Danuta PLIŚ, Jadwiga PŁOSZYŃSKA

Department of Electrodynamics and Electrical Machine Systems, Rzeszów University of Technology

The effect of relative magnetic permeability

of wedges closing stator slots in a cage induction motor
on rotor cage heating during the starting phase
Streszczenie. Opracowanie algorytmu obliczeń elektromagnetycznych silnika indukcyjnego klatkowego z klinami magnetycznymi w powiązaniu z
obliczeniami termicznymi, stworzyło możliwości porównania wpływu względnej przenikalności magnetycznej rk na nagrzewanie się prętów klatki
wirnika. Zastosowanie klinów magnetycznych powoduje uzyskanie wyższej temperatury uzwojenia wirnika, lecz proces nagrzewania przebiega
wolniej, a rozkład temperatury jest bardziej równomierne.

Abstract. By developing an algorithm for electromagnetic calculations of parameters characterizing a cage induction motor equipped with magnetic
wedges in connection with thermal calculations it became possible to compare the effect of the relative magnetic permeability rk on rotor cage bars
heating process. The use of magnetic wedges results in reaching a higher rotor winding temperature, but the heating proceeds slower and the
temperature distribution is more uniform. (Wpływ względnej przenikalności magnetycznej klinów zamykajqcych żłobki stojana na
nagrzewanie się klatki wirnika w czasie rozruchu silnika indukcyjnego klatkowego).

Słowa kluczowe: kliny magnetyczne, silniki indukcyjne, nagrzewanie uzwojeń, rozkład temperatury.
Keywords: magnetic wedges, induction motors, winding heating, temperature distribution.

Introduction Thermal model of the rotor cage

The requirements that are nowadays expected to be To calculate the temperature distribution inside a rotor
met by high-voltage induction motors in the area of energy bar, a thermal field model was used of an induction motor
efficiency, noise, vibration and reduction of parasitic effects, rotor’s deep-slot winding described by means of the
generate a need for detailed analysis of these phenomena. Fourier-Kirchhoff equation with appropriate boundary
This is in turn related to the necessity to carry out an conditions and an initial condition. For bars with trapezoidal
analysis of the slot-adjacent zone of the core, including the cross-section, analysis of transient thermal state was
appropriateness of the use of magnetic wedges to close carried out in the system of polar co-ordinates [4]. The rotor
stator slots in cage induction motors, as well as slots in winding and the surrounding medium constitute a complex
stators and rotors of slip-ring induction motors. Where thermal system. The largest temperature increase
motors are powered by converter systems, the above-listed steepness should be expected primarily in the region of the
issues must include also consideration aimed at bars’ in-slot portion. The cross-section of a deep-slot
assessment of advisability and optimum selection of winding with trapezoid-shaped bars was modelled by a ring
magnetic wedges. By replacing non-magnetic wedges segment with corresponding taper angle value, with width of
closing the slots with magnetic ones, it is possible to the ring equalling the bar height. A difficulty in description of
influence the slot conductivity, teeth saturation state in the the deep-slot winding temperature field consists in
slot-adjacent zone, and the Carter’s coefficient value. The inhomogeneous distribution of heat sources in the winding
changes are related to achieving other electromagnetic volume as well as uneven conditions of heat interception
parameters affecting static properties of motors [1, 2, 3]. In from its surface. The cause of such state lies in the
the course of motor starting, presence of magnetic wedges environment surrounding the bar. In in-slot portion,
has an effect on distribution of current density and losses in distribution of sources is determined by the current
rotor windings and thus also on the bar heating process. In displacement phenomenon, therefore this part of the winding
high-power induction motors, during prolonged starting is characterised by an uneven distribution of the sources,
phase or blockage of rotor, significant amounts of thermal especially along the bar height. Heat interception in this area
energy are generated, especially in the rotor winding. An is of complex nature and occurs via the equivalent air gap to
additional unfavourable phenomenon is an uneven the pack of core laminations. It is described by means of a
distribution of temperature in the rotor winding volume and boundary condition that can be expressed in the form:
the related destructive mechanical stresses. To calculate
distribution of the temperature field in the region adjacent to p
(1) q  (  0 ) ,
rotor bars with magnetic wedges used in an induction p
motor’s stator, the cage winding transient heating analysis
method was used. The effect of transient heating on where q denotes quantity of heat flowing through a body, λp
electromagnetic parameters decisive for distribution of
— thermal conductivity of the air gap, p — thickness of gap
thermal losses in the winding region was taken into
account. between the bar and the slot,  — temperature, and 0 —
The use of magnetic wedges has a positive effect on initial temperature.
parameters related to the transient state, in particular the In the out-of-pack portion of bars and in closing rings,
rated operating point. The analysis of the involved effects, distribution of sources is a result of electromagnetic
both positive and negative ones, on the electromagnetic parameters varying with temperature. The heat flux density
calculations stage may provide knowledge useful both in for surfaces remaining in contact with air in this portion of
design work and manufacturing process. winding is described by the boundary condition of third type:

