ASYNCHRONOUS MOTORS

OPERATION

Speed
The speed of an asynchronous threephase motor working at alternate current
is directly related with the frequency of the
supply mains and with the number of poles:

In most applications, motors with one single fixed speed are required; however, particular
requirements may need them to run at 2 or 3 speeds. This can be obtained by the
building of motors with multiple polarities.
Substantially there are two construction methods:

ns = (2 x f x 60) / p

1.

where ns = synchronous speed

f = mains frequency
p = number of poles

Motors with one single dahlander winding and speed ratios of 1 to 2 . The most
frequently used types have 2 4 poles (3000/1500 rpm) and 4 8 poles (1500/750
rpm).

2.

Motors with multiple windings and speed ratios other than 1to 2. The most frequently
used types have 4 6 poles (1500/1000 rpm) and 6 8 poles (1000/750 rpm).

no. of poles
2
4
6
8
10
12
16
20
24
32
48

50 Hz
3000
1500
1000
750
600
500
375
300
250
187.5
125

60 Hz
3600
1800
1200
900
720
600
450
360
300
225
150

Torque
The torque value of an electric motor expresses the twisting force of the rotor and
depends on the shaft horsepower and on the number of revolutions.
If we take the example of a belt transmission, a certain force F is determined near the
pulley. The torque corresponds to the product of this force multiplied by the radius of the
pulley.
The rated torque of a motor is calculated
as follows:

The rated speed values indicated in the

electrical specifications table are intended
as valid for steady running at full load.

Mn =

Pn x 1000 [Kgm]
1.027 x n

where:

Pn = rated power in Kw
n = number of revolutions

Slip
An asynchronous three-phase motor never The example of the characteristic curve of the starting torque as a function of a Sg 180
reaches synchronous speed, even if during L4 motor speed is shown below.
idling a notably similar value is reached,
especially in more powerful motors.
STARTING CHARACTERISTIC
Slip is defined by the following formula:
Mn/Mmax [%]

S = [(ns n) / ns x 100%]
s = slip
ns = synchronous speed
n = asynchronous speed

According to the standards in force, slip

values are valid with a 20% tolerance.

ELECTRICAL
SPECIFICATIONS OF MOTORS

250

Mn/Mmax [%]

where:

300

Normal
operating
point

200
150
100
50
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70 80

90 100

Type: SG 180 L4
Voltage/frequency (V/Hz):
Output (KW):
Poles/rpm:
Efficiency (%):
Rated current (A):
Rated torque (Kgm):
Moment of inertia (Kgm2):

380t50
22
4/1470
91.4
40.6
14.61
0.155

n/ns [%]

CANTONI standard motors are built in four versions: with 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 poles

- 21 -

ASYNCHRONOUS MOTORS
OPERATION
Supply voltage and frequency
The IEC 38 standard indicates that the
European reference voltage is 230/400 V
for three-phase current and 230 V for
single-phase current with tolerances of
+6% to -10% up to the year 2003 and of
10% afterwards.
In standard motors fed at 60 Hz, the
rotation speed indicated in the tables of the
technical data are increased by 20%, the
Single-phase current: from 207 to 244 power by 15%. The starting torque, the
starting current and the maximum torque
V
Three-phase current: from 358 to 423 remain practically unchanged, however,
with reference to the increased power.
V
According to standard CEI 8-6 dated March
1990, "the first category rated voltages of
alternate current distribution networks are
230/400 V".
Over a maximum period of 10 years the
voltages at the distribution points must be
maintained within the following maximum
values:

Caution! All motors can run at 50 Hz as

well as at 60 Hz, but with the respective
operating voltages. If this does not occur,
the rated data change as shown in table 3
below. Ex.: when the mains voltage at 60
Hz is the same as the rated voltage of the
motor (for example, mains voltage 220 V 60 Hz, motor voltage 220 V - 50 Hz), the
motor power and rated current remain
practically unchanged, whereas the
starting torque and current decrease by
approx. 17% with respect to the values of
the motor at 50 Hz.

Table of characteristic changes for 50 Hz motors fed with 60 Hz frequency

Wound motor at
50 Hz and following voltages
230 V

Voltage
at
60 Hz
220 V

Coefficient of variation for catalogue-based specifications

Rated
Rated
Starting
Starting
Maximum
Speed
current
torque
torque
current
torque
1.2
1
0.83
0.83
0.83
0.83

Power
1

400 V
400 V

380 V
440 V

1
1.15

1.2
1.2

1
1

0.83
0.96

0.83
0.96

0.83
0.96

0.83
0.96

500 V
500 V

500 V
550 V

1
1.1

1.2
1.2

1
1

0.83
0.91

0.83
0.91

0.83
0.91

0.83
0.91

500 V

600 V

1.2

1.2

Table 3

EUROVOLTAGE
Eurovoltage
All Cantoni motors are designed to operate at 230/400 V 10% - 50 Hz European
power mains values.
This means that the same motor can run
within the still-existing networks:
220/380 V 5%
230/400 V 5% e 10%
240/415 V 5%
Of course, the motor features change if the
voltage changes within a 10% range (see
table 4).

