Losses in a Induction Motor – Power Stages in Asynchronous Motor

Electrical Technology

Losses, Power Stages and Efficiency of Induction Motor

An induction motor (also known as Asynchronous Motor) is widely used in industries to convert electrical power into mechanical power. Therefore, the input power to the motor is electrical energy. The supplied electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy via various power stages.

For a three-phase induction motor, a three-phase electrical supply is given to the stator. And this supplied power or input power is;

P_in = √3 V_L I_L cos⁡ϕ = 3 V_ph I_ph Cos⁡ϕ

Where,

V_L = line value of supplied voltage
I_L = line value of supplied current
V_ph = phase value of supplied voltage
I_ph = phase value of supplied current
Cos ϕ = power factor of motor

The losses that occur in induction motor is classified into two types;

Constant losses
Variable losses

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Constant Losses

The losses that remain constant throughout the operation of the induction motor are known as constant losses. These losses are also known as fixed losses. The constant losses can be determined by performing a no-load test.

The fixed losses are further classified into three types;

Stator Iron Loss
Mechanical Loss and Brush Loss e.g. Windage and Friction Losses

Iron Loss

The iron loss (also known as eddy current and hysteresis loss) depends on the supply voltage and its frequency. As the voltage and frequency are practically constant, this loss remains constant during the operation of an induction motor. Iron loss is further divided into two losses; eddy current loss and hysteresis loss.

To minimize the eddy current loss, the laminated core is used. By laminating the core, the area of the core is decreased, and hence the resistance increases which results in decreases in eddy current.

Hysteresis loss mainly depends on the material used for the core. To minimize hysteresis loss, high-grade silicon steel is used.

Core Loss

The core losses depend on frequency. The frequency in a stator is always supply frequency. And the frequency of a rotor is slip times supply frequency. Generally, the slip of an induction motor is 3%. Hence, the rotor frequency is approximately 1.5 Hz. Therefore, the rotor core loss is very small compared to stator core loss and in most conditions, rotor core loss is neglected. The core losses are given by:

P_Core = 3E₁²G_C

Friction and Windage Loss

Friction and Windage Losses are also known as rotational loss or brush & mechanical loss. This loss depends on the speed of a motor. At the time of starting, this loss is zero. And increases with an increase in speed. Generally, the induction motor operates at a constant speed. Hence, this loss is considered a constant loss.

The losses that occur with the fiction between brushes and commutator is known as brush loss.

Variable Loss = Copper Loss

The losses that are variable throughout the operation of an induction motor are known as variable losses. Generally, the variable loss is also known as copper loss. The copper loss depends on the resistance and current flowing through the winding.

Variable losses in in induction motor are as follows:

Stator Copper Loss = 3I₁²R₁
Rotor Copper Loss = 3I₂²R₂

In an induction motor, there are two windings; stator winding and rotor winding. In both windings, copper losses occur due to the winding resistance. The copper loss is directly proportional to the winding resistance and square of the current flowing through the winding. Hence, this loss is also known as I²R loss. To determine the variable loss, a block-rotor test is performed.

In short:

Stator Losses: The summation of iron loss and copper loss in the stator is known as stator losses. These losses depend on the stator core flux density and supply frequency . The stator losses are almost fixed or constant.
Rotor Losses: The summation of iron loss and copper loss in the stator is known as stator losses. As the frequency of the rotor current under normal running condition is very small, these kinds of losses are hence negligible. The Rotor Cu. loss of a three phase induction motor can be found using 3I₂² R₂.
Friction & Windage Losses: These losses occur due to the friction between shaft and bearings as well as wind barrier is known as friction and windage losses. These losses are also known as rotational losses. Friction and windage losses is directly proportional to the speed of the motor and while core losses is inversely proportional to the speed of the motor.

Power Stages of Induction Motor

The input of an induction motor is electrical energy and it is supplied to the stator winding. The load is connected with the shaft. Therefore, the mechanical energy (rotational energy) is collected from the shaft. During the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy, the power is transferred in losses. The power stages of an induction motor are explained below.

Stage-1 Motor Input (Stator Input)

Stator input (P1) is equal to the summation of power delivered to the rotor or power output of stator and stator losses.

Stator Input P₁ = Stator Output + Stator Losses

In stator, two types of losses occur; stator copper loss and stator core loss (iron loss). The output of the stator is given to the rotor. Hence, it becomes rotor input.

Stage-2 Rotor Input

By electromagnetic induction, the stator output is transferred to the rotor via airgap.

Stator Output = Rotor Input P₂

Rotor Power Input (RPD) or simply Rotor input (P2) is used to generate mechanical power.

Stage-3 Available Mechanical power

The rotor output is mechanical power (P_M) developed in the rotor also known as gross torque (T_g) or RPD (Rotor Power Develop). Due to copper loss in rotor winding, available mechanical power is reduced.

Developed Mechanical Power P_M = Rotor Input – Rotor Copper Loss

Stage-4 Mechanical Power at Shaft

The available mechanical power is not entirely transferred to the shaft. There are some frictions and windage losses.

Finally, the mechanical power available at the shaft (P_OUT) is used to produce shaft torque and this is the final output that is used to rotate the load which is also known as BHP (Brake Horse Power). The graphical repetition of power stages of induction motor is shown in the figure above.

Mechanical Power at Shaft P_OUT = Available Mechanical Power at shaft – Windage & Friction loss

Rotor Output

As mentioned in stage 1,

Stator Input = Stator Output + Stator Losses

As the output of the stator transfers to the rotor circuit by electromagnetic induction, hence;

Rotor Input = Stator Output

The rotor output converts in the mechanical energy which is known as gross torque (T_g). Some of the produced torque losses due to windage and friction losses and the net torque appears as shaft torque (T_sh).

Suppose, if the original speed of the rotor is N (in RPS) and the generated torque (T_g) in N.m, then;

T_g × 2π N = Rotor gross output in watts, Pm

T_g= Rotor gross output in watts, Pm ÷ 2π N — N-m … (i)

If there is no copper loss in the rotor, the output of the rotor will be equal to the input of the rotor, hence the motor will run at the synchronous speed (N_S).

T_g= Rotor Input P₂ ÷ 2π N_S — (ii)

Analyzing equation (i) and (ii), we get;

Rotor gross Output = P_M= T_g × 2π N

Rotor Input = P₂= T_g × 2π N_S — (iii)

The difference between two uniform copper losses

Rotor Copper Losses = P₂ – P₁= T_g × 2π (N_S – N) — (iv)

Analyzing equation (iii) and (iv), we get;

(Rotor Copper Losses ÷ Rotor Input) = (N_S – N ÷ N) = s

And Rotor Copper Losses = Rotor Input × Slip

Hence;

= (N_S – N ÷ N) = s = sP₂ — (v)

Now, Rotor Gross Output = Rotor Input – Copper Losses

Rotor Gross Output P_M = Input P₂ – Rotor Copper Losses)

= Input – S × Rotor Input = (1-s) Input P₂

= (N_S – N ÷ N) = s = sP₂ — (v)

∵ Rotor Gross Output P_M = (1-s) Rotor Input P₂ — (vi)

Hence the Rotor Efficiency will be:

∵ Rotor Efficiency = N ÷ N_S

Rotor Cu. Loss ÷ Rotor Gross Output

= S ÷ 1-s

Efficiency of Induction Motor

In general, the efficiency of any system is defined as a ratio of output and input.

The output of an induction motor is mechanical power and hence, for an induction motor, we can write the above formula as follow which is used to determine the efficiency of an induction motor;