EE1351-Solid State Drives

Question Bank

PART-A

Unit-I Drive Characteristics

1. What are the elements of Electrical drive systems?

2. What are the advantages of solid state drives?
3. Give the classification of electrical drives?
4. State the requirements of an adjustable speed drives
5. Classify the drive motors based on their speed torque characteristics
6. List the factors that govern the choice of rating of a motor to be used as a
drive element
7. What are the disadvantages of using a motor of wrong rating?
8. Classify mechanical loads based on their speed torque characteristics
9. What is meant by shunted motor connection of a DC series motor?
10. Draw the speed torque characteristics of DC motor
11. Draw the torque-speed curves of a series motor for varying flux and various
voltages
12. What do you mean by equilibrium operating point?
13. What do you mean by steady state stability?
14. Explain the four quadrant operations in motor.
15. Mention the types of electric braking employed for electric drives.
16. What are all the conditions to be satisfied for the regenerative braking
operation to take place?
17. Give the classifications of load torques.
18. What are the three components of load torque?
19. Classify mechanical loads based on their speed torque characteristics
20. What are the different modes of operation of an electric drives?
21. What is meant by acceleration mode of an electric drive?

Unit-II Converter / Chopper Fed DC motor Drive

1. What are the uses of phase controlled rectifiers in DC drives?

 2. Write the expression for the average output voltage of a single phase and three
phase full converter fed DC drive?
3. What is meant by critical speed in phase controlled DC drives?
4. What causes poor input power factor in phase controlled DC drives?
5. Three phase converters are better than single phase converters when
harmonics are considered? Will this advantage be of any use in motor drives?
6. What is discontinuous conduction mode? Mention its merits and demerits
7. When is discontinuous conduction mode expected with the operation of
converter fed DC drives?
8. What is continuous conduction mode? Mention its merits and demerits
9. What is meant by duty cycle?
10. What are the methods of control strategies of chopper control? Which is best
suited for DC motor control?
11. What is Time ratio Control?
12. What is meant by current limit control?
13. What are the advantages of operating choppers at high frequency?
14. Mention the applications of chopper fed DC drives.
15. Why thyristors are not preferred now days for chopper fed DC drives?
16. State the conditions for a continuous current conduction mode for DC motor
17. Explain whether discontinuous conduction mode will occur in the operation of
chopper fed DC drives.
18. Draw the diagram of a regenerative chopper fed separately excited DC motor
drive
19. How critical is the current loop design in a four quadrant DC motor drive?

Unit-III Induction Motor Drives

1. Draw the per phase equivalent (approximate) circuit of induction motor

referred to stator and also give the final torque expression
2. Mention the different methods of stator side speed control of induction motor
drive
3. Name the methods of speed control applicable on the rotor side of a three
phase induction motor.
4. Is it possible to operate the induction machine as a generator? What is the
polarity of slip in that mode of operation?
5. List the techniques to improve the power factors in rotor controlled induction
motor drives
6. List the merits of slip ring induction motors
7. What are the influences of the type of load on an ac motor drive?
8. What is the influence of harmonics over induction motor?
9. What are the draw backs of a stator voltage controlled speed control method?
10. Constant torque loads are not suitable for AC voltage controller fed induction
motor drive? Why?
11. What happens to the performance of AC motor if the stator voltage control
technique is adopted with frequency being constant?
12. What is the reactive power due to harmonics in a single phase AC voltage
controller fed drive?
13. What are short comings in voltage source inverter?
14. Mention few general features of an induction motor on a CSI?
15. Compare VSI fed induction motor drive with CSI fed drive.
16. Sketch the mechanical characteristics of a three phase induction motor with

V
f
control.

V
17. What is the need for constant f ratio in variable voltage induction motor

drives?
V
18. Why low frequency operation f control is not preferred?

