SYNCHRONOUS

MOTORS(Part II)

Contents of Report

Power Factor: Effect of

Changing Field Excitation
Efficiency and Rating
Application of Synchronous
Motor
Power Factor Corrections

Questions to Answer
1. For a constant mechanical output, how may the power factor at
which a synchronous motor operates be changed?
2. Compare the method of adjusting the power factor of a
synchronous motor with the method of adjusting the power factor of
a synchronous generator operating in parallel with the synchronous
generators.
3. When is a synchronous motor said to be (a) over-exited; or (b)
under-exited?
4. How are synchronous motors classified as to speed?
5. What are the standard power-factor ratings of synchronous
motors?
6. What precaution must be taken in operating a synchronous motor
at a power factor that is more leading than its rated power factor?

Questions to Answer
7. Under what operating condition would the field circuit be apt to a
heat abnormally?
8. What are some applications of synchronous motors?
9. Why is low power factor undesirable?
10. Explain how a synchronous motor can improve factor of a load
with a low lagging factor.

How Synchronous Motor Used for Power

Factor Correction
The power factor of a synchronous motor is changed with a change in the
excitation. When the excitation of the motor is increased, the power factor
changes from lagging to unity and then to a leading power factor. This property
of the motor is utilized to improve the power factor of the leads, having a low
lagging power factor. Normally, when the motor is utilized in this way to improve
the factor, the synchronous motor is run without any mechanical load. The
excitation is adjusted in such a manner that it works at a leading power factor.
The synchronous motor is then referred to a synchronous condenser.
In factories the majority of the motors used are induction motors, the full
load power factor of these motor may be around 0.8 lagging. The power factor
of these motors may operate at full load and many of them operate at light
loads. This results in the power factor of the installation reading as low as 0.6
lagging. A synchronous condenser may be connected in parallel with the
induction motors. This will improve the power factor of the installation.

Field Excitation
In case of synchronous motor, we give DC supply(excitation) to its field
winding placed on rotor. To set a required flux, we have three conditions1- Normal excitation- In this case our machine gets required flux through
the DC voltage supplied. In this case our motor works on unity p.f.
2- Over excitation- In this case, our DC voltage provides more excitation
than required so our machine counterbalance that extra flux by setting flux in
opposite direction with the help of AC supply and this is called demagnetization.
In this case our machine works on leading power factor and works as a
capacitive load.
3- Under excitation- In this case, DC supply is not enough to produce
required flux so AC supply comes into picture to aid DC to produce required
flux. So, our machine works on lagging power factor and works as an inductive
load. This is also called magnetization.

Lagging and Leading Power Factors:

In addition, there is also a difference between a lagging and leading power
factor. A lagging power factor signifies that the load is inductive, as the load will
consume reactive power, and therefore the reactive component Q is positive
as reactive power travels through the circuit and is consumed by the inductive
load. A leading power factor signifies that the load is capacitive, as the load
supplies reactive power, and therefore the reactive component Q is negative
as reactive power is being supplied to the circuit.

AC power flow has three components:

Real power or active power (P), expressed in watts (W)
Apparent power (S), usually expressed in volt-amperes (VA)
Reactive power (Q), usually expressed in reactive volt-amperes (var)
The power factor is defined as the ratio of real power to apparent power. As
power is transferred along a transmission line, it does not consist purely of real
power that can do work once transferred to the load, but rather consists of a
combination of real and reactive power, called apparent power. The power
factor describes the amount of real power transmitted along a transmission line
relative to the total apparent power flowing in the line.
We can relate the various components of AC power by using the power
triangle.

Classification of Synchronous Motors

According to Speed

Synchronous motor speed can be classified as:

(a) High-speed Synchronous Motors (above 600 rpm) are well suited for
loads where constant speed is required such as centrifugal pumps,
blowers, and paper mills.
(b) Low-speed Synchronous Motors (below 600 rpm) are used for drives
such as screw-type pumps, vacuum pumps, and metal rolling mills.

Typical Motor Power Factors

Power (hp)

Speed (rpm)

0-5
5 - 20
20 - 100
100 - 300

1800
1800
1800
1800

1/2 load
0.72
0.74
0.79
0.81

Power Factor
3/4 load
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88

full load
0.84
0.86
0.89
0.91

NOTE:
The standard full-load power factor ratings for a synchronous motors is
0.8 leading power factor

Limiting Temperature Rise

Observable temperature rise of each of the various parts of a rotating
machine above the temperature of the cooling air should not exceed values
given in the table when the machine is operated at rated power factor, voltage,
and kVA (hereafter called rated load).
For open machines and for parts of enclosed machines which are cooled
by open ventilation, such as collector rings, cooling air temperature is the
average temperature of the external air at entrances to the ventilation opening
of the machine.
For totally enclosed machines, cooling air temperature is the average
temperature of air leaving the coolers. In no event should cooling air
temperature exceed 40 C.
Machines whose observable temperature rise at rated load exceeds values
given in the table should be considered to have a reduced operational capacity
to correspond to a loading value which does not exceed temperature rise
values given in the table.

