Electrical Machines II
Electrical Machines II
Electrical Machines II
• Consider a cosine wave from 0 to 360◦. This sine wave is plotted with unit
amplitude.
• Now allow the amplitude of the sine wave to vary with respect to time in a
simisoidal fashion with a frequency of 50Hz.Let the maximum value of the
amplitude is, say, 10 units. This waveform is a pulsating sine wave.
• Now consider a second sine wave, which is displaced by 120◦ from the first
(lagging). . .
• And allow its amplitude to vary in a similar manner, but with a 120◦time lag.
• And allow its amplitude to change as well with a 240◦ time lag. Now we have three
pulsating sine waves.
icpk = Im cos(2π.50.t − 240◦) (3)
Let us see what happens if we sum up the values of these three sine waves at every angle. The result really
speaks about Tesla‘s genius. What we get is a constant amplitude travelling sine wave!
In a three phase induction machine, there are three sets of windings — phase A winding, phase B and phase
C windings. These are excited by a balanced three-phase voltage supply. This would result in a balanced
three phase current. Equations 1 — 3 represent the currents that flow in the three phase windings. Note that
they have a 120◦ time lag between them.
Further, in an induction machine, the windings are not all located in the same place. They are distributed in
the machine 120◦ away from each other (more about this in the section on alternators). The correct
terminology would be to say that the windings have
their axes separated in space by 120◦. This is the reason for using the phase A, B and C since waves
separated in space as well by 120◦.
When currents flow through the coils, they generate MMFs. Since MMF is proportional to current, these
waveforms also represent the MMF generated by the coils and the total MMF. Further, due to magnetic
material in the machine (iron), these MMFs generate magnetic flux, which is proportional to the MMF (we
may assume that iron is infinitely permeable and non-linear effects such as hysterisis are neglected). Thus
the waveforms seen above would also represent the flux generated within the machine. The net result as we
have seen is a travelling flux wave. The x-axis would represent the space angle in the machine as one
travels around the air gap. The first pulsating waveform seen earlier would then represent the a-phase flux,
the second represents the b-phase flux and the third represents the c-phase.
This may be better visualized in a polar plot. The angles of the polar plot represent the space angle in the
machine, i.e., angle as one travels around the stator bore of the machine. Click on the links below to see the
development on polar axes.
• This plot shows the pulsating wave at the zero degree axes. The amplitude is
maximum at zero degree axes and is zero at 90◦ axis. Positive parts of the waveform
are shown in red while negative in blue. Note that the waveform is pulsating at the 0
− 180◦ axis and red and blue alternate in any given side. This corresponds to the sine
wave current changing polarity. Note that the maximum amplitude of the sine wave
is reached only along the 0 − 180◦ axis. At all other angles, the amplitude does not
reach a maximum of this value. It however reaches a maximum value which is less
than that of the peak occuring at the 0 − 180◦ axis. More exactly, the maximum
reached at any space angle θ would be equal to cosθ times the peak at the 0 − 180◦
axis. Further, at any space angle θ, the time variation is sinusoidal with the frequency
and phase lag being that of the excitation, and amplitude being that corresponding to
the space angle.
• This plot shows the pulsating waveforms of all three cosines. Note that the first is
pulsating about the 0 − 180◦ axis, the second about the120◦ − 300◦axis and the third at
240◦ − 360◦axis.
• This plot shows the travelling wave in a circular trajectory. Note that while
individual pulsating waves have maximum amplitude of 10, the resultant has
amplitude of 15.
If f1 is the amplitude of the flux waveform in each phase, the travelling wave can then
be represented as
2π 2π 4π 4π
f (t) = f1 cos ωt cos θ + f1 cos(ωt − ) cos(θ − ) + f1 cos(ωt − ) cos(θ − )
3 3 3 3
= 3 f1 cos(ωt − θ) (4)
UNIT-II
Induction Machines
Introduction:
The induction machine was invented by NIKOLA TESLA in 1888. Right from its inception its ease of
manufacture and its robustness have made it a very strong candidate for electromechanical energy
conversion. It is available from fractional horsepower ratings to megawatt levels. It finds very wide usage in
all various application areas. The induction machine is an AC electromechanical energy conversion device.
The machine interfaces with the external world through two connections (ports) one mechanical and one
electrical. The mechanical port is in the form of a rotating shaft and the electrical port is in the form of
terminals where AC supply is connected. There are machines available to operate from three phase or single
phase electrical input. In this module we will be discussing the three phase induction machine. Single phase
machines are restricted to small power levels.
Since the flux pattern is varying sinusoidally in space, as the flux waveform rotates, the flux linkage varies
sinusoidally. The rate of variation of this flux linkage will then be equal to the speed of rotation of the air
gap flux produced. This sinusoidal variation of the flux linkage produces a sinusoidal induced EMF in the
rotor coil. If the coil is short circuited, this induced EMF will cause a current flow in the coil as per Lenz‘s
law.
Now imagine a second coil on the rotor whose axis is 120◦ away from the first. This is shown in fig. 2. The
flux linkage in this coil will also vary Sinusoidally with respect to time and therefore cause an induced
voltage varying Sinusoidally with time. However the flux linkages in these two coils will have a phase
deference of 120◦ (the rotating flux wave will have to travel 120◦ in order to cause a similar flux linkage
variation as in the first coil), and hence the time varying voltages induced in the coils will also have a 120 ◦
phase deference.
A third coil placed a further 120◦ away is shown in fig. 3. This will have a time varying induced EMF
lagging 240◦ in time with respect to the first.
When these three coils are shorted upon themselves currents flow in them as per Lenz‘s law. The
mechanism by which torque is produced may now be understood as follows. The diagram in fig. 4 shows a
view of the rotor seen from one end. Positive current is said to flow in these coils when current flows out of
the page in a, b, c conductors and into a ′ , b′ and c′ respectively.
If we look at the voltage induced in these coils as phasors, the diagram looks as shown in fig. 5. The main
flux is taken as the reference phasor. Considering that the induced EMF is −dψ/dt where ψ is the flux
linkage, the diagram is drawn as shown.
As usual, the horizontal component of these phasors gives the instantaneous values of the induced EMF in
these coils.
Let these coils be purely resistive. Then these EMF phasors also represent the currents flowing in these
coils. If we consider the instant t = 0, it can be seen that
b
c
a‘
Depending on the torque requirement for the load, the difference in speed between the rotor and the main
ns − nr
s= (5)
n
s
It is instructive to see the situation if the rotor resistance is neglected and is considered to be purely
inductive. The phasor diagram of voltages and the currents would then look as shown in fig. 7.
At t = 0, one can see that current in a phase coil is at negative maximum, while b and c phases have positive
current of 0.5 units. Now if we consider the current flux profiles at coil sides a, b ′ , c, the picture that
emerges is shown in fig. 8.
Since main flux at the a coil side is close to zero, there is very little torque produced from there. There is a
tendency to move due to the b′ and c coil sides, but they are in opposite directions however. Hence there is
no net torque on the rotor. This brings up another important conclusion — the resistance of the rotor is an
important part of torque production in the induction machine. While a high resistance rotor is better suited
for torque production, it would also be loss.
Construction:
In actual practice, the three coils form three windings distributed over several slots. These windings may be
connected in star or delta and three terminations are brought out. These are conventional three phase
windings which are discussed in greater detail in the chapters on alternators. Such windings are present n
the stator as well as rotor. A photograph of the stator of an induction machine is shown in fig. 9. A close up
of the windings is shown in fig. 10.the several turns that makeup a coil are seen in this picture. The three
terminations are connected to rings on which three brushes make a sliding contact.
Rotor
shaft
v
Winding
Brushes(stationary)
on rotor
Sliding
Contact Stationary terminals
That is used. This rotor has slots into which copper or aluminum bars are inserted. These bars are then
shorted by rings that are brazed on to each of the rotor ends. Figure 14 shows a simple schematic .
Such a rotor is called squirrel cage rotor. This rotor behaves like a short-circuited winding and hence the
machine is able to perform electromechanical energy conversion. This type of rotor is easy to manufacture,
has no sliding contacts and is very robust. It is this feature that makes induction machine suitable for use
even in hazardous environments and reliable operation is achieved. The disadvantage of this type of rotor is
that the motor behavior cannot be altered by connecting anything to the rotor — there are no rotor
terminals.
Fig. 15 shows a photograph of a squirrel cage rotor. The rotor also has a fan attached to it. This is for
cooling purposes. The bars ( white lines on the surface) are embedded in the rotor iron which forms the
magnetic circuit. The white lines correspond to the visible portion of the rotor bar.
Sometimes two rotor bars are used per slot to achieve some degree of variability in the starting and running
performances. It is to make use of the fact that while high rotor resistance is desirable from the point of
view of starting torque, low rotor resistance is desirable from efficiency considerations while the machine is
running. Such rotors are called double cage rotors or deep-bar rotors.
Equivalent Circuit:
It is often required to make quantitative predictions about the behavior of the induction machine, under
various operating conditions. For this purpose, it is convenient to represent the machine as an equivalent
circuit under sinusoidal steady state operating conditions. Since the operation is balanced, a single-phase
equivalent circuit is sufficient for most purposes.
In order to derive the equivalent circuit, let us consider a machine with an open circuited rotor. Since no
current can flow and as a consequence no torque can be produced, the situation is like a transformer
open-circuited on the secondary (rotor). The equivalent circuit under this condition can be drawn as shown
in fig. 16.
This is just the normal transformer equivalent circuit (why?). Measurements are generally made on the
stator side and the rotor, in most circumstances, is shorted (if required, through some external circuitry).
Since most of the electrical interaction is from the stator, it makes sense to refer all parameters to the stator .
Let us consider the rotor to be shorted. Let the steady speed attained by the rotor be ωr and the synchronous
speed be ωs. The induced voltage on the rotor is now proportional to the slip i.e., slip times the induced
voltage under open circuit (why? ). Further, the voltage induced and the current that flows in the rotor is at a
frequency equal to slip times the stator excitation frequency (why? ). The equivalent circuit can be made to
represent this by shorting the secondary side and is shown in fig. 17.
Rr′ and Xlr′ refer to the rotor resistance and leakage resistance referred to the stator side (using the square of
the turns ratio, as is done in transformer). The secondary side loop is excited by a voltage sE 1 , which is also
at a frequency sf1 . This is the reason why the rotor leakage is sXlr′ now . The current amplitude in the rotor
side would therefore be
From the equivalent circuit, one can see that the dissipation in R s represents the stator loss, and dissipation
in Rm represents the iron loss. Therefore, the power absorption indicated by the rotor part of the circuit must
represent all other means of power consumption - the actual mechanical output, friction and windage loss
components and the rotor copper loss components. Since the dissipation in R r′ is rotor copper loss, the
power dissipation in Rr′ (1 − s)/s is the sum total of the remaining. In standard terminology, dissipation in
In an ideal case where there are no mechanical losses, the last term would represent the actual output
available at the shaft. Out of the power P g Transferred at the air gap, a fraction s is dissipated in the rotor
and (1 − s) is delivered as output at the shaft. If there are no mechanical losses like friction and windage,
this represents the power available to the load.
Determination of Circuit Parameters:
In order to find values for the various elements of the equivalent circuit, tests must be conducted on a
particular machine, which is to be represented by the equivalent circuit. In order to do this, we note the
following.