19. When is an induction motor said to be working in a field weakening mode?

20. List the demerits of the rotor resistance control using SCR switching with
external resistance
21. Give the expression for torque of a static rotor resistance controlled three
phase induction motor.
22. What are the disadvantages of static rotor resistance control?
23. What is meant by slip power?
24. Name the different types of slip power recovery schemes.
 25. Why the power factor of the slip power recovery scheme of speed control
induction motor is low?
26. Can slip energy controlled induction motor be reversed in speed? How is it
done?
27. What is a static Kramer drive?
28. What is a static scherbius drive?
29. Compare static Kramer drive and static scherbius drive
30. Compare slip power recovery schemes with rotor resistance control.
31. What are the applications of slip power recovery schemes?

Unit-IV Synchronous Motor Drives

1. Give any two applications of synchronous motor drives

2. When a synchronous motor can be load commutated?
3. What are the advantages of load commutation over forced commutation?
4. Whether load commutation is possible in a synchronous motor fed from a
control VSI with 180 degree conduction of thyristors
5. Name the different modes of operation of a synchronous motor drive.
6. What is meant by self controlled synchronous motor drive?
7. Write any four special features of self controlled synchronous machine
8. Give some applications of self controlled synchronous motors
9. What is meant by margin angle control of synchronous motor drive?
10. What is meant by power factor control of synchronous motor drive?
11. Give two salient features of cycloconverter used to control synchronous motor
speed.
12. What are the applications of cycloconverter fed synchronous motor drive?
V
13. What happens to the stator current of a synchronous motor when f is kept

constant?
14. When a synchronous motor can be load commutated?
15. What are the advantages of load commutation over forced commutation?
16. What is PMSM and mention its types.
17. What are the advantages and disadvantages of PMSM?
 18. Mention some application of PMSM?
19. What is brushless dc motor (Commutator less or trapezoidal PM synchronous
motor)?

Unit –V Design of Controller for Drives

1. What are the functions of feed back loops in an electrical drive? (Or) what is
the main advantage of using closed loop control in drives?
2. What is current feed back?
3. What is speed feed back?
4. Give the transfer function relating speed and armature current of a DC motor.
5. Give the transfer function relating speed and field current of a DC motor.
6. Give the transfer function of converter
7. Give the transfer function of current controller
8. Give the transfer function of speed controller
9. List out the factors concerned with selection of converters
10. Mention the types of current controllers
11. The phase controlled converter is a harmonic generator” justify this statement
12. What is armature voltage control?
13. What is field weakening control?
14. What are the design procedures for a closed loop speed control system?
15. State the advantages of PI controller used in drives.

PART –B

Unit-I Drive Characteristics

1. (i) Give in brief the different types of loads.

(ii) Explain in detail constant HP and Constant torque operations
(iii) Explain the regenerative braking in separately excited DC motor
2. Derive the equations governing motor load dynamics from the basic
principles
3. Develop a criteria for evaluating the steady state stability of an electrical drive
 4. Discuss in detail about steady state stability considerations in an electrical
drive
5. Derive the mathematical expression for steady state stability of equilibrium
point.
6. Explain the multiquadrant operation of an electric motor driving a hoist load
7. Explain in detail about various typical load torque characteristics.
8. Discuss the different modes of operation of an electrical drive
Problems
9. A motor having a suitable control circuit develops a torque given by the
relation Tm = pω + q where p and q are positive constants. The motor is used to drive a load

whose torque is expressed as TL = rω 2 + s where r and s are two positive constants. The total
inertia of the rotating masses is J
a) Determine the relation among p, q, r and s in order that the motor can start
together with the load and have an equilibrium operating speed.
b) Calibrate the equilibrium operating speed.
Unit-II Converter / Chopper Fed DC motor Drive

