What advantage does a wound-rotor induction motor provide?

A wound-rotor induction motor provides ease of starting as a significant advantage. This type of motor has a rotor with windings that can include external resistances connected to them. By adjusting these external resistances, the starting torque and current can be controlled, allowing for a smoother and more manageable start-up.

This flexibility in rotor resistance facilitates the motor to handle high starting loads without drawing excessive current. Thus, it prevents damage to the motor and the connected power system. Furthermore, this feature is particularly beneficial in applications where heavy loads are common at start-up, reducing mechanical stress and allowing for better control in torque management during the starting phase.

The other potential advantages commonly attributed to induction motors, such as efficiency at all loads or low maintenance requirements, are generally more characteristic of other motor types or configurations. High resistance to overload is also not a primary feature of wound-rotor induction motors and usually relates to the properties of the motor design and application rather than the starting mechanism itself. Therefore, ease of starting stands out as the key benefit of this motor type.