1. When the machine is run on no-load, there is very little torque developed by it. In an
ideal case where there are no mechanical losses, there is no mechanical power
developed at no-load. Recalling the explanations in the section on torque production,
the flow of current in the rotor is indicative of the torque that is produced. If no
torque is produced, one may conclude that no current would be flowing in the rotor
either. The rotor branch acts like an open circuit. This conclusion may also be
reached by reasoning that when there is no load, an ideal machine will run up to its
synchronous speed where the slip is zero resulting in an infinite impedance in the
rotor branch.
2. When the machine is prevented from rotation, and supply is given, the slip remains
at unity. The elements representing the magnetizing branch R m &Xm are high
impedances much larger than Rr′ & Xlr′ in series. Thus, in the exact equivalent circuit
of the induction machine, the magnetizing branch may be neglected.
From these considerations, we may reduce the induction machine exact equivalent circuit of fig.18 to those
shown in fig. 21
These two observations and the reduced equivalent circuits are used as the basis for the two most
commonly used tests to find out the equivalent circuit parameters — the blocked rotor test and no load test.
They are also referred to as the short circuit test and open circuit test respectively in conceptual analogy to
the transformer.
This test gives the information regarding no-load losses such as core loss, friction loss and windage loss.
Rotor copper loss at no load is very less that its value is negligible. Small current is required to produce
adequate torque. This test is also well-known as running light test. This test is used to evaluate the
resistance and impedance of the magnetizing path of induction motor.
Theory of No Load Test of Induction Motor
The impedance of magnetizing path of induction motor is large enough to obstruct flow of current.
Therefore, small current is applied to the machine due to which there is a fall in the stator-impedance value
and rated voltage is applied across the magnetizing branch. But the drop in stator-impedance value and
power dissipated due to stator resistance are very small in comparison to applied voltage. Therefore, there
values are neglected and it is assumed that total power drawn is converted into core loss. The air gap in
magnetizing branch in an induction motor slowly increases the exciting current and the no load stator I2R
loss can be recognized.
One should keep in mind that current should not exceed its rated value otherwise rotor accelerates beyond
its limit.
The test is performed at poly-phase voltages and rated frequency applied to the stator terminals. When
motor runs for some times and bearings get lubricated fully, at that time readings of applied voltage, input
current and input power are taken. To calculate the rotational loss, subtract the stator I2R losses from the
input power.
Where,
V1 = line voltage
I0 = No load input current
Rotational loss = W0 – S1
Where,
S1 = stator winding loss = Nph I2 R1
Nph = Number phase
The various losses like windage loss, core loss, and rotational loss are fixed losses which can be calculated
by
Stator winding loss = 3Io2R1
Where,
I0 = No load input current
R1 = Resistance of the motor
Core loss = 3GoV2
Blocked-rotor Test:
The induction motors are widely used in the industries and consume maximum power. To improve its
performance characteristics certain tests have been designed like no-load test and block rotor test, etc. A
blocked rotor test is normally performed on an induction motor to find out the leakage impedance. Apart
from it, other parameters such as torque, motor, short-circuit current at normal voltage, and many more
could be found from this test. Blocked rotor test is analogous to the short circuit test of transformer. Here
shaft of the motor is clamped i.e. blocked so it cannot move and rotor winding is short circuited. In slip ring
motor rotor winding is short circuited through slip rings and in cage motors, rotors bars are permanently
short circuited. The testing of the induction motor is a little bit complex as the resultant value of leakage
impedance may get affected by rotor position, rotor frequency and by magnetic dispersion of the leakage
flux path. These effects could be minimized by conducting a block rotor current test on squirrel-cage rotors.
Process of Testing of Blocked Rotor Test of Induction Motor
In the blocked rotor test, it should be kept in mind that the applied voltage on the stator terminals should be
low otherwise normal voltage could damage the winding of the stator. In block rotor test, the low voltage is
applied so that the rotor does not rotate and its speed becomes zero and full load current passes through the
stator winding. The slip is unity related to zero speed of rotor hence the load resistance becomes zero. Now,
slowly increase the voltage in the stator winding so that current reaches to its rated value. At this point, note
down the readings of the voltmeter, wattmeter and ammeter to know the values of voltage, power and
current. The test can be repeated at different stator voltages for the accurate value.
Therefore,
Therefore,
X01 = Motor leakage reactance per phase referred to stator can be calculated as
Stator reactance X1 and rotor reactance per phase referred to stator X2 are normally assumed equal.
Therefore,
Similarly, stator resistance per phase R 1 and rotor resistance per phase referred to stator R 2 can be calculated
as follows:
First some suitable test are done on stator windings to find the value of R1 and then to find R2 subtract the
R1 from R01
Vs
(14)
Is = ′
R
r
(Rs + s ) + j(Xls + Xlr′ )
where Vs is the phase voltage phasor and Is is the current phasor. The magnetizing
drawn by the circuit is give by
current is neglected. Since this current is flowing through Rsr , the air-gap power is given by
The mechanical power output was shown to be (1 −s)P g (power dissipated in Rr′ /s). The torque is obtained
by dividing this by the shaft speed ωm.Thus we have,
Pg (1 − s) Pg (1 − s) 2 Rr′
ωm =ωs(1 − s) = |Is| sωs (16)
where ωs is the synchronous speed in radians per second and s is the slip. Further, this is the
torque produced per phase. Hence the overall torque is given by
The torque may be plotted as a function of‗s‘ and is called the torque-slip (or torque-speed, since slip
indicates speed) characteristic a very important characteristic of the induction machine. Eqn. 17 is valid for
a two-pole (one pole pair) machine. In general, this expression should be multiplied by p, the number of
pole-pairs. A typical torque-speed characteristic is shown in fig. 22. This plot corresponds to a 3 kW, 4
pole, 60 Hz machine. The rated operating speed is 1780 rpm.
We must note that the approximate equivalent circuit was used in deriving this relation. Readers with
access to MATLAB or suitable equivalents (octave, scilab available free under GNU at the time of this
writing) may find out the difference caused by using the ‗exact‘ equivalent circuit by using the script found
here. A comparison between the two is found in the plot of fig. 23. The plots correspond to a 3 kW, 4 pole,
50 Hz machine, with a rated speed of 1440 rpm. It can be seen that the approximate equivalent circuit is a
good approximation in the operating speed range of the machine. Comparing fig. 22 with fig. 23, we can
see that the slope and shape of the characteristics are dependent intimately on the machine parameters.
Further, this curve is obtained by varying slip with the applied voltage being held con-stant. Coupled with
the fact that this is an equivalent circuit valid under steady state, it implies that if this characteristic is to be
measured experimentally, we need to look at the torque for a given speed after all transients have died down.
One cannot, for example, try to obtain this curve by directly starting the motor with full voltage applied to
the terminals and measuring the torque and speed dynamically as it runs up to steady speed.
The value of the stalling torque may be obtained by differentiating the expression for torque
with respect to zero and setting it to zero to find the value of sˆ. Using this method
This fact can be made use of conveniently to alter sˆ. If it is possible to change R r′, then we can get a whole
series of torque-speed characteristics, the maximum torque remaining constant all the while. But this is a
subject to be discussed later.
While considering the negative slip range, (generator mode) we note that the maximum torque is higher
than in the positive slip region (motoring mode)
Operating Point
Consider a speed torque characteristic shown in fig. 25 for an induction machine, having the load
characteristic also superimposed on it. The load is a constant torque load i.e., the torque required for
operation is fixed irrespective of speed.
The system consisting of the motor and load will operate at a point where the two characteristics meet.
From the above plot, we note that there are two such points. We therefore need to find out which of these is
the actual operating point.
To answer this we must note that, in practice, the characteristics are never fixed; they change slightly with
time. It would be appropriate to consider a small band around the curve drawn where the actual points of
the characteristic will lie. This being the case let us considers that the system is operating at point 1, and the
load torque demand increases slightly. This is shown in fig. 26, where the change is exaggerated for clarity.
This would shift the point of operation to a point 1′ at which the slip would be less and the developed
torque higher.
The difference in torque developed △Te, being positive will accelerate the machine. Any overshoot in speed
as it approaches the point 1′ will cause it to further accelerate since the developed torque is increasing.
Similar arguments may be used to show that if for some reason the developed torque becomes smaller the
speed would drop and the effect is cumulative. Therefore we may conclude that 1 is not a stable operating
point.
Let us consider the point 2. If this point shifts to 2′ , the slip is now higher (speed is lower) and the positive
difference in torque will accelerate the machine. This behavior will tend to bring the operating point towards
2 once again. In other words, disturbances at point 2 will not cause a runaway effect. Similar arguments may
be given for the case where the load characteristic shifts down. Therefore we conclude that point 2 is a stable
operating point.
From the foregoing discussions, we can say that the entire region of the speed-torque characteristic from s =
0 to s = sˆ is an unstable region, while the region from s = sˆ to s = 0 is a stable region. Therefore the
machine will always operate between s = 0
and s = sˆ
Modes of Operation:
Let us consider a situation where the machine has just been excited with three phase supply and the rotor has
not yet started moving. A little reflection on the definition of the slip indicates that we are at the point s = 1.
When the rotating magnetic field is set up due to stator currents, it is the induced EMF that causes current in
the rotor, and the interaction between the two causes torque. It has already been pointed out that it is the
presence of the non-zero slip that causes a torque to be developed. Thus the region of the curve between s =
0 and s = 1 is the region where the machine produces torque to rotate a passive load and hence is called the
motoring region. Note further that the direction of rotation of the rotor is the same as that of the air gap flux.
Suppose when the rotor is rotating, we change the phase sequence of excitation to the machine. This would
cause the rotating stator field to reverse its direction — the rotating stator MMF and the rotor are now
moving in opposite directions. If we adopt the convention that positive direction is the direction of the air
gap flux, the rotor speed would then be a negative quantity. The slip would be a number greater than unity.
Further, the rotor as we know should be‖dragged along‖ by the stator field. Since the rotor is rotating in the
opposite direction to that of the field, it would now tend to slow down, and reach zero speed. Therefore this
region (s > 1) is called the braking region. (What would happen if the supply is not cut-off when the speed
reaches zero?)
There is yet another situation. Consider a situation where the induction machine is operating from mains and
is driving an active load (a load capable of producing rotation by itself ). A typical example is that of a
windmill, where the fan like blades of the wind mill are connected to the shaft of the induction machine.
Rotation of the blades may be caused by the motoring action of the machine, or by wind blowing. Further
suppose that both acting independently cause rotation in the same direction. Now when both grid and wind
act, a strong wind may cause the rotor to rotate faster than the MMF produced by the stator excitation. A
little reflection shows that slip is then negative. Further, the wind is rotating the rotor to a speed higher than
what the electrical supply alone would cause. In order to do this it has to contend with an opposing torque
generated by the machine preventing the speed build up. The torque generated is therefore negative. It is this
action of the wind against the torque of the machine that enables wind-energy generation. The region of slip
s > 1 is the generating mode of operation. Indeed this is at present the most commonly used approach in
wind-energy generation. It may be noted from the torque expression of eqn. 17 that torque is negative for
negative values of slip.
range of the machine, the speed change is quite small. The machine speed is quite stiff with respect to load
changes. The entire speed variation is only in the range ns to (1 − sˆ)ns, ns being dependent on supply
frequency and number of poles.