1. Explain the operation of a single phase fully controlled converter fed

separately excited DC motor with neat waveforms and derive the speed torque
characteristics.
2. Deduce an expression relating speed and torque of a single phase full
converter fed separately excited DC motor drive operating in the continuous current mode
and discontinuous modes.
3. Explain the motoring and braking operation of three phase fully
controlled rectifier control of DC separately excited motor with aid of diagrams and
waveforms. Also obtain the expression for motor terminal voltage and speed.
4. What are the advantages of three phase drives over single phase drives?
5. Explain the operation of the two quadrant chopper fed DC drive system
6. Suggest a SCR based power circuit, fed from a DC supply to control the
speed of a separately excited DC motor in both directions and explain its working
7. Explain in detail the working of a multi quadrant control of chopper fed
DC series motor
Problems
8. A separately excited DC motor with constant field current has an
armature source whose potential difference of 400 V and the speed of the motor is 1600 rpm,
if all the losses in the motor are neglected.
a) What is the armature current when the load torque is 420
Nm
b) If the armature potential difference is held at 600 volts
and field current is reduced until the motors at 4000 rpm. Determine the torque
that the motor may exert this speed.
c) What is the required power rating of the source?
9. A 220 volts, 1500 rpm, 10 Amps separately excited dc motor has
an armature resistance of 10 Ω. It is fed from a single phase fully controlled bridge rectifier
with an ac source voltage of 230 volts, at 50 Hz. Assuming continuous load current, compute
a) The motor speed at firing angle of 30 degrees and torque
of 5 NM
b) Developed torque at the firing angle of 45 degrees and
speed of 1000 RPM
10. A separately excited DC motor rated at 10KW, 240 V, 1000 rpm is
supplied from a fully controlled two pulse bridge converter. The converter is supplied at 250
V, 50 Hz supply. An extra inductance is connected in the load circuit to make the conduction
continuous. Determine the speed, power factor and efficiency of operation for thyristors
firing angles of 0 and 60 degrees assuming the armature resistance of 0.4 Ω and an efficiency
of 87% at rated conditions. Assume constant torque load
11. A 200 volts, 875 rpm, 150 A separately excited DC motor has an
armature resistance of 0.06 Ω. It is fed from a single phase fully controlled rectifier with an
ac source of 220 Volts, 50Hz. Assuming continuous conduction calculate
a) Firing angle for rated motor torque and 750 rpm
b) Motor speed for α=160 degrees and rated torque
12. A 220 volts, 1500 rpm, 10 Amps separately excited dc motor has
an armature resistance of 0.5 Ω is fed from a three phase fully controlled rectifier. Available
AC source has a line voltage of 400 volts, 50 Hz. A star-delta connected transformer is used
to feed the armature so that motor terminal voltage equals rated voltage when converter firing
angle is zero. Calculate transformer turns ratio. Determine the value of firing angle when
 a) Motor is running at 1200 rpm and rated torque
b) When motor is running at (-800 rpm) and twice the rated
torque. Assume continuous conduction.
13. The speed of a separately excited DC motor is controlled by a
chopper. The DC supply voltage is 120 V, armature circuit resistance is 0.5 Ω, armature
circuit inductance is 20 mH, and back emf constant is 0.05 V/RPM. The motor drives a
constant torque load requiring an average current of 20A. Assuming the motor current to be
continuous, determine the range of speed control and the range of duty cycle.
14. A 230 volts, 960 rpm, 200 Amps separately excited DC motor has
an armature resistance of 0.02 Ω. The motor is fed from a dc source of 230 volts through a
chopper. Assuming continuous conduction
a) Calculate the duty ratio of chopper for monitoring operation at rated torque
and 350 rpm
b) If maximum duty ratio of chopper is limited to 0.95 and maximum
permissible motor speed obtainable without field weakening
15. A dc shunt motor fed from 400 V dc source through a chopper has the following
parameters Ra=0.02 Ω, Rf =0.04 Ω, k = 5 x 10 -3 Nm / Amp 2 . The average armature current of
300 Amps is ripple free of a chopper duty cycle of 50% determine
i. Input power from the source
ii. Motor speed and
iii. Motor torque
16. A DC series motor is fed from a 600 volts source through a chopper. The DC motor
has the following parameters armature resistance is equal to 0.04 Ω, field resistance is equal
to 0.06 Ω, constant k = 4 x 10 -3 Nm / Amp 2 . The average armature current of 300 Amps is
ripple free. For a chopper duty cycle of 60% determine
i. Input power drawn from the source.
ii. Motor speed and
iii. Motor torque.
17. A 230 V, 1100 rpm, 220 Amps separately excited DC motor has an armature
resistance of 0.02 Ω. The motor is fed from a chopper, which provides both motoring and
braking operations. Calculate
i. The duty ratio of chopper for motoring operation at rated torque and 400 rpm
 ii. The maximum permissible motor speed obtainable without field
weakening, if the maximum duty ratio of the chopper is limited to 0.9 and the
maximum permissible motor current is twice the rated current.
18. A DC chopper is used to control the speed of a separately excited dc motor. The DC
voltage is 220 V, Ra= 0.2 Ω and motor constant Ke φ=0.08 V/rpm. The motor drives a
constant load requiring an average armature current of 25 A. Determine
i. The range of speed control
ii. The range of duty cycle. Assume continuous conduction

