Dynamic Braking of a Voltage Supplied Induction Motor

using Finite Element Analysis

Tan H. Pham, Philippe F. Wendling, P. Lombard, Sheppard J. Salon. Harun Acikgoz
Magsoft Corporation
Troy, NY 12180, U.S.A.
Cedrat Recherche
38240 Meylan. FRANCE

-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department ofElectric Power Engineering

Troy, NY 12180, U.S.A.

- Turk Elektrik Endustrisi

Davutpasa Cad. Litros Yolu No. l
Topkapi 34020 Istanbul, TURKEY
Abstract
This paper presents the simulation of the dynamic braking of a voltage
supplied induction motor. The phenomenon occurs when the AC voltage
energizing the stator windings is replaced by a DC voltage (applied across two
of the three stator leads) producing a braking torque. We used Flux2D to
simulate the resulting electrical and mechanical transients

L INTRODUCTION
For safety reasons or for repeated duty cycles, it is
sometimes desirable to brake the motor and its
connected load. There are two types of braking:
mechanical or electrical. For either one, the speed of the
rotating system is reduced by transforming the
kinematic energy into another form of energy,
dissipated through heat. In mechanical braking, the
transformed energy turns into heat due to friction. In
electrical braking, the transformed energy turns into
heat due to Joule Effect losses in the rotor bars.
Mechanical braking is used to prevent rotor rotation or
to maintain a fixed position at standstill. Electrical
braking has a broader application when the machine is
an induction motor, i.e. generator and reverse rotation
braking and DC braking.
When the induction motor is driven above
synchronous speed, it acts as a generator. In this mode,
the induction motor draws reactive power from the line
for its excitation and it delivers real power to the line
resulting in braking action on the rotor (regenerative
braking). The mechanical energy is taken from the
rotating part, transformed into electrical energy and
transferred to the electrical distribution system. In
reference [I], when the rotor speed goes beyond
synchronous speed, the induction motor produces
regenerative braking torque to lower the rotor speed
below synchronous speed.

In the reverse rotation braking mode consists of any

two phases of the stator windings are reversed. This
results in reversing the phase sequence and thus the
direction of the rotation of the magnetic field. If a
motor is operating at full speed and any two stator leads
are reserved, the magnetic field will suddenly start
rotating in the opposite direction of the rotor, which
results in a braking of the rotor. This mode of
operation, called "plugging" effectively brakes the speed
of the rotor.
The polyphase induction motor can produce a
braking torque on the rotor by replacing the AC voltage
on the stator winding with the DC voltage. This is
called dynamic braking. When the DC voltage is
applied to the stator winding of an induction motor,
across two of the three stator leads, for example, the
magnetic poles are static. The induction motor becomes
an inverted (or inside-out) synchronous generator, for
which the stator now becomes the DC field and the
rotor of the induction motor becomes a rotating
armature. For a squirrel cage motor, the armature is
short circuited.
This paper presents the finite element transient
analysis of a Turk Elektrik Endustrisi induction motor's
dynamic braking. Flux2D provides the computed results
such as rotor torque and velocity, phase current, and
losses in the rotor bars so the design engineer can
design the safest and most efficient braking system for
the induction motor. A thermal analysis also can be

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