The foregoing discussion shows that the induction machine, when operating from mains is essentially a
constant speed machine. Many industrial drives, typically for fan or pump applications, have typically
constant speed requirements and hence the induction machine is ideally suited for these. However, the
induction machine, especially the squirrel cage type, is quite rugged and has a simple construction.
Therefore it is good candidate for variable speed applications if it can be achieved.
Further, we also note that the starting torque is also lower at lower voltages. Thus, even if a given voltage
level is sufficient for achieving the running torque, the machine may not start. This method of trying to
control the speed is best suited for loads that require very little starting torque, but their torque requirement
may increase with speed.
Figure 27 also shows a load torque characteristic — one that is typical of a fan type of load. In a fan
(blower) type of load, the variation of torque with speed is such that T ∝ ω2. Here one can see that it may
be possible to run the motor to lower speeds within the range ns to (1 − sˆ)ns. Further, since the load torque
at zero speed is zero, the machine can start even at reduced voltages. This will not be possible with constant
torque type of loads.
One may note that if the applied voltage is reduced, the voltage across the magnetising branch also comes
down. This in turn means that the magnetizing current and hence flux level are reduced. Reduction in the
flux level in the machine impairs torque production
Stator voltage variation (recall explanations on torque production), which is primarily the explanation for
fig. 27. If, however, the machine is running under lightly loaded conditions, then operating under rated flux
levels is not required. Under such conditions, reduction in magnetizing current improves the power factor of
operation. Some amount of energy saving may also be achieved.
Voltage control may be achieved by adding series resistors (a lossy, inefficient proposition), or a series
inductor / autotransformer (a bulky solution) or a more modern solution using semiconductor devices. A
typical solid state circuit used for this purpose is the AC voltage controller or AC chopper. Another use of
voltage control is in the so-called ‗soft-start‘ of the machine. This is discussed in the section on starting
methods.
Rotor resistance control:
The reader may recall from eqn.17 the expression for the torque of the induction machine. Clearly, it is
dependent on the rotor resistance. Further, eqn.19 shows that the maximum value is independent of the rotor
resistance. The slip at maximum torque eqn.18 is dependent on the rotor resistance. Therefore, we may
expect that if the rotor resistance is changed, the maximum torque point shifts to higher slip values, while
retaining a constant torque. Figure 28 shows a family of torque-speed characteristic obtained by changing
the rotor resistance.
For all its advantages, the scheme has two serious drawbacks. Firstly, in order to vary the rotor resistance,
it is necessary to connect external variable resistors (winding resistance itself cannot be changed). This,
therefore necessitates a slip-ring machine, since only in that case rotor terminals are available outside. For
cage rotor machines, there are no rotor terminals. Secondly, the method is not very efficient since the
additional resistance and operation at high slips entails dissipation.
The resistors connected to the slip-ring brushes should have good power dissipation capability. Water based
rheostats may be used for this. A ‗solid-state‘ alternative to a rheostat is a chopper controlled resistance
where the duty ratio control of the chopper presents a variable resistance load to the rotor of the induction
machine.
Cascade control:
The power drawn from the rotor terminals could be spent more usefully. Apart from using the heat
generated in meaning full ways, the slip ring output could be connected to another induction machine. The
stator of the second machine would carry slip frequency currents of the first machine which would generate
some useful mechanical power. A still better option would be to mechanically couple the shafts of the two
machines together. This sort of a connection is called cascade connection and it gives some measure of
speed control as shown below.
Let the frequency of supply given to the first machine be f1, its number poles be p1, and its slip of operation
be s1 . Let f2, p2 and s2 be the corresponding quantities for the second machine. The frequency of currents
flowing in the rotor of the first machine and hence in the stator of the second machine is s 1f1. Therefore f2 =
s1f1. Since the machines are coupled at the shaft, the speed of the rotor is common for both. Hence, if n is
the speed of the rotor
in radians,
f1 s1f1
n = p1 (1 − s1) = ± p2 (1 − s2). (20)
Note that while giving the rotor output of the first machine to the stator of the second, the resultant stator
MMF of the second machine may set up an air-gap flux which rotates in the same direction as that of the
rotor, or opposes it. This results in values for speed as
f1 f1
n= p1 + p2 or n = p1 − p2 (s2 negligible) (21)
The latter expression is for the case where the second machine is connected in opposite phase sequence to
the first. The cascade connected system can therefore run at two possible speeds
Rs X
ls Rr′ sXlr′
E
Rm Xm E1 sE1 r
Speed control through rotor terminals can be considered in a much more general way. Consider the
induction machine equivalent circuit of fig. 29, where the rotor circuit has been terminated with a voltage
source Er .
If the rotor terminals are shorted, it behaves like a normal induction machine. This is equivalent to saying
that across the rotor terminals a voltage source of zero magnitude is connected. Diff erent situations could
then be considered if this voltage source Er had a non-zero magnitude. Let the power consumed by that
source be Pr . Then considering the rotor side circuit power dissipation per phase
Clearly now, the value of s can be changed by the value of P r. For Pr = 0, the machine is like a normal
machine with a short circuited rotor. As P r becomes positive, for all other circuit conditions remaining
constant, s increases or in the other words, speed reduces. As P r becomes negative, the right hand side of the
equation and hence the slip decreases. The physical interpretation is that we now have an active source
connected on the rotor side which is able to supply part of the rotor copper losses. When P r = −I2′2R2 the
entire copper loss is supplied by the external source. The RHS and hence the slip is zero. This corresponds
to operation at synchronous speed. In general the circuitry connected to the rotor may not be a simple
resistor or a machine but a power electronic circuit which can process this power requirement. This circuit
may drive a machine or recover power back to the mains. Such circuits are called static Kramer drives.
Pole changing schemes:
Sometimes induction machines have a special stator winding capable of being externally connected to form
two different number of pole numbers. Since the synchronous speed of the induction machine is given by n s
= fs/p (in rev./s) where p is the number of pole pairs, this would correspond to changing the synchronous
speed. With the slip now corresponding to the new synchronous speed, the operating speed is changed. This
method of speed control is a stepped variation and generally restricted to two steps.
If the changes in stator winding connections are made so that the air gap flux remains constant, then at any
winding connection, the same maximum torque is achievable. Such winding arrangements are therefore
referred to as constant-torque connections. If however such connection changes result in air gap flux
changes that are inversely proportional to the synchronous speeds, then such connections are called
constant-horsepower type.
The air gap flux set up by the three phase stator windings carrying sinusoidal currents. The wave shape is
non-sinusoidal in nature. According to Fourier series analysis, any non-sinusoidal flux is equivalent to the
combination of a number of sinusoidal fluxes of fundamental and higher order harmonics. Since, the flux
wave shape has half-wave symmetry, all even harmonics (2,4,6 ……) are absent in Fourier series.
A non-sinusoidal flux can be resolved into fluxes of fundamental and higher order odd harmonics (3, 5, 7,
11, 13, etc). The third harmonic flux wave produced by each of the three phases neutralizes one another.
The resultant air gap flux is free from third harmonics and its multiples. This is because the third harmonics
in the flux wave of all the three phases are in space phase, but differ in time phase by 120 degrees.
f = supply frequency
P = number of poles of the stator
Thus, for the value of k = 1, a 3 phase winding will produce backward rotating fifth harmonic at the speed
of (1/5) of the synchronous speed and forward rotating seventh harmonic rotating at a speed of (1/7) of the
synchronous speed. These harmonics alone will have an effect on the operation of the motor.
The speed torque characteristics of the fundamental flux and the fifth and seventh space harmonic flux are
shown below.
The fifth harmonic torque opposes the fundamental component torque as the fifth harmonic flux rotates in
the opposite to the rotation of the rotor. Thus, the fifth harmonic flux produces a braking torque. The
seventh harmonic flux rotates in the same direction as that of the fundamental flux. Hence, the resultant
torque speed characteristic will be the combination of the fundamental fifth and seventh harmonic
characteristic.
The resultant torque speed characteristics have two dips, one near (1/5) of the synchronous speed and the
other near (1/7) of the synchronous speed. The dip near (1/5) of the synchronous speed occurs in the
negative direction of the motor rotation.
The motor will accelerate to the point L, which is the interaction between the load torque characteristic and
the motor torque-speed curve. This motor torque is developed because of the fundamental flux alone. The
load torque curve intersects the motor torque speed characteristics at the point A this is because of the
presence of the seventh harmonics flux torque.The seventh harmonic flux torque curve has a negative slope
at the point A.
The motor torque falls below the load torque. At this stage, the motor will not accelerate up to its normal
speed, but will remain running at a speed which is nearly (1/7) of its normal speed, and the operating point
is A. This tendency of the motor to run at a stable speed as low as one seventh of the normal speed Ns. In
this condition the motor is unable to pick up its normal speed is known as crawling of the motor.
Crawling can be reduced by reducing fifth and seventh harmonics. This can be done by using a chorded or
short pitched winding.
UNIT-III
ALTERNATORS
Introduction:
Synchronous machines are principally used as alternating current generators. They supply the electric
power used by all sectors of modern society. Synchronous machine is an important electromechanical
energy converter. Synchronous generators usually operate in parallel forming a large power system
supplying electrical power to consumers or loads. For these applications the synchronous generators are
built in large units, their rating ranging from tens to hundreds of Megawatts. These synchronous machines
can also be run as synchronous motors.
Synchronous machines are AC machines that have a field circuit supplied by an external DC source.
Synchronous machines are having two major parts namely stationary part stator and a rotating field system
called rotor.
In a synchronous generator, a DC current is applied to the rotor winding producing a rotor magnetic field.
The rotor is then driven by external means producing a rotating magnetic field, which induces a 3-phase
voltage within the stator winding.
Field windings are the windings producing the main magnetic field (rotor windings for synchronous
machines); armature windings are the windings where the main voltage is induced (stator windings for
synchronous machines).
According to the arrangement of armature and field winding, the synchronous machines are classified as
rotating armature type or rotating field type.
In rotating armature type the armature winding is on the rotor and the field winding is on the stator. The
generated EMF or current is brought to the load via the slip rings. These type of generators are built only in
small units.
In case of rotating field type generators field windings are on the rotor and the armature windings are on the
stator. Here the field current is supplied through a pair of slip rings and the induced EMF or current is
supplied to the load via the stationary terminals.
Based on the type of the prime movers employed the synchronous generators are classified as
1. Hydro generators: The generators which are driven by hydraulic turbines are called
hydro generators. These are run at lower speeds less than 1000 rpm.
2. Turbo generators: These are the generators driven by steam turbines. These generators are run at
very high speed of 1500rpm or above.
3. Engine driven Generators: These are driven by IC engines. These are run at aspeed less than 1500
rpm.
Construction of synchronous machines:
1. Salient pole Machines: These type of machines have salient pole or projecting poles with
concentrated field windings. This type of construction is for the machines which are driven by
hydraulic turbines or Diesel engines.
2. Non salient pole or cylindrical rotor or Round rotor Machines: These machines are having
cylindrical smooth rotor construction with distributed field winding in slots. This type of rotor
construction is employed for the machine driven by steam turbines.