Unit-III Induction Motor Drives

1. A three phase squirrel cage induction motor drives a blower type load. The no
load rotational losses are negligible. Show that the rotor current is maximum when the motor
runs at a slip equal to 1/3. Find the expression for maximum rotor current.
2. Explain the mechanical characteristics of a three phase induction motor with
stator current control.
3. Discuss how the speed of a three phase induction motor can be controlled by
varying the frequency of the applied voltage
4. With necessary diagram, explain the theoretical principles of stator voltage
control
5. Bring out the limitations of Stator voltage control scheme
6. Derive an expression for the torque of an inverter fed three phase induction motor
when it is operated with V/F control. Show that the maximum torque remains unaltered in
this scheme.
7. Explain in detail the speed control scheme for a three phase induction motor using
PWM inverter. Provisions are to be made in the scheme for speed control as well as
regenerative braking in both directions.
8. Explain the operation of V/F control technique of speed control method of
induction motor. List the ways to implement the voltage to frequency ratio
9. Explain using a power circuit how the speed of a diode bridge based Voltage
source inverter fed from induction motor drive can be controlled
10. Explain using a power circuit how the speed of an induction motor drive can be
controlled by using Current source inverter.
 11. Bring out the advantages of CSI over VSI fed induction motor drives
12. Develop an expression relating speed and torque of a three phase induction motor,
whose speed is controlled using static rotor resistance control scheme.
13. Explain static rotor resistance control in closed loop speed control
14. Explain using a power circuit the working of a static Kramer drive system.
15. Show that the no load speed of the induction motor in the Kramer drive can be
varied from near stand still to full speed as the firing angle α is varied from almost 180
degrees to 90 degrees.
16. Explain using a diagram the working of a static scherbuis system. Show that it can
operate in the synchronous, sub synchronous and super synchronous ranges. Bring out its
advantages.
17. Discuss the methods of improving the power factor for the sub synchronous static
converter cascade and explain
18. Explain closed loop speed control schemes for CSI and VSI fed drives.
Problems
19. A 400 volts 4 pole 50 Hz three phase star connected induction motor has
r1=0,x1=x2=1 Ω, r2=0.4Ω, xm= 500 Ω. The induction motor is fed from
a) A constant voltage source of 231 volts per phase and
b) A constant current source of 28 A. For both the cases calculate the slip at
which maximum torque occurs and the starting and maximum torques.
20. A three phase 440 V, 50Hz, 6 pole star connected induction motor has the
following parameters referred the stator r1=0.5 Ω,x1=x2=1 Ω, r2=0.6Ω. The stator to rotor
turns ratio is 2. If the motor is regeneratively braked, determine
a) The maximum over hauling torque, it can hold and the range of speed in
which it can safely operate
b) The speed at which it will hold a load with a torque of 160 Nm.
21. A three phase 400 V, 15 KW, 1440 RPM, 50 Hz star connected induction motor
has rotor leakage impedance of (0.4 +j1.6)Ω. The stator leakage impedance and rotational
