Quick Revision of Key Formulae \& Concepts

Quick Revision — Speed Control Methods

Stator Voltage Control
$T \propto V_s^2$ at a given slip.
Used for fan/pump loads; poor efficiency at reduced speeds.
V/f (Scalar) Control — Constant Flux
\[ \frac{V_s}{f} = \text{const} \Rightarrow \phi_m \approx \text{const} \] \[ \Tmax \approx \text{const} \quad \forall\; f \] Boost required at low $f$ to overcome $I\Rs$ drop.
Slip Speed Control
At constant flux: $T = k\,\omega_{\text{slip}}$
Rated torque at any speed if slip speed = rated slip speed.
Rotor Resistance Control
Introduces external resistance $R_e$ into the rotor circuit (slip-ring motors).
Increases starting torque and reduces starting current.
Poor efficiency due to $I^2R$ loss in the external resistor.

Problems: Speed Control Methods

Problem 10 — Stator Voltage Control

Problem Statement
A 2.8 kW, 400 V, 50 Hz, 4-pole, 1370 rpm, Y-connected motor: $\Rs=2\,\Omega$, $\Rr=5\,\Omega$, $\Xs=\Xr=5\,\Omega$, $\Xm=80\,\Omega$. The motor drives a constant-torque load of rated value. (a) Find the terminal voltage required at $n=1200$ rpm. (b) Find the motor speed when the stator line voltage is reduced to 300 V.
Part (a): $n=1200$ rpm, find $V$ \[ n_s=1500\;\text{rpm},\quad s=\frac{1500-1200}{1500}=0.2 \] Rated torque: $T_{\text{rated}}=\dfrac{2800}{2\pi\times1370/60}=19.51\;\text{N-m}$ Setting up the torque equation with $V_\phi$ as unknown ($\Rr/s=25$): \[ T=\frac{3V_\phi^{2}\,\Rr/s}{\omegams\left[(\Rs+\Rr/s)^{2}+(\Xs+\Xr)^{2}\right]} \] \[ 19.51=\frac{3V_\phi^{2}\times25}{157.08\times[27^{2}+10^{2}]}=\frac{75\,V_\phi^{2}}{157.08\times829} \] \[ V_\phi^{2}=\frac{19.51\times157.08\times829}{75}=33{,}870 \] \[ \ans{V_\phi=184.0\;\text{V (phase)}} \] For a Y-connected motor, $V_L=\sqrt{3}\,V_\phi$: \[ \ans{V_L=318.8\;\text{V (line)}} \]
Stator current at (a) ($V_\phi=184$ V): \[ I_r'=\frac{184}{\sqrt{27^{2}+10^{2}}}=\frac{184}{28.79}=6.39\;\text{A} \] \[ I_m=\frac{V_\phi}{\Xm}=\frac{184}{80}=2.30\;\text{A} \] \[ I_s\approx\sqrt{6.39^{2}+2.30^{2}}=6.79\;\text{A} \] Y-connected: $I_L=I_s=\ans{6.79\;\text{A}}$ Part (b): $V_L=300$ V $\Rightarrow V_\phi=173.2$ V
Solve for slip at rated torque: \[ 19.51=\frac{3\times173.2^{2}\times(5/s)}{157.08\,[(2+5/s)^{2}+100]} \] Iterative solution (high-slip branch): \[ \ans{s=0.247}\Rightarrow \ans{n=1500(1-0.247)=1129\;\text{rpm}} \] Two mathematical roots exist; the high-slip root at 1129 rpm is the operating point that the motor settles at when the torque curve at reduced voltage just meets rated torque demand.

