Electric machines are classified into two categories D.C. and A.C. motors, the basic parts for each type will be different for each type as follows:
AC Motor Basic Parts:
The basic parts for AC motors are as follows:
- Enclosure
- Stator
- Rotor
- Bearings
- Conduit Box
- Eye Bolt
1- Enclosure
The enclosure consists of a frame (or yoke) and two end brackets (or bearing housings).
A motor’s enclosure not only holds the motor’s components together, it also protects the internal components from moisture and containments. The degree of protection depends on the enclosure type. In addition, the type of enclosure affects the motor’s cooling. There are two categories of enclosures as follows:
- Open Enclosure.
- Totally enclosed Enclosure.
A- Open Enclosure
Open enclosures permit cooling air to flow through the motor. One type of open enclosure is the open drip proof (ODP) enclosure. This enclosure has vents that allow for air flow. Fan blades attached to the rotor move air through the motor when the rotor is turning.
The vents are positioned so that liquids and solids falling from above at angles up to 15° from vertical cannot enter the interior of the motor when the motor is mounted on a horizontal surface. When the motor is mounted on a vertical surface, such as a wall or panel, a special cover may be needed. ODP enclosures should be used in environments free from contaminates.
B- Totally enclosed Enclosure
This category will include the following three types:
- Totally Enclosed Non-Ventilated Enclosure.
- Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled Enclosure.
- Explosion-Proof Enclosure.
a- Totally Enclosed Non-Ventilated Enclosure (TENV)
In some applications, the air surrounding the motor contains corrosive or harmful elements which can damage the internal parts of a motor. A totally enclosed non-ventilated (TENV) motor enclosure limits the flow of air into the motor, but is not airtight. However, a seal at the point where the shaft passes through the housing prevents water, dust, and other foreign matter from entering the motor along the shaft.
Most TENV motors are fractional horsepower. However, integral horsepower TENV motors are used for special applications. The absence of ventilating openings means that all the heat from inside the motor must dissipate through the enclosure by conduction. These larger horsepower TENV motors have an enclosure that is heavily ribbed to help dissipate heat more quickly. TENV motors can be used indoors or outdoors.
b- Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled Enclosure (TEFC)
A totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) motor is similar to a TENV motor, but has an external fan mounted opposite the drive end of the motor. The fan blows air over the motor’s exterior for additional cooling. The fan is covered by a shroud to prevent anyone from touching it. TEFC motors can be used in dirty, moist, or mildly corrosive environments.
c- Explosion-Proof Enclosure (XP)
Explosion- Proof Enclosure (XP)
- Hazardous duty applications are commonly found in chemical processing, mining, foundry, pulp and paper, waste management, and petrochemical industries. In these applications, motors have to comply with the strictest safety standards for the protection of life, machines and the environment. This often requires use of explosion proof (XP) motors.
- An XP motor is similar in appearance to a TEFC motor, however, most XP enclosures are cast iron.
- Division I locations normally have hazardous materials present in the atmosphere.
- Division II locations may have hazardous material present in the atmosphere under abnormal conditions.
- Locations defined as hazardous, are further defined by the class and group of hazard.
For example,
– Class I, Groups A through D have gases or vapors present.
– Class II, Groups E, F, and G have flammable dust, such as coke or grain dust.
– Class III is not divided into groups. This class involves ignitable fibers and lint.
2- Stator
Stator
The motor stator consists of two main parts:
A- Stator Core
The stator is the stationary part of the motor’s electromagnetic circuit. The stator is electrical circuit that performs as electromagnet. The stator core is made up of many thin metal sheets, called laminations. Laminations are used to reduce energy losses that would result if a solid core were used.
B- Stator (Windings)
Stator laminations are stacked together forming a hollow cylinder. Coils of insulated wire are inserted into slots of the stator core.
When the assembled motor is in operation, the stator windings are connected directly to the power source. Each grouping of coils, together with the steel core it surrounds, becomes an electromagnet when current is applied. Electromagnetism is the basic principle behind motor operation.
3- Rotor
The rotor is the rotating part of the motor’s electromagnetic circuit. Magnetic field from the stator induces an opposing magnetic field onto the rotor causing the rotor to “push” away from the stator field.
There are a lot of rotor types like Squirrel cage rotor and wound rotor, they will be explained later.
4- Bearings
Bearings, mounted on the shaft, support the rotor and allow it to turn. Not all bearings are suitable for every application; a universal, all-purpose bearing does not exist. The choice of bearing arrangement is based on the following qualities:
- Load carrying capacity in the axial and radial direction.
- Overspeed and duration.
- Rotating speed.
- Bearing life.
The size of the bearing to be used is initially selected on the basis of its load carrying capacity, in relation to the load to be carried, and the requirements regarding its life and reliability.
Other factors must also be taken into consideration, such as operating temperature, dirty and dusty environmental conditions, and vibration and shocks affecting bearings in running and resting conditions.
Bearings Types:
There are many types of bearings on the market, each with different characteristics and different uses, these types are as follows:
A- Deep groove ball bearings
Deep groove ball bearings are the most common type of bearing, and can handle both radial and thrust loads. Due to their low-frictional torque, they are suitable for high speeds.
In a ball bearing, the load is transmitted from the outer race to the ball and from the ball to the inner race.
Since the ball is a sphere, it only contacts the inner and outer race at a very small point, which helps it to spin very smoothly. This also means that there is not very much contact area holding the load, so if the bearing is overloaded, the balls can deform, ruining the bearing.
B- Cylindrical roller bearings
These roller bearings are used in applications where they must hold heavy radial loads. In the roller bearing, the roller is a cylinder, so the contact between the inner and outer race is not a point but a line. This spreads the load out over a larger area, allowing the bearing to handle much greater radial loads than a ball bearing.
However, this type of bearing is not designed to handle much thrust loading.
C- Angular contact ball bearings
Angular Contact ball bearings have raceways in the inner and outer rings which are displaced with respect to each other in the direction of the bearing axis. This means that they are suitable for the accommodation of combined loads such as simultaneously acting radial and axial loads in vertical machines.
D- Spherical roller thrust bearing
In Spherical Roller thrust bearings, the load is transmitted from one raceway to the other at an angle to the bearing axis. They are suitable for the accommodation of high axial loads in addition to simultaneously acting small radial loads. Spherical roller thrust bearings are also self-aligning.
E- Sleeve Bearings
Sleeve bearings have no moving parts, they rely on a thin film of oil to reduce friction and allow the motor shaft to turn freely. This film of oil is critical to the life of a sleeve bearing.
When properly lubricated, there is actually no physical contact between the bearing and the shaft. If for some reason the oil film breaks down, metal-to-metal contact between the shaft and the bearing will cause the bearing to wear very quickly and soon fail
Sleeve bearings are often chosen because of their relatively quiet operation and lower cost compared to ball bearings.
Sleeve bearings can be divided to:
a- Flange mounted sleeve bearings are used for machines with a shaft height of up to 1120mm. Machines with bearings of this type are quick and easy to align. The air gap between stator and rotor comes from the factory already adjusted, and does not need any further adjustment on site during installation.
b- Foot mounted sleeve bearings are mounted on a pedestal. The pedestal can either be integrated in the stator frame, or can be mounted separately. If it is integrated with the stator frame it is easy and fast to align.
5- Conduit Box
Point of connection of electrical power to the motor’s stator windings.
6- Eye Bolt
Used to lift heavy motors with a hoist or crane to prevent motor damage.