Stator core:
The stator is the outer stationary part of the machine, which consists of
• The outer cylindrical frame called yoke, which is made either of welded sheet steel, cast iron.
• The magnetic path, which comprises a set of slotted steel laminations called stator core pressed into
the cylindrical space inside the outer frame. The magnetic path is laminated to reduce eddy
currents, reducing losses and heating. CRGO laminations of 0.5 mm thickness are used to reduce
the iron losses.
A set of insulated electrical windings are placed inside the slots of the laminated stator. The cross-sectional
area of these windings must be large enough for the power rating of the machine. For a 3-phase generator, 3
sets of windings are required, one for each phase connected in star. Fig. 1 shows one stator lamination of a
synchronous generator. In case of generators where the diameter is too large stator lamination can not be
punched in on circular piece. In such cases the laminations are punched in segments. A number of segments
are assembled together to form one circular laminations. All the laminations are insulated from each other
by a thin layer of varnish.
Rotor of water wheel generator consists of salient poles. Poles are built with thin silicon steel laminations of
0.5mm to 0.8 mm thickness to reduce eddy current laminations. The laminations are clamped by heavy end
plates and secured by studs or rivets. For low speed rotors poles have the bolted on construction for the
machines with little higher peripheral speed poles have dove tailed construction as shown in Figs. Generally
rectangular or round pole constructions are used for such type of alternators. However the round poles have
the advantages over rectangular poles.
Generators driven by water wheel turbines are of either horizontal or vertical shaft type. Generators with
fairly higher speeds are built with horizontal shaft and the generators with higher power ratings and low
speeds are built with vertical shaft design. Vertical shaft generators are of two types of designs (i) Umbrella
type where in the bearing is mounted below the rotor. (ii) Suspended type where in the bearing is mounted
above the rotor.
In case of turbo alternator the rotors are manufactured form solid steel forging. The rotor is slotted to
accommodate the field winding. Normally two third of the rotor periphery is slotted to accommodate the
winding and the remaining one third un slotted portion acts as the pole. Rectangular slots with tapering
teeth are milled in the rotor. Generally rectangular aluminum or copper strips are employed for filed
windings. The field windings and the overhangs of the field windings are secured in place by steel retaining
rings to protect against high centrifugal forces. Hard composition insulation materials are used in the slots
which can with stand high forces, stresses and temperatures. Perfect balancing of the rotor is done for such
type of rotors.
Damper windings are provided in the pole faces of salient pole alternators. Damper windings are nothing
but the copper or aluminum bars housed in the slots of the pole faces. The ends of the damper bars are short
circuited at the ends by short circuiting rings similar to end rings as in the case of squirrel cage rotors. These
damper windings are serving the function of providing mechanical balance; provide damping effect, reduce
the effect of over voltages and damp out hunting in case of alternators. In case of synchronous motors they
act as rotor bars and help in self starting of the motor.
Relation between Speed and Frequency:
In the previous course on induction motors it is established that the relation between speed and frequency
and number of poles is given by
Frequency f = P x N /120 Hz
Windings in Alternators: In case of three phase alternators the following types of windings are employed.
• Lap winding,
• wave winding and
• Mush winding.
Based on pitch of the coil
• full pitched
• short pitched windings
Based on number of layers
• Single layer
• Double layer
Pitch Factor:
Pitch factor Kp= EMF induced in a short pitched coil/ EMF induced in a full pitched coil
= (2E cos α/2 )/ 2E
Kp = cos α/2
where α is called chording angle.
Distribution Factor:
Even though we assumed concentrated winding in deriving EMF equation, in practice an attempt is made
to distribute the winding in all the slots coming under a pole. Such a winding is called distributed winding.
In concentrated winding the EMF induced in all the coil sides will be same in magnitude and in phase with
each other. In case of distributed winding the magnitude of EMF will be same but the EMFs induced in
each coil side will not be in phase with each other as they are distributed in the slots under a pole. Hence the
total EMF will not be same as that in concentrated winding but will be equal to the vector sum of the EMFs
induced. Hence it will be less than that in the concentrated winding. Now the factor by which the EMF
induced in a distributed winding gets reduced is called distribution factor and defined as the ratio of EMF
induced in a distributed winding to EMF induced in a concentrated winding.
Distribution factor Kd = EMF induced in a distributed winding/ EMF induced in a concentrated winding =
vector sum of the EMF/ arithmetic sum of the EMF
Let
E = EMF induced per coil side
m = number of slots per pole per
phase, n = number of slots per pole
β = slot angle = 180/n
The EMF induced in concentrated winding with m slots per pole per phase = mE volts.
Fig below shows the method of calculating the vector sum of the voltages in a distributed winding having a
mutual phase difference of β. When m is large curve ACEN will form the arc of a circle of radius r.
From the figure below AC = 2 x r x sin β/2
Hence arithmetic sum = m x 2r sinβ/2
Now the vector sum of the EMFs is AN as shown in figure below = 2 x r x sin mβ/2
Hence the distribution factor Kd = vector sum of the EMF / arithmetic sum of the EMF
= (2r sin mβ/2) / (m x 2r sin β/2)
Kd = ( sin mβ/2) / (m sin β/2)
Harmonics:
When the uniformly sinusoidal distributed air gap flux is cut by either the stationary or rotating armature
sinusoidal EMF is induced in the alternator. Hence the nature of the waveform of induced EMF and current
is sinusoidal. But when the alternator is loaded waveform will not continue to be sinusoidal or becomes non
sinusoidal. Such non sinusoidal wave form is called complex wave form. By using Fourier series
representation it is possible to represent complex non sinusoidal waveform in terms of series of sinusoidal
components called harmonics, whose frequencies are integral multiples of fundamental wave. The
fundamental wave form is one which is having the frequency same as that of complex wave.
The waveform, which is of the frequency twice that of the fundamental is called second harmonic. The one
which is having the frequency three times that of the fundamental is called third harmonic and so on. These
harmonic components can be represented as follows.
Fundamental: e1 = Em1 Sin (ωt ± θ1)
2nd Harmonic e2 = Em2 Sin (2ωt ± θ2)
3rd Harmonic e3 = Em3 Sin (3ωt ± θ3)
5th Harmonic e5 = Em5 Sin (5ωt ± θ5) etc.
In case of alternators as the field system and the stator coils are symmetrical the induced EMF will also be
symmetrical and hence the generated EMF in an alternator will not contain any even harmonics.
Slot Harmonics:
As the armature or stator of an alternator is slotted, some harmonics are induced into the EMF which is
called slot harmonics. The presence of slot in the stator makes the air gap reluctance at the surface of the
stator non uniform. Since in case of alternators the poles are moving or there is a relative motion between
the stator and rotor, the slots and the teeth alternately occupy any point in the air gap. Due to this the
reluctance or the air gap will be continuously varying. Due to this variation of reluctance ripples will be
formed in the air gap between the rotor and stator slots and teeth. This ripple formed in the air gap will
induce ripple EMF called slot harmonics.
Minimization of Harmonics:
To minimize the harmonics in the induced waveforms following methods are employed:
1. Distribution of stator winding.
2. Short Chording
3. Fractional slot winding
4. Skewing
5. Larger air gap length.
Operation of Alternators:
Similar to the case of DC generator, the behavior of a Synchronous generator connected to an external load
is different than that at no-load. In order to understand the performance of the Synchronous generator when
it is loaded, consider the flux distributions in the machine when the armature also carries a current. Unlike
in the DC machine in alternators the EMF peak and the current peak will not occur in the same coil due to
the effect of the power factor of the load. The current and the induced EMF will be at their peaks in the
same coil only for upf loads. For zero power factor lagging loads, the current reaches its peak in a coil
which falls behind that coil wherein the induced EMF is at its peak by 90 electrical degrees or half a pole-
pitch. Likewise for zero power factor leading loads, the current reaches its peak in a coil which is ahead of
that coil wherein the induced EMF is at its peak by 90 electrical degrees or half a pole-pitch. For simplicity,
assume the resistance and leakage reactance of the stator windings to be negligible. Also assume the
magnetic circuit to be linear i.e. the flux in the magnetic circuit is deemed to be proportional to the resultant
ampere-turns - in other words the machine is operating in the linear portion of the magnetization
characteristics. Thus the EMF induced is the same as the terminal voltage, and the phase-angle between
current and EMF is determined only by the power factor (pf) of the external load connected to the
Synchronous generator
Armature Reaction:
Magnetic fluxes in alternators:
There are three main fluxes associated with an alternator:
i) Main useful flux linked with both field & armature winding.
ii) Leakage flux linked only with armature winding.
iii) Leakage flux linked only with field winding.
The useful flux which links with both windings is due to combined MMF of the armature winding and field
winding. When the armature winding of an alternator carries current then an MMF sets in armature. This
armature MMF reacts with field MMF producing the resultant flux, which differs from flux of field winding
alone. The effect of armature reaction depends on nature of load (power factor of load). At no load
condition, the armature has no reaction due to absence of armature flux. When armature delivers current at
unity power factor load, then the resultant flux is displaced along the air gap towards the trailing pole tip.
Under this condition, armature reaction has distorting effect on MMF wave as shown in Figure. At zero
lagging power factor loads the armature current is lagging by 90° with armature voltage. Under this
condition, the position of armature conductor when inducing maximum EMF is the centre line of field
MMF. Since there is no distortion but the two MMF are in opposition, the armature reaction is now purely
demagnetizing as shown in Figure. Now at zero power factors leading, the armature current leads armature
voltage by 90°. Under this condition, the MMF of armature as well as the field winding is in same phase
and additive. The armature MMF has magnetizing effect due to leading armature current as shown in
Figure.
From the phasor diagrams of the armature reaction it can be seen that E 0 is the EMF induced under no load
condition and E can be considered as the EMF under loaded condition. It can also be understood that the E 0
is the EMF induced due to the field winding acting alone and E is the EMF induced when both field
winding and stator winding are acting in combination. Hence EMF E can be considered as sum of E0 and
another fictitious EMF Ea proportional to the stator current. From the figures it can be seen that the EMF Ea
is always in quadrature with current. This resembles the EMF induced in an inductive reactance. Hence the
effect of armature reaction is exactly same as if the stator has an additional reactance x a= Ea/I. This is called
the armature reaction reactance. The leakage reactance is the true reactance and the armature reaction
reactance is a fictitious reactance.
The synchronous reactance is an equivalent reactance the effects of which are supposed to reproduce the
combined effects of both the armature leakage reactance and the armature reaction. The alternator is
supposed to have no armature reaction at all, but is supposed to possess an armature reactance in excess of
its true leakage reactance. When the synchronous reactance is combined vectorially with the armature
resistance, a quantity called the synchronous impedance is obtained as shown in figure.
OA = Armature Resistance
AB = Leakage Reactance
BC = Equivalent Reactance of Armature Reaction
AC = Synchronous Reactance
OC = Synchronous Impedance
The armature winding has one more reactance called armature reaction reactance in addition to leakage
reactance and resistance. Considering all the three parameters the equivalent circuit of a synchronous
generator can be written as shown below. The sum of leakage reactance and armature reaction reactance is
called synchronous reactance X s. Under this condition impedance of the armature winding is called the
synchronous impedance Zs.
As the armature reaction reactance is dependent on armature current so is synchronous reactance and hence
synchronous impedance is dependent on armature current or load current.
