An electric motor is a device used to convert electricity into mechanical energy, as opposed to an electrical generator. The motors are used in a wide range of applications, such as fans, power tools, household appliances, electric vehicles, and hybrid cars. Below you can get more information about electric motors. Do you want to know more about what is an electric motor – Definition, Meaning and Concept? Keep reading.
What do you need:
The first thing you need is to know what an electric motor is. We will explain it to you before continuing with the bulk of the explanation.
What is an electric motor?
The electric motor is the electromechanical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. In other words, the devices that produce rotational force are known as the motor. The principle of operation of the electric motor depends mainly on the interaction of the magnetic and electric field.
The electric motor is mainly classified into two types. They are AC motor and DC motor. AC motor takes alternating current as input while DC motor takes direct current.
They operate using principles of electromagnetism, showing that a force is applied when there is an electric current in a magnetic field. This force creates torque in a loop of wire present in the magnetic field, causing the motor to rotate and do useful work.
AC or alternating current motor
The AC motor converts alternating current into mechanical power. It has three types of which we will mention below.
- Induction Motor: The machine that never runs at synchronous speed is called an induction or asynchronous motor. This motor uses the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction to transform electrical energy into mechanical energy. Based on the construction of the rotor, there are two types of induction motors.
- Squirrel Cage Rotor: The squirrel cage rotor decreases buzz and magnetic rotor lock.
- Phase Wound Rotor: This rotor is also known as a slip ring rotor.
- Phased induction motor is classified into two types. They are single phase induction motor and three phase induction motor.
- Single Phase Induction Motor: This machine transforms single phase AC electrical energy into mechanical energy by using electromagnetic induction phenomenon. Three Phase Induction Motor: This motor converts 3 phase AC electrical energy into mechanical power.
- Linear Motor: The motor that produces linear force instead of rotational force is known as linear motor. This motor has an unwound rotor and stator. Such type of motor is used in sliding doors and in actuators.
- Synchronous Motor: The machine that changes alternating current into mechanical power at the desired frequency is known as a synchronous motor. In synchronous motor, the speed of the motor is synchronized with the frequency of the supply current. Synchronous speed is measured with respect to the rotation of the magnetic field, and depends on the frequency and the poles of the motor. Synchronous motor is classified into two types: resistance and hysteresis motor.
- Reluctance Motor: The motor whose starting process is similar to an induction motor and which works like a synchronous motor is also known as a reluctance motor.
- Hysteresis Motor: Hysteresis motor is the type of synchronous motor which has the uniform air gap and does not have any DC excitation system. The torque in the motor is produced by the hysteresis and the eddy current of the motor.
- DC or Direct Current Motor: A machine that converts DC electrical energy into mechanical energy is known as a DC motor. Their work depends on the basic principle that when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, a force is exerted on it and torque is developed. The DC motor is classified into two types, that is, the self-excited and separately excited motor.
- Separately Excited Motor: The motor in which the DC winding is excited by the separate DC source is known as the separately excited DC motor. With the help of a separate source, the armature winding of the motor is energized and produces flux.
- Self-excited motor: By connecting the field winding, the self-excited DC motor is further classified into three types. They are the series, shunt and compound DC motor.
- Shunt Motor: The motor in which the field winding is placed parallel to the armature, this type of motor is known as a shunt motor.
- Series Motor: In this motor, the field winding is connected in series with the motor armature.
- Compound Winding Motor: The DC motor having the parallel and series connection of the field winding is known as compound wound rotor. Compound wound motor is further classified into short lead motor and long lead motor.
- Short Shunt Motor: If the shunt field winding is only parallel to an armature of the motor and not the series field, then it is known as the short shunt connection of the motor.
- Long Shunt Motor: If the shunt field winding is parallel to the armature and the field winding in series, then the motor is known as a long shunt motor.
- Universal Motors: Small appliances like coffee grinders or electric food mixers tend to use what are called universal motors, which can run on either AC or DC. Unlike a simple DC motor, a universal motor has an electromagnet, rather than a permanent magnet, and draws its power from either DC or AC power. When powered by DC, the electromagnet works like a conventional permanent magnet and produces a magnetic field that always points in the same direction. The commutator reverses the coil current each time it is turned around, just like in a simple DC motor, so the coil always turns in the same direction. When powering on air conditioning, however, the current flowing through the electromagnet and the current flowing through the coil both reverse, exactly in step, so the force on the coil is always in the same direction and The motor always rotates clockwise or counterclockwise.
Tips
Finally, you have to know the parts of an engine. Very helpful.
parts of an engine
Engines have many different working parts so they can rotate continuously, providing power as needed. The main parts of an engine may include the following:
- Stator: The stationary part of the motor, specifically the magnet. Electromagnets are often used to provide more power.
- Rotor: The coil that is mounted on a shaft and rotates at high speeds, providing rotational mechanical energy to the system.
- Commutator: This component is key in DC motors. Without it, the rotor would not be able to rotate continuously due to the opposing forces created by the changing current. The commutator allows the rotor to rotate by reversing the current each time the coil makes one half turn.
- Power source: supplies an electromotive force that causes current to flow in the system.
- Brushes: These are connected to the terminals of the power supply, allowing electrical power to flow to the commutator.