ABSTRACT
This short chapter is an introduction to AC machines. A simple AC machine consisting of a single turn coil of wire rotating in a magnetic field is analysed and how it operates as an AC generator is described for a better understanding of the two main types of AC machines, synchronous and induction motors to be covered in later sections. An induced torque equation for the two-pole and p-pole cases is derived for this simple AC machine which very much resembles the torque equations given in the later chapters for induction and in particular synchronous motors. AC motors are important because they are widely used in industry. In particular, ruggedness, efficiency, and ease of use of induction motors make them popular compared to all other motor types. General use of synchronous motors is rather rare.