Table of changes in motor specifications as a function of voltage

changes

Torque curve
Slip

Voltage change in %
VN-10% VN-5%
VN
0.81
0.90
1
1.23
1.11
1

VN+5% VN+10%
1.10
1.21
0.91
0.83

Rated current
Rated capacity

1.10
0.97

1.05
0.98

1
1

0.98
1.00

0.98
0.98

Rated Cos
Starting current

1.03
0.90

1.02
0.95

1
1

0.97
1.05

0.94
1.10

Nominal warm-up
P (Watt) with no load

1.18
0.85

1.05*
0.92

1
1

1*
1.12

1.10
1.25

Q (Var) with no load

0.81

0.9

1.1

1.21

Table 4

The motors can be designed for voltages between 110 V and 600 V with connection, with the exception of
180355 motor size . The latter are designed for voltages no lower than 220 V only, with delta connection.

- 22 -

ASYNCHRONOUS MOTORS
OPERATION
DETERMINATION OF STARTING TIME
Knowledge of the starting time of an asynchronous three-phase where:
electric motor is fundamental. Indeed, the current absorbed by
tavv = starting time [sec]
the motor during this phase is very high and should the situation
Macc = accelerating torque [Nm] (*)
be unduly prolonged, the insulation would deteriorate, significantly
Mmax = maximum torque
reducing the average life of the motor. To determine starting time
K
= constant
correctly, it is necessary to know:
(*) Macc (fans) = 0.45 (ML+Mmax) - 1/3
MN = motor torque [Nm]
Macc (piston pumps) = 0.45 (ML+Mmax) - 1/2
ML = load torque [Nm]
Macc (elevators etc.) = 0.45 (ML+Mmax)
JM = moment of inertia of motor [Kgm2]
Macc (flywheel) = 0.45 (ML+Mmax)
JL = moment of inertia of load [Kgm2]
= motor speed
and apply the following equation :
Constant
No. of poles
K
2
4
6
8
MN - ML = (JM+JL) (d/dt)
50 Hz
350
160 105
80
60Hz
420
190 125
95
Our experience and testing has allowed us, however, to create a
simplified formula also making use of constants allowing the If there is a relation between motor speed and load, the torque
calculation of the required time periods in a fairly precise manner: as well as the moment of inertia must be calculated again
according to the new speed.
tavv= (JM+JL) K/Macc

MAXIMUM NO-LOAD STARTING TIMES AND MAXIMUM STARTING MOMENT OF INERTIA

Motor
size
56
63
71
80
90
100
112
132
160
180
200
225
250
280
315
355

Direct starting time

(sec)
p=2 p=4 p=6 p=8
15
30
30
30
15
15
25
30
10
15
20
30
7
10
15
15
7
10
20
30
5
10
20
30
5
10
15
30
10
12
9
20
10
12
15
20
10
12
15
20
10
12
15
20
10
12
15
20
11
14
13
10
10
15
13
11
10
15
13
10
10
15
13
10

Y/ starting time
(sec)
p=2 p=4 p=6 p=8

Maximum
moment of inertia [Kgm 2]

p=2

p=4

p=6

p=8
(*) The starting moment of inertia
shall not exceed the following
value: ML=MN x (n/nN)2
The values shown beside allow:

40
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
35
30

30
20
35
35
35
35
40
40
40
35

50
20
40
40
40
40
45
38
37
35

60
40
40
40
40
40
45
36
35
30

1. two consecutive cold starts;

0.55
0.65
1.05
1.25
1.5
2.3
3.9
3.1

2.6
3.7
4.9
6.7
8.4
13
21.8
19.1

5.4
7.2
10
13.3
16
23
42.9
46

7.9
11
14.7
17.7
27.5
39.5
73.5
95

2. one single hot start.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STARTS PER HOUR

Motor
size
56
63
71
80
90
100
112
132

2
5800
4300
3150
1750
1200
950
600
550

No. of poles
4
6
7200
8600
6100
7200
4800
5800
2650
4500
1800
4000
1350
2500
1100
1800
850
1500

8
9000
7200
6500
5000
4200
3300
2800
1800

Motor
size
160
180
200
225
250
280
315
355

2
350
190
140
110
60
38
30
20

- 23 -

No. of poles
4
6
8
600
1250 1800
440
1000 1300
290
350
710
265
340
560
170
290
440
120
240
320
70
140
230
50
120
160

Data applicable to motors fed with

rated voltage and 50 Hz frequency
at no load without external moment
of inertia of the shaft.
Moreover, motor power will be
redefined according to the number of
(equivalent) starts per hour.