SYNCRONOUS MACHINES
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.
In induction machines, the only source of excitation is
the stator current, because rotor currents are induced
currents. Therefore induction motors always operate at
a lagging power factor.
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 (filed 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.
Alternator - Construction
Standard construction consists of :
Armature windings on stationery stator
Field poles on rotor.
The field windings are excited by DC supply
from the exciter and given through the slip rings
Prime mover
Three Phase Synchronous Machine
Synchronous machine is an A.C. machine
Three forms 1. Synchronous Motor
2. Syn. Generator or Alternator
3. Syn. Condenser
Main Two windings:
1. Armature winding
a) Similar to stator winding of Induction motor.
b) Distributed AC winding.
c) Absorbs or imports AC power- Motor
d) Delivers or exports AC power - Generator
2. Field winding
a) Similar to field winding of dc machine
b) Concentrated dc winding.
c) Always absorbs or imports dc power
whether Motor or Generator
Therefore, synchronous machine is a DOUBLY
excited ac Machine.
Armature winding is connected to ac source.
Field winding is connected to dc source.
3. Damper or ammortisseur winding
a) Similar to compensated winding of dc
machine, housed in the pole shoe.
b) But short circuited similar to squirrel cage winding
c) Damps the rotor oscillations.
Rotor material: Chromium-Nickel –Molybdenum steel=High tensile strength.
Usually field winding is on rotor and armature winding on stator
Armature winding
R1
Y2 B2 Brushes
Shaft
B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
R2 Field winding
Usually field winding is on rotor and armature winding on stator
Armature winding
R1 + – DC ON
Y2 B2 Brushes
Shaft
B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
Field winding
R2
Flux is set up
If rotor is rotated by Prime Mover
or by Motor or by Turbine
Usually field winding is on rotor and armature winding on stator
Generator Armature winding
R1 + – DC ON
Y2 B2 Brushes
Spark
Shaft
B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
Field winding
R2
Armature Voltages
t
If speed is zero, no armature voltage is induced.
If DC supply is turned OFF
R1 + – DC ON
Y2 B2 Brushes
Shaft
B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
R2
If DC supply is turned OFF
R1
Y2 B2 Brushes
Shaft
B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
R2
With no flux, if rotor is rotated, no armature voltage is
induced.
Now consider armature winding is on rotor and field winding on stator
R1 Armature
Y2 B2 winding
B1 Y1
R2
Field winding
DC supply is
given to field
R1 winding
Y2 B2
B1 Y1 Flux is
R2
set up
Rotate the armature
By prime mover
Armature
Voltage t
Generator
DC supply is
given to field
R1 winding
Y2 B2
B1 Y1 Flux is
R2
set up
Rotate the armature
By prime mover
Armature
Voltage t
Generator
DC supply is
given to field
R1 winding
Y2 B2
B1 Y1 Flux is
R2
set up
Rotate the
armature
by prime mover
Armature winding
RYBN
Shaft
4 Slip rings
Field winding
Armature winding
+ – DC supply Given to
Field
RYBN
Shaft
4 Slip rings
Field winding
Now rotate the rotor
Armature winding
+ – DC supply Given to
Field
RYBN
Shaft
4 Slip rings
Field winding
Now rotate the rotor
Armature winding
+ – DC supply Given to
Field
RYBN
Shaft
4 Slip rings
Field winding
t
Armature Voltages
Armature winding
+ – DC supply Given to
Field
RYBN
Shaft
4 Slip rings
Field winding
t
Armature Voltages
No speed, armature voltage is zero.
The advantages of providing the field winding on rotor
and armature winding on stator:
1. Field on rotor requires TWO slip rings. Armature on
rotor requires FOUR slip rings. Less slip ring losses.
2. It is economical. For example:
Rating of armature=200MVA, 11kV
200 103
Line current 10,500 A
3 11
For this current, slip rings should be larger in size and
properly insulated from the shaft for 11kV.
Rating of field=1MW, 500V
1000
Field current 2000 A
0.5
Slip rings should be smaller in size and are insulated
for 500V only.
3. Stationary armature can be INSULATED satisfactory
for higher voltages, ie upto 33kV.
4. Stationary armature can be COOLED more efficiently
upto 1000MW or above.
5. Low power field wdg gives LIGHTER rotor, so LOW
torque is required to rotate the rotor .
6. Higher speed and more output are possible for a
given dimensions.
