ELECTRICAL GENERATION (NOTES POWER SUPPLY)

Generating Sources

When we talk about the power system, there are dozen of essential terms and definitions.
One of the most important is for sure that any AC power system begins with a generating
source. Electric generators are devices that convert energy from a mechanical form into an
electrical form. This process, known as electromechanical energy conversion, involves
magnetic fields that act as an intermediate medium.

The input to the generating machine can be derived from a number of energy sources.

For example, in the generation of large-scale electric power, coal can produce steam that
drives the shaft of the machine. Typically, for such a thermal process, only about 1/3 of the
raw energy (i.e., from coal) is converted into mechanical energy. The final step of the energy
conversion is quite efficient, with efficiency close to 100%.

1. FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT

A simplified diagram of a three-phase generator is shown in Figure 1. Note that poles A’, B’,
and C’ represent the start of each of the phase windings, whereas poles A, B, and
C represent the ends of each of the windings.

As with transformers, the windings of the generator can be connected in either of two ways:

1. Wye configuration: A circuit arrangement in which the schematic diagram of the

windings forms a Y.
2. Delta configuration: A circuit arrangement in which the schematic diagram of the
windings forms a delta.

Figure 2 illustrates the connection arrangements. The generator shown in Figure 1 is a

rotating-field type of device. A magnetic field is developed by an external DC voltage.
Through electromagnetic induction, a current is induced into each of the stationary (stator)
coils of the generator.

Because each of the phase windings is separated by 120°, the output voltage of the
generator also is offset for each phase by 120° (Figure 3). Three-phase power is used almost
exclusively for power distribution because it is an efficient method of transporting electrical
energy.

2 Nov 2021 @ 6:39 AM [28 Days ago]

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

The operation of a generator is based on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction: If a

coil (or winding) is linked to a varying magnetic field, then an electromotive force (emf or
voltage) is induced across the coil. Thus, generators have two essential parts: one that
creates a magnetic field, and the other where the emf energies are induced.
The magnetic field is typically generated by electromagnets. Thus, the field intensity can be
adjusted for control purposes. These windings are referred to as field windings or field
circuits. The coils where the emf energies are induced are called armature windings or
armature circuits.

One of these two components is stationary (the stator), and the other is a rotational part
(the rotor) driven by an external torque.

Conceptually, it is immaterial which of the two components is intended to rotate because, in

either case, the armature circuits always experience a varying magnetic field.

Today, most electric power is produced by synchronous generators that rotate at a

constant speed (the synchronous speed). This speed is dictated by the operating frequency
of the system and the machine structure. AC generators are also used that do not
necessarily rotate at a fixed speed, such as those found in windmills (induction generators);
these generators, however, account for only a small percentage of the power generated
today.

For a better understanding of the principles of operation, see Figure 4, which shows a cross
section of a basic AC machine. The rotor consists of a winding wrapped around a steel body.
A DC current is made to flow in the rotor winding (or field winding), and this results in a
magnetic field (rotor field). When the rotor is made to rotate at a constant speed, the three
stationary windings aa’, bb’, and cc’ experience a periodically varying magnetic field.

Thus, an emf is induced across these windings in accordance with Faraday’s law. These
forces are AC and periodic, each period corresponds to one revolution of the rotor.

Thus, for 60 Hz electricity, the rotor must spin at 3600 revolutions per minute (rpm); this is
the synchronous speed of the machine. Because the windings aa’, bb’, and cc’ are
displaced equally in space from each other (by 120°), their emf waveforms are displaced in
time by one third of a period.

In other words, the machine is capable of generating three-phase electricity. When the
stator windings are connected to an external (electrical) system to form a closed circuit, the
steady-state currents in the windings are also periodic.
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figure1_three-phase-ac-generator-diagram
figure2_generator-wye-delta-circuit-configurations

figure3_output-waveform-three-phase-generator