Induction motors are very popular in industries and commercial application nowadays. Induction motors are commonly working using alternating current supply. In industries and commercial application almost 85% population of equipments using induction motors for their operation.
AC induction motors are mainly classified into two types.
- Squirrel cage induction motor
- Slip ring induction motor
Induction Motors are popular because of thee listed advantages over a DC motor
Advantages of induction motor
- Rigid in construction.
- Smaller, compact size comparing with DC motor.
- Low maintenance cost, because it does not have any commutator and brush assembly for injecting current to rotor
- They can be operated in chemical plants as no sparking possibilities
- Induction motors almost constant speed motors. Because its torque speed characteristics in almost same as DC shunt motor
- High starting torque is possible using slip ring induction motor
- Speed control is possible using VFD (variable frequency drives).
- Initial and operation cost are less compared with DC motor
- Easy Maintenance
Even an induction motor having enormous advantages , it also having few advantages too,
- It has less starting torque compared with DC motors
- As motors are inductive loads , it operates in lagging power factor
- Speed control method is very complicated.
- Linear speed control is not possible , other than variable voltage frequency method controlling
- Frequent reversal of motor affect stress on motor
Area of application of induction motors
- In chemical plant run process equipments
- In production industries operating of production equipments,
- In conveyor belt operation
- In food and paper industries run its process plants
- In textile industries operation of textile machines
- Operation of pumps, fans, compressors
