Motors and generators have become essential in electrical systems, whether used in power stations, industries, or household applications. And there’s a new demand for energy efficiency and systems that consume little power. As a result of the newly increased demand for this, innovative models of motors and electrical systems have become prominent. The synchronous motor model is just one such innovation.
But with that said, when it comes to synchronous motors like DC brush motor products and others, you might want to know more about this model before investing in one. So, in this article, we delve into the details of this particular motor, how it works, the types, and its applications.
The Basics of Synchronous Motors
Synchronous motors can be explained as an AC motor that’s shaft rotation is in sync with the precise frequency of the applied current at a steady state. The synchronous motor does not rely on an induction current to function, unlike an induction motor.
On the contrary, multiphase AC electromagnets exist on the stator. And the stator rotates to produce a magnetic field. The permanently fixed magnet becomes in sync with the rotating magnetic field and, as a result, turns in synchronous to the precise frequency of current that is applied.
Types of Synchronous Motors
There are two prominent types of synchronous motors, depending on the magnetization method of the motor’s rotor. These two significant types are non-excited and direct current excited synchronous motors.
When it comes to non-excited motors, magnetization occurs by the external stator field. This motor has a constant magnetic field, and the rotor is typically made from cobalt steel or other high retentive steel. These motors are classified as reluctance, hysteresis, and permanent magnet motors.
On the other hand, in current-excited motors, the rotor is excited by the DC current supplied via the slip rings. In this case, AC induction and rectifiers can be used. More often than not, these motors are large size ranges, typically larger than one horsepower.
Synchronous Motor Applications
Typically, these motors are used for applications in which precision and constant speed are necessary. The low power applications include positioning machines and robot actuators.
In addition, synchronous motors can also be used as servomotors and even timing machines, to mention a few typical applications.
Beyond that, synchronous motors are also available in fractional horsepower size ranges to high power industrial size degrees. That said, when used in high power industrial size ranges, synchronous motors typically perform two primary functions. One role is an efficient process of altering AC energy to mechanical energy, while the other is power factor correction.
There are tons of applications and uses for synchronous motors. Even though induction motors often have a longer lifespan, synchronous motors present precision and innovation in energy efficiency. Synchronous motors have so many applications that they are often a suitable solution.