losses are assumed negligible. If the motor is energized from a 120 Hz, 400 V, 3 phase
source, the calculate
a) Motor speed at rated load
b) The slip at maximum torque occurs
c) The maximum torque
22. A three phase star connected 60 Hz, 4 pole induction motor has following
parameters for equivalent circuit Rs=Rr’=0.024Ω and Xs=Xr’=0.12Ω. The motor is controlled
by variable frequency control with constant (V/F) ratio for operating frequency of 12 Hz
calculate
a) The breakdown torque as a ratio of its value at the rated freq for both
motoring and braking
b) The starting torque and rotor current in terms of their values at the rated
frequency
23. A 100 Hp , 460 volts 60 Hz star connected Sq.Cage induction motor has the
eq.ckt parameters r1=0.06 Ω,x1+x2’=0.6 Ω, r2’=0.35Ω,Xm=8Ω. The motor drives a fan which
requires 100 Hp at a speed of 1000 rpm. Determine the firing angles required for a speed
range of 200 to 1000 rpm.
24. A 2.8 KW, 400 V, 50 Hz, 4 pole, 1370 rpm, delta connected squrriel cage
induction motor has the following parameters refered to the stator.
Rs=2Ω,Rr’=5Ω,Xs=Xr’=5Ω, Xm=80Ω. Motor speed is controlled by stator voltage control.
When driving a fan load it runs at rated speed at rated voltage. Calculate
a) Motor terminal voltage, current and torque at 1200 rpm
b) Motor speed, current and torque for the terminal voltage of 300 Volts.
25. A 3 phase 420 V, 50 Hz, star connected slip ring induction motor has its speed
controlled by means of a GTO chopper in its rotor circuits. The effective phase turn’s ratio
from rotor to stator is 0.8. The fitter inductor makes the inductor current to be ripple free
losses in rectifier inductor, GTO Chopper and the no load losses of the motor are neglected.
The load torque proportional to speed squared is 450 N-m.
a) For a minimum motor speed of 1000 rpm, calculate the values of
chopper resistance (R).
b) For the calculated value of chopper resistance(R) ,If the speed is raised
to 1320 rpm ,
1) calculate the duty cycle of the chopper
2) The inductor current
3) Rectified output voltage
4) Efficiency in case per phase resistance of stator and rotor are 0.015Ω and
0.02Ω respectively.
 26. A 440 V, 50 KW, 50 Hz, 3 phase slip ring induction motor has the equivalent circuit
parameters r1=0.07Ω,r2=0.05Ω, X1=X2’=0.2Ω,Xm=20Ω. The speed of the motor at rated load
is 1420 rpm. Determine the resistance required in the chopper circuit so that the speed can be
controlled in the range 1420-1000 rpm at constant torque. Determine the TR for 1100 rpm.
27. A 420 V, 50Hz 6 pole star connected slip ring induction motor speed is controlled by a
static Kramer drive. The effective phase ratio from rotor to stator is 0.7 and the transformer
phase turns ratio from low voltage to high voltage is 0.5. Losses in diode, rectifier, inductor,
inverter and transformer were neglected. The load torque proportional to speed squared is
275 N-M at 900 rpm. For a motor operating at 750 rpm calculate
i) Rotor rectified voltage
ii) Inductor current
iii) Delay angle of the inverter
iv) Efficiency if the inductor resistance is 0.02Ω and stator and rotor resistance is 0.01Ω
and 0.03Ω respectively.
28. A three phase 4 pole, 50 Hz induction motor has a chopper controlled resistance in the
rotor circuit for speed control. The load torque follows a relations TL=W2 where W is the
speed of the motor. When the power switch is ON, the torque is 40 NM at an average slip of

