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Experiment 1 The Three Phase Alternator PDF
Experiment 1 The Three Phase Alternator PDF
EXPERIMENT NO. 1:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The terms alternating current generator, synchronous generator, synchronous alternator
and generator are commonly used interchangeably in engineering literature. Because
synchronous generator are so much commonly used than inductor generators, the term alternator,
as often used, and as used here, applies only to synchronous generator. Alternators are, by far,
the most important source of electric energy. Alternators generate an AC voltage whose
frequency depends upon the rotation. The generated voltage value depends upon the speed, the
DC field excitation and the power factor of the load.
As the DC field excitation of an alternator is increased, its speed being held constant, the
magnetic flux, and hence the output voltage, will also increase in direct proportion to the current.
However, with progressive increase in DC field current, the flux will eventually reach a high
enough value to saturate the iron in the stator.
Saturation in the iron means that there will be smaller increase in flux for a given increase
in field current. Because the generated voltage is directly related to the magnetic flux intensity, it
can be used as a measure of the degree of saturation.
5. Calculate and record in Table 1, the average output voltage of the alternator for each of
the listed DC currents.
6. a) Turn on the power supply without touching the voltage adjust control.
E1 = 208.5Vac E2 = 209.7Vac E3 = 207.2Vac
b) Turn off the power supply without touching the voltage adjust control.
c) Reconnect the three AC voltmeter so they will measure the voltages across each of the
three stator windings.
d) Turn on the power supply, measure and record the generated voltage across each of the
WYE-connected stator windings.
E1 to 4 = 123.5Vac
E2 to 5 = 123.3Vac
E3 to 6 = 122.2Vac
e) Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.
7. Using synchronizing switch, connect the circuit shown in Figure 2. Note that the switch is
wired to present a dead short across the alternator windings when it is closed.
a) Set the synchronizing switch to its open position.
g) Return the voltage to zero and turn off the power supply.
h) Plot your recorded average voltage vs. DC current values from Table 1.
i) Up to what value of voltage is the curve a reasonably straight line? 136.83V
j) Where would you say is the knee of the saturation curve? 136.83Vdc
Figure 2
An alternative depiction of a three winding stator along with the rotor is shown in Figure
7-7. The alternator of Figure 7-7 is shown schematically and in cross section. The wires in each
of the three windings run in and out of the page along the axis of the cylindrical rotor.
The frequency of the AC generated by an alternator depends upon the number of poles
and the speed of the rotor (Figure 7-9). When a rotor has rotated through an angle so that two
adjacent rotor poles (a north and a south) have passed one winding, the voltage induced in that
one winding will have varied through a complete cycle of 360 electrical degrees. The more poles
there are, the lower the speed of rotation must be for a given frequency. A two pole machine
must rotate at twice the speed of a four-pole machine to generate the same frequency. The
magnitude of the voltage generated by an alternator can be varied by adjusting the current on the
rotor which changes the strength of the magnetic field. Remember that the voltage induced on a
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The Three – Phase Alternator
CONCLUSION
It is therefore conclude that the voltage increases less rapidly as the DC current increases.
Alternators generate an AC voltage whose frequency depends upon the speed of rotation, DC
field excitation and power factor of the load. If the DC field excitation is increased; its speed
constant, the magnetic flux increased and the output voltage will also increased in direct
proportion to the current. So there are a smaller increased in flux for a given increase in DC field
current; the output voltage increases.
The open-circuit saturation curve is obtained when driving the SG at rated speed, on open
circuit, and acquiring the SG terminal voltage, frequency, and field current. The aggregated core,
friction, and windage losses may be measured as the input power for each open-circuit voltage
level reading. As the speed is kept constant, the windage and friction losses are constant. Only
the core losses increase approximately with voltage squared.
The Short-Circuit Saturation Curve is obtained when the SG is driven at rated speed with
short-circuited armature. The high current points should be taken first so that the temperature
during testing stays almost constant. The short-circuit saturation curve is a rather straight line;
because the machine is unsaturated during steady-state short-circuit.
Indeed, in open circuit test, the primary mmf of alternator (exciting flux) shouldn't be
compensated by any armature fluxes, so saturation of core due to over exciting (saturation) can
be occur, but in short circuit test, armature fluxes is operating against rotor fluxes and level of
flux density can be stay constant approximately.
REFERENCES
http://machine-lab.blogspot.com/2010/01/three-phase-alternator.html
http://www.usna.edu/EE/ee228/Admin/chap7-1
http://www.ece.umn.edu/users/riaz/animations/alternator.html
http://coep.vlab.co.in/?sub=33&brch=95&sim=1409&cnt=1
11 | E E E T 4 2 1 L a L a b o r a t o r y R e p o r t 1
The Three – Phase Alternator