Electrical Machines · Fundamentals

Rotational Force: Understanding Production of Torque

Dr. Mithun Mondal BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus Electrical Machines

Demonstrative Video

SECTION 01

Production of Torque

  • The torque produced by the alignment of two fields (i.e., rotor field and stationary main field) varies in magnitude and direction depending upon the torque angle \(\theta\).

  • Let us see, the effect of torque angle \(\theta\) on the torque produced in the following cases:

    • In case of permanent magnet

    • In case of electromagnet

SECTION 02

In Case of Permanent Magnet

\[\begin{aligned} \theta &=\text { angle between the axis of two fields } F_{m} \text { and } F_{r^{\prime}} \\ l &=\text { length of magnet } A . \\ r &=\text { radius of circle in which rotation takes place. } \\ F &=\text { force acting on north and south pole of magnet } A . \\ \text { Torque } &=\text { Force } \times \text { Perpendicular distance. } \end{aligned}\]
\[\begin{aligned} \text{In a right angled triangle 'oab'} ~ab&=oa\sin\theta \\ \text{Distance perpendicular to force}, ab &= r \sin \theta \end{aligned}\]
SECTION 03

In Case of Electromagnet

\[\begin{aligned} F &=\text { Force acting on the two conductors. } \\ r &=\text { radius of circle in which conductor rotates. } \\ \theta &=\text { angle between the field } F_{m} \text { and } F_{r^{\prime}} \end{aligned}\]
  • In a right angle triangle, angle \(a o b=\theta\)

  • Distance perpendicular to force, \(a b=o a \sin \theta =r \sin \theta\)

Total torque acting on the two conductors,
  • Total torque acting on the two conductors, \(T=2 F_{r} \sin \theta\)

  • \[\begin{aligned} B&= \text{Flux density of the main field}\\ I&= \text{Current flowing through the conductor}\\ l &= \text{Effective length of conductor} \end{aligned}\]
    where
\[\begin{aligned} T&=2 B I l r \sin \theta\\ T&=K_{L} \sin \theta \quad\left[\text { Where, } K_{l}=2 B I l r \text { is a constant }\right]\\ T &\propto \sin \theta \end{aligned}\]
SECTION 04

Production of Unidirectional Torque

  • Alignment of two fields torque develops but the torque produced is not unidirectional.

  • The unidirectional or continuous torque can be obtained by applying any one of the following methods.

    • By Rotating the Main Magnets they drag the other magnets free to rotate (or the armature, electromagnet) along with it because of the tendency of the field of free rotating magnet or armature to align with the field of main magnet

    • By Changing the Direction of Flow of Current in the Conductors of Electromagnet (armature) in such a manner that the conductors facing a particular main field pole, always have the same direction of flow of current.