UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.
D)
SYNCHRONOUS Generators
Electrical Machine:
It is a device, which converts one form of energy into another form of energy by utilizing
the force as motion of electric charge is called known as ‘electrical machine’.
Synchronism:
Achieved a coincidence within a point of time is known as synchronism.
Introduction:
AC system has a number of advantages over dc system. Now-a-days the three phase AC
system is being used for generation, transmission and distribution of power.
The machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy at particular voltage with
a fixed frequency is called an “alternator or synchronous generator or AC generator” or a machine
for generating alternating currents is referred to as an alternator.
The term AC Generator is also frequently used, in place of alternator and this is often
contracted to just generator.
The frequency is an important property of AC electrical energy. Frequency is depends on speed,
therefore to achieve fixed frequency the machine must be always runs only at one speed called
synchronous speed. That’s the reason the alternator is called Synchronous Generator.
Alternators are the primary source of till the electrical energy which we consumed. These
machines are the largest energy converters in the world.
The prime mover which is used for generation purpose is turbines. For commercial and industrial
purpose the four-stroke engines are used as prime movers to give mechanical power to the
alternators.
Operating Principle of an Alternator:
An alternator operates on the same fundamental principle of electro-magnetic induction as a dc
generator. i.e., when the flux cuts the conductor (or) conductor cuts the flux an emf induced in the
conductor.
The magnitude of induced emf is E = Blv sinθ
Where, θ = angle between B and direction of conductor v = velocity of conductor (m/sec)
B = flux density (wb/m2 of Tesla)
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
Flemings Right Hand Rule:
The direction of induced emf or current can be finding by
applying this rule. If,
Fore finger → indicates direction of flux
Thumb → indicates direction of motion of conductor
Then,
Center finger → indicates direction of induced emf or current.
In dc generator, the field poles are stationary and the armature conductor’s rotate. The
alternating induced emf in armature conductors are converted to a dc voltage at the brushes by means
of the commutator.
In alternators, there is no commutator required to supply electrical energy with an
alternating voltage. Therefore, it is not necessary that armature be the rotating one. The alternator
also has an armature winding and a field winding. But the important difference between the two is,
For an alternator, armature winding is placed or housed in a stator instead of rotor in a dc
generator. The field winding is housed in a rotor poles. It is more usually convenient, advantageous
to place the field winding on rotating part (rotor) and armature winding on stationary part (stator).
Differences between DC & AC Generators:
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
( stationary armature and rotating armature)
DC GENERATOR ALTERNATOR
Faradays law of electromagnetic induction. Faradays law of electromagnetic induction.
Fleming’s right hand rule. Fleming’s right hand rule.
Stationary field. Rotating field.
Rotating armature. Stationary armature.
Conductors cut the flux. Flux cuts the conductor.
Large size of brushes and brush gear required Small size of brushes and brush gear
for rotor because armature current is high equal arrangement required for rotor because field
to the load. current is small.
Prime mover as IC engine or fly wheels. Prime mover as Turbines.
Advantages of stationary armature:
The field winding of an alternator is placed on the rotor and connected to dc supply through
the slip ring. The 3- armature winding is placed on the stator. This arrangement has the following
advantages.
1. “Easier to insulate the stationary winding” for high voltages because they are not
subjected to centrifugal force and extra space is available on stator.
2. “Stationary 3- armature winding is directly connected to the load, so current collection is easy”
without giving through large, unreliable slip-rings and brushes.
3. “One (or) two slip-rings are required for dc supply to the field winding on the rotor”. Since exciting
current is small, the slip rings and brush gear required are of light construction”.
4. “Due to simple and robust construction of the rotor”, higher speed of rotating dc filed is possible so
that output electrical power increased.
5. Stationary armature windings can be cooled more efficiently.
6. “Rigid and convenient construction” because stationary armature winding is capable of handling high
voltage and current.
7. “Reduced armature leakage reactance”, therefore better the voltage regulation.
In addition, water cooling can be installed more conveniently on stator rather than rotor by flexible
water tube connection.
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
8. “Lesser rotor weight” because field winding requires less amount of copper. Reduces the inertia due
to low-priced bearings and also longer life because of “minimum wear and tear”.
The above are the major advantages of the stationary armature windings.
Note: All Alternators above 5KVA employs Stationary Armature, Rotating Field.
All synchronous generators and motors require direct current for excitation.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS:
An alternator has 3- armature winding on the stator and dc field winding on the rotor.
Stator:
Stator is the stationary part of the machine and is built up of sheet steel laminations having slots
on its inner periphery. The slots are laminated and are insulated from each other by a thin coating of
oxide and enamel; it is in hollow cylindrical shape.
Stator is made with Cold Rolled Non Oriented (CRNGO) steel (have similar magnetic properties
in all directions in plan of the sheet) with 3% silicon. The addition of silicon increases the resistivity of
the magnetic material so that eddy current losses will further reduce.
