Synchronous Generator

Basic Principle
Construction
Speed and Frequency
EMF Induced
Principle of Operation
Introduction to Synchronous Generator
• Are the primary source of all electrical energy
• Synchronous generators are commonly used
to convert the mechanical power output of
steam turbines, gas turbines, hydro turbines into
electrical power for the grid
• Can be extremely large – power ratings up to
1500MW.
• Are known as synchronous machines
because they operate at synchronous speed
(speed of rotor always matches supply
frequency)
 Magnetic Stator
Coolers Frame Core Rotor Winding
Bearings

Foundation
Block

CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION Iron core

STATOR DETAILS Coil

Coils are placed in slots
Slots

Coil end windings are

bent to form the
armature winding

End winding
Metal frame

Laminated iron
core with slots

Insulated copper
bars are placed in
the slots to form
the three-phase
winding
View of a 300 MW Generator stator end windings @ Sem Calaca Power Corporation Unit 2
Construction
Round Rotor
• The round rotor is used for
large high speed (3600rpm,2-
pole or 3000rpm,4-pole)
machines
• A forged iron core is installed
on the shaft
• Slots are milled in the iron and
insulated copper bars are
placed in the slots
• The slots are closed by wedges
and re-enforced with steel rings
End Ring or
Retaining Ring
Rotor Details
Locking Winding End Turn Rotor
Center
Ring Ventilation Bends Winding Body
Ring
Holes Fan Hub

Slip Ring

Slip Ring
Fan
 End Ring or Retaining Ring

The end ring are used to restrain the

rotor end windings from flying out
under centrifugal forces.
The ring must be heated to 300ᵒC to
expand sufficiently for the shrink
surface. Induction heating is
preferred to direct heating to prevent
possible damage to the rings. The
end ring is insulated from the end
winding with a molded-in-glass
based liner(insulation liner) or a
loose cylinder sleeve. Hydrogen
enters the rotor in a clearance
between the end winding and the
shaft.
Insulation
Liner
Construction Stator with
laminated iron-core
Concept (2 poles) C
A
Round Rotor Machine
Slots with
The stator is a ring shaped winding
laminated iron core with B
A
slots. -
C
+
Three phase windings are +
N S
placed in the slots.(same as Rotor with dc
induction machine) Round winding C
A
solid iron rotor with slots. -

B -

A single winding is placed in B +

the rotor slots. DC current is
supplied through slip rings.
The position of the armature and the field circuit is
interchanged in synchronous generators compared to the dc
machines – Armature in Stator, Field in the Rotor
Reasons:
The armature winding, being rated for higher power is much
larger than the field winding. Therefore, it is better to placed
in stationary part.
Cooling arrangement is easier if the armature is in the stator.
The Field coils carry relatively small current and hence the
power can be supplied easily to the field winding by slip
ring.
GENERATOR EXCITER
ASSEMBLY
 Field excitation
• The field is excited by two dc generators connected in cascade: Main
exciter and Pilot exciter.
• The main exciter feeds the exciting current to the field of the
synchronous generator. Pilot exciter feeds power to the field winding of
the main exciter. (Refer to Fig.)

• Typically, a 2500 kW exciter

for 500 MVA alternator.
• This cascade arrangement is
to get quick response.
• To avoid problems due to
carbon brushes of exciters,
brushless excitation systems
are being used recently.
Terms Definition
Armature – The member of a rotating electric machine
in which an alternating voltage is generated by virtue
of relative motion with respect to a magnetic flux field.
Exciter – The source of all or part of the DC field
current for the excitation of an electric machine.
Field – An insulated winding in rotating synchronous
electric machinery whose purpose is the production of
the main electromagnetic field of the machine
Principle of Operation and emf Equation
• When the generator is driven by the prime mover a revolving
field is produced by the rotor field winding.
• A three-phase voltage is induced in the three-phase winding due
to relative motion.
•Frequency of the voltage depends upon number of poles and
speed.
a
A positive voltage is induced
in the conductor when an N
• c’
pole
sweeps across it, a negative 3-phase b
• N x
voltage is induced when the Svoltage
pole sweeps by.
S
• x
c b’
x
a’
Operation Principle:
When a Generator is operating alone with an isolated
load, the Power Factor and Reactive Power are
determined by the load. When it operates as a part of a
system of generators and loads (ex. Power grid),
however, the reactive power supplied by each
generator can vary depending on the level of excitation
of each machine. Therefore, changing the excitation of
one generator in a system will change the power factor
of that unit, while the voltage and frequency of the
power grid will remain constant by the collective
action of the other generators.
Operation Principle continue:
The effect of the varying excitation or field current on
generator performance is typically shown in excitation
V Curves and Reactive Capability Curves.
Operation Principle continue:
The excitation V Curves shows the amount of
excitation required to produce a desired power factor
at any power output of the generator, while the
Reactive Capability Curve defines the limits of
operation. Using this curves an operator can cause a
generator to produce a reactive power by increasing
field current (excitation) or absorb reactive power by
decreasing the field current. This would correspond to
moving along the vertical axis on reactive capability
curve.
Operation Principle continue:
To move horizontal along this curve, the power
supplied to the generator by the driving machinery
would have to be increased. This highlights two
important facts of generator operation in a power
system :
1. The reactive power (power factor) of the power
delivered by the generator is controlled by the
generator field current (excitation)
2. The amount of power delivered by the generator is
controlled by the machinery driving the generator
(prime mover)
Prepared by: Submitted to:
Leonel A. Alolor Christopher R. Rodriguez
Electrical Engineer Sr. VP-Proc. & Logistic
DMCI- M&E Department DMCI Power Corp
Detailed in Sem Calaca
Power Corporation
Brgy. San Rafael Calaca
Batangas

The End