IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol.

3 Issue 11, November 2016

ISSN (Online) 2348 – 7968 | Impact Factor (2015) - 4.332
www.ijiset.com

Effects of Rotor Slot Area on Squirrel Cage Induction Motor

Performance
Asim Gokhan Yetgin1 and Mustafa Turan2
1
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dumlupinar University,
Kutahya, 43100, Turkey
2
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sakarya University,
Sakarya, 54000, Turkey

Abstract friends present the influence of the form of rotor slot on

The Induction motors are the most widely used type of motor in the startup characteristics of the induction motor [7].
the industry. Thus, induction motor design and control is of great Zhang and friends optimized round rotor slot geometry
importance. The effects of variation of the rotor slot area which is using Multi Objective Particle Swarm Optimization
one of the most importance design parameters of the motor
(MOPSO) [8]. The main goal of their paper is optimal
performance were examined. Change of the rotor slot area was
examined in two ways. One of them, rotor slot height is changed.
design of a three-phase squirrel cage induction motor to
Second of them, rotor slot width is changed. Saturation, rotor increase efficiency and reduce the volume. For this
resistance, efficiency etc. parameters are analyzed for two purpose, the motor has been optimized by ant colony
methods. 5.5 kW squirrel cage induction motor is used for optimization algorithm offers maximum efficiency and
modellings. minimum size [9]. Guldemir and Bradley look at the effect
Keywords: Induction motor, Performance analysis, Rotor slot of different rotor slot designs on rotor slot harmonics in
area, Slot height, Slot width. induction motor, line current and spectra [10].

In this paper, induction motor rotor slot area analyzed

1. Introduction using two different methods. One of them, the rotor slot
height is changed. Second of them, the rotor slot width is
The design of the induction motor is a highly complex changed. Performance of the induction motor is obtained
process. Many different variables such as output power, using two methods.
losses, efficiency, nominal torque, current etc. must be
considered to obtain the desired motor parameter values.
Stator and rotor slot structures, the type of sheet material, 2. Induction Motor Design Procedure
cooling-insulation-propeller etc. parameters must be
designed/chosen in a good way. The motor rating, stator current in phase, number of stator
slots, air gap flux, turns of stator winding and stator
Kim analyzed induction motor performance using three induced voltage in phase is calculated as follows [9]:
different rotor slot geometries [1]. Or and friends made
vibration analyses of the induction motor which has same Pout
rotor area. They used rectangular and round rotor slot S= (1)
η * PF
geometries for analyses. They obtained, the round rotor
slot gives 4.8% less vibration than the rectangular rotor
slot [2]. Dems and friend’s paper present additional losses S = 0.95* Bav * ac * K ws * D 2 * L * ns (2)
analysis of a three-phase induction motor with opened and
closed rotor slots [3]. Lee and friends investigated torque- where S is the motor rating in voltamperes, P out is the
speed characteristic of the induction motor which has motor output in wattage, η is the efficiency, PF is power
different rotor slot geometry [4]. Iqbal and Agarwal in factor, B av is magnetic flux density, ac is the specific
their paper, examined performance of the induction motor. electrical loading in amperes per meter, K ws is winding
They used the three-different rotor geometry which has the factor, L is the motor length in meters, D is the stator outer
same rotor area [5]. Virlan and friends analyzed four diameter in meters, n s is the rated speed in revolutions per
different rotor slot geometry which has same rotor second.
geometry using Finite Element Method [6]. Maddi and

105
 IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 3 Issue 11, November 2016
ISSN (Online) 2348 – 7968 | Impact Factor (2015) - 4.332
www.ijiset.com

S The current density in the end ring J er :

Is = (3)
3*V ph
=
J er ( 0.75 − 0.8) * J b (12)
S s = 3* q * p (4)
The end ring cross section A er :
ϕ = Li * Bav *τ ps (5)
I er
Aer = (13)
J er
ac * π * D
N ph = (6)
6* I s The motor rotor slot is given in Figure 1.

Es = 4.44 * N ps * ϕ * f * k ws (7)

I s is the stator current in phase, V ph is the stator voltage in

phase in volts, p is number of poles, q is the number of
stator slots per pole per phase, S s is the number of stator
slots, φ is air gap flux/p, L i is the real length of the motor
in meters, τ ps is the stator pole pitch, N ph is number of
stator turns/phase, E s is the stator induced voltage in phase
in volts and f is frequency in hertz [9].

2.1 Rotor slot sizing

A lot of different rotor slot construction can use in the

induction motor rotor slot type. These differences have an
effect on motor performance in various ways. General
rotor slot formulas are given below [11].