(2)  q      0  ,

where  is the thermal diffusivity of the medium.

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 88 NR 12b/2012 89

 A deep-slot winding is characterised with a large aspect (moment in time), calculations are carried out according to
ratio of cage bars. The temperature varies insignificantly the algorithm shown in Fig. 1 and with the use of adopted
along their width. This allows to assign some mean value to procedures: solving the motor’s substitution scheme,
temperature along these dimensions and consider the calculating current displacement, calculating temperature
thermal model in a two-dimensional system of co-ordinates. distribution in the rotor bar, and calculating the effect of
Bearing in mind that the rotor core has a laminar structure, temperature and saturation on the parameters. The circuit-
thermal conductivity of the pack of laminations in axial field method was applied in the calculations. Field-related
direction is much less than this along the laminations. calculations pertain to temperature and magnetic field
Thermal diffusivity of the core material (a) for z-axis distribution in vicinity of the slot. To solve the adopted
direction has therefore a different value (azz) than this for the mathematical model, numerical methods were applied
radial co-ordinate r (az). In the light of remarks and [1, 5]. Results obtained from the calculations were used in
assumptions made above, the transient thermal state in the solving the equivalent diagram with temperature-induced
cage winding and in the rotor core can be described by variation of parameters and degree of saturation taken into
conductivity equations that in the system of polar co- account.
ordinates for trapezoidal bars take the following forms:
— for the in-slot portion of bars, ENTERING DATA

 m   2 m 1  m  2 m 
 am   Calculating the Carter's coefficient value
 
  r 2 r r z 2 
(3a)
  ; Calculating stator temperature
1 2 p q v m ( r , z , ) by means of the thermal diagrams method
  m   z  
r c m  m  p cm  m Calculating current density and power losses distribution in rotor
and temperature distribution in rotor bar
— for the out-of-pack portion of bars,
Calculating stator and rotor parameters
 m   2 m 1  m  2 m 
 am    
  r 2 r r z 2 
(3b)   ; Solving the equivalent diagram without saturation

1 2 m q ( r , z , )
  m   0   v m
r cm  m cm  m Calculating stator current intensity

— for the closing ring,

Calculating vector potential Aik
and induction Bik distribution in stator slot region
 m   2 m 1  m  2 m 
 am    
  r 2 r r z 2 
(3c)   ; Correcting magnetic permeability in iron regions

q v ( r , z , )
 m NO
cm  m max ( A-A0
A
) 0,001

YES
— for the teeth laminations pack,
Calculating slot conductivity

 z   2 1  z   2 
 a z  2z    a zz    z 
  r r   z 2  Solving the equivalent diagram
(3d)
 r    ,
1 2 p qv z
  m   z   (n+1)
I -I
(n) NO
r c z  z  p cz  z
E
I(n+1)
YES

