SUMMARYThe double-fed induction motor (DFIM) is analysed in this paper with regard to stability. Firstly, its characteristic equation is obtained by means of a linear model for small variations, with the stator resistance equal to zero. The range of speeds for which the DFIM/Load system presents stable synchronous operation is obtained by applying the Routh-Hurwitz Criterion to the characteristic equation. Secondly, by employing the equation for the steadystate electromagnetic torque, with a non-zero stator resistance, another range of speeds giving stable synchronous operation is obtained, and confirmed by some experimental results. In order to confirm the stability, some results of the DFIM/Load system simulation and the characteristic equation root-locus are also presented.