Rating of Alternator

October 25, 2020 by Electrical4U

Power rating of an alternator is defined as the power which can be delivered

by an alternator safely and efficiently under some specific conditions.
Increasing load increases losses in the alternator, which leads to a temperature
rise of the machine. The conductor and insulator parts of the machine have
some specific overheating withstand limits. The manufacturer so specifies the
power rating of an alternator that at that maximum load the temperature rise
of different parts of the machine does not cross their specified safe limit.
The copper losses i.e. I2R loss varies with armature current and core losses
vary with voltage. The temperature rise or heating of alternator depends upon
cumulative effect of copper losses and core losses. As there is no role of power
factor upon these losses, the rating of alternator generally given in the order
of VA or KVA or MVA.
In other words, as the losses of the alternator are independent of electrical
power factor, hence power factor does not come into picture while we
calculate and estimate the power rating of an alternator. Although losses of
the alternator depend upon its KVA or MVA rating, actual output varies
with electrical power factor.

The electrical output of an alternator is a product of power factor and VA. We

express the output in KW.
Sometimes alternators are also rated by its power instead of VA rating. That
time electrical power factor of the alternator must be specified too.
In addition to KVA rating, an alternator has also voltage, electric current,
frequency, speed, number of phases, number of poles, field ampere, excitation
voltage, maximum temperature rise limit ratings, etc.
The table below shown a standard rating plate of alternator

Make ……………

Kilo Watt Rating 5000

Power Factor 0.85 lag

KVA Rating 5,88,000

Stator Volt 21,000

Stator Ampere 16,200

Rotor Volt 340

Rotor Ampere 4040

R.P.M 3000

Hz 50

Phase 3

Armature Connection Double Star

Coolant Water & Hydrogen (Forced)

Gas Pressure 3.5 bar

Insulation Type +F

Type ……………

Specification IS5422 & IEC34