15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

EXPT. No:
DATE:

VOLTAGE REGULATION OF AN ALTERNATOR - E.M.F AND M.M.F

METHODS

AIM: Topre-determine the regulation of an alternator by E.M.F and M.M.F methods - conduction of
open and short circuit tests.

APPARATUS:
Ammeter (MC) 0-1A 1No.
Ammeter (MC) 0 - l0 A 1 No.
Ammeter (MI) 0 - l0 A 1 No.
Voltmeter (MC) 0 - 15 V 1 No.
Voltmeter (MI) 0 - 600 V 1 No.
Rheostats 18 Ohms, 700 Ohms and 200 Ohms 1 No. each
Tachometer 1 No.

THEORY: Student should explain about the following:

1. Brief description about the construction of alternator
2. Define regulation
3. Name all the method of determining the regulation and explain in detail about the EMF and MMF
Method.
4. The open circuit and short circuit characteristics of alternator.
5. Advantages and disadvantages of EMF and MMF method. Or comparison between EMF and
MMF methods.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAMS:

PROCEDURE:
1. Circuit connections are made as shown in the circuit diagram 1
2. With 18 Ohms rheostat in cut-in position, 200 Ohms rheostat in cut-out position, and 700 ohm
rheostat in cut-in position, close the supply switch S1.
3. Cut - out the 18 ohms rheostat gradually and if necessary cut-in the 200 ohm rheostat , the motor
is brought to its rated speed
4. Closing the supply switch S2, the current in the field winding is increasedby cutting out the
700 ohm rheostat and each step note down the field currentand the induced voltage of the alternator.
5. The excitation of the alternator is reduced to its minimum and the triple pole switch S3 is closed..
This short circuits the alternator terminals. The excitation of the alternator is adjusted slowly such
that sufficient voltage is induced to circulate rated current in the stator windings of the
alternator. The ammeter connected in the line indicates the current.
6. The excitation is reduced to the minimum, switch S3 is opened, the rheostats are brought
back to their initial position and finally the supply switches S1 and S2 are opened.

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

PROCEDURE FOR MEASUREMENT OF ARMATURE RESISTANCE (STATOR

RESISTANCE):
1. Connections are made as shown -in the circuit diagram 2
2. The supply switch is closed
3. The lamp load is put on in steps and the readings of all meters are noted in the tabular
column.
4. The lamp load is decreased, the supply switch S is opened.

OBSERVATIONS:
DC MOTOR ALTERNATOR
Rating Rating
Rated voltage Rated voltage
Rated Armature Current Rated Armature Current
Field winding Voltage Field winding Voltage
Field winding current Field winding current
Rated speed Rated speed

TABULAR COLUMNS

OPENCIRUCIT TEST:
S. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Field current If
Induced voltage (Line
to Line voltage)
Induced voltage (Line
to Line voltage)

Note: In the Open circuit test we can excite the alternator to a voltage 10 % more than the rated
voltage

SHORT CIRCUIT TEST:

Field current Rated Armature current

Note: Since there is a short circuit at the terminals the excitation must be sufficient to set up the
rated armature current. Do not exceed the rated current.

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

ARMATUR RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT:

S.No. Voltmeter Reading V Ammeter reading I Resistance R = V/I
1.
2.
3.
Average armature resistance Rav

GRAPHS: From the open circuit and short circuit test results we need to plot the
following characteristic curves:
1. Field current from open circuit test Vs Induced voltage (Phase value) – Open circuit
characteristic
2. Field current from short circuit test Vs Armature current – Short circuit characteristic

Note: Draw two sets of the above characteristics: one for E.M.F method another for
M.M.F method calculations.

CALCULATIONS:
Synchronous Impedance,
Z S=Open circuit voltage corresponding¿ field current ∈the short circuit test ¿
Rated current ∈the short circuit test

Effective armature resistance, Ra = 1.25 x Resistance measured per phase.

Synchronous reactance, X S= √ Z 2S−R 2a

CALCULATION OF REGULATION BY E.M.F.METHOD:

A) UNITY POWER FACTOR LOAD:

From the phasor diagram,
2 2 2 2 2
OC =OB + BC =( OA + AB ) + BC

E0 C

E2= ( V + I R A )2+ ( I X S )2
IXS

|E|=√ ( V + I R A )2 + ( I X S )2 V
O B
I A IRA

Percentage Voltage regulation =

|E|−|V |
X 100
|V |

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

B) LAGGING POWER FACTOR LOAD:

We assume that the load current lags behind the voltage by an angle Φ, so that the power
factor is Cos Φ. From the right angled triangle OCD, we have
E0
C

V IXS
O
I A
Φ IRA
B

OC 2=OD 2 + DC 2=( OE + ED )2+ ¿

E02= ( V cos Φ+ I R A )2 +¿ ¿

|E 0|=√ ( V cos Φ+ I R A )2 +¿ ¿ ¿

|E 0|−|V |
Percentage Voltage regulation = X 100
|V |

C) LEADING POWER FACTOR LOAD:

We assume that the load current leads the voltage by an angle Φ, so that the power factor
is Cos Φ. From the right angled triangle OCD, we have
D
E C
I IXS
E0

Φ B
V IRA
O A
2 2 2 2
OC =OD + DC =( OE + ED ) + ¿
E02= ( V cos Φ+ I R A )2 +¿ ¿

|E 0|=√ ( V cos Φ+ I R A )2 +¿ ¿ ¿

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

|E 0|−|V |
Percentage Voltage regulation = X 100
|V |

CALCULATION OF REGULATION BY M.M.F.METHOD:

A) UNITY POWER FACTOR LOAD:
The phasor diagram for the alternator at lagging power factor load is as shown
If
E0