Operating Condition which Field Circuit

Heat Abnormally

If the reactive power is too low, inductive loads such as transformers will be
unable to maintain voltages necessary for the generation of electromagnetic
fields, leading to a "voltage collapse" that create blackouts.
If reactive power in a system is too high, there is increased heat loss in
transmission lines and loads as the current flowing through the system is
much higher, creating a potentially hazardous breakdown situation.

Applications
Synchronous motors are used in generating stations and in substations
connected to the busbars to improve the power factor. For this purpose they are
run without mechanical load on them and in over-excited condition. These
machines when over excited delivers the reactive power to grid and helps to
improve the power factor of the system. The reactive power delivered by the
synchronous motors can be adjusted by varying the field excitation of the motor.
These motors used for power factor correction applications can also be termed
as "synchronous condensers". Advantage of synchronous condensers compared
to shunt capacitors is that shunt capacitors generate constant reactive power
whereas on the other hand synchronous condensers can able to deliver different
reactive power levels by varying the excitation of machine.
Because of the higher efficiency compared to induction motors they can be
employed for loads which require constant speeds. Some of the typical
applications of high speed synchronous motors are such drives as fans, blowers,
dc generators, line shafts, centrifugal pumps, compressors, reciprocating
pumps, rubber and paper mills.
Synchronous motors are used to regulate the voltage at the end of transmission
lines
In textile and paper industries synchronous motors are employed to attain wide
range of speeds with variable frequency drive system

Consequences of Low Power Factor

Poor power factor could cost you dearly. Because reactive power still
requires capacity on the system even though it doesnt do any useful work,
some utilities charge more for it (particularly if the utility serves a region with
a lot of industrial load).
Poor power factor is a sign of inefficiency that can result in additional costs
associated with equipment maintenance. When machines break, there is
costly down time and the products youre manufacturing or the systems
youre running are also at risk.
In extreme cases, if you notice a really low power factor, you could have
whats known as three phase power imbalance, which can be due to
improper wiring. If you do have an imbalance, your very expensive
equipment is working against itself, creating a lot of wear and tear on the
motors, shortening its life span, and generating a lot of heat, which could be
a safety hazard.

Power Factor Improvements

Capacitors: Improving power factor means reducing the phase difference
between voltage and current. Since majority of loads are of inductive nature,
they require some amount of reactive power for them to function. This
reactive power is provided by the capacitor or bank of capacitors installed
parallel to the load. They act as a source of local reactive power and thus
less reactive power flows through the line. Basically they reduces the phase
difference between the voltage and current.
Synchronous Condenser: They are 3 phase synchronous motor with no load
attached to its shaft. The synchronous motor has the characteristics of
operating under any power factor leading, lagging or unity depending upon
the excitation. For inductive loads, synchronous condenser is connected
towards load side and is overexcited. This makes it behave like a capacitor.
It draws the lagging current from the supply or supplies the reactive power.
Phase Advancer: This is an ac exciter mainly used to improve pf of induction
motor. They are mounted on shaft of the motor and is connected in the rotor
circuit of the motor. It improves the power factor by providing the exciting
ampere turns to produce required flux at slip frequency. Further if ampere
turns are increased, it can be made to operate at leading power factor.

Efficiency and Rating of Synchronous

Motor
Generally speaking, synchronous motors have higher efficiency than
induction motors because it runs in synchronous speed and not dependent on
the load.
Synchronous-motor Losses and Efficiency
The flow of power through a synchronous motor, from stator to rotor and
then to shaft output, is shown in the figure. As indicated in the power-flow
diagram, the total power loss for the motor is given by
Ploss = Pscl + Pcore + Pfcl + Pf,w + Pstray W

where: Pscl = stator-copper loss

Pcore = core loss
Pfcl = fie1d-copper.loss
Pf,w = friction and windage loss
Pstray = stray load loss

Just as in the case of the synchronous generator, the overall efficiency of a

synchronous motor is given by
= =

Generally, the nameplates of synchronous motors and manufacturers

specification sheets customarily provide the overall efficiency for rated load and
few load conditions only. Hence, only the total losses at these loads can be
determined. The separation of losses into the components listed in the former
equation needs a very involved test procedure in the laboratory. However, a
closer approximation of the mechanical power developed can be calculated by
subtracting the copper losses of the armature and field winding if these losses
can be calculated. The shaft power can then be calculated subtracting the
mechanical losses from the mechanical power developed.

Sample Problems
1. Given an apparent power of 169.256 VA and 119.365 W true power,
determine the power factor.
Solution: Power factor = 119.365 W/169.256 VA
= 0.705
2.