Advantages of rotating field and
stationary armature type
High voltage generation
Better insulation
Rotor weight – less
Current collection - easy
Lesser number of slip rings
Better cooling
Easy of maintenance
Types of alternators
Salient pole alternator
Non salient pole or Turbo or
Cylindrical rotor alternator
Rotor
Salient pole alternator Non salient pole or
Turbo or
Cylindrical
rotor alternator
Construction
Two types:
1. Salient pole or Projecting 2. Cylindrical rotor or Round
pole type syn m/c rotor or Non-salient type syn
m/c
D-axis D-axis
Xd=d-axis syn Uniform
air gap
reactance
Xd = X q
Q-axis Q-axis
Xq=q-axis
syn
reactance
Salient pole
Non-uniform air gap, Xd ≠ Xq Cylindrical rotor
Salient pole type alternator
It consists of cast iron frame which supports the
silicon steel laminated ( bundling of thin sheets)
armature core .
The core has slots on its inner periphery for housing
the conductor .
Silicon steel material reduces the hysteresis loss
and the lamination structure
reduces the eddy current loss.
Suitable for low and medium speed alternator
( Ex Hydro alternator )
Advantages of a smooth
cylindrical type rotor
Less windage loss
No need of damper winding
Good balancing of the rotor
Sound less running
Good cooling to the field because it is a
distributed one.
2-pole Cylindrical Rotor A Cylindrical Rotor
4-Pole Salient Rotor A Salient Pole Rotor
Construction
2. Radial slot rotor
pole
Radial sided slots
Construction
1. Salient pole syn m/c 2. Cylindrical rotor syn m/c
The Differences are:
1.
Salient pole Cylindrical rotor
Construction
2. Non-uniform air gap Uniform air gap
3. Xd d-axis syn reactance X =X =X
d q s
≠ Xq q-axis syn reactance
4. Poles > 4 Poles ≤ 4
5. Used in LOW speed m/c HIGH speed machine
6. Small core length, large Long length, small diameter
diameter to accommodate to limit large centrifugal
large no of poles. forces due to high speed.
7. Hydro-generator in
Turbo-generator in
which rotor is driven
which rotor is driven by
by Hydro-Turbine is
Steam-Turbine.
designed with this pole.
8. Under fault, there are Under fault, there are less
more chances of chances of deformation of
deformation of rotor due rotor due to uniform air gap.
to non-uniform air gap.
9. Output waveform is not Output waveform is more
sinusoidal nearer to sine wave.
(more harmonics)
10. Output Power
E f Vt Vt
2
1 1 E f Vt
P Sin Sin 2 P Sin
Xd 2 X Xs
q Xd
=Electromagnetic Power =Electromagnetic Power
+ Reluctance Power
P P
Sin
Sin
90 90
80 to 85 Sin 2
Excitation Systems
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
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 wdg of main
exciter
2. Main exciter: Separately Excited DC generator feeding field
wdg 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
Static Excitation
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
Permanent Magnet
Solid shaft Hollow shaft
Pilot Exciter Main Exciter
PM on rotor Arm on rotor Silicon diode
Arm on stator Field on stator rectifier
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.
Principle of Operation
•The operation of a synchronous generator is based on Faraday's law
of electromagnetic induction.
•The generation of EMF in Synchronous Generator is because of
relative motion of conductors and magnetic flux.
•These machines can be used either as motors or generators but their
predominant use is in generation.
Turbines which are used to rotate the Synchronous Generator are:-
(a) Gas turbine (b) Steam turbine
(c) Water turbine (d) Wind turbine
Single Phase Alternator
A single-phase alternator has all the
armature conductors connected in series
Three Phase Alternator
Three Phase Alternator
The three-phase alternator has VB
three single-phase windings
spaced so that the voltage
induced in any one is phase- 120 O VA
120 O
displaced by 120 degrees from 120 O
the other two.
V
A B C VC
O
L The voltage waveforms
T generated across each phase
A are drawn on a graph phase-
G displaced 120 degrees from
E each other.
Three Phase Alternator
•The three phases are independent of each other.
•One point from each winding can be connected to form a neutral
and thus make a wye connection.
•A three-phase stator can also be connected so that the phases form a
“delta” connection.
A
A
C B
B
C
T hree Phase
D EL T A C o nnected
T h re e P h a s e S T A R
C o n n e c te d
Three Phase Alternator
•A two pole alternator produces one electrical cycle for each
complete mechanical rotation.
•A four pole alternator will produce two electrical cycles for each
mechanical rotation because two north and two south poles move by
each winding on the stator for one complete revolution of the rotor.
f = (nRotor)(p/2)/60 = (nRotorp)/120
where nRotor is the speed of the rotor in revolutions per minute,
p is the number of poles
f is the electrical line frequency produced by the alternator.
The speed of the rotor must be divided by 60 to change from
revolutions per minute to revolutions per second.
