Synchronous Machines (Introduction)

A synchronous machine rotates at a constant speed in

the steady state.
Unlike induction machine, the rotating air gap field
and the rotor in the synchronous machine at the same
speed, called the synchronous speed.
Synchronous machine can operate as both a
generator and a motor.
Synchronous machines are used primarily as
generators of electrical power.
Synchronous machine can be used to compensate the
reactive power in the power system.
 Synchronous Machines
(Introduction)

Synchronous Generator

Synchronous Motor
 Synchronous Machines
(Introduction)

A synchronous motor can draw either lagging or leading

reactive current from the ac supply.
A synchronous machine is a double excited machine. Its
rotor poles are excited by a dc current and its stator
windings (armature winding) are connected to the ac
supply.
The air gap flux is the resultant of the fluxes due to both
rotor current and stator current.
 Construction of Three Phase Synchronous Machines

The stator winding of the three phase synchronous

machines has a three phase distributed winding similar
to that of the three phase induction machine.
Unlike the dc machine, the stator winding, which is
connected to ac supply system is called the armature
winding.
The rotor winding has a winding called the field
winding, which is carries direct current. The field
winding on the rotating structure is fed from an external
dc source through slip rings and brushes.
Construction of Three Phase Synchronous Machines

Two common approaches to supplying the dc supply

to the rotor winding (field winding):
• Supply the power from an external dc source to the
rotor by means of slip rings and brushes.
• Supply the dc power from a special power source
mounted directly on the shaft of the generator.
On the larger synchronous machine, brushless exciter
are used to supply the dc field current to the
machines. A brushless exciter is a small ac generator
with its field circuit mounted on the stator and its
armature circuit mounted on the rotor shaft.
Construction of Three Phase Synchronous Machines

Unlike DC machine in synchronous machine we use

rotating field stationary armature where as in
DC machine we use rotating armature
stationary field.

WHY??????
 Construction of Three Phase Synchronous Machines

Let us consider a 3 phase star connected 200 MVA 11 kV alternator.

Its line current =

 Construction of Three Phase Synchronous Machines

Advantages of rotating field stationary armature

system in synchronous machine. (page 247 in PS
Bhimra , Softcopy)
1. More Economical .
2. Better Insulation.
3. Efficient cooling.
4. Lesser rotor weight and inertia.
5. Rigid and convenient construction.
6. The output current can be taken directly from fixed terminals on the
stationary armature without using slip rings, brushes,etc.
Cylindrical rotor Salient pole rotor
 Round Rotor Generator

Generator

Exciter

View of a two-pole round rotor generator and exciter

 Round Rotor Generator

Cross-section of a large turbo generator. (Courtesy

Westinghouse)
 Round Rotor Generator

Metal frame

Laminated iron
core with slots

Insulated copper
bars are placed in
the slots to form
the three-phase
winding

Details of a generator stator

 Round Rotor Generator

Rotor block of a large generator. (Courtesy Westinghouse)

 Round Rotor Generator

Generator rotor with conductors placed in the slots

 Round Rotor Generator

Steel
retaining
ring

Shaft
Shaft

Wedges
DCcurrent
DC current
terminals
terminals

Large generator rotor completely assembled. (Courtesy

Westinghouse)
 Salient pole generator

Stator of a large salient pole hydro generator; inset shows

the insulated conductors and spacers
 Salient pole generator

Large hydro generator rotor with view of the vertical poles

 Salient pole generator

Rotor of a four-pole salient pole generator

Excitation Systems (p 541)
Field winding Always absorbs or imports dc power
whether Motor or Generator operation Field winding
is connected to dc source.

