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Basi cs of 3-phase Inducti on Motor (part 2)
Asif Eqbal
Basics of 3-phase Induction Motor (part 2)
Continued from first part Basics of 3-phase Induction Motor (part 1)
For the purpose of standardization, the pref erred rated voltages of three phase induction motor shall be in
accordance with IS 12360: 1988.
The voltages for three phases, 50 Hz motors are: 415 V, 3.3 kV, 6.6 kV and 11 kV.
As per Motor voltage ratings are def ined by NEMA MG 1, Motors and Generators (Ref . 1), and ANSI C50.41,
Polyphase Induction Motors f or Power Generating Stations (Ref .2). According to ANSI C50.41, Section 6.3,
pref erred voltage ratings are as f ollows:
460V; 2300V; 6600V
575V; 4000V; 13,200V
Note that these ratings do not correspond exactly to the standard ANSI C84.1 (Ref. 16) nominal system
voltages of 480, 600, 2400, 4160, 6900, and 13,800V. Instead, each of these ratings is roughly 4 percent
lower than the nominal system voltage. The reason f or this is to provide some allowance f or voltage drop.
For Coordination of Voltages and Output of three-phase induction motors it is recommended that the
minimum rated output should be greater than the limits given below in terms of the rated voltage:
2 < Voltage < 3.3 f or and up to 100kW
3.3 < Voltage < 6.6 f or and up to 200kW
6.6 < Voltage < 11 f or and up to 1000kW.
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This is the voltage rating given by IS-325 Three phase induction motor Specif ication but this cannot be
f ollowed in all cases as there have been cases where motors of 150kW being supplied by 415V and 160kW
to 4500kW being supplied by 11kV.Now here comes the application of motor in picture & the load torque
requirement of the concerned motor. Torque developed in Induction motor is directly proportional to the
square of EMF induced in rotor. At standstill the EMF induced in rotor is almost equal to applied voltage to
stator and in running condition the EMF induced in rotor is slip times the applied voltage to stator.
If concerned Motor is used as compressors f or chillers or any application which does not require very high
starting torque and is of say 400kW then whether we have more voltage or low voltage that does not
matter. So we can use either 11kV f or this as given by IS or even contradict it and use 6.6kV.For 11kV supply
voltage will be less compared to 6.6kV supply but in both cases the load torque requirement will be met.
But if the same motor is used as a grinder motor in a ref inery or any high starting torque application then
you cannot f eed it with 0.415kV supply as load torque requirement will not be met. We will f ind that load
torque requirement is met at 11kV.
Because of more voltage requirement load torque requirement was not met at 0.415kV so next higher
voltage level was selected even 6.6kV would have done if available.
Now question is how to f ind load torque requirement?
If electric motor is driving any pump/compressors then the load torque characteristics of pump/compressor
is prepared by mechanical engineering department and electric motor vendor gives his load torque
characteristics f or required kW at a particular voltage level.
Electrical department matches the two characteristics if f ound not matching then other voltage level is
selected whose load torque characteristics matches.
So af t er making a det ailed st udy of :
- 1 - Manuf acturing f easibility with respect to costing of motor. (For low kW HT machine insulation cost will
be more. So more money is required.) Transf ormers with large motors connected, 25% 100% of the
ONAN rating, need special evaluation.
The voltage drop on the system during starting must be calculated balancing the impedance of the
transf ormer and inrush of the motor to best match the voltage drop and short circuit needs of the system.
In addition the transf ormer manuf acturer may need to enhance the internal bracing of the transf ormer to
accommodate the shock loading as a result of the motor starting current.
- 2 - Load torque requirement. HT motor has high Starting torque because of more voltage. So load torque
requirement or application has to be studied.
- 3 - So depending upon application we deviate f rom IS codes in this regard.
- 4 - So we def ine motor utilization voltage in our DBR at the starting of project keeping in mind the above
mentioned points.
As a general standard engineering practice the f ollowing utilization voltage is adopted f or 3 Phase motors
especially in power plants:
Motor type & rating Voltage No of Phases & Frequency Grounding
AC Motor above 180kW 6.6kV 3Ph, 50Hz Non ef f ectively earthed
AC Motor upto 180kW 415V 3Ph, 50Hz Ef f ectively earthed
DC Motors 220V or 110V 2 Wire DC Unearthed
Why anti condensation heating or space heaters are employed when a three phase induction motor is not
under operation?
Of ten the motors are kept in a store f or some time or they are transported under very damp conditions and
in such cases, the insulation resistance generally becomes low and it is dangerous f or the motor to he
connected up bef ore the condition has been rectif ied.
IEEE 43 places special emphasis on determining the insulation condition of such machines bef ore
energizing and even bef ore conducting a high-voltage test. This can be determined by the insulation test as
noted below.
Insulation resistance of the windings is a measure to assess the condition of insulation and its suitability
f or conducting a high-voltage test or f or energizing the machine. A low reading may suggest damage to the
insulation, f aulty drying or impregnation or absorption of moisture. The insulation resistance may be
measured according to the procedure laid down in IEEE 43 between the open windings and between
windings and the f rame by employing a direct-reading ohm meter (megger).
The recommended minimum insulation resistance of the machine is obtained by the f ollowing empirical
f ormula:
R
m
=kV+1
Where:
R = recommended minimum insulation resistance in MR (mega ohms) of the entire machine windings, at
40C or 1 MR per 1000 V plus 1 M , and
kV = rated machine voltage in kV
At the site, when commissioning a new or an existing motor af ter a long shutdown, it must have a minimum
insulation level according to the above equation. An 11 kV motor, f or instance, must have a minimum
insulation of 12 M. In normal practice, it is observed that when f irst measured the resistance reading may
show more than the minimum value and may mislead the operator, while the winding condition may not be
adequate f or a high voltage test or an actual operation.
One must theref ore ensure that the winding condition is suitable bef ore the machine is put into operation.
For this purpose, the polarization index (PI), which is determined f rom the insulation test data only as noted
below, is a usef ul pointer. It must be evaluated at site while conducting the insulation test then compared
with the manuf acturers ref erence data f or the machine to assess the condition of insulation at site and its
suitability f or operation.
This is usually a site test, but to establish a ref erence record of the machine, it is also carried out at the
works on the completed machine and test records f urnished to the user.
Drying Out
If the measured insulation resistance of the motor is less than 1 M/kV with a minimum of 1 M when the
machine is cold, it should f irst be dried out by anti condensation heater bef ore f ull voltage is applied to the
terminals of the motors.
Ref erences:
1. NEMA MG-1.
2. Industrial Power Engineering and Application Hand Book by K C Agarwaal.
3. Industrial Power System Hand Book by Shoaib Khan.
4. Theory and Calculation of Alternating Current Phenomena by Charles Proteus Steinmetz
5. Motor protection relay (MM30) manual f rom L&T