TON
0.04. If =1 , compute the average torque and speed. The motor develops a torque of
TOFF

75% of ON torque when the power switch is OFF. The speed ranges down to 1400 rpm.

TON
Determine the ratio to give an average torque of 30 NM.
TOFF

29. A static Kramer drive is used for speed control of a 4 pole 3 phase slip ring induction
motor fed from a 415 Volts, 50 Hz supply. The inverter is connected directly to the supply. If
the motor is required to operate at 1200 rpm, find the firing advance angle of the inverter.
The voltage across open circuited slip rings at stand still is 700 volts. Allow a voltage drop of
0.7 V and 1.5 V across each of the diodes and thyristors respectively. The voltage drop
across the inductor may be neglected.

Unit-IV Synchronous Motor Drives

1. Discuss using a block diagram the operation of a voltage source inverter fed
synchronous motor in the true synchronous mode.
 2. Describe how the speed of a current source inverter fed synchronous motor is
controlled in its self controlled mode. Built a closed loop algorithm to regulate the speed in
the above scheme.
3. Describe the self control of synchronous motor fed from VSI. Discuss about the
separately controlled synchronous motor fed from VSI. Compare the above two schemes
4. Show that the torque of a synchronous motor is independent of speed, when it
operates in the controlled current mode.
5. Explain the control characteristics of an open loop V/F controlled synchronous
motor.
6. Describe in detail, the function of self controlled synchronous motor employing
cycloconverter.
7. Describe using a schematic how the speed of an inverter fed brushless DC motor
can be controlled. Bring out its advantages and Disadvantages
8. Explain using a diagram the working of a wound field synchronous motor drive
with brushless excitation.
9. Explain using a power circuit, the working of a trapezoidally excited permanent
magnet synchronous motor, operating in the self controlled mode
10. Explain how three phase synchronous motor fed by a three phase inverter can be
made to behave like a simple DC motor. Hence is it proper to call them as commutator less
DC motor
11. Write a brief notes on brushless excitation.
12. Write short notes on the following
i. Power factor control of synchronous motor drive.
ii. True synchronous mode of operation.
13. Explain the closed loop control scheme of adjustable speed synchronous motor
drive and mention its need and advantages.
14. Suggest a scheme for speed control of synchronous motors using current source
inverters and explain its working.
15. Explain the merits and demerits of load commutated CSI
16. Write short notes on regenerative braking in synchronous motor.

Problems
 17. A 6MW 3 Phase 11 KV, star connected 6 pole 50 Hz 0.9 lagging power factor
synchronous motor has synchronous reactance equal to 9Ω and armature resistance equal to
0Ω. The rated field current is 50 A. The machine is controlled by variable frequency control
at constant V/F ratio up to the base speed and at constant voltage above base speed.
Determine
i. Torque and field current for the rated armature current, 750 RPM and 0.8
leading power factor
ii. Armature current and power factor for half the rated motor torque, 1500
rpm and rated field current.
18. A 7 MW 3 phase 12 KV star connected 6 pole 50 Hz 0.9 leading power factor
synchronous motor has Xs=10Ω,Rs=0Ω. The rated field current is 40 A. The machine is
controlled by variable frequency control at constant V/F ratio up to the base speed and at
constant voltage above base speed. Determine
i. Torque
ii. The field current for the rated armature current at 750 rpm and 0.8 leading
power factor
19. A 3 phase 400 volt 50 Hz 6 pole star connected wound rotor synchronous motor
has Zs=0+j2 Ω. Load torque proportional to speed2, is 340 NM at rated synchronous speed.
The speed of the motor is lowered by keeping V/F constant maintain unity power factor by
field control of the motor. For the motor operation at 600 rpm, calculate
i. Supply voltage
ii. Armature current
iii. Excitation angle
iv. Load angle
v. The pull out torque. Neglect rotational losses.

Unit –V Design of Controller for Drives

1. Discuss using a diagram the operation of a closed loop scheme for speed control
of a DC motor, below and above the base speed.
2. Derive the transfer function of the speed controller
3. Explain how the converter power output and the controller characteristics are
related.
4. Derive the transfer function of DC motor- load and converter system
 5. Give the design procedure of Current controller
6. Explain the operation of closed loop DC motor control with current and speed
feedback
Problems
7. Design a speed controlled DC motor drive maintaining the field flux
constant. The motor parameter and ratings are as follows.
220 V,8.3 A, 1470 RPM, Ra=4Ω, J=0.0607 Kg-m2 , La=0.072 H, Bt= 0.0869 Nm/rad/sec,
Kb= 1.26 V/rad/sec.
The converter is supplied from 230 V, 3 phase AC at 60 Hz. The converter is linear and
its maximum control input voltage is ±10 V . The tacho generator has the transfer function

0.065
Gω ( s ) =
(1 + 0.002 s ) . The speed reference voltage has a maximum of 10 V. The maximum
current permitted in the motor is 20A.