EE 4701 S15

Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Estimate the yearly energy savings that could be realized in the US
by the appropriate use of variable frequency drives.
Energy used / year in US: 100 quadrillion Btu = 2.93*10^13 kWh
Assuming 40% of used energy is from electricity =
1.17*10^13kWh
Assuming 30% of energy is saved when all electric motor is
utilized with variable frequency drive with maximum efficiency, energy
saved = (1.17*10^13*0.3) = 3.5*10^12 kWh/ year
Chapter 2: Mechanical Systems
2. Provide the initial conceptual design for a hydroelectric system
based on a 100 foot head and 5 gallon/minute flow. Include a block
diagram, component specifications, and a power estimate.
Specification:
Motor voltage = 12V;
DC motor ke=kt=0.5;
Container size = 0.01m^3, 10kg water per full container.
Density of water = 1000kg/m^3
h= 30.48m
5 gallon water = 95kg
E=mgh = 95*9.8*30.48 = 28377J
P = E/t = 473W
Ea = ke*w
w = 12/0.5 = 24 rad/s
T = P/w = 473/24 = 19.7Nm
F = 10*9.8 = 98N
R = T/F = 19.7Nm/98N = 0.2m
Radius of the wheel is 0.2meter.
3. Specify an electric motor to run a positive displacement water pump
for a 50 foot head and 1-5 gallons per minute flow.
Use electric motor with torque T = 1Nm, ke=kt=0.5

Case 1:
1 gallon flow per minute.
Height = 50 foot; 15.24m;
mass of 1 gallon water: 19kg;
time : 60 seconds
Potential energy E=mgh; E = 19*9.8*15.24 = 2837.7J
Power = E/time = 47.3W
P = tem*w
W=47.3rad/s
Ea=ke*w
Ea= 23.65V
Case 2:
5 gallon flow per minute.
Height = 50 foot; 15.24m;
mass of 5 gallon water: 95kg;
time : 60 seconds
Potential energy E=mgh; E = 95*9.8*15.24 = 14188.5J
Power = E/time = 236.475W
P = tem*w
W=236.475rad/s
Ea=ke*w
Ea= 118.25V
4. Under which circumstances does optimum gear ratio matter? (50
words max)
At a point which the applied torque Tem is maximum,

Chapter 4: Power Electronics

5. Discuss the choice of a buck converter versus a flyback converter to
drive a DC motor? (50 words max)

Chapter 5: Magnetics
6. H is to B, as E is to ___D__?
7. Why is the S end of some compasses heavier than their N end?
(50 words max)

The S end is heavier because it needs to balance the needle.

The N end will be pulled towards and earths North Magnetic pole
and the ground, and the vertical component needs to be cancel.
8. We know that similar magnetic poles repel and opposite magnetic
poles attract, but how would you prove that fact if you only had access
to unmarked permanent magnets?
Use compass to track magnetic field lines (should move from N
to S pole) to determine the poles, then place to similar poles to verify if
it repels.
9. Two permanent magnets are positioned such that they repel each
other. If a piece of sheet metal is slid between the two magnets, will
they continue to repel each other? Explain the reasoning behind your
answer. (50 words maximum)
Depends on the thickness of the sheet metal and the strength of
the magnet. It will continue to repel, but at a certain distance the
metal can cancel out the force of repel between magnets with the
force of attract between magnet to metal, creating a neutral zone.
10. A Hugh Piggot style generator uses inch thick N30 neodymium
magnets and has a 1 inch gap between rotors. The rotor plates (back
iron) is thick enough so that you can assume no mmf is lost in the back
iron. Calculate the flux density in the gap.
From the N30 neodymium magnets datasheet, the Br is 1.08T.

11. What was the highest magnetic flux density made by humans?
2.8kT, obtained in Russian lab year 1998.
(define made by human: including equipment operated by
humans, not from explosion of any stars)

