Salient Pole Rotor Vs Non-Salient Pole Rotor

A rotor is a rotating part of a motor or a machine. This part consists of a multi-pole electromagnet which produces the electrical power. There are two different types of rotors i.e. Salient Pole Rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor. Salient Pole Rotor is a type of rotor which have multiple salient poles and they all are located on a mounted wheel.

On the other side, a Non-Salient Pole Rotor is a cylindrical rotor that is small in diameter and has a long axial length. In this article, we are going to discuss the differences between the Salient Pole Rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor in detail.

Table of Content

  • Salient Pole Rotor
  • Non-Salient Pole Rotor
  • Block Diagram
  • Salient Vs Non-Salient Pole Rotor
  • Advantages and Disadvantages
  • Applications

What is Salient Pole Rotor?

Salient Pole Rotor have mounted poles that are located on a large diameter. These types of rotors have smaller axial lengths than other types of rotors. Salient Pole Rotors are generally used in that system where the speed range varies between low to medium speeds or below 1500 RPM. These rotors can generate high torque at a low speed as it has a larger pole surface area.

What is Non-Salient Pole Rotor?

A non-salient Pole Rotor is a cylindrically shaped rotor that has a smooth surface. The structure of this rotor is robust and has higher mechanical integrity. The Non-Salient Pole Rotor has field windings that are suitable for high-speed mechanical applications. Now we will see first differences between both of them through block diagram.

Block Diagram

Here is the diagram of the Salient Pole Rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor as mentioned below.

Block Diagram of Salient Pole Rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor

Salient Pole Rotor Vs. Non-Salient Pole Rotor

Here is the difference between the Salient Pole Rotor and the Non-Salient Pole Rotor as mentioned below.

Aspects Salient Pole Rotor Non-Salient Pole Rotor
Design and Structure Poles project outward; large diameter, short axial length; laminated steel poles Smooth cylindrical shape; uniform winding; solid steel construction
Speed Suitability Low to medium speeds (below 1500 RPM) High speeds (above 1500 RPM)
Applications Hydroelectric generators, low-speed applications Steam and gas turbines, high-speed applications
Torque Generation High torque at low speeds Less efficient torque generation at low speeds
Efficiency More efficient at low speeds More efficient at high speeds
Windage Losses and Noise Higher due to irregular shape of poles Lower due to smooth cylindrical shape
Mechanical Strength Lower, not suitable for very high speeds Higher, suitable for high-speed operations
Cooling More efficient due to large surface area Less efficient compared to salient pole rotors
Manufacturing Complexity Simpler and cost-effective More complex and costly

Advantages and Disadvantages

Here we will look into the Advantages and Disadvantages of Salient pole rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor :

Advantages and Disadvantages of Salient Pole Rotor

Salient pole rotors have high reactance, which makes them suitable for applications requiring high torque at low speeds, such as hydroelectric generators. But the construction of salient pole rotors is more complex compared to cylindrical rotors, requiring careful design and manufacturing processes, which can increase production costs.

Advantages and Disadvantages Non-Salient Pole Rotor

Non-salient pole rotors offer advantages such as simplicity of design, higher mechanical strength, and improved cooling, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, they also have limitations such as lower starting torque, limited reactance, and increased losses, which need to be considered when selecting the appropriate rotor design for a specific application.

Applications

Here we will look into the applications of Salient pole rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor :

Applications of Salient Pole Rotor

  • Hydroelectric Power Plants
  • Wind Turbine Generators
  • Diesel Generator Sets
  • Marine Propulsion Systems
  • Pumped Storage Power Plants
  • Traction Systems

Applications of Non-Salient Pole Rotor

  • Thermal Power Plants
  • Gas Turbine Generators
  • Turbo Generators
  • Large Industrial Motors
  • Aerospace Applications
  • High-Speed Trains
  • Pumped Storage Power Plants
  • Electric Power Grids
  • Industrial Drives
  • Renewable Energy Systems

Conclusion

A rotor is a rotating part of a machine. This part consists of a multi-pole electromagnet which produces the electrical power. Salient Pole Rotor have mounted poles that are located on a large diameter. These types of rotors have smaller axial lengths than other types of rotors. A non-Salient Pole Rotor is a cylindrically shaped rotor that has a smooth surface. The structure of this rotor is robust and has higher mechanical integrity. In this article ve have learned the differences between Salient Pole Rotor and Non-Salient Pole Rotor in detail.

Salient Pole Rotor Vs Non-Salient Pole Rotor – FAQs

What are the advantages of salient pole rotors?

The advantage of a salient pole rotor is that we can fit a large number of poles to generate frequency at a low rotational speed.

Why salient pole rotor is used for low speed?

The salient pole rotor contain projected poles. The field winding of the salient pole rotor have a concentrated winding on the pole core.

Which is more stable salient pole or cylindrical?

As salient pole synchronous machines are more stable. It is stable than the cylindrical rotor machines.