V Vꞌ
O I IRA

From the phasor diagram, we have

V ꞌ =( V + I R A )
I is the full load current
I ꞌf = Field current corresponding to V ꞌ on open circuit characteristics
I ꞌꞌf = Field current producing rated current in short circuit test
Total field current, I f =√ I ꞌf 2+ I ꞌꞌ2
f

The no load induced e.m.f corresponding to the field current I f from the open circuit
characteristic, E0

|E 0|−|V |
Percentage Voltage regulation = X 100
|V |

B) LAGGING POWER FACTOR LOAD:

The phasor diagram for the alternator at lagging power factor load is as shown
If

90⁰ + Φ

E0
V
IRA
O
Φ
Vꞌ
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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

From the phasor diagram, we have

2 2
V ꞌ = ( V + I R A cos Φ ) + ( I R A sin Φ )
√
I is the full load current
I ꞌf = Field current corresponding to V ꞌ on open circuit characteristics
I ꞌꞌf = Field current producing rated current in short circuit test
Total field current, I f =√ I ꞌf 2+ I ꞌꞌ2 ꞌ ꞌꞌ ⁰
f −2 I f I f cos ( 90 +Φ )

The no load induced e.m.f corresponding to the field current I f from the open circuit
characteristic, E0

|E 0|−|V |
Percentage Voltage regulation = X 100
|V |
C) LEADING POWER FACTOR LOAD:
The phasor diagram for the alternator at leading power factor load is as shown
E0

If 90⁰- Φ
I
Vꞌ
Φ
V
IRA
O

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

From the phasor diagram, we have

2 2
V ꞌ = ( V + I R A cos Φ ) + ( I R A sin Φ )
√
I is the full load current
I ꞌf = Field current corresponding to V ꞌ on open circuit characteristics
I ꞌꞌf = Field current producing rated current in short circuit test
Total field current, I f =√ I ꞌf 2+ I ꞌꞌ2 ꞌ ꞌꞌ ⁰
f −2 I f I f cos ( 90 −Φ )

The no load induced e.m.f corresponding to the field current I f from the open circuit
characteristic, E0

|E 0|−|V |
Percentage Voltage regulation = X 100
|V |

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

GRAPHS:

Open circuit and Short circuit characteristics of alternator

Voltage regulation by E.M.F. method
Scale: X axis 1cm = volts
Y axis 1 cm = Amp

Short Circuit current

Voltage induced on open circuit by the Field Current in Short circuit test
(Phase to neutral value)
Induced Voltage

Rated Current
B

Synchronous Impedance ZS = AC / BC

Field Current in Short circuit test

Field Current

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

Open circuit and Short circuit characteristics of alternator

Voltage regulation by M.M.F. method
(UNITY POWER FACTOR)

Scale: X axis 1cm = volts

Y axis 1 cm = Amp
E0 Total No load Induced e.m.f for unity Power Factor

Short Circuit current

Vꞌ, Voltage induced on open circuit Considering armature resistance drop IRa
(Phase to neutral value)
Induced Voltage

Rated Current
B

Synchronous Impedance ZS = AC / BC

Field Current required neutralizing armature reaction

Resultant Field Current for unity Power Factor

Field Current corresponding to Vꞌ circuit test

Field Current

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

Open circuit and Short circuit characteristics of alternator

Voltage regulation by M.M.F. method
(LAGGING POWER FACTOR)

Scale: X axis 1cm = volts

Y axis 1 cm = Amp
E0 Total No load Induced e.m.f for lagging Power Factor

Short Circuit current

Vꞌ, Voltage induced on open circuit Considering armature resistance drop IRa
(Phase to neutral value)
Induced Voltage

Field Current required neutralizing armature reaction

Resultant Field Current lagging power Factor

Field Current corresponding to Vꞌ circuit test

 90⁰ + Φ

Field Current

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

Open circuit and Short circuit characteristics of alternator

Voltage regulation by M.M.F
(LEADING POWER FACTOR)

Scale: X axis 1cm = volts

Y axis 1 cm = Amp
E0 Total No load Induced e.m.f for unity Power Factor

Short Circuit current

Vꞌ, Voltage induced on open circuit Considering armature resistance drop IRa
(Phase to neutral value)
Induced Voltage

Field Current required neutralizing armature reaction

Resultant Field Current for unity Power Factor

Field Current corresponding to Vꞌ circuit test
 90⁰- Φ

Field Current

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15EEL38 ELECTRICAL LAB -1

1. What is pre-determination of regulation?

2. Define regulation of an alternator.
3. Why the excitation of the alternator should be maintained constant todetermine the
regulation?
4. What is the difference between regulation -up and regulation - down?
5. Why the open circuit characteristic is a curve?
6. Why the short circuit characteristic is a straight line?
7. Define armature reaction in the case of alternator.
8. What is the effect of power factor on armature reaction in alternator
9. What is the difference between e.m.f. method and m.m.f. method ofdetermination of
regulation?
10.Whye.m.f. method of determination of regulation gives large values
of regulation.
11.Why the regulation must be minimum.
12.Can we calculate the regulation at zero power factor? If yes, draw
the phasor diagram for e.m.f method for zero power factor lagging
load.
13.Whatis the draw back of e.m.f method and how it is eliminated in
m.m.f method?
14.Why it is called magneto motive force method.
15.State the factors responsible for a change in alternator terminal
voltage while feeding isolated load.
16.Under what condition the voltage regulation of an alternator does
becomes negative.
17.Whatis adjusted synchronous impedance and why is it expected to
give better results for pre- determination of voltage regulation than the
unadjustedvalue.
18.Whyper unit synchronous impedance of alternator is more than the
perunit impedance of the transformer.
19.What is short circuit ratio (SCR) of an alternator? What is its
significance?
20.Whyan alternator is called a synchronous machine.

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