STARTING

CHARACTERSTICS
OF
AC AND DC MOTORS
Starting Characterstics
of AC and DC Motors
An electric motor is a machine that converts electric energy into mechanical energy. An
electrical signal (voltage) is applied to the input terminals of the motor, and the output of
the motor output generates a specific torque according to the motor characteristics.
AC motors and DC motors perform the same function which is to convert electric power
into mechanical power, however, they are powered, manufactured and controlled in a
different manner. The most primary difference between two of them is the source of
power. A.C. motors are operated with alternating current whereas DC motors are operated
with direct current, like DC supplies, batteries, or AC-DC converters.
Here, the practical differences between AC and DC Motor are discussed on the basis of
important factors like starting mechanism, efficiency brushes & commutation, response to
sudden load change, supply sources, stator & rotor action, speed & torque, armature
location, maintenance and uses.The following table explains the key differences between AC
and DC Motor.
WHAT IS A DC MOTOR? `
 Dc Motor
Motor is a device which transforms the electrical energy into mechanical energy. The
working principle of the motor is the interaction between the magnetic field and the
current to produce a force within the motor which helps the motor to do work.
The motor principle is basically based on Faraday's Law, which states that, it is the
conservation of electrical and mechanical energy.
DC motor is one type of motor that uses the DC current to convert electrical energy into
mechanical energy.
When the electric current passes through a coil in a magnetic field, a magnetic force will
be generated, which produces a torque in the DC motor.
A DC motor contains the following parts:
• Rotor
• Stator
• Air gap
• Winding
• Commutator

The DC motor can be catagorized as

• Shunt Motor
• Separately Excited Motor
• Series Motor
• Permanent Magnet motor
• Compounded Magnet motor
Examples of DC motor are: Fans, household appliances, blowers and
pumps and so on.
The advantage of the DC motor is
• It is easy to control the speed in a wide range
• Most of the traction and the servo motors use the DC motors
• It is very comfortable to use, as its dimensions permit considerable
space saving.
The disadvantage of the DC motor is
• DC motor produces low pressure environment; that is why it
cannot be used for artificial hearts. If we use this for artificial hearts,
we have to change it within one hour.
• Relative to the AC motors, DC motors are expensive.
WHAT IS AN AC MOTOR?
• An AC motor is an electric motor driven by
an alternating current (AC). The AC motor commonly
consists of two basic parts, an outside stator having
coils supplied with alternating current to produce a
rotating magnetic field, and an inside rotor attached to
the output shaft producing a second rotating magnetic
field. The rotor magnetic field may be produced by
permanent magnets, reluctance saliency, or DC or AC
electrical windings.
• Less common, AC linear motors operate on similar
principles as rotating motors but have their stationary
and moving parts arranged in a straight line
configuration, producing linear motion instead of
rotation.
 • In an AC motor, there's a ring of
electromagnets arranged around the outside
(making up the stator), which are designed to
produce a rotating magnetic field. ... Unlike in
a DC motor, where you send power to the
inner rotor, in an AC motor you send power to
the outer coils that make up the stator.
 Types of AC motor
• Induction Motor
• The induction motor is that the rotor of the synchronous motor
travels at the same speed as the rotating magnetic field. These type
may be single phase, two phase, or three phase.
• The three phase AC motors are mostly applied in the industry for
bulk power conversion from electrical to mechanical. For small
power conversion, the single phase AC motors are mostly used. The
single phase AC motor is nearly small in size, and it provides a
variety of services in the home, office, business concerns, factories,
etc. Almost all the domestic appliances such as refrigerators, fans,
washing machine, hair dryers, mixers, etc. use single phase AC
motor.
• Synchronous motors:
• A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor in
which, at steady state, the rotation of the shaft is
synchronized with the frequency of the supply
current the rotation period is exactly equal to an
integral number of AC cycles.
• A synchronous electric motor is an AC motor in
which, at steady state, the rotation of the shaft is
synchronized with the frequency of the supply
current the rotation period is exactly equal to an
integral number of AC cycles.
CHARACTERISTICS AC MOTOR (INDUCTION)
Supply Works on AC supply
Starting Needs starting mechanism for single
phase NOT for three phase
Supply system Can be single and three phase
Stator & Rotor Action Stator remains stand-still and supplies
rotating field while rotor rotates
Brushes & Commutator Do not have brushes and commutator;
very rigged and have long life
Speed control By changing frequency
Speed & Torque Use for high speed and variable torque
Load change Slow response to change in load
Efficiency Less efficient because of induction
current loss and motor slip
Armature Location Armature remains Stationary and
magnetic field rotates
Use AC motors are primarily used in large
industries and factories
Maintenance Requires less maintenance because of
absence of brushes and commutation
process
DC MOTOR
Works on DC supply (mainly from
batteries, and cells)
Self-starting
Single phase ONLY
Armature rotates and field winding
remains stand still
Have brushes and commutator which
limit the speed and reduce the life
expectancy
By changing armature winding’s current
Use for variable speed and high torque
Quick response to load change
More efficient since no motor slip and
induction current loss
Magnetic field remains stand still while
armature rotates
They are used in most of the domestic
applications.
Demands extensive maintenance
frequently
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