Open slots are used, permitting easy installation of stator coils and easy removal in case of repair.
A 3- winding is placed in these slots and serves as the armature winding of alternator.
The armature winding is always connected in star and the neutral is connected to the load
because, for star connection,
VLINE = (VPHASE /Root (3))
Since the emf is proportional to number of turns, so that it requires less number of turns than
Delta. Neutral protects the system in case of ground faults.
Rotor:
The rotor carries a field winding which is supplied with direct current (dc) through two slip
rings by a separate dc source.
Depending on the construction of rotor the alternators are classified into two types.
i. Salient or projecting pole type.
ii. Non-Salient or Cylindrical or Wound type.
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
(i). Salient or Projecting pole type:
In this type, salient or projecting poles are mounted on a large steel (circular type) frame which is
fixed to the shaft of an alternator as shown in figure.
The poles are made of thick steel laminations riveted together and attached to a rotor by a dovetail
joint. The individual field pole windings are connected in series in such a way that when a field
winding is energized by the dc exciter, adjacent poles have opposite polarities.
Low and medium speed alternators (120 – 500rpm) such as those driven by diesel engines or water
turbines have salient pole rotors due to the following reasons:
a) The salient field poles would cause an excessive windage loss if driven at high speed and
would tend to produce “noise”.
b) Salient-pole construction cannot be made strong enough to withstand the mechanical stresses
to which they may be subjected at higher speeds.
Since a frequency of 50Hz is required,
we must use a large number of poles (P) on the
rotor of slow speed (N) alternator.
Ns = 120*f ⇒ Ns = 1
P P
Low speed rotors always posses a large
diameter to provide the necessary space for the
poles. Consequently, salient pole type rotors
have large diameters and short axial lengths.
The pole face is so shaped that the radial air gap length increases from the pole centre to pole tips.
This makes the flux distribution over the armature uniform to generate sinusoidal waveform of emf. The
pole shoe covers about 2/3rd of pole pitch. Poles are laminated to reduce eddy current losses.
(ii). Non – Salient pole type or cylindrical or wound rotor:
In this type, the rotor is made of smooth solid forged steel radial cylinder of nickel, chromium
and molybdenum to increase the mechanical strength having a number of slots along the outer periphery.
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
According to design 2/3rd rotor periphery is slotted
to accommodate the field winding and 1/3rd is left,
i.e., un slotted is for the formation of poles.
The field windings are embedded in these slots and
are connected in series to the slip–rings through
which they are energized by the dc exciter. It is
clear that the poles formed are non-salient i.e., they
do not project out from the rotor surface.
The air gap is uniform and flux distribution is
sinusoidal.
High-Speed alternator’s (1500 or 3000 rpm) are driven by steam turbines, gas turbines and use of
non-salient pole rotor’s due to the following reasons:
a) The type of construction has mechanical robustness and gives noise less operation at high
speeds.
b) The flux distribution around the periphery is nearly a sine wave and hence a better emf
wave form is obtained rather than salient pole rotor.
Since steam turbine runs at high speed and a frequency of 50Hz is required, we need a small
number of poles i.e., 2 and 4. For a 2-pole it is 3000rpm and 4-pole it is 1500rpm.
It possesses small diameter and very long axial lengths because high speed of rotation produces
strong centrifugal forces which impose an upper limit on the diameter. Therefore, high-power & high
speed rotors have to be very long.
These machines are suitable for Steam power plants, Gas power plants and Nuclear power plant.
The special features of non-salient pole field structure are as follows.
1. Better emf waveform obtained.
2. Noiseless operation.
3. Robust construction.
4. Less windage loss.
5. Highest operating speed possible.
6. Dynamic balancing is better.
OPERATION OF AN ALTERNATOR:
The rotor winding is energized from the dc exciter and alternate ‘N’ and ‘S’ poles are
developed on the rotor. When the rotor is rotated in anti-clockwise direction by a prime mover, the
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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UNIT- III SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS D VENKATA BRAMHANAIDU [Link](Ph.D)
stator (or) armature conductors are cut by the magnetic flux of rotor poles.
Consequently, emf is induced in the armature conductors due to electromagnetic
induction. The induced emf is alternating since ‘N’ and ‘S’ poles of rotor alternately pass the armature
conductors.
The direction of induced emf can be found by Fleming’s right hand rule and frequency is given by,
N*P
F=
120
Where, N = speed of rotor (rpm)
P = number of rotor poles.
The above figure shows star-connected armature winding and dc field winding. When the rotor
is rotated, a 3- voltage is induced in the armature winding. The magnitude of the induced
depends upon the speed of rotation and the dc exiting current.
The magnitude of emf in each phase of the armature winding is the same. However, they
differ in phase by 1200 electrical as shown in the phasor diagram.
Department of EEE, S.V.U College of Engineering::Tirupati
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