Why are synchronous motors grounded with reactance

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Synchronous motors are grounded with reactance rather than resistance to prevent ground faults and enhance safety. The reactance grounding method helps to dampen higher harmonics in the neutral current, ensuring proper operation of nearby electronic devices. In contrast, alternators use resistance grounding to control current and mitigate stability issues. Grounding practices differ between regions, with U.S. regulations often focusing on ground fault detection at receptacles rather than at the motor level. Overall, the choice of grounding method is crucial for maintaining system stability and safety in electrical installations.
arnab ghosh
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Why are synchronous motors reactance grounded and not resistance grounded like in alternators?
 
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What do you mean by "grounded"? As a safety-purpose?

I don't think that is permitted. I think that the motor (shield) must be shortcircuited to ground.

Where is the safety if the resistor/inductor is blown? Then you could act as reserve-impedance to the blown resistor/inductor.
 
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Hesch said:
What do you mean by "grounded"? As a safety-purpose?

I don't think that is permitted. I think that the motor (shield) must be shortcircuited to ground.

Where is the safety if the resistor/inductor is blown? Then you could act as reserve-impedance to the blown resistor/inductor.
Grounded as in the neutral is connected to the ground by reactor in case of motor . In case of generator , since neutral is grounded with resistance , it helps to control the current and hence suppress stability issues. But I don't get why in case of motor , neutral is grounded through reactance . Will it not lead to resonance issues and surges?
 
If a Y-coupled synchronous motor is connected to neutral (not "grounded"), the higher harmonics (if present) in the neutral current will be dampened, so that nearby radios, mobile telephones, etc. will work proporly.

I don't know the rules/laws in US in case of "grounding" things, but in Europe no current may flow to "ground" under normal conditions. The purpose of grounding things is to protect people in case of an electric failure ( isolation in motor shortcircuited ).
 
I've tried to google "HFI-relay+US". There is not much to be found. "HFI-relay" means: "High sensitive current relay" that is measuring the ground-current (if any), using Kirchhoffs current law: Ia+Ib+Ic+Ineutral = -Iground. If Iground is above ≈20 mA, the relay will break everything (except ground) in your installation.

I think you have other rules/laws in US regarding safety, so I cannot answer your question.
 
Hesch said:
I've tried to google "HFI-relay+US". There is not much to be found. "HFI-relay" means: "High sensitive current relay" that is measuring the ground-current (if any), using Kirchhoffs current law: Ia+Ib+Ic+Ineutral = -Iground. If Iground is above ≈20 mA, the relay will break everything (except ground) in your installation.

I think you have other rules/laws in US regarding safety, so I cannot answer your question.
Concerning breaking connections here in the U.S.A., neutral is virtually never broken. At least residentially, most ground fault detection is done at the receptacle. This is because most often it is the most inexpensive way to go. Not always though. The same is true in the U.S.A. concerning the ground wire. The green or bare wire and what they are connected to all the way back to the service is never meant to carry anything except a fault.
 
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Averagesupernova said:
detection is done at the receptacle.

Thank you for the answer, but what is the "receptacle". My dictionary tells me, that it some kind of container?

Please describe it more detailed.
 
The receptacle is what you plug into. You would plug table lamp into a receptacle.
 
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arnab ghosh said:
Why are synchronous motors reactance grounded and not resistance grounded like in alternators?
Basicly with motors you would get a ground fault with a resistive load in a wye configuration. When all three phases are closed you would have a short to ground
 

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