Selection
Of Crane Duty Motors (on photo: Electric wire rope hoist for LNG
(liquified natural gas) - STAHL CraneSystems GmbH by DirectIndustry)
Crane Duty Motors
Types of Crane Duty Motors
Following two types of motors are widely used for crane duty applications.- Squirrel Cage Crane Duty Motors
- Slip ring and Wound Rotor Crane Duty Motors
Generally, the motors assigned duty type S3, S4 and S5 are considered for crane applications.
The crane duty motors are specially designed to offer satisfactory performance and long lives for service on the cranes and hoists.
These motors may also be used for similar applications such as material handling, sluice operation on dams/weirs, lifts of all types and in rolling mills as auxiliary motors or wherever operating drives are required for intermittent services.Applicable Standards
The crane duty motors should generally comply with Indian Standards provided in Table.3 below:Table.1 Standards applicable to motors
| Indian Standard | Title | Applicability |
| IS:1231-1974 | Dimension of Three Phase Foot Mounted Induction Motors | For dimensions of motor |
| IS :2223-1983 | Dimension of Flange Mounted AC Induction Motors | For dimensions motor |
| IS:325-1996 | Three Phase Induction Motors – Specification | For specification and performance of motor |
| IS:1271-985 | Specification for Thermal Evaluation and Classification of Electrical Insulation | For insulation of stator and rotor windings |
| IS:12824-1989 | Types of Duty and Classes of Rating Assigned to rotating Electrical Machines | For duty class and assigned rating for motors |
| IS:4691-1985 | Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures for Rotating Electric Machines | For protection to enclosures |
| IS:6362-1995 | Designation of Methods of Cooling for Rotating Electrical Machines | For cooling of motors |
| IS:2253-1974 | Designations for Types of Construction and Mounting Arrangements of Rotating Electrical Machines | For type of mounting and frame size |
| IS:12065-1987 | Permissible Limits of Noise Levels for Rotating Electrical Machines | For noise level |
| IS:12075-1987 | Mechanical Vibration of Rotating Electrical Machines with Shaft Heights 56 mm and Higher – Measurement, Evaluation and Limits of Vibrations Severity | For vibration level |
| IS:4029-1967 | Guide for Testing of Three Phase Induction Motors | For testing of motors |
| IS :3177–1977 | Code of Practice for Electric overhead Travelling Cranes and Gantry Cranes other than Steelworks Cranes | For understanding requirements of cranes |
Standard operating conditions
In accordance with the provisions made in the applicable Indian Standard, the motors should be able to perform satisfactorily for the power supply parameters, site conditions and insulation class as provided in Table.2, unless specific parameters are furnished.Table.2 – Power supply parameters, site conditions and insulation class for AC motors
| Supply voltage with permissible variation | 415 volts ±10%, 3 phase |
| Supply frequency with permissible variation | 50 Hz + 5% |
| Combined voltage and frequency variation | ±10% (absolute sum) |
| Unbalance | Standard motors capable to operate under unbalance supply conditions, wherein negative and zero sequence voltage components not to exceed individually 2% of positive phase sequence component |
| Ambient temperature | -10°C to 40°C |
| Altitude | Up to 1000 m |
| Humidity | Up to 100% |
| Insulation | Class “F” in Squirrel cage motors Class “F/F” for both stator and rotor in slip ring motors |
Ambient temperature
The rated output of motor specified by the vendor is generally at 40°C ambient temperature. For temperatures other than 40°C, a duration factor should be applied as indicated Table.3.Table.2 – Ambient temperature and deration factors for AC motors
| Ambient temperature | Deration factor |
| 45°C | 0.95 |
| 50°C | 0.88 |
| 55°C | 0.83 |
| 60°C | 0.75 |
Salient technical and constructional features of crane duty motors
- Material and construction of stator frame and end shields
- Material and construction of stator and rotor cores
- Bearings at non-drive and drive ends
- Material of construction of shaft
- Earthing to stator frame and terminal box
- Mounting of motor – foot mounted or flange mounted
- Material, construction and position of terminal box
Specific
technical and constructional features required to be incorporated in
the specification for the crane duty motors are listed hereunder so that
the motors provide desired trouble free, predetermined and optimum
performance.
