A single phase induction motor is very similar to a 3-phase squirrel cage induction motor but single phase induction motor is not self-starting.
It has
(i) a squirrel-cage rotor as similar to a 3-phase motor
(ii) Single-phase induction motor stator has two windings placed at an angle of 90° to each other. One of these windings is known as the main winding, while the other is called the auxiliary winding or starting winding.
Unlike a 3-phase IM,a single-phase induction motor is not self-starting but requires some starting means.
The single-phase stator winding produces a magnetic field that pulsates (alternate) in strength in a sinusoidal manner. but in case of 3 phase induction motor magnetic field rotating one
The field polarity reverses after each half cycle but the field does not rotate. Consequently, the alternating flux cannot produce rotation in a stationary squirrel-cage rotor.
However, if the rotor of a single-phase motor is rotated in one direction by some mechanical means it will continue to run in the direction of rotation As a fact, the rotor quickly accelerates until it reaches a speed slightly below the synchronous speed.once the motor is running at this speed, it will continue to rotate even though single-phase current is flowing through the stator winding.
Making single phase induction motor self-starting
To make a single-phase induction motor self-starting, we should need to produce a revolving stator magnetic field This may be achieved by converting a single-phase supply into two phase supply through the use of an additional winding called starting winding employed perpendicular to main winding(90 degree apart) and it can be removed when motor attains sufficient speed, depending upon the type of the motor