The excitation systems are:

1. DC exciter
2. . Static Excitation
3. Brushless Excitation
Excitation Systems , DC exciter
 1. DC Exciter
Field of Pilot Exciter Alternator Field
Field of main Exciter

AlternatorOutput
Shaft

Stator Rotor Stator Rotor

Rotor

Pilot Exciter Main Exciter 3-Phase Alternator

Alternator field on rotor is connected to armature of main exciter

on rotor through slip rings and brushes.
 1. DC Exciter
An old conventional method of exciting field winding.
Three machines
1. Pilot exciter: DC shunt generator feeding field winding of main
exciter
2. Main exciter: Separately Excited DC generator feeding field
winding of main alternator.
3. Main 3-phase alternator:
They are mechanically coupled and driven by same shaft.
 2. Static Excitation

Battery
Bank
Brushes

Slip rings

Thyrister
Rectifier TR
 2. Static Excitation
No rotating type of exciter, no friction.
Initially field winding is excited by battery bank through slip rings
and brushes.
After building up of voltage, the output voltage is fed back to field
through transformer and rectifier.
Then battery bank is disconnected.
Use of reliable and high power SCR ( silicon controlled rectifier)
gives fast response.
If other generators are in operation, then there is no need of
battery bank for new generator.
3. Brushless Excitation
 3. Brushless Excitation
Permanent Magnet
Solid shaft Hollow shaft

Pilot Exciter Main Exciter

PM on rotor Arm on rotor Silicon diode

Arm on Field on rectifier
stator stator on SHAFT

DC
AC
Thyrister
Rectifier
TR
AC
 3. Brushless Excitation
This method consists of:

1. Pilot exciter: 3-phase generator with permanent magnet field

or poles on rotor and 3-phase armature wdg on stator.
2. Main exciter: 3-phase generator with field on stator and
armature on rotor.

3. Main 3-phase alternator:

They are mechanically coupled and driven by same shaft.

4. Rectifiers: 1. Thyrister controlled bridge.

2. Silicon diode bridge, mounted on shaft.
 3. Brushless Excitation
The output of pilot exciter is fed to thyrister controlled rectifier.

After rectification, dc output is given to stationary field winding

of main exciter
3-phase output of main exciter is fed through hollow shaft to
diode rectifier which is mounted on shaft.
The dc output of diode rectifier is given to the main alternator
field without brushes and slip rings.
Since this scheme does not require any sliding contact and
brushes, this is called as brushless excitation.
For large 500MW and above, turbo-generator, dc current is up
to 10kA or above, this scheme is used.
Phasor Diagram of Alternator (upf)
Phasor Diagram of Alternator (zpf lagging )
Phasor Diagram of Alternator (zpf leading )
Phasor Diagram of Alternator ( lagging pf )
Armature reaction of
Alternator
Unity power factor (pf) load
Zero power factor lagging load
Zero power factor leading load
Lagging power factor load
Armature reaction of
Alternator
Unity power factor (pf) load
Armature reaction of
Alternator
Zero power factor lagging load
Armature reaction of
Alternator
Zero power factor leading load
Armature reaction of
Alternator
Lagging power factor load
Phasor Diagram of Alternator ( lagging pf )
Equivalent circuit of alternator
Phasor diagram lagging pf
Phasor diagram unity pf and
Leading pf
Phasor diagram
Phasor diagram ( lagging pf)
Phasor diagram ( unity pf)
Phasor diagram ( leading pf)
Voltage Regulation of Alternator
Deviation of terminal voltage with respect to No load
voltage is called voltage Regulation.
Voltage Regulation of Alternator
Deviation of terminal voltage with respect to No load
voltage is called voltage Regulation.

1. E.M.F Method or Synchronous Impedance Method

2. M.M.F Method
3. ZPFC Method
E.M.F Method or Synchronous Impedance Method

1st Step : Plot OCC and SCC of Alternator.

E.M.F Method or Synchronous Impedance Method

2nd Step : Find Synchronous Impedance (Zs).

E.M.F Method or Synchronous Impedance Method
3rd Step : Find Ef .
M.M.F Method
1st Step : Plot OCC and SCC.
M.M.F Method
1st Step : Plot OCC and SCC.
M.M.F Method
Next steps:
ZPFC Method
ZPFC Method
1st Step : Plot OCC , ZPFC and POTIER Triangle
ZPFC Method

Find Fr Corresponding Er from OCC.

Then Find Ff from MMF triangle.