EET307 2022

MODULE II
Voltage Regulation of Alternator
❖ The voltage regulation of an alternator is defined as “the rise in voltage at the terminals, when
the load is reduced from full load rated value to zero, speed and field current remaining
constant”.
❖ With the change in load, there is a change in terminal voltage of an alternator or synchronous
generator. The magnitude of this change not only depends on the load but also on the load
power factor.
❖ Voltage regulation of an alternator is defined as the increase in terminal voltage expressed as
the percentage of rated terminal voltage, when load at a given power factor is thrown off with
speed & field excitation remains constant. It is given by the formula,

E0 − V
% Voltage regulation = *100%
V

❖ Where, E0 = No load terminal voltage, V = Full load terminal voltage

Methods to determine voltage regulation

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Direct Load Test

❖ The alternator runs at synchronous speed, and its terminal voltage is adjusted to its rated
value V.

❖ The load is varied until the Ammeter and Wattmeter indicate the rated values at the given
power factor.

❖ The load is removed;the speed and the field excitation are kept constant. The value of the
open circuit and no-load voltage is recorded.

❖ This method is only suitable for small rating of machines

❖ It can be also found from the percentage voltage regulation and is given by the equation
shown below:

E0 − V
% Voltage Re gulation = *100%
V

❖ The kVA rating of commercial Alternators are very high & the cost of finding the regulation
by direct loading is high
❖ So voltage regulation of large Alternators are determined by Indirect method

SYNCHRONOUS IMPEDANCE METHOD/EMF METHOD

❖ The voltage regulation of alternator by EMF method involves the EMF quantities of all the
armature parameters (armature resistance, Armature leakage reactance, armature reaction).

❖ The drop due to armature reaction is not considered, because it does not occur due to any of
the physical element but due to interaction of armature flux with main flux.

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❖ This method is also called pessimistic method, because the voltage regulation obtained by this
method is more than the actual value.

The EMF method requires the following data’s to determine the voltage regulation of alternator.

● Armature resistance/phase
● Open circuit characteristics (OCC)
● Short circuit characteristics (SCC)

Armature Resistance per phase

Armature Resistance per phase can be obtained by conducting stator resistance test on the
alternator. It is done by connecting the dc voltage supply to the stator armature winding and the
corresponding current is measured.

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By doing so, the dc stator resistance is calculated and then by using the formula Rac = 1.6 Rdc the
ac stator resistance is determined.

Open Circuit Characteristics(OCC)

❖ Open circuit characteristics is obtained by conducting open circuit test in the Alternator. To do
that, the connections are given as per the following circuit diagram.
❖ To perform this test, the stator windings are kept open.
❖ The Alternator was made to run at synchronous speed by adjusting the field rheostat of the dc
motor.
❖ The field current of the alternator was varied in steps until the machine attains its maximum
voltage. The corresponding readings were noted down.
❖ From the readings, a graph is drawn as below, where OCC represents the open circuit
characteristics.

Short Circuit Characteristics(SCC)

❖ Short circuit characteristics is obtained by conducting short circuit test in the Alternator. To do
that, the connections are given as per the above circuit diagram.
❖ The stator windings of alternator are Shorted and an ammeter is connected to measure the
current flow.
❖ The Alternator was made to run at synchronous speed by adjusting the field rheostat of the dc
motor.
❖ The field current of the Alternator was adjusted so that the armature current reaches its
maximum rated value.
❖ Note the corresponding current readings and draw the graph. SCC in the graph below
represents the short circuit characteristics.

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Determination of Zs from the graph

Follow the simple procedure to draw the graph and obtain the voltage regulation.

1. Plot the OCC and SCC curve in a graph.

2. For the rated full load current(Isc) of alternator[which is to be found from the rating of
alternator], draw a line that cuts the SCC curve, from that draw a vertical line towards the
x-axis and find the field current(If).
3. For that field current, extend the line so that it cuts the OCC curve and find the open
circuit voltage Voc volts (phase value).
4. Now, we know the open circuit voltage Voc volts and short circuit current Isc. From this,
determine the value of ZS using the formula,

5. From the known resistance value and determined ZS found the value of Xs using the
formula,

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6. Now, using the following formulas, obtain the value for Eph, [obtained from phasor
diagram]

For Lagging Power factor,

For Leading Power factor,

Finally the voltage regulation of alternator can be determined from the formula,
E0 − V
% Voltage Re gulation = *100%
V
MMF METHOD

Determination of Voltage regulation for Leading Power factor

● Plot the OCC and SCC curve in a graph.

