LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:

• List three basic types of ac motors and describe the characteristics of each type.
• Describe the characteristics of a series motor that enable it to be used as a universal motor.
• Explain the relationships of the individual phases of multiphase voltages as they produce rotating magnetic fields in ac motors.
• Describe the placement of stator windings in two-phase, ac motors using rotating fields.
• List the similarities and differences between the stator windings of two-phase and three-phase ac motors.
• State the primary application of synchronous motors, and explain the characteristics that make them suitable for that application.
• Describe the features that make the ac induction motor the most widely used of electric motors.
• Describe the difference between the rotating field of multiphase motors and the "apparent" rotating field of single-phase motors.
• Explain the operation of split-phase windings in single-phase ac induction motors.
• Describe the effects of shaded poles in single-phase, ac induction motors.

INTRODUCTION

Most of the power-generating systems, ashore and afloat, produce ac.

For this reason a majority of the motors used throughout the Navy are designed to operate on ac. There are other advantages in the use of ac motors besides the wide availability of ac power. In general, ac motors cost less than dc motors. Some types of ac motors do not use brushes and commutators. This eliminates many problems of maintenance and wear. It also eliminates the problem of dangerous sparking.

An ac motor is particularly well suited for constant-speed applications. This is because its speed is determined by the frequency of the ac voltage applied to the motor terminals.

The dc motor is better suited than an ac motor for some uses, such as those that require variable-speeds. An ac motor can also be made with variable speed characteristics but only within certain limits.

Industry builds ac motors in different sizes, shapes, and ratings for many different types of jobs. These motors are designed for use with either polyphase or single-phase power systems. It is not possible here to cover all aspects of the subject of ac motors. Only the principles of the most commonly used types are dealt with in this chapter.

In this chapter, ac motors will be divided into (1) series, (2) synchronous, and (3) induction motors. Single-phase and polyphase motors will be discussed.

Synchronous motors, for purposes of this chapter, may be considered as polyphase motors, of constant speed, whose rotors are energized with dc voltage. Induction motors, single-phase or polyphase, whose rotors are energized by induction, are the most commonly used ac motor. The series ac motor, in a sense, is a familiar type of motor. It is very similar to the dc motor that was covered in chapter 2 and will serve as a bridge between the old and the new.

Q.1 What are the three basic types of ac motors?

SERIES AC MOTOR

A series ac motor is the same electrically as a dc series motor. Refer to figure 4-1 and use the left-hand rule for the polarity of coils. You can see that the instantaneous magnetic polarities of the armature and field oppose each other, and motor action results. Now, reverse the current by reversing the polarity of the input. Note that the field magnetic polarity still opposes the armature magnetic polarity. This is because the reversal effects both the armature and the field. The ac input causes these reversals to take place continuously.

Figure 4-1. - Series ac motor.

The construction of the ac series motor differs slightly from the dc series motor. Special metals, laminations, and windings are used. They reduce losses caused by eddy currents, hysteresis, and high reactance. Dc power can be used to drive an ac series motor efficiently, but the opposite is not true.

The characteristics of a series ac motor are similar to those of a series dc motor. It is a varying-speed machine. It has low speeds for large loads and high speeds for light loads. The starting torque is very high. Series motors are used for driving fans, electric drills, and other small appliances.

Since the series ac motor has the same general characteristics as the series dc motor, a series motor has been designed that can operate both on ac and dc. This ac/dc motor is called a universal motor. It finds wide use in small electric appliances. Universal motors operate at lower efficiency than either the ac or dc series motor. They are built in small sizes only. Universal motors do not operate on polyphase ac power.

Q.2 Series motors are generally used to operate what type of equipment?
Q.3 Why are series motors sometimes called universal motors?