- Rotor Resistance Control Definition: Rotor resistance control is defined as a method to manage the speed of an induction motor by adjusting the resistance in its rotor circuit.
- Induction Motor Basics: An induction motor, commonly used globally, operates on the principle that the motor speed can be adjusted by changing the rotor’s resistance.
- Speed Control of Induction Motor: Speed control is crucial for applications requiring variable motor speeds and can be achieved efficiently through modern electronics.
- Technology Utilized: Techniques like Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) offer precise control over the rotor resistance, enhancing the motor’s performance and energy efficiency.
- Operational Limitations: Although effective for varying motor speed, the method incurs energy losses and heat generation, making it unsuitable for continuous high-demand applications.
In 1891 at the Frankfurt exhibition, Nikola Tesla introduced a rudimentary poly phase induction motor. Today, induction motors are prevalent, comprising nearly 80% of the world’s AC motors. Consequently, controlling their speed is crucial. The speed control of poly phase induction motor can be done through the different methods. Here we will discuss about the speed control of wound rotor induction motor using variation of rotor resistance.
Traditionally, rotor resistance was varied by incorporating a variable rheostat in series with the motor’s three-phase winding. However, this method was problematic and economically unfeasible. The variation of rotor resistance can be done by using power electronics devices and this is more efficient method. Here we will show how this can be achieved.
Basic Concept
The torque equation for poly phase induction motor is,
Under normal working condition r2/s≫ r1, x1 and therefore the equation becomes,
This equation shows that for a constant torque, the slip is directly proportional to the rotor resistance. If the resistance in the rotor circuit is increased, the slip is increased and the speed of the rotor is decreased. This method is applicable only to wound rotor induction motor.
Figure 1 clearly illustrates how changes in rotor resistance affect the motor’s speed.
At the normal operating condition the slip increases with increasing torque hence they are obeying a linear characteristics. For a fixed load curve, the speed is downward from n1 to n4. From this figure we can also obtain the maximum torque at the starting of the resistance r2”. So, this method has an advantage of achieving maximum torque at the starting period.
Characteristics
But the maximum torque is independent of the rotor resistance as per the equation,
This type of speed control is used when the intermittent speed control is required.
It has some drawbacks
- The rheostat used to adjust resistance per phase can cause rotor unbalance.
- The resistances generate huge losses and generate heat in the system.
- In case of a large machine the size of the rheostat will be large and in such case it is not easily portable.
- It requires more maintenance, hence the cost associated with it is more.
- This method can not be used for industrial automation purpose since we have to change manually the value of the resistance.
The above mentioned problems can easily be eliminated by using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), or Pulse Duration Modulation (PDM) with the bridge rectifier and a switching transistor.
Rotor resistance can also be varied steplessly using the circuit shown in figure (a). The AC output voltage of the rotor is rectified by diode bridge rectifier and fed to parallel combination of fixed resistor R and a semiconductor switching transistor Tr. Effective value of resistance across terminal A and B i.e., RAB is varied by varying duty cycle of the transistor Tr, which in turn varies the resistance of the rotor circuit. Inductance is added to the circuit to reduces the ripple and discontinuity in the dc link current Id. Rotor current waveform is shown in the fig.(b) when the ripple is neglected. Thus the rms value of the current will be
Resistance between A and B terminal will be zero when the transistor is on and it will be R when it is off. Therefore average value of resistance between the terminals is given by
Where, δ is the duty ratio of the transistor.
Electrical power consumed by the RAB resistor per phase is
From this equation we can suggest that rotor circuit resistance per phase is increased by 0.5(1-δ)R. Thus total circuit resistance can be evaluated.
Therefore the total rotor resistance is varied from Rr to 0.5(1-δ)R as δ is varied from 1 to 0.
Advantages of Speed Control of Induction Motor Using Static Devices
- Smooth variations of rotor resistance.
- Simplicity of operation using close loop control.
- Quick response of system.
- Rotor resistance unbalanced can be eliminated using power electronics devices.
Conclusion
Although using resistance to control motor speed is effective, it also leads to resistive losses, causing unnecessary heating and reduced efficiency to some extent. That is why it cannot be operated for continuous operation, it is used in the intermittent application such as overhead cranes, load fluctuations etc.