12. What is the typical relative permeability of steel laminations used

for electric motors? (For fun check out permalloy and superpermalloy.)
A Ferritic stainless steel has relative permeability of 1000-1800
13. Would you use material with a high permeability or a low
permeability to shield for magnetic fields?
High permeability, because it can absorb the magnetic fields.
Chapter 6: Basic Machines
14. The Eiffel Tower makes one revolution around the earths axis every
24 hours. Since the major dimension of the Eiffel Tower is
perpendicular to the earths magnetic field, this motion should
generate a voltage difference from the base of the tower to the peak.
What voltage is produced? Or is this logic faulty?
There should be a voltage being generated when a conductor (in
this case the Eiffel Tower) cuts through the magnetic field lines, so this
logic is not faulty.
However the voltage magnitude is based on the rate of magnetic
flux linkage, and the rate of conductor cutting through magnetic field
lines is extremely slow and the magnetic flux density of earth is very
low, so the voltage produced is negligible.
15. Why are high speed motors more power dense (W/m3) than slow
speed motors? (50 words max)
P = Tem*w; when comparing the two motor, we assume that the
load torque is the same. So higher speed will have higher power, thus
high speed motor is more power dense.
16. Losses in electric motors increase roughly in proportion to the
motors volume. For example, if all the physical dimensions of a motor
were increased by some factor k (eg. double length, double diameter,
double wire thickness, double tooth width, etc.) and the operating
conditions remain the same (i.e. same current density, same
conduction loss density, same flux density, same hysteresis and eddy
current iron loss/kg, and same rotational speed), the losses would
increase as the cube of the increase k. Can you say something similar
regarding the power output capability of the larger motor if all
dimensions are increased by the same factor while the operating
conditions remain the same? (Does power increase proportionate to k,
k2, k3, k4, something else?) Are larger motors most likely to be more
efficient or less efficient than smaller motors?

Ke and Kt increase by k^2, Tem increased by k^2.

Voltage remains the same, speed decreased by k^2.
Power output = Tem*speed. - remains same because Tem
increase and speed decrease, cancel out each others k^2.
Power output remains same, but power loss increase by k^3.
Efficiency decreases.
Larger motors should be less efficient than small motor.
17. What type of motor would you use if you want accurate position
control without using position feedback? That is, you are blind to the
output position, but you know where it is anyway.
Stepper motor
Chapter 7: DC Machines
18. Show that when a dc motor is started by direct connection to a stiff
DC source, just as much energy is lost as conduction losses as goes
into kinetic energy.
Va = Ea +Ia*R
Va = ke*w + Ia*R ; Va is constant stiff DC source.
At t = 0; w=0, Ia is at max, P kinetic at minimum, P loss at max
Then Ia decrease, w increase.
At steady; Ia is at minimum, w is at maximum, P kinetic at max,
P loss at min.
Energy = sum of all instantaneous power
Energy kinetic = energy loss in resistor.
Chapter 8: Control
19. PID controllers (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) used in many
industrial and commercial control applications. From an operational
point of view, what is the purpose of the proportional gain? the
integral gain? the derivative gain? (100 words max)
Proportional gain gives output that is proportional to the present error.
Integral gain is obtained by collecting data on past error, it will
accumulate and integrate the error in the past and the output will
depend on the past error.

Derivative gain is the obtained by calculating the derivative of the past

and present error over a period of time, It can estimate the error in the
future based on the past and present error.
Derivative gain can improve the system performance.
Chapter 9: Space Vectors
20. Consider a 2-phase motor with windings a and b. The magnetic axis
of winding a is at 0 degrees and the magnetic axis of winding b is at 45
degrees.
Derive ia(t) and ib(t) to create a constant magnitude is space vector
rotating CCW at 1000 radians/second.
Ia + Ib =0
ia = -ib
Ia(t) = ia*cos(1000t)
Ib(t) = ib*cos(1000t - 45) = -ia*cos(1000t - 45)
Chapter 10: PMAC
21. BLDC motors are powered by DC voltages, just like standard DC
motors. However, swapping the leads from the DC voltage source will
not change the direction of rotation for a BLDC motor as it will for a DC
motor.
Explain why this is so. (50 words max)
Because BLDC motor is a three phase machine, swapping the
leads is just changing the phase of the particular coil, the total torque
will be still at the same direction.
22. What is the easiest way to reverse the direction of rotation of a
BLDC motor? (25 words max)
Change commutation order of motor.
Chapter 11: Induction Machines
23. Discuss proper applications for induction machines versus
synchronous machines. (50 words max)
Induction machines are considered in some application due to its
ability to self-start. Synchronous machines are considered when the

load requires the machine to run at constant speed, it is also

considered in high power application due to high efficiency.
24. What are the major differences between class A, B, C, and D
induction motors? Where would you use each type? (150 words max)
Class A and B has small starting torque. They are for general
purposes use such as small machines, with class B having a lower start
current.
Class C has high starting torque compared to class A and B, thus
it is used for applicant that has high inertia.
Class D has highest starting torque compare to A,B and C, thus it
is used for applicant that has very high inertia such as elevator.
25. How is it possible to operate and induction generator without and
established grid? (50 words max)
Connect the motor to an oscillator (with capacitor), which will be
able to supply VAR for the operation of the generator and provide a
reference for Wsync, and the generator will supply power to the load.
26. What is the rated speed of a 50 Hz, 4-pole, induction motor with a
superconducting rotor?
The synchronous speed is 1500rpm so the rated speed is slightly
lower than 1500rpm, because the loss is minimal.