- Braking Definition: Braking is the process of reducing the speed of a rotating machine, either mechanically or electrically.
- Electrical Braking: Electrical braking uses changes in flux and torque directions to slow down machines, making it different from mechanical braking.
- Regenerative Braking: Regenerative braking occurs when a motor exceeds synchronous speed, acting as a generator and reversing current and torque.
- Plugging Type Braking: Plugging type braking reverses the motor’s supply terminals to create opposing torque, which reduces speed but wastes power.
- Dynamic Braking: Dynamic braking disconnects the motor from the power source and uses a resistor to reverse current flow and torque, slowing the motor.
The term braking comes from the term brake. We know that brake is an equipment to reduce the speed of any moving or rotating equipment, like vehicles, locomotives. The process of applying brakes can be termed as braking. Now coming to the term or question what is braking. First of all we can classify the term braking in two parts
- Mechanical Braking
- Electrical Braking
Mechanical braking is left out here because as it is an electrical engineering site, we should only focus on electrical braking here. In mechanical braking the speed of the machine is reduced solely by mechanical process but electrical braking is far more interesting than that because the whole process is depended on the flux and torque directions. We will further see through the various types of braking but the main idea behind each type of barking is the reversal of the direction of the flux.
So, we can understand that when it is asked that what is braking? We can say that it is the process of reducing speed of any rotating machine. The application of braking is seen at almost every possible area, be it inside the motor used in factories, industrial areas or be it in locomotives or vehicles. Everywhere the use of mechanical and electrical brakes is inevitable.
Types of Braking
Brakes are used to reduce or cease the speed of motors. We know that there are various types of motors available (DC motors, induction motors, synchronous motors, single phase motors etc.) and the specialty and properties of these motors are different from each other, hence this braking methods also differs from each other. But we can divide braking in to three parts mainly, which are applicable for almost every type of motors.
- Regenerative Braking.
- Plugging type braking.
- Dynamic braking.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking occurs when the motor speed exceeds synchronous speed. In this method, the motor acts as a generator, and the load supplies power to it. For regenerative braking to work, the rotor must spin faster than the synchronous speed, reversing current flow and torque direction to brake the motor. The main disadvantage is that running the motor at such high speeds can cause mechanical and electrical damage. However, regenerative braking can also work at lower speeds if a variable frequency source is available.
Plugging Type Braking
Plugging type braking reverses the supply terminals, causing the generator torque to reverse and resist the motor’s normal rotation, slowing it down. External resistance is added to the circuit to limit current flow. The main disadvantage of plugging is that it wastes power.
Dynamic Braking
Dynamic braking reverses the torque direction to slow the motor. In this method, the running motor is disconnected from its power source and connected to a resistor. The rotor keeps spinning due to inertia, making the motor act as a self-excited generator. This reverses current flow and torque. To maintain steady torque, resistances are gradually adjusted during braking.