● Find the value of induced emf with the resistance drop using the formula , if resistance is
given,

● For the rated voltage(Eoph), draw a line that cuts the OCC curve, from that, draw a vertical
line and find the field current If1 and mark it as A.
● [If the resistance is not given, neglect it and hence for the rated voltage Vph, find the
corresponding field current If1]

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● Find the field current If2, that is responsible to circulate the full load short circuit current
(Isc) by balancing the armature reaction. This is obtained by drawing a line for full load
short circuit current.
● Now, With A as centre and If2 as radius, draw a semi-circle.
● For Leading power factor, current leads the voltage, so considering AB as voltage phasor,
draw the current phasor such that it leads the voltage by Φ inside the semi-circle(the angle
between this current phasor and x-axis is 90-Φ in anti-clockwise direction) and mark the
point on the semi-circle as C.
● Join OC, which is the resultant Field current (If) that is responsible for generating rated
voltage with the drops.
● Now, in order to find the corresponding voltage, with O as centre and OC as radius, draw
an arc that cuts the x-axis at point D.
● From this point D, draw a vertical line which cuts the OCC curve, from that draw a
horizontal line to y-axis and find the no load voltage (Eph).

Finally the voltage regulation o alternator by mmf method can be determined from the formula,

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Determination of Voltage regulation for Lagging Power factor

To draw the graph for lagging power factor, the same steps are repeated as above to determine the
voltage regulation, except for the following change.

For Lagging power factor, current lags the voltage, so considering AB as voltage phasor, you
have to draw the current phasor such that it lags the voltage by Φ inside the semi-circle(the angle
b/w this current phasor and x-axis is 90-Φ in clockwise direction) and mark the point on the semi-
circle as C

Determination of Voltage regulation for Unity Power factor

For Unity power factor, repeat the same procedure but for a small change. Here current is in phase
with voltage, so considering AB as voltage phasor, draw the current phasor such that it is in phase
with the voltage inside the semi-circle (on the voltage phasor itself) and mark the point on the
semi-circle as C and continue with the same steps to determine the voltage regulation.

ZPF METHOD /POTIER METHOD

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Procedure :

1. Plot open circuit characteristics on graph as shown in the Fig.

2. Plot the excitation corresponding to zero terminal voltage i.e. short circuit full load
zero p.f. armature current. This point is shown as A in the Fig. which is on the x-
axis. Another point is the rated voltage when alternator is delivering full load
current at zero p.f. lagging. This point is P as shown in the Fig.
3. Draw the tangent to O.C.C. through origin which is line OB as shown dotted in the
Fig. This is called air line.
4. Draw the horizontal line PQ parallel and equal to OA.
5. From point Q draw the line parallel to the air line which intersects O.C.C. at point
R. Join RQ and join PR. The triangle PQR is called potier triangle.
6. From point R, drop a perpendicular on PQ to meet at point S.
7. The zero p.f. full load saturation curve is now be constructed by moving a triangle
PQR so that R remains always on O.C.C. and line PQ always remains horizontal.
The doted triangle is shown in the Fig. 1. It must be noted that the potier triangle
once obtained is constant for a given armature current and hence can be transferred
as it is.

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8. Through point A, draw line parallel to PR meeting O.C.C. at point B. From B, draw
perpendicular on OA to meet it at point C. Triangles OAB and PQR are similar
triangles.
9. The perpendicular RS gives the voltage drop due to the armature leakage reactance
i.e. IXL.
10. The length PS gives field current necessary to overcome demagnetising effect of
armature reaction at full load.
11. The length SQ represents field current required to induce an e.m.f. for balancing
leakage reactance drop RS.

These values can be obtained from any Potier triangle such as OAB, PQR and so on.
So armature leakage reactance can be obtained as,

To determine regulation using Potier reactance, draw the phasor diagram using following
procedure :
Draw the rated terminal voltage Vph as a reference phasor. Depending upon at which power
factor (cosΦ) the regulation is to be predicted, draw the Current phasor Iph lagging or leading Vph by
angle Φ.
Draw Iph Raph voltage drop to Vph which is in phase with Iph. While the voltage drop Iph XLph is
to be drawn perpendicular to Iph Raph vector but leading Iph Raph at the extremely of Vph.
The Raph is to be measured separately by passing a d.c. current and measuring voltage across
armature winding. While XLph is Potier reactance obtained by Potier method.
Phasor sum of Vph rated, Iph Raph and Iph XLph gives the e.m.f. which is say E1ph.

Obtain the excitation corresponding to Ē1ph from O.C.C. drawn. Let this excitation be Ff1. This is
excitation required to induce e.m.f. which does not consider the effect of armature reaction.

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The field current required to balance armature reaction can be obtained from Potier triangle,
which is say FAR.
... FAR = l (PS) = l (AC) = .....
The total excitation required is the vector sum of the Ff1 and FAR. This can be obtained exactly
similar to the procedure used in M.M.F. method.
Draw vector Ff1 to some scale, leading E1ph by 90o. Add FAR to Ff1 by drawing vector FAR in
phase opposition to Iph. The total excitation to be supplied by field is given by FR.

