3-Phase Synchronous Generators
By
Prof. E. Matlotse
3-Phase Synchronous Generators
• Synchronous generators or
alternators are synchronous
machines used to convert
mechanical power to an ac
electric power
Synchronous Generator Construction
• For this type of machine, a dc current is
applied to rotor winding that produces a rotor
magnetic field. Generator rotor is then turned
by a prime mover, producing a rotating
magnetic field within the machine. This
rotating field induces a 3-phase set of voltages
within stator winding of the machine.
Synchronous Generator Construction
• Synchronous generator rotor is basically a large
electromagnet.
• Magnetic poles on rotor can be either salient or
nonsalient construction.
• Salient means “sticking out” and a salient pole is
the one that sticks out from the surface of rotor
• A nonsalient pole is the one that is constructed to
flash with the surface of the of the rotor.
Synchronous Generator Construction
• Usually, nonsalient-pole rotors are used for 2
or 4-pole rotors
• Salient-pole rotors are used for rotors with
atleast 4 poles.
• Since rotor is subjected to changing magnetic
fields, it’s constructed using thin laminations
to reduce eddy current losses.
Synchronous Generator Construction
• Usually, dc current is supplied to field cct on
the rotor. Since rotor is rotating, a special
setup is needed to get the dc power to it’s
windings. Below are 2 ways to do it, namely,
- supply dc power from an external dc source
to rotor using slip rings and brushes
- supply dc power from a special dc power
mounted on the shaft of the machine
Synchronous Generator Construction
• Slip rings are metal rings completely encircling
shaft of machine but insulated from it
• One end of dc rotor winding is fixed to each of
the 2 slip rings on the shaft of the machine and a
brush rides on each slip ring
• If +ve end of a dc voltage source is connected to
one brush and the –ve end is connected to the
other, then the cct will be complete and therefore
dc voltage shall be continuously applied to field
winding regardless of the rotor speed or angular
position
Nonsalient-Pole Rotor
Salient-Pole Rotor
Synchronous Generator Speed of
Rotation
• These machines are synchronous by nature –
electrical frequency produced is synchronized
with the mechanical rate of rotation of the
machine.
• Rate of rotation of the magnetic fields in the
machine is related to stator electrical
frequency by the eqn below
Synchronous Generator Speed of
Rotation
nm P
fe =
120
• where f e = electrical frequency, Hz
nm = mechanical speed of magnetic
field, r/min (rotor speed)
P = no. of poles
Internal Generated Voltage of A
Synchronous Generator
• This voltage depends on the flux in the machine,
frequency or speed of rotation and the
construction of the machine. Related eqn is
E A = K
where E A = internal generated voltage, V
K = machine constant
= angular speed, radians per second
= flux in machine
Synchronous Generator Plot of Flux Vs.
Field Current & Magnetization Curve
Equivalent Cct of A Synchronous
Generator
• Synchronous Generator Simple cct
Equivalent Cct of A Synchronous
Generator
• Using the diagram, voltage on a phase is
V = E A − jXI A
where V = generator terminal voltage, V
X = reactance due to armature
reaction effects , Ω
I A = armature current, A
Equivalent Cct of A Synchronous
Generator
• Taking into account the issues of armature
resistance and synchronous reactance
(armature reaction effects & self-inductance),
the final eqn is
V = E A − jX S I A − R A I A
Equivalent Cct of A Synchronous
Generator
• Final Equivalent Cct Of the Machine
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Synchronous generator is a synchronous machine used as a
generator.
• It converts mechanical power to 3-phase electrical power
• Prime mover is the source mechanical power which could
be a diesel engine, steam turbine, water turbine, e.t.c.
• Tendency is that speed should be constant otherwise the
resulting frequency would tend to wander.
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Not all the provided mechanical power is
converted to electrical power
• Difference between input power and output
power represents the losses of the machine
• Input mechanical power is the generator shaft
power as shown below
Pin = in m
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Power converted from mechanical to electrical form
internally is
Pconv = ind m
or
Pconv = 3E A I A cos
where: is the angle between E A and I A
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Synchronous generator power-flow diagram is
shown below
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Difference between Generator input power
and the power converted is marked by
mechanical, core and stray losses of the
machine
• Synchronous Generator real electric output
power in line quantities is
Pout = 3VT I L cos (1)
and in phase quantities is
Pout = 3V I A cos (2)
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Synchronous Generator reactive electric
output power in line quantities is
Qout = 3VT I L sin (3)
and phase quantities is
Qout = 3V I A sin (4)
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• If armature resistance R A is ignored (since X S is
far bigger than R A ), then a very useful eqn. can be
derived to approximate the generator output power
and to achieve this, refer to diagram below
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Diagram in previous slide shows a simplified
phasor diagram of a generator with stator
resistance ignored
• Note that, vertical segment bc can be expressed
either as E A sin or X S I A cos
• Given the above, then
E A sin
I A cos = (5)
XS
Synchronous Generator Power and
Torque
• Substituting eqn. (5) into eqn. (2) yields
3V E A sin
P= (6)
XS
• Generator maximum power is reached when
= 90 , then
3V E A
Pmax = (7)
XS