How Does an Electric Motor Work?

Type of Electric Motors

Classification of Motors
Electric Motors
Alternating Current
(AC) Motors

Synchronous

Induction

Single-Phase

Three-Phase

Direct Current (DC)

Motors

Separately
Excited

Series

Self Excited

Compound

Shunt

D. C. Motor
Applications in rolling mills, traction,
overhead cranes
Principle of Operation
When a current carrying conductor is placed in
a magnetic field, it experiences a mechanical
force whose direction is given by Flemings
left hand rule.

DC Motors Components
Field pole
North pole and south pole
Receive electricity to form
magnetic field

Armature

(Direct Industry, 1995)

Cylinder between the poles

Electromagnet when current goes through
Linked to drive shaft to drive the load

Commutator
Overturns current direction in armature

DC Motors

The stator is the stationary outside part of a motor.

The rotor is the inner part which rotates.
In the motor animations, red represents a magnet or
winding with a north polarization, while green represents
a magnet or winding with a south polarization.
Opposite, red and green, polarities attract.

DC Motors

Just as the rotor reaches alignment, the brushes move

across the commutator contacts and energize the next
winding.
In the animation the commutator contacts are brown and
the brushes are dark grey.
A yellow spark shows when the brushes switch to the next
winding.

DC Motor Applications
Automobiles

Windshield Wipers
Door locks
Window lifts
Antenna retractor
Seat adjust
Mirror adjust
Anti-lock Braking System

Cordless hand drill

Electric lawnmower
Fans
Toys
Electric toothbrush
Servo Motor

CONTROL OF D.C.MOTORS
Method - 1

CONTROL OF D.C.MOTORS
Method - 2

CONTROL OF D.C.MOTORS
Method - 3

Brushless DC Motors

A brushless dc motor has a rotor with permanent

magnets and a stator with windings.
It is essentially a dc motor turned inside out.
The control electronics replace the function of the
commutator and energize the proper winding.

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors
Electrical current reverses direction
Two parts: stator and rotor
Stator: stationary electrical component
Rotor: rotates the motor shaft

Speed difficult to control

Two types
Synchronous motor
Induction motor

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Synchronous motor
Constant speed fixed by system
frequency
DC for excitation and low starting
torque: suited for low load applications
Can improve power factor: suited for
high electricity use systems
Synchronous speed (Ns):
Ns = 120 f / P

F = supply frequency
P = number of poles

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Induction motor
Most common motors in industry
Advantages:
Simple design
Inexpensive
High power to weight ratio
Easy to maintain
Direct connection to AC power source

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Induction motor
Components
Rotor
Squirrel cage:
conducting bars
in parallel slots

(Automated Buildings)

Wound rotor: 3-phase, double-layer,

distributed winding

Stator
Stampings with slots to carry 3-phase windings
Wound for definite number of poles

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Induction motor
How induction motors work
Electricity supplied to stator
Magnetic field generated that moves around
rotor
Electromagnetics

Current induced in rotor

Rotor produces second
magnetic field that
opposes stator magnetic
field
Rotor begins to rotate

Rotor
Stator

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Induction motor
Single-phase induction motor
One stator winding
Single-phase power supply
Squirrel cage rotor
Require device to start motor
3 to 4 HP applications
Household appliances: fans, washing
machines, dryers

Type of Electric Motors

AC Motors Induction motor
Three-phase induction motor
Three-phase supply produces magnetic
field
Squirrel cage or wound rotor
Self-starting
High power capabilities
1/3 to hundreds HP applications: pumps,
compressors, conveyor belts, grinders
70% of motors in industry!

Full Stepper Motor

This animation demonstrates the principle for a stepper motor using full
step commutation. The rotor of a permanent magnet stepper motor
consists of permanent magnets and the stator has two pairs of windings.
Just as the rotor aligns with one of the stator poles, the second phase is
energized. The two phases alternate on and off and also reverse polarity.
There are four steps. One phase lags the other phase by one step. This
is equivalent to one forth of an electrical cycle or 90.

Half Stepper Motor

This animation shows the stepping pattern for a half-step stepper motor.
The commutation sequence for a half-step stepper motor has eight steps
instead of four. The main difference is that the second phase is turned on
before the first phase is turned off. Thus, sometimes both phases are
energized at the same time. During the half-steps the rotor is held in
between the two full-step positions. A half-step motor has twice the
resolution of a full step motor. It is very popular for this reason.

Stepper Motors

This stepper motor is very simplified. The rotor of a real stepper motor
usually has many poles. The animation has only ten poles, however a real
stepper motor might have a hundred. These are formed using a single
magnet mounted inline with the rotor axis and two pole pieces with many
teeth. The teeth are staggered to produce many poles. The stator poles of
a real stepper motor also has many teeth. The teeth are arranged so that
the two phases are still 90 out of phase. This stepper motor uses
permanent magnets. Some stepper motors do not have magnets and
instead use the basic principles of a switched reluctance motor. The stator
is similar but the rotor is composed of a iron laminates.

More on Stepper Motors

Note how the phases are driven so that

the rotor takes half steps

More on Stepper Motors

Animation shows how coils are energized

for full steps

More on Stepper Motors

Full step sequence

showing how binary
numbers can control
the motor

Half step
sequence of
binary control
numbers

Stepper Motor Applications

Film Drive
Optical Scanner
Printers
ATM Machines

I. V. Pump
Blood Analyzer
FAX Machines
Thermostats

TYPES OF STEPPER MOTORS