Scribd
Upload
2K views15 pages

Selection of Length of Airgap

This document discusses factors to consider when selecting the length of the air gap in electric motors. It outlines that the air gap is an important design consideration that affects the motor's power factor, overload capacity, pulsation losses, unbalanced magnetic pull, cooling, and noise levels. Both longer and shorter air gaps have advantages and disadvantages related to these factors. The document provides equations that can be used to calculate the air gap length based on the motor's diameter and length.

Uploaded by

SANJAY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views15 pages

Selection of Length of Airgap

This document discusses factors to consider when selecting the length of the air gap in electric motors. It outlines that the air gap is an important design consideration that affects the motor's power factor, overload capacity, pulsation losses, unbalanced magnetic pull, cooling, and noise levels. Both longer and shorter air gaps have advantages and disadvantages related to these factors. The document provides equations that can be used to calculate the air gap length based on the motor's diameter and length.

Uploaded by

SANJAY
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

WELCOM

E
A.C.MACHINE DESIGN

SELECTION OF LENGTH OF AIR GAP


AND CALCULATION
CONTENT
• Role of air gap in motor
• Factors affecting to selection of length of air gap
• Power factor
• Overload capacity
• Noise
• Cooling
• Pulsation losses
• Unbalanced magnetic pull
Role of air gap in motor

• Air gap is one of main concern for designing of any type of


electrical motor. Efficient operation of electromagnetic devices
requires that the magnetic circuit contain materials (such as iron)
offering low resistance to the passage of magnetic flux. That
minimizes the amount of electrical energy needed to create the
magnetic field.

• The main source of low power factor at which induction motor


operates is the air gap between the stator and the rotor.
• Air gap  is a non-magnetic  part of a magnetic circuit. It is
usually connected magnetically in series with the rest of the
circuit, so that a substantial part of the magnetic flux flows
through the gap.

• Depending on application, air gap may be filled with a non-


magnetic material such as gas, water, vacuum, plastic, wood
etc. and not necessarily just with air.

• Due to increased reluctance of an air gap the flux spreads into


the surrounding medium causing the flux fringing effect. It is
generally an unwanted phenomenon which usually increases
proximity and eddy current loss in conductors located in the
vicinity of the air gap.
• The air gap can take different form, shape and size depending
on the type of magnetic circuit and its shape. In some circuits
it might be actually an integral part ensuring correct
performance of the device, but in other cases it should be as
small as possible. Such requirements will be determined by the
operating principle, performance, size, efficiency, and many
other technological factors.

• In rotating machine the air gap is usually unwanted yet


unavoidable due to the necessity of physical movement
required between the stator and the rotor. The smallest
practical air gap for industrial machines is around 0.2mm.
Factors of Selection of air gap lentgh
• Following factors should be considered when estimating
length of air gap:

• Power factor
• Over load capacity
• Pulsation loss
• Unbalanced magnetic pull
• Cooling
• Noise
Power factor
• The mmf required to send the flux through air gap is
proportional to the product of flux density and the length of air
gap.

• Even with very small densities , the mmf required for air gap
is much more than that for the rest of the magnetic circuit.

• Therefore, it is the length of air gap that primarily determines


the magnetizing current.

• So by increasing length of air gap power factor get reduced.


Overload capacity

• The over load capacity of motor is defined as the ratio of the


maximum output to the rated output.
• The length of air gap affects the value of leakage reactance
and with the decrease in the value of leakage reactance, the
diameter of circle diagram increases and hence the overload
capacity increases.
• Therefore , greater is length of air gap ,grater is the overload
capacity.
Pulsation loss
• With larger length of air gap ,the variation of reluctance due to
slotting is small.
• Therefore , the pulsation loss is less with large air gaps .

Cooling
• If the length of air gap is large , the cylindrical surface of rotor
and stator are separated by a large distance.
• Therefore , the cooling is better with large air gaps.
Unbalanced magnetic pull
• If the length of air gap of a machine is large, a small
eccentricity would not be able to produce noticeable
unbalanced magnetic pull.

Noise
• To ensure that the noise produced will not be objectionable ,it
is necessary to make the zigzag leakage as small as possible .
• This can be done increasing the length of the gap.
• the advantages and disadvantages of increasing air gap length.
• Advantages:

• (i) Increased overload capacity


• (ii) Increased cooling
• (iii) Reduced unbalanced magnetic pull
• (iv) Reduced in tooth pulsation
• (v) Reduced noise

• Disadvantages
• (i) Increased Magnetising current
• (ii) Reduced power factor
Calculation of length of air gap
• Length of air gap of small induction motors ,the following
expression can be used
lg = 0.2+ 2√LD mm
Where, D and L are expressed in meter .
• Another expression , which can be used for small machine ,is
lg = 0.125+0.35D+L+0.015 Va mm

• The following relation may also be usefully used ,


lg= 0.2+D mm
THANK
Your Text
YOU Here

You might also like