where c denotes the specific heat of the material,  — Calculating the electromagnetic moment

material density, qv — power losses per unit volume,  —

ring segment taper angle, and  — equivalent taper angle Fig. 1. Algorithm used for calculations of induction motor
of the laminations pack segment. characteristics
Distribution of internal heat sources occurring in
equations (3a–c) depends on varying temperature, position Calculation results
and a transient electromechanical process proceeding in Simulation studies were carried out for SZJC 196T EX
the course of motor starting. Determination of the 6 kV/320 kW induction three-phase induction motor. In the
temperature field in electromechanically transient conditions stator, rectangular slots were modelled closed with
requires therefore to link the solution of conductivity magnetic wedges with relative magnetic permeability rk = 3
equations with the solution of the dynamic equation of and rk = 5. Analysis of the electromagnetic moment, stator
motion. To take the phenomena into account, the current intensity and rotor cage temperature increase at the
elementary conductors method [4] was used to determine assumed values of the wedge’s relative magnetic
thermal losses. permeability rk in the stator was performed within the
velocity ranging from zero to the determined rated load
Calculation of motor characteristics as time functions moment value. Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) show waveforms of the
Calculations are carried out from  = 0 s to the end of electromagnetic moment and the stator current intensity in
the course of motor starting phase, with different values of
starting phase, with time  increasing discretely with an
the wedge’s relative magnetic permeability rk taken into
assumed step. For each point of the characteristics
account.

90 PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 88 NR 12b/2012

a) c)
T [Nm]
10000 A BC
27
8000
rk=1 rk=3 rk=5
27
64
6000

4000
187
[ C]
0
2000

Fig. 3. Thermal state of the rotor cage at time  corresponding to

0
the largest temperature difference between the upper and the lower
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 face of the bar’s in-slot portion in a motor with wedges with the
 [s] relative magnetic permeability rk in the stator
b) I [A] (a)  = 6 s, rk = 1; (b)  = 7 s, rk = 3; (c)  = 9 s, rk = 5
300
a) A B C
250
30
200 rk=5
150 30
rk=3 81
100
rk=1
50
204
0  C]
0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
 [s] A BC
b)
Fig. 2. Calculated waveforms of: (a) electromagnetic moment, (b) 32
stator current intensity during starting phase of SZJC 196T EX 6 kV
320 kW motor with magnetic wedges in the stator (rk = 3; 5) 32
compared to the current intensity waveform of the motor with non-
magnetic wedges (rk = 1) and with the effect of temperature on 118
resistivity in the course of starting taken into account

The obtained results concerning the rotor cage heating

for different values of the stator wedges’ relative magnetic 217
permeability rk are presented in the form of plots  C]
0

representing distribution of temperature along the bar height A B C

c)
in its in-slot portion (A), out-of-slot portion (B) and in the
closing ring (C). Below, the following cases are presented 37
graphically: the maximum temperature difference occurring
between upper and lower face of a bar in its in-slot portion 37
(Figs. 3(a)–(c)); temperature of the bar in the in-slot region
reaching a maximum value (Figs. 4(a)–(c)); thermal state 167
reached after the end of the starting phase (Figs. 5(a)–(c)).

a) 245
A BC
[ C]
0
27
Fig. 4. Thermal state of the rotor cage at time  corresponding to
49 27 the largest temperature in the bar’s in-slot portion in a motor with
wedges with the relative magnetic permeability rk in the stator
(a)  = 9 s, rk = 1; (b)  = 14 s, rk = 3; (c)  = 22 s, rk = 5

a)
190 A BC

 C 33
b) A BC
26 33

52 26
132
165
[ C]
0

183
 C]
0

PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 88 NR 12b/2012 91

b) A BC Conclusion
Rotor cage bars in motors with magnetic wedges heat
36 up more evenly compared to bars in motors with non-
magnetic wedges. The largest difference between
36 temperature of the rotor cage bar’s upper and lower face in
its in-slot portion is  = 141°C for the motor with non-
magnetic wedges, compared to  = 131°C in a motor with
160 magnetic wedges characterised by the relative magnetic
permeability rk = 3 and  = 123°C for wedges with
182 rk = 5. In a motor with non-magnetic wedges, the in-slot
 C]
0