Phasor diagram:
In the phasor diagrams E is the induced EMF /phase = Eph and V is the terminal voltage /phase = Vph. From
each of the phasor diagrams the expression for the induced EMF Eph can be expressed in terms of Vph,
armature current, resistance, reactance‘s and impedance of the machine as follows.
Under zero power factor lagging: Eph = V + (IRa + j IXS) = V + I(Ra + j XS)
The above expression can also be written as Eph = √[ (V cos + IRa)2 + (V sin + IXS)2]
Numerical problems:
1. A 3Φ, 50 Hz, star connected salient pole alternator has 216 slots with 5 conductors
per slot. All the conductors of each phase are connected in series; the winding is
distributed and full pitched. The flux per pole is 30 mwb and the alternator runs at
250 rpm. Determine the phase and line voltages of EMF induced.
-3
= 4.44 x 1 x 0.9597 x 50 x 30 x 10 x 180 = 1150.488 volts
Hence the line Voltage EL = √3 x phase voltage = √3 Eph = √3 x1150.488 = 1992.65 volts
2. A 3Φ, 16 pole, star connected salient pole alternator has 144 slots with 10
conductors per slot. The alternator is run at 375 rpm. The terminal voltage of the
generator found to be 2.657 kV. Dteremine the frequency of the induced EMF and
the flux per pole.
Soln: Ns = 375 rpm, p =16, slots = 144, Total no. of conductors = 144 x
10 = 1440 EL = 2.657 kV,
f = P Ns/120 = 16 x 375/120 = 50 Hz
Assuming full pitched winding kp = 1
Number of slots per pole per phase = 144/(16 x 3) = 3
8 = 0.03 wb = 30 mwb
3. A 4 pole, 3 phase, 50 Hz, star connected alternator has 60 slots with 4 conductors
per slot. The coils are short pitched by 3 slots. If the phase spread is 600, find the
line voltage induced for a flux per pole of 0.943 wb.
Coils are short chorded by 3 slots Slot angle = 180/number of slots/pole = 180/15 =
12
0
Therefore coil is short pitched by α = 3 x slot angle = 3 x 12 = 36
Hence pitch factor kp = cos α/2 = cos 36/2 = 0.95
Number of turns per phase T ph = Zph/2 = (Z/3)/2 = Z /6 = 60 x
4 /6 = 40 EMF induced per phase Eph = 4.44 kp kd f Φ Tph
volts
= 4.44 x 0.95 x 0.957 x 50 x 0.943 x 40
= 7613 volts
Line voltage EL = √3 x Eph
= √3 x 7613 = 13185 volts
4. In a 3 phase star connected alternator, there are 2 coil sides per slot and 16 turns per
coil. The stator has 288 slots. When run at 250 rpm the line voltage is 6600 volts at
50 Hz. The coils are shot pitched by 2 slots. Calculate the flux per pole.
Slon: Ns = 250 rpm, f = 50 Hz, slots = 288, EL= 6600 volts, 2 coilsides/slot, 16
turns /coil Short pitched by 2 slots
B = sin θ + 0.4 sin 3θ + 0.2 sin 5θ wb/m2. The alternator has 180 slots with 2 layer 3
turn coils with a coil span of 15 slots. The coils are connected in 60 0 groups. If the armature
diameter is 1.2 m and core length is 0.4 m, calculate (a) the expression for instantaneous
EMF/conductor (b) the expression for instantaneous EMF/coil (c) the phase and line
voltages if the machine is star connected.
the expression for instantaneous EMF/conductor e = 15.07 sin θ + 6.02 sin 3θ + 3.01 sin 5θ volts
slot angle β = 180/number of slots/ pole = 180/ 18 = 100 coil is short chorded by 3 slots
0
hence α = 30
2 2 2
= √ (3542.68 + 697.65 + 39.09 )
= 3610.93 volts
= √3 x √ (3542.682 + 39.092)
= 6136.48 volts
6. A three phase 600 kVA, 400 volts, delta connected alternator is reconnected in
star. Calculate its new ratings in terms of voltage, current and volt-ampere.
Slon: (i) when the machine is delta connected VL = Vph = 400 volts
Volt-ampere = √3 x VL x IL = 600 kVA Hence IL = 600
kVA/ √3 x 400 = 866 amps
and Iph = IL / √3 = 866 /√3 = 500 amps
When it is reconnected in star phase voltage and phase current will remain same, as
Eph = 4.44 kp kd f Φ Tph and Iph = Vph /Zph
Irrespective of the type of connection the power output of the alternator remains same. Only
line voltage and line currents will change.
REGULATION OF SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR:
Voltage Regulation:
When an alternator is subjected to a varying load, the voltage at the armature terminals varies to a certain
extent, and the amount of this variation determines the regulation of the machine. When the alternator is
loaded the terminal voltage decreases as the drops in the machine stars increasing and hence it will always
be different than the induced EMF.
Voltage regulation of an alternator is defined as the change in terminal voltage from no load to full load
expressed as a percentage of rated voltage when the load at a given power factor is removed with out
change in speed and excitation. Or the numerical value of the regulation is defined as the percentage rise in
voltage when full load at the specified power-factor is switched off with speed and field current remaining
unchanged expressed as a percentage of rated voltage.
Hence regulation can be expressed as
Methods of finding Voltage Regulation: The voltage regulation of an alternator can be determined by
different methods. In case of small generators it can be determined by direct loading whereas in case of
large generators it cannot determined by direct loading but will be usually predetermined by different
methods. Following are the different methods used for predetermination of regulation of alternators.
All the above methods other than direct loading are valid for non salient pole machines only. As the
alternators are manufactured in large capacity direct loading of alternators is not employed for
determination of regulation. Other methods can be employed for predetermination of regulation. Hence the
other methods of determination of regulations will be discussed in the following sections.
EMF method:
This method is also known as synchronous impedance method. Here the magnetic circuit is assumed to be
unsaturated. In this method the MMFs (fluxes) produced by rotor and stator are replaced by their equivalent
EMF, and hence called EMF method.
To predetermine the regulation by this method the following information‘s are to be determined. Armature
resistance /phase of the alternator, open circuit and short circuit characteristics of the alternator.
The short-circuit characteristic, as its name implies, refers to the behavior of the alternator when its
armature is short-circuited. In a single-phase machine the armature terminals are short-circuited through an
ammeter, but in a three-phase machine all three phases must be short-circuited. An ammeter is connected in
series with each armature terminal, the three remaining ammeter terminals being short-circuited. The
machine is run at rated speed and field current is increased gradually to I f2 till armature current reaches rated
value. The armature short-circuit current and the field current are found to be proportional to each other
over a wide range, as shown in Figure 33, so that the short-circuit characteristic is a straight line. Under
short-circuit conditions the armature current is almost 90° out of phase with the voltage, and the armature
MMF has a direct demagnetizing action on the field. The resultant ampere − turns inducing the armature
EMF are, therefore, very small and is equal to the difference between the field and the armature ampere −
turns. This results in low MMF in the magnetic circuit, which remains in unsaturated condition and hence
the small value of induced EMF increases linearly with field current. This small induced armature EMF is
equal to the voltage drop in the winding itself, since the terminal voltage is zero by assumption. It is the
voltage required to circulate the short-circuit current through the armature windings. The armature
resistance is usually small compared with the reactance.
Short-Circuit Ratio:
The short-circuit ratio is defined as the ratio of the field current required to produce rated volts on open
circuit to field current required to circulate full-load current with the armature short-circuited.
Short-circuit ratio = Ιf1/If2
The ratio of open circuit voltage to the short circuit current at a particular field current, or at a field current
responsible for circulating the rated current is called the synchronous impedance.
Synchronous impedance Zs = (open circuit voltage per phase)/(short circuit current per phase) for same If
Armature resistance R a of the stator can be measured using Voltmeter – Ammeter method. Using
synchronous impedance and armature resistance synchronous reactance and hence regulation can be
calculated as follows using EMF method.
Zs = √(Ra)2 + (XS)2 and Synchronous reactance Xs = √( Zs)2 - (Ra)2
Hence induced EMF per phase can be found as Eph = √[ (V cos + IRa)2 + (V sin ± IXS)2] where
V = phase voltage per phase = Vph , I = load current per phase
in the above expression in second term + sign is for lagging pwer factor ans – sign is for leading power
factor.
Synchronous impedance method is easy but it gives approximate results. This method gives the value of
regulation which is greater (poor) than the actual value and hence this method is called pessimistic method.
The complete phasor diagram for the EMF method is shown in figure
From the phasor diagram it can be seen that the MMF required to produce the EMF E1= ( V + IRa) is FR1.In
large machines resistance drop may neglected.
The MMF required to overcome the reactance drops is (A+Ax) as shown in phasor diagram. The MMF
(A+Ax) can be found from SC characteristic as under SC condition both reactance drops will be present.
Because of the assumption of unsaturated magnetic circuit the regulation computed by this method will
be less than the actual and hence this method of regulation is called optimistic method.
ASA Modified MMF Method:
Because of the unrealistic assumption of unsaturated magnetic circuit neither the EMF method nor the
MMF method are giving the realistic value of regulation. In spite of these short comings these methods are
being used because of their simplicity. Hence ASA has modified MMF method for calculation of
regulation. With reference to the phasor diagram of MMF method it can be seen that F = FR1 - ( A+Ax). In
the MMF method the total MMF F computed is based on the assumption of unsaturated magnetic circuit
which is unrealistic. In order to account for the partial saturation of the magnetic circuit it must be increased
by a certain amount FF2 which can be computed from OCC, SCC and air gap lines as explained below
referring to figure
During the operation of the alternator, resistance voltage drop I aRa and armature leakage reactance drop
IaXL are actually EMF quantities and the armature reaction reactance is a MMF quantity. To determine the
regulation of the alternator by this method OCC, SCC and ZPF test details and characteristics are required.
AS explained earlier OC and sc tests are conducted and OCC and SCC are drawn. ZPF test is conducted by
connecting the alternator to ZPF load and exciting the alternator in such way that the alternator supplies the
rated current at rated voltage running at rated speed. To plot ZPF characteristics only two points are
required. One point is corresponding to the zero voltage and rated current that can be obtained from
SCCand the other at rated voltage and rated current under zpf load. This zero power factor curve appears
like OCC but shifted by a factor IXL vertically and horizontally by armature reaction MMF as shown below
in figure. Following are the steps to draw ZPF characteristics.
By suitable tests plot OCC and SCC. Draw air gap line. Conduct ZPF test at full load for rated voltage and
fix the point B. Draw the line BH with length equal to field current required to produce full load current on
short circuit. Draw HD parallel to the air gap line so as to cut the OCC. Draw DE perpendicular to HB or
parallel to voltage axis. Now, DE represents voltage drop IXL and BE represents the field current required
to overcome the effect of armature reaction.
Triangle BDE is called Potier triangle and XL is the Potier reactance. Find E from V, IRa, IXL and Φ. Use
the expression E = √(V cosΦ + IRa)2 + (V sinΦ) + IXL)2 to compute E. Find field current corresponding to
E. Draw FG with magnitude equal to BE at angle (90+Ψ) from field current axis, where Ψ is the phase
angle of current from voltage vector E (internal phase angle).
The resultant field current is given by OG. Mark this length on field current axis. From OCC find the
corresponding E0. Find the regulation.