The
motor rating should be decided based on its thermal capability taking
into consideration few or all factors listed hereunder as per duty
requirements.- Optimised nos. of starts and frequency of starts for all the motors should be specified for the design purpose (Starting class);
- Percentage of time during each operating cycle the motor is energised, i.e. Cyclic duty factor (CDF);
- The intermittent duty type S3, S4 or S5 should be defined correctly based on exact operational requirements of cranes. The number and type of cycle per hour should be (Duty class) should be considered;
The motors should have higher than normal pullout torques. As the motors are supposed to experience large no. of starts, it is necessary that the accelerating time of the system should be as small as possible. The higher pull out torque ensures rapid acceleration irrespective of drop in effective torque due to stepped rotor resistance.
Moreover for minimizing acceleration time, total inertia of the system, comprising of moment of inertia of motor plus moment of inertia of load, should be minimum. This can be achieved by keeping lower than normal rotor inertia in comparison to standard continuous duty motors.
The torque available from the motor varies as the square of the motor terminal voltage, an allowance for voltage drop in long cables, live rails and collectors must be considered. The voltage drop is significant when the motor is operated at pull out torque point, since current at this point is much higher than the rated current.
The motors should be able to withstand 1.5 times the rated current for 2 minutes without suffering damage. This feature makes the motor suitable for intermittent and severe duties experienced on the crane or similar applications.
All 4, 6, 8, and 10 pole motors should be designed for withstanding an overspeed of 2.5 times rated synchronous speed or minimum 2000 rpm, whichever is less.
The squirrel cage motors should be provided single cylindrical shaft extension and the wound rotor (slip ring) motors should be provided double cylindrical shaft extension.
The stator and rotor windings should be impregnated with Class ‘F’ thermosetting varnish insulation. In stringent cases, Class ‘H’ insulation may also be considered.
Additionally, the rotor windings should be braced with resin-glass banding to give protection against centrifugal forces experienced by overhang during overspeed and frequent reversals. Gel-coat may be painted on the winding overhang for better consolidation and protection from vibration.
Size of the terminal box should be adequate for to facilitate splitting of power cables cores and terminate comfortably. In slip ring motors, the cables for main power supply and from slip rings are usually accommodated in the same terminal box for simplifying wiring and maintenance.
Hence in case of slip ring as well as squirrel cage motors, if required, the cable box size may be increased by providing an attachment of cable splitter box (generally of trapezoidal shape) to the main terminal box.
The rotors of squirrel cage and wound rotor motors should be dynamically balanced to ensure lowest possible vibration.
It should be preferred to use the metallic cooling fans in the wound rotor motors. PVC or plastic fans are likely to be deformed due to high temperature in housing due to slip rings and get damaged.
As the motor would generate more heat due to intermittent switching operations, the painting should be heat resistant, specifically able to withstand higher temperatures.
The standard crane duty motors should be provided IP55 Degree of protection as per IS:4691. The cooling code of motor should be IC411 as per IS:6362.
The insulation resistance of the slip-ring unit should be high enough ensuring minimum wear and breakdown. The brush holders, made as a complete unit, should be easily replaceable. The slip-ring should be large enough to encounter starting currents and for proper installation of brushes in slip ring motors.
The enclosure for slip-rings should be dustproof and easily accessible for inspection.
For
higher rated would rotor motors, separate disc should be provide
between the slip-ring and rotor windings to prevent ingress of carbon
dust from brushes into windings.Will be continued in 2 days…
References:
- Efficient Electric Motor Systems Handbook, by Todd Litmann
- IS:12824-1989; Types of Duty and Classes of Rating Assigned to Rotating Electrical Machines
- The Technical Literature of Indian Motor Manufacturers