited) is speeded up to synchronous/near
synchronous speed by some arrangement and then excited by the d.c. source.
• The moment this (near) synchronously rotating rotor is excited, it is magnetically
locked into position with the stator i.e., the rotor poles are engaged with the stator
poles and both run synchronously in the same direction.
• It is because of this interlocking of stator and rotor poles that the motor has either
to run synchronously or not at all.
• In general, if f is the frequency of the currents in the stator windings and the stator is
wound to be equivalent to p pairs of poles, the speed of revolution of the rotating
magnetic field, i.e. the synchronous speed, 𝒏𝒔 is
given by:
𝒇
𝒏𝒔 = 𝒓𝒆𝒗/𝒔 (P- No. pairs of poles)
𝒑

𝟏𝟐𝟎𝒇
𝒏𝒔 = 𝒓𝒆𝒗/𝒎𝒊𝒏 (P- No.of poles)
𝑷
 Synchronous Motor
• However, it is important to understand that the arrangement between the stator
and rotor poles is not an absolutely rigid one. As the load on the motor is increased,
the rotor progressively tends to fall back in phase (but not in speed as in d.c.
motors) by some angle but it still continues to run synchronously.
• The value of this load angle or coupling angle (as it is called) depends on the amount
of load to be met by the motor. In other words, the torque developed by the motor
depends on this angle, say, a.
 Synchronous Motor
Motor on Load with Constant Excitation
• In a synchronous machine, a back e.m.f. 𝐸𝑏 is set up in the armature (stator) by the
rotor flux which opposes the applied voltage V . This back e.m.f. depends on rotor
excitation only (and not on speed, as in d.c. motors).
• The net voltage in armature (stator) is the vector difference (not arithmetical, as in
d.c. motors) of V and 𝐸𝑏 .
• Armature current is obtained by dividing this vector difference of voltages by
armature impedance (not resistance as in d.c. machines)
 Synchronous Motor
Motor on Load with Constant Excitation
• Fig. 38.6 shows the condition when the motor (properly synchronized to the supply)
is running on no-load and has no losses.
• And is having field excitation which makes 𝐸𝑏 = 𝑉. It is seen that vector difference
of 𝐸𝑏 and V is zero and so is the armature current. Motor in take is zero, as there is
neither load nor losses to be met by it. In other words, the motor just floats.
• If motor is on no-load, but it has losses, then the vector for 𝐸𝑏 falls back (vectors are
rotating anti-clockwise) by a certain small angle 𝛼 (Fig. 38.7), so that a resultant
voltage 𝐸𝑅 and hence current 𝐼𝑎 is brought into existence, which supplies losses
• If, now, the motor is loaded, then its rotor will further fall back in phase by a greater
value of angle 𝛼 called the load angle or coupling angle. The resultant voltage 𝐸𝑅 is
increased and motor draws an increased armature current (Fig. 38.8), though at a
slightly decreased power factor
 Synchronous Motor
Power Flow within a Synchronous Motor
Let
𝑅𝑎 = armature resistance / phase
𝑋𝑠 = synchronous reactance / phase
Then 𝑍𝑠 = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑠
𝐸 𝑉−𝐸
𝐼𝑎 = 𝑍𝑅 = 𝑍 𝑏 therefore 𝑉 = 𝐸𝑏 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑍𝑠
𝑠 𝑠

𝑋
The angle 𝜃 (known as internal angle) by which 𝐼𝑎 lags behind 𝐸𝑅 is given by 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑅 𝑠
𝑎
If 𝑅𝑎 is negligible then 𝜃 = 90°

Motor input per phase P = 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

Total input for a star-connected, 3-phase machine is P = 3. 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅

The mechanical power developed in the rotor is

𝑃𝑚 = 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑒𝑚𝑓 ∗ 𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 ∗ cos 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑖𝑒 𝐼𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝑏 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑑
𝑃𝑚 = 𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝛼 − ∅

Out of this power developed, some would go to meet iron and friction and excitation losses.
Hence, the power available at the shaft would be less than the developed power by this amount
 Synchronous Motor
Out of this power developed, some would go to meet iron and friction and excitation losses.
Hence, the power available at the shaft would be less than the developed power by this amount
Out of the input power / phase 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ and amount 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑅𝑎 is wasted in armature***, the rest appears as
mechanical power in rotor; out of it, iron, friction and excitation losses are met and the rest is available at the shaft.
If power input / phase of the motor is P, then
𝑃 = 𝑃𝑚 + 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑅𝑎
𝑀𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑚 = 𝑃 − 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑅𝑎
𝑀𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 3 𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑃𝑚 = 3. 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ − 3. 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑅𝑎
 Synchronous Motor
Equivalent Circuit of a Synchronous Motor

the equivalent circuit model for one armature phase of a cylindrical rotor synchronous motor.
Its is noted that the phase applied voltage V is the vector sum of reversed back e.m.f. i.e., _𝐸𝑏 and the impedance
drop 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑍𝑆 .
In other words 𝑉 = −𝐸𝑏 + 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑍𝑆
The angle 𝛼 between the phasor for V and −𝐸𝑏 is called the load angle or power angle of the synchronous motor
 Synchronous Motor
Power Developed by a Synchronous Motor
Except for very small machines, the armature resistance of a synchronous motor is negligible as compared to its
synchronous reactance.
Hence, the equivalent circuit for the motor becomes as shown below with the corresponding phasor diagram.

𝑨𝑩 = 𝐸𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 = 𝐼𝑎 2 𝑍𝑆 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
𝐸𝑏 𝑉
Or 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑋𝑠
Motor power input per phase = 𝑉𝐼𝑎 . 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
𝐸𝑏 𝑉
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑋𝑠
𝐸𝑏 𝑉
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 3. 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑋𝑠
Since stator Cu losses have been neglected, 𝑃𝑖𝑛 also represents the gross mechanical power 𝑃𝑚 developed by the
3.𝐸 𝑉
motor 𝑃𝑖𝑛 = 𝑋𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
𝑠
Synchronous Motor