The details of synchronous generators developed so far is applicable to only round rotor or non salient pole
alternators. In such machines the air gap is uniform throughout and hence the effect of MMF will be same
whether it acts along the pole axis or the inter polar axis. Hence reactance of the stator is same throughout
and hence it is called synchronous reactance. But in case salient pole machines the air gap is non uniform
and it is smaller along pole axis and is larger along the inter polar axis. These axes are called direct axis or
d-axis and quadrature axis or q-axis. Hence the effect of MMF when acting along direct axis will be
different than that when it is acting along quadrature axis. Hence the reactance of the stator cannot be same
when the MMF is acting along d – axis and q- axis. As the length of the air gap is small along direct axis
reluctance of the magnetic circuit is less and the air gap along the q – axis is larger and hence the along the
quadrature axis will be comparatively higher. Hence along d-axis more flux is produced than q-axis.
Therefore the reactance due to armature reaction will be different along d-axis and q-axis. These
reactance‘s are
Hence the effect of armature reaction in the case of a salient pole synchronous machine can be taken as two
components - one acting along the direct axis (coinciding with the main field pole axis) and the other acting
along the quadrature axis (inter-polar region or magnetic neutral axis) - and as such the MMF components
of armature-reaction in a salient-pole machine cannot be considered as acting on the same magnetic circuit.
Hence the effect of the armature reaction cannot be taken into account by considering only the synchronous
reactance, in the case of a salient pole synchronous machine.
In fact, the direct-axis component Fad acts over a magnetic circuit identical with that of the main field
system and produces a comparable effect while the quadrature-axis component Faq acts along the inter polar
axis, resulting in an altogether smaller effect and, in addition, a flux distribution totally different from that
of Fad or the main field MMF This explains why the application of cylindrical-rotor theory to salient-pole
machines for predicting the performance gives results not conforming to the performance obtained from an
actual test.
Blondel‘s two-reaction theory considers the effects of the quadrature and direct-axis components of the
armature reaction separately. Neglecting saturation, their different effects are considered by assigning to
each an appropriate value of armature-reaction ―reactance,‖ respectively Xad and Xaq . The effects of
armature resistance and true leakage reactance (XL) may be treated separately, or may be added to the
armature reaction coefficients on the assumption that they are the same, for either the direct-axis or
quadrature-axis components of the armature current (which is almost true). Thus the combined reactance
values can be expressed as : Xsd = Xad + Xl and Xsq = Xaq + xl for the direct- and cross-reaction axes
respectively.
In a salient-pole machine, Xaq, the quadrature-axis reactance is smaller than Xad, the direct-axis reactance,
since the flux produced by a given current component in that axis is smaller as the reluctance of the
magnetic path consists mostly of the interpolar spaces. It is essential to clearly note the difference between
the quadrature and direct-axis components Iaq, and Iad of the armature current Ia, and the reactive and active
components Iaa and Iar. Although both pairs are represented by phasors in phase quadrature, the former are
related to the induced EMF Et while the latter are referred to the terminal voltage V. These phasors are
clearly indicated with reference to the phasor diagram of a (salient pole) synchronous generator supplying a
lagging power factor (p.f) load, shown in Fig
Figure: 3.19. Phasor diagram of salient pole alternator
where δ = torque or power angle and φ = the p.f. angle of the load.
The phasor diagram shows the two reactance voltage components Iaq *Xsq and Iad * Xsd which are in
quadrature with their respective components of the armature current. The resistance drop Ia x Ra is added in
phase with Ia although we could take it as Iaq x Ra and Iad x Ra separately, which is unnecessary as Ia =
Iad + jIaq.
Figure: 3.20. Phasor diagram of salient pole alternator
The above expression for power consists of two terms first is called electromagnetic power and the
second is called reluctance power.
It is clear from the above expression that the power is a little more than that for a cylindrical rotor
synchronous machine, as the first term alone represents the power for a cylindrical rotor synchronous
machine. A term in (sin 2δ) is added into the power – angle characteristic of a non-salient pole synchronous
machine. This also shows that it is possible to generate an EMF even if the excitation E0 is zero. However
this magnitude is quite less compared with that obtained with a finite E0. Likewise it can be shown that the
machine develops a torque - called the reluctance torque - as this torque is developed due to the variation of
the reluctance in the magnetic circuit even if the excitation E0 is zero.
Ex.1. A 1200 kVA, 3300 volts, 50 Hz, three phase star connected alternator has an
armature resistance of 0.25 Ω per phase. A field current of 40 Amps produces a short circuit
current of 200 Amps and an open circuit EMF of 1100 volts line to line. Find the %
regulation at full load 0.8 pf lagging and leading by using EMF method.
Soln: Full load current = 1200 x 103/ (√3 x 3300) = 210 amps;
Voltage per phase Vph = 3300/√3 = 1905 volts
Synchronous impedance Zs = oc voltage per phase/ sc current per phase …….. for same excitation
= 2398 volts
= 25.9 %
= 1647 volts
= - 13.54 %
Ex 2: A 10 MVA 6.6 kV, 3phase star connected alternator gave open circuit and short circuit
data as follows.
Field current in amps: 25 50 75 100 125 150
OC voltage in kV (L-L): 2.4 4.8 6.1 7.1 7.6 7.9
SC Current in Amps: 288 528 875
Find the voltage regulation at full load 0.8 pf lagging by EMF method. Armature resistance
per phase =
0.13 Ω.
Corresponding to the full load current of 875 amps oc voltage from the oc and sc
characteristics is 6100 volts
Hence synchronous impedance Zs = oc voltage per phase/ sc current per phase
= (6100/√3)/ 875
= 4.02 Ω
= 6607.26 volts
= 73.42%
Synchronizing of alternators:
The operation of connecting two alternators in parallel is known as synchronizing. Certain conditions must
be fulfilled before this can be effected. The incoming machine must have its voltage and frequency equal to
that of the bus bars and, should be in same phase with bus bar voltage. The instruments or apparatus for
determining when these conditions are fulfilled are called synchro scopes. Synchronizing can be done with
the help of (i) dark lamp method or (ii) by using synchro scope.
Paralleling 2 or more generators must be done carefully as to avoid generator or other system component
damage. Conditions to be satisfied are as follows:
a) RMS line voltages must be equal.
b) The generators to be paralleled must have the same phase sequence.
c) The oncoming generator (the new generator) must have the same operating frequency as compared
to the system frequency.
General Procedure for Paralleling Generators:
Consider the figure shown below. Suppose that generator G2 is to be connected to the running system as
shown below:
1. Using Voltmeters, the field current of the oncoming generator should be adjusted until its terminal
voltage is equal to the line voltage of the running system.
2. Check and verify phase sequence to be identical to the system phase sequence. There are 2 methods
to do this:
3. One way is using the 3 lamp method, where the lamps are stretched across the open terminals of the
switch connecting the generator to the system (as shown in the figure below). As the phase changes
between the 2 systems, the lamps first get bright (large phase difference) and then get dim (small
phase difference). If all 3 lamps get bright and dark together, then the systems have the same phase
sequence. If the lamps brighten in succession, then the systems have the opposite phase sequence,
and one of the sequences must be reversed.
4. Using a Synchro scope – a meter that measures the difference in phase angles (it does not check
phase sequences only phase angles).
5. Check and verify generator frequency is same as that of the system frequency. This is done by
watching a frequency of brightening and dimming of the lamps until the frequencies are close by
making them to change very slowly.
6. Once the frequencies are nearly equal, the voltages in the 2 systems will change phase with respect
to each other very slowly. The phase changes are observed, and when the phase angles are equal,
the switch connecting the 2 systems is closed.
Synchronizing Current:
If two alternators generating exactly the same EMF are perfectly synchronized, there is no resultant EMF
acting on the local circuit consisting of their two armatures connected in parallel. No current circulates
between the two and no power is transferred from one to the other. Under this condition EMF of alternator
1, i.e. E1 is equal to and in phase opposition to EMF of alternator 2, i.e. E2 as shown in the Figure .There is,
apparently, no force tending to keep them in synchronism, but as soon as the conditions are disturbed a
synchronizing force is developed, tending to keep the whole system stable. Suppose one alternator falls
behind a little in phase by an angle θ.
The two alternator EMFs now produce a resultant voltage and this acts on the local circuit consisting of the
two armature windings and the joining connections. In alternators, the synchronous reactance is large
compared with the resistance, so that the resultant circulating current Is is very nearly in quadrature with the
resultant EMF Er acting on the circuit. Figure represents a single phase case, where E1 and E2 represent the
two induced EMFs, the latter having fallen back slightly in phase. The resultant EMF, Er, is almost in
quadrature with both the EMFs, and gives rise to a current, Is, lagging behind Er by an angle approximating
to a right angle. It is, thus, seen that E1 and Is are almost in phase. The first alternator is generating a power
E1 Is cos Φ1, which is positive, while the second one is generating a power E2 Is cos Φ2, which is negative,
since cos Φ2 is negative. In other words, the first alternator is supplying the second with power, the
difference between the two amounts of power represents the copper losses occasioned by the current Is
flowing through the circuit which possesses resistance. This power output of the first alternator tends to
retard it, while the power input to the second one tends to accelerate it till such a time that E1 and E2 are
again in phase opposition and the machines once again work in perfect synchronism. So, the action helps to
keep both machines in stable synchronism. The current, Is, is called the synchronizing current.
Synchronizing Power:
Suppose that one alternator has fallen behind its ideal position by an electrical angle θ, measured in radians.
Since E1 and E2 are assumed equal and θ is very small Er is very nearly equal to θE1. Moreover, since Er
is practically in quadrature with E1 and Is may be assumed to be in phase with E1 as a first approximation.
The synchronizing power may, therefore, be taken as,
ISY = Er/Zs
Isy is lagging behind Er by an angle θ given by
θ = tan⁻¹ (Xs/R)
R is very very small it can be neglected.
When one alternator is considered as running on a set of bus bars the power capacity of which is very
large compared with its own, the combined reactance of the others sets connected to the bus bars is
negligible, so that , in this case Zs = Xs is the synchronous reactance of the one alternator under
consideration.
Alternators with a large ratio of reactance to resistance are superior from a synchronizing point of view to
those which have a smaller ratio, as then the synchronizing current Is cannot be considered as being in
phase with E1. Thus, while reactance is bad from a regulation point of view, it is good for synchronizing
purposes. It is also good from the point of view of self-protection in the event of a fault.
Since their induced EMFs are the same, there is no resultant EMF acting around the local circuit formed by
their two armature windings, so that the synchronizing current, Is, is zero. Since the armature resistance is
neglected, the vector difference between E1 = E2 and V is equal to, I1Xs1 & I2Xs2 , this vector leading the
current I by 90 degrees, where XS1 and XS2 are the synchronous reactance‘s of the two alternators
respectively.
Now consider the effect of reducing the excitation of the second alternator. E2 is therefore reduced as shown
in Figure. This reduces the terminal voltage slightly, so let the excitation of the first alternator be increased
so as to bring the terminal voltage back to its original value. Since the two alternator inputs are unchanged
and losses are neglected, the two kW outputs are the same as before. The current I2 is changed due to the
change in E2, but the active components of both I1 and I2 remain unaltered. It can be observed that there is a
small change in the load angles of the two alternators, this angle being slightly increased in the case of the
weakly excited alternator and slightly decreased in the case of the strongly excited alternator. It can also be
observed that I1 + I2 = I, the total load current.