PARALLEL OPERATION OF ALTERNATORS

Reasons of Parallel Operation

Alternators are operated in parallel for the following reasons:

● Several alternators can supply a bigger load than a single alternator.

● One or more alternators may shut down during the period of light loads. Thus, the
remaining alternator operates at near or full load with greater efficiency.

● When one machine is taken out of service for its scheduled maintenance and inspection, the
remaining machines maintain the continuity of the supply.

● If there is a breakdown of the generator, there is no interruption of the power supply.

● A number of machines can be added without disturbing the initial installation according to
the requirement to fulfill the increasing future demand of the load.

● Parallel operation of the alternator, reduces the operating cost and the cost of energy
generation.

● It ensures the greater security of supply and enables overall economic generation.

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Necessary Conditions for Parallel Operation of the Alternato

The following condition should be satisfied for parallel operation are as follows:-

● The phase sequence of the Busbar voltages and the incoming machine voltage must be the
same.

● The Busbar voltages and the incoming machine terminal voltage must be in phase.

● The terminal voltage of the incoming machine and the alternator which is to be connected in
parallel or with the busbar voltage should be equal.

● The frequency of the generated voltage of the incoming machine and the frequency of the
voltage of the busbar should be equal.

Different methods of synchronization or parallel operation of an alternator

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Blondel’s Two reaction Theory

The figure shows the direct axis and the quadrature axis of a rotor

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Direct Axis

The axis of symmetry of the magnetic poles of the rotor is called as direct axis or d-axis. The axis
of symmetry of the north magnetic poles of the rotor is known as the positive d-axis while the axis
of symmetry of the south magnetic poles is known as the negative d-axis.

Quadrature Axis

The axis of symmetry halfway between the adjacent north and south poles is known as quadrature
axis or q-axis. The q-axis lagging the north pole is taken as the positive q-axis. The quadrature axis
is so name since it is 90° electrical or one-quarter cycle away from the direct axis.

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MODULE 2
1. What is short circuit ratio? Show that SCR is reciprocal of synchronous impedance.
2. What are Xd and Xq?
3. Discuss Blondel’s two reaction theory applicable to salient pole synchronous machine.
4. What are the conditions to be fulfilled for parallel operation of two synchronous machines?
Give any one method of synchronising.
5. Find the regulation by the zero-power factor method of 5000kVA ,6600V,3phase,50 Hz
star connected alternator at full load, unity power factor having the following test data:

6. Draw the phasor diagram of a cylindrical pole type alternator for (i) lagging power factor
load (ii) leading power factor load.
7. Xd is greater than Xq in salient pole machine. Justify
8. The regulation obtained by EMF method is always greater than actual value. Justify A
550V, 55 kVA, 1-phase alternator has an effective resistance of 0.2 ohm. A field current
of 10 A produces an armature current of 200 A on short circuit and an electromotive force

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of 450 V on open circuit. Calculate (a) the synchronous impedance and reactance, and (b)
the full load regulation with power factor 0.8 lagging.
9. Explain the advantage of determining voltage regulation by ASA method over other
methods.
10. A 3.5 MVA, Y connected alternator rated at 4160 volts at 50 Hz has open-circuit
characteristics given by the following data:

A field current of 200 A is found necessary to circulate full-load current on short- circuit
of the alternator. Calculate by the full load regulation at 0.8 pf lag of alternator by
Optimistic method. Neglect armature resistance.
11. Draw and explain the phasor diagram of a salient pole alternator supplying to a lagging
power factor load
12. Enumerate the requirement of proper parallel operation of alternators
13. Find the full load regulation by MMF method of a 100 kVA , 2kV 3 phase 50 Hz star
connected alternator at 0.8 power factor lag having the following test data, armature
resistance= 0.2Ωper phase

14. With circuit diagram explain about synchronisation of alternator using bright lamp method
15. Explain slip test and calculation of Xd and Xq
16. Explain the ASA method of determining the voltage regulation of alternator.
17. A 1500 kVA,6600 V,3 phase, star connected alternator with a resistance of 0.4 ohm and
reactance of6 ohm per phase delivers full load current at power factor 0.8 lagging and
normal rated voltage. Estimate the terminal voltage for the same excitation and load current
at 0.8 p.f leading.
18. Explain the MMF method of determining the voltage regulation of alternator.
19. A l0 kVA, 440 V, 50 Hz,3 phase, star connected, alternator has the open circuit
characteristics as below

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With full load zero power factor, the excitation required is 14 ampers to produce 500 volts
terminal voltage. On short circuit 4 ampers excitation is required to produce full load
current. Determine if the full load voltage regulation at 0.8 pf lagging by ZPF Method.

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