<p>This thesis presents a study of the effects of inter-bar currents on inductionmotor starting performance and stray-load losses. The work is focused on theperformance differences between aluminium and copper casted rotors.A method to predict the stator current when starting direct-on-line isdeveloped. This includes modelling of skin-effect, saturation of the leakageflux paths and additional iron losses. The results are verified by measurements.An analytical model accounting for inter-bar currents is derived, andthe dependency of the harmonic rotor currents on the inter-bar resistivity isinvestigated. It is found that the inter-bar currents can have considerableeffect on motor starting performance and stray-load losses, the amount beingstrongly dependent on the harmonic content of the primary MMF.Based on measurements of inter-bar resistivity, the starting performanceof an aluminium and a copper casted rotor is simulated. The results indicatea higher pull-out torque of the aluminium rotor than for the equivalent copperrotor. This is rather due to an increase of the fundamental starting torque ofthe aluminium rotor, than due to braking torques from the space harmonicsin the copper rotor. The results are verified by measurements. It is foundthat the difference between the pull-out torques is even larger than calculatedfrom the model. Thereby, it can be concluded that the inter-bar currents havea considerable effect on motor starting performance.At rated speed the braking torques are larger in the aluminium rotor thanin the copper rotor. This is seen as increased harmonic joule losses in the rotorcage. Simulations have shown, that these losses can be as large as 1% ofthe output power for the studied machine.</p> / QC20100617

This thesis presents a study of inter-bar current effects on induction motors with die-cast aluminium and die-cast copper rotors. The parasitic effects introduced by these currents are analyzed and possible solutions to these problems are presented. This is realized by developing analytical tools for the simulation of inter-bar current effects. The methods used are verified by measurements on prototype machines. It is shown that the inter-bar currents can have a considerable effect on the motor starting performance, which can result in a reduced pull-out torque. At rated operation, this is seen as increased harmonic rotor currents, having a negative effect on the motor performance. Results from calorimetric measurements show, that the efficiency gained when substituting a skewed die-cast aluminium rotor with a skewed die-cast copper rotor, is less than the theoretical expectation. It is shown that this is a result of a reduced power factor for the copper rotor. High inter-bar currents are believed to be the origin of this effect, increasing the harmonic content in the rotor magnetomotive force. This would be seen as an increased rotor leakage reactance. Results from locked-rotor tests, and simulations using measured values of inter-bar resistance, support this theory. It is shown, that these negative effects are suppressed to a negligible level by the use of an unskewed rotor, but to the expense of a large synchronous torque at a low speed. By using a modulated rotor concept, having an asymmetrical rotor slot distribution, an unskewed rotor is designed to reduce this parasitic torque. Measurements on a prototype machine show that the modulated rotor suppresses both the inter-bar currents and the synchronous torque, resulting in an improved starting performance, without any significant change of the motor efficiency. The presented results strengthen the potential of the modulated rotor concept, introducing new possibilities for the reduction of negative effects appearing in induction machines. / <p>QC 20130320</p>

This thesis presents a study of the effects of inter-bar currents on inductionmotor starting performance and stray-load losses. The work is focused on theperformance differences between aluminium and copper casted rotors.A method to predict the stator current when starting direct-on-line isdeveloped. This includes modelling of skin-effect, saturation of the leakageflux paths and additional iron losses. The results are verified by measurements.An analytical model accounting for inter-bar currents is derived, andthe dependency of the harmonic rotor currents on the inter-bar resistivity isinvestigated. It is found that the inter-bar currents can have considerableeffect on motor starting performance and stray-load losses, the amount beingstrongly dependent on the harmonic content of the primary MMF.Based on measurements of inter-bar resistivity, the starting performanceof an aluminium and a copper casted rotor is simulated. The results indicatea higher pull-out torque of the aluminium rotor than for the equivalent copperrotor. This is rather due to an increase of the fundamental starting torque ofthe aluminium rotor, than due to braking torques from the space harmonicsin the copper rotor. The results are verified by measurements. It is foundthat the difference between the pull-out torques is even larger than calculatedfrom the model. Thereby, it can be concluded that the inter-bar currents havea considerable effect on motor starting performance.At rated speed the braking torques are larger in the aluminium rotor thanin the copper rotor. This is seen as increased harmonic joule losses in the rotorcage. Simulations have shown, that these losses can be as large as 1% ofthe output power for the studied machine. / QC20100617