Load Sharing:
When several alternators are required to run in parallel, it probably happens that their rated outputs differ. In
such cases it is usual to divide the total load between them in such a way that each alternator takes the load
in the same proportion of its rated load in total rated outputs. The total load is not divided equally.
Alternatively, it may be desired to run one large alternator permanently on full load, the fluctuations in load
being borne by one or more of the others.
If the alternators are sharing the load equally the power triangles are as shown in figure below.
Figure: 4.1. Force of attraction between stator poles and rotor poles - resulting in production of torque in
clockwise direction.
Would again change to North pole after a time of 1/2f. Thus the rotor will experience an alternating force
which tries to move it clockwise and anticlockwise at twice the frequency of the supply, i.e. at intervals
corresponding to 1/2f seconds. As this duration is quite small compared to the mechanical time constant of
the rotor, the rotor cannot respond and move in any direction. The rotor continues to be stationary only.
On the contrary if the rotor is brought to near synchronous speed by some external device say a small motor
mounted on the same shaft as that of the rotor, the rotor poles get locked to the unlike poles in the stator and
the rotor continues to run at the synchronous speed even if the supply to the motor is disconnected. Thus the
synchronous rotor cannot start rotating on its own when the rotor and stator are supplied with rated voltage
and frequency and hence the synchronous motor has no starting torque. So, some special provision has to be
made either inside the machine or outside of the machine so that the rotor is brought to near about its
synchronous speed. At that time, if the armature is supplied with electrical power, the rotor can pull into
step and continue to run at its synchronous speed. Some of the commonly used methods for starting
synchronous rotor are described in the following paragraph.
Would again change to North Pole after a time of 1/2f. Thus the rotor will experience an alternating force
which tries to move it clockwise and anticlockwise at twice the frequency of the supply, i.e. at intervals
corresponding to 1/2f seconds. As this duration is quite small compared to the mechanical time constant of
the rotor, the rotor cannot respond and move in any direction. The rotor continues to be stationary only.
Figure: 4.2. Force of repulsion between stator poles and rotor poles - resulting in production of torque in
anticlockwise direction
• To reduce the speed of the rotating magnetic field of the stator to a low enough value that the rotor can
easily accelerate and lock in with it during one half-cycle of the rotating magnetic field‘s rotation. This is
done by reducing the frequency of the applied electric power. This method is usually followed in the case of
inverter-fed synchronous motor operating under variable speed drive applications.
• To use an external prime mover to accelerate the rotor of synchronous motor near to its synchronous
speed and then supply the rotor as well as stator. Of course care should be taken to ensure that the directions
of rotation of the rotor as well as that of the rotating magnetic field of the stator are the same. This method
is usually followed in the laboratory- the synchronous machine is started as a generator and is then
connected to the supply mains by following the synchronization or paralleling procedure. Then the power
supply to the prime mover is disconnected so that the synchronous machine will continue to operate as a
motor.
• To use damper windings if these are provided in the machine. The damper windings are provided in most
of the large synchronous motors in order to nullify the oscillations of the rotor whenever the synchronous
machine is subjected to a periodically varying load.
The behavior of a synchronous motor can be predicted by considering its equivalent circuit on similar lines
to that of a synchronous generator as described below.
The equivalent-circuit model for one armature phase of a cylindrical rotor three phase synchronous motor is
shown in Figure below exactly similar to that of a synchronous generator except that the current flows in to
the armature from the supply. Applying Kirchhoff‘s voltage law to Figure below
Figure: 4.3. Equivalent circuit model for one phase of a synchronous motor armature
VT = Ef + Ia(Ra + jXs)
or VT = Ef + IaZs
Where:
Ra = armature resistance (/phase)
Xl = armature leakage reactance (/phase)
Xs = synchronous reactance (/phase)
Zs = synchronous impedance (/phase)
VT = applied voltage/phase (V)
Ia = armature current/phase (A)
Figure: 4.4. Phasor diagram corresponding to the equivalent-circuit model
A phasor diagram shown in Figure above, illustrates the method of determining the counter EMF
which is obtained from the phasor equation;
Ef = VT − IaZs
The phase angle δ between the terminal voltage VT and the excitation voltage Ef in Figure above is
usually termed the torque angle. The torque angle is also called the load angle or power angle.
The effects of changes in mechanical or shaft load on armature current, power angle, and power factor can
be seen from the phasor diagram shown in Figure below; As already stated, the applied stator voltage,
frequency, and field excitation are assumed, constant. The initial load conditions are represented by the
thick lines. The effect of increasing the shaft load to twice its initial value is represented by the light lines
indicating the new steady state conditions. While drawing the phasor diagrams to show new steady-state
conditions, the line of action of the new jIaXs phasor must be perpendicular to the new Ia phasor.
Furthermore, as shown in figure if the excitation is not changed, increasing the shaft load causes the locus
of the Ef phasor to follow a circular arc, thereby increasing its phase angle with increasing shaft load. Note
also that an increase in shaft load is also accompanied by a decrease in Φi; resulting in an increase in power
factor.
As additional load is placed on the machine, the rotor continues to increase its angle of lag relative to the
rotating magnetic field, thereby increasing both the angle of lag of the counter EMF phasor and the
magnitude of the stator current. It is interesting to note that during all this load variation; however, except
for the duration of transient conditions whereby the rotor assumes a new position in relation to the rotating
magnetic field, the average speed of the machine does not change. As the load is being increased, a final
point is reached at which a further increase in δ fails to cause a corresponding increase in motor torque, and
the rotor pulls out of synchronism. In fact as stated earlier, the rotor poles at this point, will fall behind the
stator poles such that they now come under the influence of like poles and the force of attraction no longer
exists. Thus, the point of maximum torque occurs at a power angle of approximately 90◦ for a cylindrical-
rotor machine. This maximum value of torque that causes a synchronous motor to pull out of synchronism
is called the pull-out torque. In actual practice, the motor will never be operated at power angles close to 90 0
as armature current will be many times its rated value at this load.
This is shown in Figure below, where the locus of the tip of the Ef phasor is a straight line parallel to the V T
phasor. Similarly,
Ia1 cos Φi1 = Ia2 cos Φi2 = Ia3 cos Φi3 = Ia cos Φi
This is also shown in Figure below, where the locus of the tip of the Ia phasor is a line perpendicular to the
phasor VT.
Note that increasing the excitation from E f1 to Ef3 caused the phase angle of the current phasor with respect
to the terminal voltage VT (and hence the power factor) to go from lagging to leading. The value of field
excitation that results in unity power factor is called normal excitation. Excitation greater than normal is
called over excitation, and excitation less than normal is called under excitation.
Further, as indicated in Figure, when operating in the overexcited mode, |E f | > |VT |. A synchronous motor
operating under over excited condition is called a synchronous condenser.
Figure: 4.6. Phasor diagram showing effect of changes in field excitation on armature current, power angle and
power factor of a synchronous motor
The points marked a, b, and c on the upper curve corresponds to the operating conditions of the phasor
diagrams shown. Note that for P = 0, the lagging power factor operation is electrically equivalent to an
inductor and the leading power factor operation is electrically equivalent to a capacitor. Leading power
factor operation with P = 0 is sometimes referred to as synchronous condenser or synchronous capacitor
operation. Typically, the synchronous machine V-curves are provided by the manufacturer so that the user
can determine the resulting operation under a given set of conditions.
Figure: 4.7. Plots of power factor vs. field current of synchronous motors are called inverted V curves and are
shown in Figure above for different values of synchronous motor loads.
Where
Pin = Power input to the motor
Pscl = Power loss as stator copper
loss Pcore= Power loss as core loss
Pgap= Power in the air gap
Pfcl = Power loss as field copper loss
Pfw= Power loss as friction and windage loss
Pstray = Power loss as stray loss
Pshaft = Shaft output of the machine
Power input to a synchronous motor is given by P = 3VphIphcosΦ = √3VLILcosΦ. In stator as per the diagram
there will be core loss and copper losses taking place. The remaining power will be converted to gross
mechanical power.
Hence Pm= Power input to the motor – Total losses in stator.
From the phasor diagram we can write Power input /phase P i = VphIphcosΦ
Mechanical power developed by the motor P m= EbIa cos ∟ Eb & Ia= EbIa cos(δ – Φ)
Assuming iron losses as negligible stator cu losses = P i - Pm
Power output /phase = Pm – (field cu loss + friction & windage loss +stray loss)
Pm = 2πNs Tg /60
Hence Tg = 60 Pm/2πNs
Tg = 9.55 Pm/Ns N-m
Synchronous Condenser:
An over excited synchronous motor operates at unity or leading power factor. Generally, in large industrial
plants the load power factor will be lagging. The specially designed synchronous motor running at zero
load, taking leading current, approximately equal to 90o. When it is connected in parallel with inductive
loads to improve power factor, it is known as synchronous condenser. Compared to static capacitor the
power factor can improve easily by variation of field excitation of motor. Phasor diagram of a synchronous
condenser connected in parallel with an inductive load is given below.
Introduction:
The characteristics of single phase induction motors are identical to 3-phase induction motors except
that single phase induction motor has no inherent starting torque and some special arrangements have
to be made for making itself starting. It follows that during starting period the single phase induction
motor must be converted to a type which is not a single phase induction motor in the sense in which
the term is ordinarily used and it becomes a true single phase induction motor when it is running
and after the speed and torque have been raised to a point beyond which the additional device may be
dispensed with. For these reasons, it is necessary to distinguish clearly between the starting period
when the motor is not a single phase induction motor and the normal running condition when it is a
single phase induction motor. The starting device adds to the cost of the motor and also requires more
space. For the same output a 1-phase motor is about 30% larger than a corresponding 3-phase motor.
The single phase induction motor in its simplest form is structurally the same as a poly- phase
induction motor having a squirrel cage rotor, the only difference is that the single phase induction
motor has single winding on the stator which produces MMF stationary in space but alternating in
time, a poly phase stator winding carrying balanced currents produces MMF rotating in space around
the air gap and constant in time with respect to an observer moving with the MMF. The stator winding
of the single phase motor is disposed in slots around the inner periphery of a laminated ring similar to
the 3-phase motor.
An induction motor with a cage rotor and single phase stator winding is shown schematically in Fig. 5.1.
The actual stator winding as mentioned earlier is distributed in slots so as to produce an approximately
sinusoidal space distribution of MMF.
Principle of Operation:
Suppose the rotor is at rest and 1-phase supply is given to stator winding. The current flowing in the
stator winding gives rise to an MMF whose axis is along the winding and it is a pulsating MMF,
stationary in space and varying in magnitude, as a function of time, varying from positive maxi- mum
to zero to negative maximum and this pulsating MMF induces currents in the short-circuited rotor of
the motor which gives rise to an MMF. The currents in the rotor are induced due to transformer
action and the direction of the currents is such that the MMF so developed opposes the stator MMF. The
axis of the rotor MMF is same as that of the stator MMF. Since the torque developed is
proportional to sine of the angle between the two MMF and since the angle is zero, the net torque acting
on the rotor is zero and hence the rotor remains stationary.
