Synchronous Machine

(Prepared by Dr. Provas Kumar Roy)

Construction &Types
Type:
Depending upon the geometrical structure of the rotor the synchronous motor
are of two type , (a) Cylindrical rotor or non-salient pole type and Salient pole
type.
According to the energy conversion the synchronous machine is of two type,
(a) Synchronous generator or Alternator & (b) Synchronous motor.
A synchronous generator is a synchronous machine which receives mechanical
energy from prime mover and delivers electrical energy.
A synchronous motor receives electrical energy from ac supply and delivers
mechanical load.
Construction:
A synchronous machine consists of two parts, (a) stator and (b) rotor.
Stator:
The stator of both the type of synchronous machine consist of a cast iron
stator frame, a cylindrical laminated and uniformly slotted stator core, a
polyphase distributed winding placed in the stator core, bearings etc. The stator
frame serves merely as a mechanical support to the stator core and not designed
to carry the magnetic flux.
Rotor:
(a) Cylindrical rotor: The rotor of this type of synchronous machine consists
of a cylindrical laminated and uniformly slotted rotor core, a distributed winding
placed in the rotor core.
This type of synchronous machine is used in very high speed. To reduce
the peripheral velocity, the diameter of the rotor is reduced and axial length is
increased. This type of synchronous machine is employed with steam and gas
turbine.
(b) Salient pole: The rotor of this type of synchronous machine resembles
a flywheel with electro-magnets, similar to the field magnet of a dc machine. The
field winding on the salient pole is a concentrated winding.
This type of synchronous machine is used for slow and moderate speed.
Salient pole synchronous machine are cheaper than cylindrical rotor machine. The
salient pole synchronous machine has larger no of poles compared to cylindrical
rotor synchronous machine. This type of synchronous machine is employed with
hydraulic turbine and diesel engine.
 Working Principle
Synchronous generator: According to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction an
emf will induce in a coil when there is a rate of change of flux linkage. In
Synchronous generator rotor is moved by a prime mover and a dc supply is given
to the rotor winding (i.e Field winding) and so according to the faraday’s law of
electromagnetic induction a three phase emf is induced in the three phase distributed
armature winding.
Synchronous Motor:
When a three phase supply is given to a three phase distributed winding, a rotating
magnetic field is produced. The rotor is given a dc supply & by prime mover or
damper winding the rotor is moved near synchronous speed and so the rotor is
locked with the rotating magnetic field and moves at synchronous speed.
Advantages of stationary armature and revolving field system:
(1) It is easier to insulate stationary armature winding for very high voltage because
insulation of stationary armature is not subjected to mechanical stress due to centrifugal
action and more space is available on the stator for providing more insulation as the
stator is outside the rotor.
(2) The armature winding is cooled more effectively because the stator core can be made
large enough with many air passages or cooling ducts for force air circulation.
(3) The number of slip rings and current rating of the slip rings and so the cost of slip rings
are less.
(4) Due to simple, light and robust construction of the rotor, higher speed of dc field is
possible. This results in increased output from the machine of given dimensions.

Distribution factor, Pitch factor, EMF equation.

EMF equation
Let Nph = no of turns in series per phase Field winding
Axis
P= no of pole x

Ф= flux per pole N

ω θ = ωt
ω = angular velocity in radians per second Stator coil Axis
S
f= frequency in herz
●
Kw=winding factor
Kp= pitch factor Fig:3.1

Kd = distribution factor
θ = ωt= electrical time angle
In fig 3.1 the time origing is chosen at the instant stator coil axis coincides with the field
winding axis. At θ = ωt = 0, the entire flux produce by one pole passes through the coil. At
θ = ωt = 900, the flux passes through the coil is zero.
Therefore flux linkage, ψ= N ph cos t .

By Faraday’s Law emf induced in full pitch

concentrated coil is given by
d
e=  = N ph sin t
dt
The rms value of generated emf in a full pitch

Coil is, E= 2 N ph = 2fN ph

But in synchronous machine the stator coil is neither

concentrated nor full pitch.

For distributed winding , The rms value of generated emf = 2fN ph K d 

For short pitch coil with distributed winding, The rms value of generated emf is given by

Erms= 2fN ph K d K p

Distribution factor
Definition: The distribution (or breadth) factor is defined as the ratio of resultant emf
with the coil distributed in slots to the resultant emf with the coils concentrated in one slot.
Expression: Let
n= no of slots per pole.
q= no of slots per pole per phase.
0
γ= angular displacement between the slots= 180n
H
γ
B
G
D
q
γ
900 2
C F

E  O
2
A Fig:3.2
The emf induced in different coils of one phase under one pole are
Represented by side AC, CD, DB. Which are equal in magnitude
And differ in phase by angle γ from each other.

EMF induced in each coil side, E=AC=CD=DB=2OA sin
2

Arithmetic sum of coil emf=m  2 OA sin
2
q
The resultant emf induced in one polar groupof one phase=AB= m x 2 OA sin
2
q q
2  OA  sin sin
Distribution factor, Kd  2 = 2
 
m  2  OA  sin q  sin
2 2
Advantage of distributed Winding in armature slots:
(1) Reduction of harmonics in the generated emf wave.
(2) Full utilization of the armature iron and copper.
(3) Adding rigidity and mechanical strength to the winding.
Pitch factor
Definition: The ratio of resultant emf of a short pitched coil to the resultant emfs if
the same coil been full pitched is known as pitch factor or coil span factor or simply pitch
factor.
E
ε/2
Expression: Let E= induced emf in each coil side,
ε =short pitch angle, ε/2 ε

Arithmetic sum of coil emf = 2E, E

Fig: 3.3
If the coil is short-pitched by ε electrical degree the resultant induced
ER in the coil is the phasor sum of two voltages.

 Phasor sum of coil emf = 2  E  cos
2
 
2  E  cos
Pitch factor = 2 = cos 
2 E 2
Advantage of Fractional pitch Winding in armature slots:
(1) Reduction in the copper for overhang. This results in less cost of the
machine.
(1) Reduction of harmonics in the generated emf wave.

Relation between maximum value of flux density and flux per pole:
Flux per pole=average flux density  area per pole

1 DL

 B max Sint d (t ) 
0
P

2 DL
 Bmax 
 P
2 DL
 Bmax
P

Problem 3.1: A 3Φ,12pole, 500 rpm, star connected alternator has 144 slots with 10 conductors
per slot. The coils are full pitch and flux per pole is 0.094 Wb. Determine the
phase and line emfs. [Ans: Eph= 2041 V, EL=3535 V]