Question Bank unit 3-Abhiram LS

1) Write a note on
Cycloconverter control ofInduction motor.
Cycloconverter alows variable frequency and variable voltage supply to be
and frequency ac supply. A half-wave cycloconverter is shown in obtained from a fixed
output voltage waveform. Because Fig. 6.42 along with the naturevoltage
of its
of low harmonic content when operating low
motion is obtained at low speeds. Harmonic
the maximum output frequency to content increases with frequency, makingfrequencies, smooth
it necessary to limit
40% of the source frequency. Thus,
of synchronous speed at the mains maximum speed is restricted to 40%
frequency.
minimize derating and torque pulsations due to
A motor with large leakage
inductance is used in order to
harmonics
braking capability. Full four- quadrant operation is in motor current. The drives have
regenerative
terminal voltage. Since cycloconverter employs large obtained by reversing the phase sequence of motor
acceptable only in large power drives. number of thyristors, it becomes economically

Induction
al Half wave cycioconverter-fed intuction mot
Phsc Koltage Funamienta

Pise voltage wavefosm

Cycloconverter drive has applications in high power drives requiring good dynamic response but only low
speedoperation e.g., in ball mill in a cement plant. The low-speed operation is gained by feeding a motor
with large pole numbers from a cycloconverter operating at low frequencies. These drives are called
gearless drives because, unlike conventional drives, the low-speed operation of load is obtained without a
reduction gear, thus eliminating the associated cost, space and maintenance.
 2) Explain Variable Frequency Control of an
Induction Motor.
Synchronous specd, therefore, the motor specd can be controlled by
induced in stator is proportional to the product of varying supply
neglected, terminal voltage can be considered supply frequency and air-gap flux.frequency Voltage
If stator drop is
proportional tothe product of frequency and flux.
Any reduction in the supply frequency,
without a change in the terminal voltage, causes an increase in the
air-gap flux. Induction motors are designed to operatc at the knee point of the
to make full usc of the nagnetic magnetization characteristic
material. Thercfore, the increase in flux will saturate
increase the magnetizing current, distort the line current and the motor. This will
copner loss, and produce a high-pitch acoustic noise. voltage, increase the core loss and the stator
While an incrcase in flux beyond the rated value is
undesirable from the consideration of saturation effects, a decrease in flux is
torque capability of the motor. Therefore, the variable also avoided to retain the
frequency
generally carried out at rated air-gap flux by varying terminal voltage control below the rated frequency is
ratio constant at the rated value. with frequency so as to maintain (V/)

Tmax K 1

+ 4n2(Ls +

where K is a constant, and L, and L, are, respectively, the stator and stator
referred rotor inductances.
Positive sign is for motoring operation and negative sign is for braking operation.
When frequency is not low, (R/f) << 2n (Ls + Lr') and therefore,

Tmax
2n (Ls + Lr')

This equation suggests that with a constant (V/) ratio, motor develops a constant maximum torque, except
at low speeds (or frequencies). Motor therefore operates in constant torque mode. According to previous
Eq, for low frequencies (or low speeds) due to stator resistance drop [i.e. when (R/f) is not negligible
compared to 2n(Ls+ Lr')] the maximum torque willhave lower value in motoring operation (+ve sign) and
larger value in braking operation (-ve sign). This behavior due to reduction in flux during motoring
operation and increase in flux during braking operation. When it is required that the same maximum torque
is retained at low speeds also in motoring operation, (V/f) ratio is increased at low frequencies. This causes
further increase in maximum braking torque and considerable saturation of the machine in braking
operation.
When either V saturates or reaches rated value at base speed, it cannot be increased with frequency.
Therefore, above base speed, frequency is changed with Vmaintained constant. According to Eq (6.70),
with Vmintained constant, maximum torque decreases with increase in frequency (or speed).
Variation in terminal voltage with frequency is therefore as shown in Fig. 6.33(a). Vis kept constant above
the base speed. Below the base speed (V/) ratio is maintained constant, except at low frequencies where
(V/) ratio is increased to keep maximum torque constant. Corresponding speed torque curves are shown in
Fig. 6.33(b) both for motoring and braking operations. The curves suggest that speed control and braking
operation are available from nearly zero speed to above synchronous speed.
 Base frequency

(b) Spee-torque ctarternstscs

restricted between
Agiven torque is obtained with a lower current when the operation at any frequency is
motoring and braking operations. Therefore,
the synchronous speed and the maximum torque point, both for maximum torque
synchronous speed and
the motor operation for each frequency is restricted between the
good running and
point as shown by solid lines in Fig. 6.33(b). The variable frequency control provides
transient performance because of the following features:
to above base speed.
(a) Speed control and braking operation are available from zero speed
operation can be carried out at the
(b) During transients (starting, braking and speed reversal) the
maximum torque with reduced current giving good dynamicresponse.
high as the operation is restricted
(c) Copper losses are low, and efficiency and power factor arefrequencies.
between synchronous speed and maximum torque point at all
small.
(d) Drop in speed from no load to full load is
is that it allows a variable speed drive with
The most important advantage of variable frequency control a squirrel cage induction
above-mentioned good running and transient performance to be obtained from
a dc motor. It is cheap, rugged, reliable
notor. The squirrel cage motor has a number of advantages over no
brushes, it requires practically
and longer lasting. Because of the absence of commutator andenvironment, and can be designed for
maintenance, it can be operated in an explosive and contaminated
weight. Though the cost of
higher speeds, voltage and power ratings. It also has lower inertia, volume and
same rating, theoverall cost of
a squirrel cage motor is much lower compared to that of a de motor of the
listed above,
variable frequency induction motor drives, in general are higher. But because of the advantages
variable frequency induction motor drives are preferred over de motor drives for most applications. In
special applications requiring maintenance free operation, such as underground and underwater
installations, and also in applications involving explosive and contaminated environments, such and
chemical industry, variable frequency induction motor drives are a naturalchoice. They have several other
applications such as traction, millrun out tables, steel mills, pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, spindle
drives, conveyers, machine tools, and so on.

agramof variable frequency speed control scheme is shown inFig, 6.34. The motor is fedfrom a
0e equency variable voltage source (VFVS). V* and f are voltage and frequency commands for
VFVS. Flux control block produces a voltage command V* for VFVS in
Org b.33(a) between V* and f*. order to maintain the relationship
introduced between f and f, so that Reference
even
frequency f* is changed to control speed. A delay circuit is
So ihat motor speed can track changes in f*,when f* is changed by a large amount, f* will change only slowiy
thus restricting the motor operation for each
frequency between
 a
VFVS can be a voltage source inverter or
synchronous speed and the maximum torque point.
cycloconverter.

Flux Supply
conrol

VEVS

Deay
Induction
Imotor
Fig 634 Vanable frequency control

3) Obtain the expression for Speed Torque Characteristics of an Induction motor. Also sketch its
characteristics.

Bls R, X

(a)
Hg. 6.1 Per-phase stator referred equivalent circuits of an induction motor
 31,'k

Tovqur developed by motos 31,

T: 31, )

T: 3
ed Torque curve for an Induction Motor:

TKN

Sen TS
T
spead