For analytical purposes a pulsating field can be resolved into two revolving fields of constant
magnitude and rotating in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 5.2 and each field has a magnitude
equal to half the maximum length of the original pulsating phasor.
These component waves rotate in opposite direction at synchronous speed. The forward
(anticlockwise) and backward-rotating (clockwise) MMF waves f and b are shown in Fig. 5.2. In case
of 3-phase induction motor there is only one forward rotating magnetic field and hence torque
is developed and the motor is self-starting. However, in single phase induction motor each of this
component MMF wave‘s produces induction motor action but the corresponding torques are in
opposite direction. With the rotor at rest the forward and backward field produce equal torques but
opposite in direction and hence no net torque is developed on the motor and the motor remains stationary.
If the forward and backward air gap fields remained equal when the rotor is revolving, each of the
component fields would produce a torque-speed characteristic similar to that of a
Poly phase induction motor with negligible leakage impedance as shown by the dashed curves f
And b in Fig. 5.3
The resultant torque-speed characteristic which is the algebraic sum of the two component curves shows
that if the motor were started by auxiliary means it would produce torque in what- ever direction it was
started.
In reality the two fields, forward and backward do not remain constant in the air gap and also the
effect of stator leakage impedance can‘t be ignored. In the above qualitative analysis the effects of
induced rotor currents have not been properly accounted for.
When single phase supply is connected to the stator and the rotor is given a push along the forward
rotating field, the relative speed between the rotor and the forward rotating magnetic field goes on
decreasing and hence the magnitude of induced currents also decreases and hence the MMF due to the
induced current in the rotor decreases and its opposing effect to the forward rotating field decreases
which means the forward rotating field becomes stronger as the rotor speeds up. However for the
backward rotating field the relative speed between the rotor and the backward field increases as the
rotor rotates and hence the rotor EMF increases and hence the MMF due to this component of current
increases and its opposing effect to the backward rotating field increases and the net backward rotating
field weakens as the rotor rotates along the forward rotating field. However, the sum of the two fields
remains constant since it must induce the stator counter EMF which is approximately constant if the
stator leakage impedance drop is negligible. Hence, with the rotor in motion the torque of the forward
field is greater and that of the backward field is less than what is shown in Fig. 5.3. The true situation
being as is shown in Fig. 5.4.
Amplitude revolving field in the air gap of a balanced poly phase motor. Therefore, in the normal
running range of the motor, the torque-speed characteristic of a single phase motor is not very much
different from that of a poly phase motor having the same rotor and operating with the same maximum
air gap flux density.
In addition to the torque shown in Fig. 5.4, double-stator frequency torque pulsation are produced by
the interaction of the oppositely rotating flux and MMF waves which move past each other at twice
synchronous speed. These double frequency torques produce no average torque as these pulsations are
sinusoidal and over the complete cycle the average torque is zero. However, sometimes these are
additive to the main torque and for another half a cycle these are subtractive and therefore a variable
torque acts on the shaft of the motor which makes the motor noisier as compared to a poly phase
induction motor where the total torque is constant. Such torque pulsations are unavoidable in single
phase circuits. Mathematically
Tα I2
I=Imsinwt
T=K Im2 sin
= K Im2(1-cos2wt)/2
Torque is developed and the motor becomes a self-starting motor. After the motor starts, the
auxiliary winding is disconnected usually by means of centrifugal switch that operates at about t5 per
cent of synchronous speed. Finally the motor runs because of the main winding. Since this being single
phase some level of humming noise is always associated with the motor dur ing running. A typical
torque speed characteristic is shown. It is to be noted that the direction of rotation of the motor can be
reversed by reversing the connection to either the main winding or the auxiliary windings.
Current I m and Ia in the main winding and auxiliary winding lag behind the supply voltage V, Ia
leading the current I m This means the current through auxiliary winding reaches maximum value
first and the MMF or flux due to Ia lies along the axis of the auxiliary winding and after some time the
current I m reaches maximum value and the MMF or flux due to I m lies along the main winding axis.
Thus the motor becomes a 2-phase unbalanced motor. It is unbalanced
Since the two currents are not exactly 90 degrees apart. Because of these two fields a starting
(b) Capacitor starts induction motor: Capacitors are used to improve the starting and running
performance of the single phase inductions motors.
The capacitor start induction motor is also a split phase motor. The capacitor of suitable
value is connected in series with the auxiliary coil through a switch such that Ia the current in the
auxiliary coil leads the current I m in the main coil by 90 electrical degrees in time phase so that the
starting torque is maximum for certain values of Ia and I m. This becomes a balanced 2- phase motor if
the magnitude of Ia and I m are equal and are displaced in time phase by 90° electrical degrees. Since
Since the auxiliary winding and capacitor are to be used intermittently, these can be
designed for minimum cost. However, it is found that the best compromise among the factors of
starting torque, starting current and costs results with a phase angle somewhat less than 90°
between I m and Ia. A typical torque-speed characteristic is shown in Fig. 5.6 (c) high starting torque
being an outstanding feature.
Figure: 5.6. Capacitor start motor (a) C o n n e c t i o n (b) Phasor diagram at start (c) Speed
torque curve.
(c) Permanent-split capacitor motor: In this motor the auxiliary winding and capacitor
are not disconnected from the motor after starting, thus the construction is simplified by the omission
of the switch as shown in Fig. 5.7(a).
Figure: 5.7. Permanent split capacitor motor (a) Connection (b) Torque-speed
characteristic.
Here the auxiliary winding and capacitor could be so designed that the motor works as a perfect 2-
phase motor at anyone desired load. With this the backward rotating magnetic field would be
completely eliminated. The double stator frequency torque pulsations would also be eliminated,
thereby the motor starts and runs as a noise free motor. With this there is improve- ment in p.f. and
efficiency of the motor. However, the starting torque must be sacrificed as the capacitance is
necessarily a compromise between the best starting and running characteristics.
The torque-speed characteristic of the motor is shown in Fig. 9.7 (b).
(c) Capacitor start capacitor rum motor: If two capacitors are used with the auxiliary
winding as shown in Fig. 5.8 (a), one for starting and other during the start and run, theoretically
optimum starting and running performance can both be achieved.
Fig. 5.8. (a) Capacitor start capacitor run motor (b) Torque-speed characteristic
The small value capacitor required for optimum running conditions is permanently con- nected in
series with the auxiliary winding and the much larger value required for starting is obtained by a
capacitor connected in parallel with the running capacitor. The starting capacitor is disconnected after
the motor starts.
The value of the capacitor for a capacitor start motor is about 300 µF for 1/2 hp motor since
This capacitor must carry current for a short starting period; the capacitor is a special compact ac
Electrolytic type made for motor starting duty. However, the capacitor permanently connected has a
typical rating of 40 µF ; since it is connected permanently, the capacitor is an ac paper, foil and oil type.
The cost of the motor is related to the performance;the permanent capacitor motor is the lowest cost,
the capacitor start motor next and the capacitor start capacitor run has the highest cost.
(d) Shaded pole induction motor: Fig. 5.9 (a) shows schematic diagram of shaded pole induction
motor. The stator has salient poles with one portion of each pole surrounded by a short- circuited turn
of copper called a shading coil. Induced currents in the shading coil (acts as an inductor) cause the
flux in the shaded portion of the pole to lag the flux in the other portion. Hence the flux under the un
shaded pole leads the flux under the shaded pole which results in a rotating field moving in the
direction from un shaded to the shaded portion of the pole and a low starting torque is produced
which rotates the rotor in the direction from un shaded to the shaded pole. A typical torque speed
characteristic is shown in Fig. 5.9 (b). The efficiency is low. These motors are the least expensive type
of fractional horse power motor and are built up to about 1/20 hp. Since the rotation of the motor is in
the direction from un shaded towards the shaded part of the pole, a shaded pole motor can be
reversed only by providing two sets of shading coils which may be opened and closed or it may be
reversed permanently by inverting the core.
Universal Motor:
We know that single phase motors are not self starting. We have to provide additional features to make it
starting.
The other solution to the single phase problem is to design a DC motor so that it will run on a.c. as
well. The direction of rotation of a DC machine depends upon the polarities of the armature circuit
and the field circuit. If a DC machine is designed so that (i) when line current reverses direction the
field and armature currents reverse simultaneously and (ii) the core loss
With alternating flux is relatively low, then a successful single phase machine results.
The first criterion is met by connecting armature and field windings in series. The second is achieved
by using a laminated core. A DC shunt motor on the other hand cannot be used on a.c. because of high
inductance of the field winding as compared to armature winding which causes the field pole
reversals to be out of phase with the current reversals in the armature and the result is that the torque is
backward during part of each half cycle lowering average torqueand reducing the efficiency.
A DC series motor designed to operate also on AC is called a universal motor as it will run efficiently
on any frequency from DC up to its design frequency. Fig. 5.10 shows the principle of operation of the
motor.
Figure 5.10 The universal motor. (a) Circuit diagram. (b) Principle of operation.
Universal motors are designed for voltages ranging from 32 to 250 volts, frequencies zero to 60Hx and
ratings upto 3/4 hp. The average speed is high in the range of t000 rpm at normal load. The
torque/speed characteristic of the motor is shown in Fig. 5.11 No load speed is quite high often in the
range of 20,000 rpm. It is limited by windage and friction. Having high speed capability, universal
motor of a given horse power rating is significantly smaller than other kinds of a.c. motors
operating at the same frequency. Their starting torque is relatively high. These characteristics make
universal motors ideal for devices such as hand drills, hand grinders, food mixers, vacuum cleaners and
the like which require compact motors operating at speeds greater than 3000/3600 rpm. Universal
motors must be designed with weak magnetic fields to minimize commutation difficulties. High
resistance carbon brushes are used to limit the circulating current due to the transformer voltage in the
short circuited coils.
Figure: 5.11 Characteristics of universal motors
Stepper motors:
A special type of synchronous motor which is designed to rotate a specific number of degrees for every electric pulse
o
received by its control unit. Typical steps are 7.5 or 15 per pulse. It is a motor that can rotate in both directions,
move in precise angular increments, sustain a holding torque at zero speed, and be controlled with digital circuits. It
moves in accurate angular increments known as steps, in response to the application of digital pulses to the electric
drivecircuit.
Generally, such motors are manufactured with steps per revolution. Step motors are either bipolar, requiring two
power sources or uni polar requiring only one power source.
Θm =2/p*θe
wm =2/p*we
References
[1]P.S. Bimbhra, Electrical Machinery, Khanna Pub, 7 th Ed.
[2]P.S. Bimbhra, Generalized Theory of Electrical Machine, Khanna Pub., 2 nd Ed.
[3]M.G. Say, The Performance and Design of Alternating Current Machines, CBS Pub., 3 rd Ed.
[4]A.E.Fitzgerald, S.D.Umans, C.Kingsley Jr., Electric Machinery, McGraw Hill Education(india)
pvt. Ltd., 6th Ed.
[5]A.S. langsdorf, Theory of Alternating Current Machinery, McGraw Hill Education(india)
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Machines, John Wiley& Sons pub., 3rd Ed.
[7]Irving Kosow, Electric Machinery and Transformers, Pearson India, 2 nd Ed.
[8]C.L.Dawes, A course in Electrical Engineering, Vol-I, Vol-II, Mcgraw Hill Book Company Inc.
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