The value of rated rotor bar current I b :

Figure 1. 5.5 kW induction motor’s rotor slot geometry [11]
2 * m * N ph * K ws
Ib = K I * * Is (8) The rotor slot pitch τ r is,
Nr
π * ( Dis − 2 * g )
K I =1, the rotor and stator mmf would have equal τr = (14)
Nr
magnitudes. In reality, the stator mmf is slightly larger. N r
is rotor slot number, m is number of phase, J b is rotor bar
current density. The rotor tooth flux density B tr is,

K I ≈ 0.8* PF + 0.2 (9) Btr ≈

Bg
*τ r (15)
K fe * btr
The rotor slot area A b :
The rotor back core flux density B cr is,
I
Ab = b (10)
Jb φ 1
Bcr = * (16)
2 L * hcr
The end ring current I er :
The rotor slot area can be also calculated using rotor slot
Ib parameters.
I er = (11)
π*p π ( d12 + d22 ) * hr
2*sin
Nr A=
b
8
* ( d1
2
+ d 2
2 ) +
2
(17)

106
 IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 3 Issue 11, November 2016
ISSN (Online) 2348 – 7968 | Impact Factor (2015) - 4.332
www.ijiset.com

In the formulas, D is is the stator inner diameter, g is the The Figure 2 is examined, it is seen that the rotor slot area
air-gap length, B g is the air-gap flux density, b tr is the rotor increased the rotor resistance is decreased and rotor
tooth width, h cr is the rotor back iron height. leakage reactance value is increased. Magnetic field values
at the rotor back iron and between the rotor teeth are given
Size value of short-circuit rings, cross section internal in Figure 3.
diameter must be known for calculate the rotor resistance.
k dr and k pr present the rotor distribution coefficient and
rotor chording factor respectively and they are calculated
as in the stator [12].

2
 k *W   1 2 D 
Rr 1.169 *10−6 *  w1 1  *  + * 2 er  (18)
 k *k π
 dr pr   r b
N * A p * Aer 

The rotor leakage reactance value is calculated as follows

equivalent 19 [11]. X be is the equivalent rotor bar leakage
reactance.

( w1 * K ws )
2

Xr = 4*m* * X be (19) Figure 3. Magnetic field distribution versus rotor slot area
Nr
When Figure 3 is investigated, rotor back iron part height
The other induction motor design parameters given in value is decreased while rotor slot height is increased.
reference [11, 12]. Depending upon this effect, value of magnetic field density
is increased. B value raise between rotor teeth is observed.
Rotor copper losses is given in Figure 4.
3. Obtained Values

3.1 Change of height

In this section, rotor slot height parameter is changed.
Performance evaluation was conducted according to the
new slot areas. The rotor slot height is changed from 10
mm to 21 mm. Change of the rotor leakage reactance and
rotor resistance values versus the rotor area are given in
Figure 2.

Figure 4. Rotor copper loss versus rotor slot area

It is observed that rotor copper losses are decreased at a

great rate if rotor area is increased. Reason of this decrease
is that rotor bar current stays steady and rotor resistance is
decreased by half. Motor efficiency change with respect to
rotor area is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 2. Rotor resistance and reactance versus rotor slot area

107
 IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 3 Issue 11, November 2016
ISSN (Online) 2348 – 7968 | Impact Factor (2015) - 4.332
www.ijiset.com

Figure 5. Efficiency versus rotor slot area Figure 7. Magnetic field distribution versus rotor slot area

When Figure 5 is investigated, small changes in iron losses When Figure 7 is investigated, a graph is obtained similar
and differences in input power leads to raise in efficiency to the values acquired from height change. Rotor copper
up to certain value and then decrease. loss and efficiency graphs are given in Figure 8 and Figure
9.
3.2. Change of width

In this section, one of the rotor slot parameters, slot upper

width value is changed. Performance evaluation is
performed up to new rotor areas. The rotor slot upper
width is changed from 4 mm to 7.4 mm. Rotor resistance
and rotor leakage reactance change with respect to rotor
area is given in Figure 6.

Figure 8. Rotor copper loss versus rotor slot area

Figure 6. Rotor resistance and reactance versus rotor slot area

It is seen that rotor resistance graph is obtained similar to

height change. Leakage reactance value is acquired the
exact opposite. Magnetic field distribution in rotor teeth
and rotor back iron part with respect to rotor area is
depicted in Figure 7.
Figure 9. Efficiency versus rotor slot area

Results obtained from both of the graphs look like the

outcomes from rotor slot height change.

