Damper windings helps the synchronous motor to start on its own (self starting machine) by providing starting torque. By providing damper windings in the rotor of synchronous motor “Hunting of machine”can be suppressed.

What are damping windings?

: a short-circuited squirrel-cage winding placed in the pole faces and around the pole shoes of synchronous machines, the currents induced in the winding by the periodic variations in synchronous speed having the effect of a damper. — called also amortisseur.

What is the function of damping winding?

The function of the damper winding in the synchronous generator is to suppress the negative sequence field and to dampen oscillation whereas it is used to provide starting torque and reduce effect of hunting to some extent in the synchronous motor.