c) portion of cage bar reaches its maximum temperature of

 = 204°C after 57% of the starting period, compared to the
A B C
maximum bar temperature of  = 217°C reached after 65%
40 of the starting period in a motor with magnetic wedges
characterised with magnetic permeability of rk = 3 and
40  = 245°C observed after 72% of the starting period in a
motor with wedges with rk = 5. After the end of the starting
phase, the rotor cage bar in motor with non-magnetic
wedges has reached temperature  = 165°C in its in-slot
195 portion, compared to  = 182°C in motor with magnetic
212 wedges with relative magnetic permeability rk = 3 and
[ C]
0  = 212°C for wedges with relative magnetic permeability
rk = 5.
Fig. 5. Thermal state of the rotor cage at time  (after the starting
phase end) in a motor with wedges with relative magnetic REFERENCES
permeability rk in the stator [1] Pliś D., Wpływ klinów magnetycznych na parametry
(a)  = 15.6 s, rk = 1; (b)  = 21.5 s, rk = 3; (c)  = 30.5 s, rk = 5 elektromechaniczne maszyn elektrycznych prądu zmiennego
(The effect of magnetic wedges on electromechanical
Fig. 6 shows plots representing heating of lower and parameters of AC electric machines, in Polish), PhD Thesis,
Gliwice 2002
upper layer of a bar at central point of its length.
[2] Pliś D., Badania symulacyjne silników z klinami magnetycznymi
(Simulation studies on motors with magnetic wedges, in
250
 [C] Polish), Przegląd Elektrotechniczny, 12 (2004), 1258–1261
[3] Płoszyńska J., Rut R., Pliś D., Analiza parametrów
225 elektromechanicznych ustalonego punktu pracy silnika
5g indukcyjnego o żłobkach zamkniętych materiałem
200 magnetycznym (An analysis of electromechanical parameters
3g
175 at the stationary working point of a motor with slots closed with
1g 5d a megnetic material, in Polish), Zeszyty Problemowe BOBRME
150 3d
Komel, 64 (2002), 105–109
1d [4] Rut R., Płoszyńska J., Analiza stromości narastania
125
temperatury w uzwojeniach klatkowych wysokonapięciowych
100 silników indukcyjnych dużej mocy (An analysis of the
temperature increase steepness in cage windings of high-
75 power induction motors, in Polish), Prace Naukowe Instytutu
50 Maszyn, Napędów i Pomiarów Elektrycznych Politechniki
Wrocławskiej, 48 (2000), 77–85
25 [5] Pliś D., Model obwodu magnetycznego silnika indukcyjnego z
0 klinem magnetycznym (A magnetic circuit model for induction
motor with magnetic wedge, in Polish), Przegląd
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 Elektrotechniczny, 12 (2003), 912–915
 [s] ______________________________
Authors: Danuta Pliś, Eng., DSc, Faculty of Electrical & Computer
Fig. 6. The plot representing heating of a bar at upper (g) and lower Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology, ul. W. Pola 2,
(d) layer of its central in-slot point: 1g, 1d — for non-magnetic 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland, e-mail: dplis@prz.edu.pl; Jadwiga
wedges; 3g, 3d — for wedges with rk = 3; 5g, 5d — for wedges Płoszyńska, Eng., DSc, Faculty of Electrical & Computer
with rk = 5 Engineering, Rzeszów University of Technology, ul. W. Pola 2,
35-959 Rzeszów, Poland, e-mail: jadplo@prz.edu.pl.

92 PRZEGLĄD ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, ISSN 0033-2097, R. 88 NR 12b/2012