108
 IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology, Vol. 3 Issue 11, November 2016
ISSN (Online) 2348 – 7968 | Impact Factor (2015) - 4.332
www.ijiset.com

4. Conclusions [10] H. Guldemir, and K. J. Bradley, “The Effect of Rotor

Design on Rotor Slot Harmonics in Induction Machines”,
In this study, effect of rotor slot area induction machine Electric Power Components and Systems, Vol. 29, No. 9,
2001, pp. 771-788.
performance is examined. Two methods are handled for
[11] I. Boldea, and S. A. Nasar, The Induction Machine
rotor area change. In the first one, rotor slot height is Handbook, CRC Pres LLC, Washington, D.C., 2002.
changed. In the second one, rotor slot width is changed. [12] J. J. Cathey, Electric Machines Analysis and Design
Performance evaluation is performed for both studies. Applying Matlab, Mc Graw-Hill, 2001.

When efficiency change is investigated for both, results Asim Gokhan Yetgin was born in Kutahya, Turkey, in 1979. He
look like bell curve shaped. This situation shows that rotor received the BSc and MSc degrees in 2001 and 2004 from the
Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering, Selcuk University,
area must be chosen optimally. Konya, Turkey and Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey
respectively. He received PhD degree from Sakarya University. He is
References working as Assistant Professor in Department of Electrical Electronics
Engineering, Dumlupinar University. His areas of research include
[1] Y. S. Kim, “Analysis of Starting Torque and Speed
optimization, design and modeling of electrical machines, finite element
Characteristics for Squirrel Cage Induction Motor According method and energy saving.
to Material Properties of Rotor Slot”, Transactions on
Electrical and Electronic Materials, Vol. 16, No. 6, 2015, pp. Mustafa Turan was born in Babaeski, Turkey, in 1964. He has received
328-333. BS degree from Istanbul Technical University, MSc and PhD degrees
[2] P. P. L. Or, S. Peaiyoung, T. Kulworawanichpong, and S. from Sakarya University, Turkey in the years 1987, 1994 and 2002
Sujitjorn, “Effects of the Geometry of the Rotor Slots on the respectively, in Electrical Engineering. He is a faculty member of
Mechanical Vibration of Three-phase Induction Motors”, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Sakarya University,
Proceedings of the 7th WSEAS International Conference on Turkey, since 2002, and currently serving as Assistant Professor. His
research interests include design, performance analysis and optimization
Simulation, Modelling and Optimization, Beijing, China,
of electrical machines, power quality power system stability.
September 15-17, 2007, pp. 434-438.
[3] M. Dems, K. Komeza, S. Wiak, and S. F. Coya, “Influence of
the Closing Rotor Slots on the Additional Losses in the
Induction Motor”, COMPEL: The International Journal for
Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic
Engineering Vol. 34 No. 2, 2015 pp. 531-549.
[4] G. Lee, S. Min, and J. P. Hong, “Optimal Shape Design of
Rotor Slot in Squirrel-Cage Induction Motor Considering
Torque Characteristics”, IEEE Transactions on Magnetics,
Vol. 49, No. 5, 2013, pp. 2197-2200,
[5] M. A. Iqbal and V. Agarwal, “Investigation & Analysis of
Three Phase Induction Motor Using Finite Element Method
for Power Quality Improvement”, International Journal of
Electronic and Electrical Engineering. Vol. 7, No 9, 2014,
pp. 901-908.
[6] B. Virlan, A. Simion, L. Livadaru, A. Munteanu, A. M.
Mihai, and S. Vlasceanu, “External Rotor Shape Estimation
of an Induction Motor by Fem Analysis”, Buletinul AGIR nr.
Vol. 4, 2011, pp. 27-32.
[7] Z. Maddi, D. Aouzellag, and T. Laddi, “Influence of the Skin
Effect and the Form of Slot on the Starting Characteristics of
Induction Motor Squirrel Cage”, Recent Advances in
Mechanics, Mechatronics and Civil, Chemical and Industrial
Engineering, 2015, pp. 125-129.
[8] D. Zhang, Z. Ren and C. S. Koh, “Multi-Objective Optimal
Design of a NEMA Design D Three-phase Induction
Machine Utilizing Gaussian-MOPSO Algorithm”, Journal
Electrical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2014,
pp. 184-189.
[9] B. Alizadeh and S. A. Gholamian, “Application of Ant
Colony Optimization Algorithm for Optimal Design of
Squirrel Cage Induction Motor”, International Journal of
Mechatronics, Electrical and Computer Technology Vol. 4,
No. 13, 2014, pp. 1674-1690.

109