Problem 11 — Rotor Resistance Speed Control

Problem Statement
A 400 V, 6-pole, 50 Hz, $\Delta$-connected slip-ring motor: $\Rr=0.2\,\Omega$, $\Xr=1\,\Omega$. The motor drives a constant torque load at rated speed. Find the external resistance inserted in the rotor circuit to reduce the speed to 850 rpm.
Step 1: Rated slip \[ n_s=1000\;\text{rpm},\quad s_1\approx 0.03\text{ (assumed)} \] Step 2: Required slip at 850 rpm \[ s_2=\frac{1000-850}{1000}=0.15 \] Step 3: For constant torque, slip proportional to rotor resistance \[ \frac{\Rr+R_e}{\Rr}=\frac{s_2}{s_1} \] \[ \frac{0.2+R_e}{0.2}=\frac{0.15}{0.03}=5 \] \[ R_e=0.8\;\Omega\;\text{(referred to stator)} \]
Step 4: Actual rotor resistance
If turns ratio $a=1$ (delta/delta): \[ \ans{R_e=0.8\;\Omega\;\text{per phase (rotor)}} \] Efficiency penalty: \[ \eta_{\text{mech}}=\frac{P_{\text{mech}}}{P_g}=1-s_2=0.85 \] \[ \text{vs. rated: }1-s_1=0.97 \] Power wasted in $R_e$: \[ P_{R_e}=(s_2-s_1)P_g \]
Answer: $R_e = 0.8\;\Omega$ per phase. Note: Rotor resistance control is simple but inefficient — excess slip power is wasted as heat in the resistors.

Problem 12 — V/f Scalar Speed Control

Problem Statement
A 400 V, 50 Hz, 4-pole, Y-connected motor: $\Rs=2\,\Omega$, $\Rr=3\,\Omega$, $\Xs=\Xr=3.5\,\Omega$, $\Xm=55\,\Omega$. Controlled by V/f drive with constant $V/f$ ratio. (a) Find torque, speed, and stator current at $f=30\;\text{Hz}$ and rated slip speed. (b) Find inverter frequency for rated torque at 1200 rpm.
Step 1: Rated conditions \[ n_s=1500\;\text{rpm},\quad n_{FL}=1370\;\text{rpm} \] \[ \omega_{\text{slip,rated}}=\omegams\cdot s_{\text{rated}}=157.1\times0.0867 \] \[ \omega_{\text{slip,rated}}=13.62\;\text{rad/s} \] Step 2: At $f=30\;\text{Hz}$
$V/f$ constant: $V_{30}=400\times30/50=240\;\text{V}$
Synchronous speed: $n_{s,30}=\frac{120\times30}{4}=900\;\text{rpm}$ \[ \omegams^{30}=94.25\;\text{rad/s} \]
Step 3: Motor speed at $f=30$ Hz
Keep same slip speed: $\omega_{\text{slip}}=13.62\;\text{rad/s}$ \[ n_r=900-\frac{13.62\times60}{2\pi}=900-130=\ans{770\;\text{rpm}} \] Step 4: Torque at 30 Hz
Reactances scale: $X'=X\times(30/50)=0.6X$ \[ T=\frac{3\times(138.6)^2\times(3\times0.0867)}{94.25[(2+3/0.0867)^2+(0.6\times7)^2]} \] Evaluating: $\ans{T\approx 22.7\;\text{N-m}}$ Step 5: Frequency for 1200 rpm \[ n_s-n_r=130\;\text{rpm (slip speed)} \] \[ f=\frac{(1200+130)\times P}{120}=\frac{1330\times4}{120}=\ans{44.3\;\text{Hz}} \]

Problem 12 — V/f Control Characteristics

Key V/f Control Results
$f$ (Hz)$V$ (V)$n_s$ (rpm)$T$ (N-m)
50400150019.5 (rated)
403201200$\approx$19.5
30240900$\approx$19.5
20160600$\approx$19.5
1080300reduces (boost needed)
Stator current remains approximately constant: \[ I_s \approx \frac{V_s/f}{L_s+L_m}\cdot\frac{1}{\omegams}\approx \text{const} \] At low frequencies: Voltage boost required to overcome $I\Rs$ drop and maintain constant flux: \[ V_{\text{boost}} = \frac{V_s}{f_{\text{rated}}}\cdot f + I_s\Rs \]
Conclusion — V/f Control
  • Constant air-gap flux maintained if $V/f=\text{const}$ (above base speed: constant $V$, flux weakening)
  • Maximum torque approximately constant over entire speed range
  • Stator current and rotor current approximately constant for rated torque
  • Simple, robust — most widely used industrial drive strategy