The principle work of an induction motor is based on electromagnetic induction. Here's a detailed explanation of how it works:
### Principle of Operation
1. **Stator and Rotor Basics**:
- **Stator**: The stationary part of the motor, which includes the windings or coils connected to the AC supply.
- **Rotor**: The rotating part of the motor, which is located inside the stator. The rotor can be either a squirrel-cage type or a wound type.
2. **Magnetic Field Creation**:
- When an AC supply is connected to the stator windings, it generates a rotating magnetic field (RMF) in the stator. This rotating field is a result of the sinusoidal AC current flowing through the stator windings, which creates a magnetic field that rotates at synchronous speed.
3. **Induction in the Rotor**:
- As the rotating magnetic field produced by the stator sweeps through the rotor, it induces an electromotive force (EMF) in the rotor windings due to Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction. This induced EMF generates current in the rotor, which in turn creates its own magnetic field.
4. **Interaction of Magnetic Fields**:
- The magnetic field of the rotor interacts with the rotating magnetic field of the stator. According to Lenz's Law, the rotor's magnetic field opposes the stator's magnetic field, creating a torque that causes the rotor to turn.
5. **Slip and Synchronous Speed**:
- The rotor does not rotate at the synchronous speed of the rotating magnetic field but at a slightly lower speed. This difference in speed is known as "slip." Slip is essential because it allows relative motion between the stator's rotating magnetic field and the rotor, which is necessary for inducing current in the rotor and generating torque.
6. **Torque Production**:
- The interaction between the rotating magnetic field of the stator and the magnetic field created by the rotor current generates torque. This torque is what causes the rotor to turn and hence drives the mechanical load connected to the motor.
### Key Points to Remember
- **Synchronous Speed**: The speed at which the stator's magnetic field rotates, given by the formula \( N_s = \frac{120 \times f}{P} \), where \( N_s \) is the synchronous speed in RPM, \( f \) is the frequency of the AC supply in Hz, and \( P \) is the number of poles.
- **Slip**: The difference between the synchronous speed and the rotor speed. Slip is necessary for the induction process and is defined as \( s = \frac{N_s - N_r}{N_s} \), where \( N_r \) is the rotor speed.
- **Torque Production**: The torque in an induction motor is proportional to the slip and the amount of current induced in the rotor.
In summary, an induction motor works on the principle of electromagnetic induction where the stator's rotating magnetic field induces current in the rotor, and the interaction between the magnetic fields produces torque that drives the motor.