ALTERNATOR EFFICIENCY

𝑃𝑂𝑈𝑇
% Eff = x 100
𝑃𝐼𝑁

𝑃𝑂𝑈𝑇
% Eff = x 100 equation 8
𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 + 𝑃𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠

Various Losses in Alternator

1.) Rotational Losses

a.) Friction and windage
b.) Brush friction at the collector
c.) Ventilation to cool the machine(if necessary)
d.) Hysteresis & eddy currents in the stator
2.) Electrical Losses
a.) Field Winding
b.) Armature winding
c.) Brush contacts
3.) Losses in the exciter used for field excitation
4.) Stray-load losses (negligible for small alternators)

Power Developed in the Armature Per Phase

𝐸𝑔 𝑉∅ 𝐸𝑔 𝑉∅
Pd = 𝑋𝑠
sinδ Pd(max) = 𝑋𝑠
equation 9

Where:
Pd = power developed per phase
Pd(max) = maximum power developed (when δ = 900)
Eg = generated emf per phase
𝑉∅ = terminal voltage per phase
XS = synchronous reactance per phase
δ = angle between Eg and 𝑉∅

Example # 6: A 13.2kV, 3Φ, WYE connected turbo alternator has synchronous reactance of 8Ω and
negligible resistance per phase. When the field current is 10A, The open circuit voltage
is 13.8kV. Determine the armature current when the alternator developed, maximum
power.
Sol’n:
𝐸𝑔 𝑉∅
Pd = 𝑋 sinδ
𝑠
 At maximum power the angle (δ) between Eg and 𝑉∅ is 900.
Therefore;
EG∠δ = 𝑉∅ ∠0 + IAZS
13.8𝑘𝑉 13.2𝑘𝑉
∠90 = ∠0 + IA(0 + j8)
√3 √3
13.8𝑘𝑉 13.2𝑘𝑉
∠90 − ∠0
IA = √3 √3
0+𝑗8
 IA = 1378.18 ∠𝟒𝟑. 𝟕𝟐 𝐀

GOVERNORS SPEED REGULATION (GSR)

𝑆𝑁𝐿 − 𝑆𝐹𝐿 𝑓𝑁𝐿 − 𝑓𝐹𝐿

GSR = 𝑆𝐹𝐿
or GSR = 𝑓𝐹𝐿
equation 10
Where:
SNL = speed at no load
SFL = speed at full-load
fNL = frequency at no load
fFL = frequency at full-load

CHARACTERISTIC TRIANGLE OF AN ALTERNATOR

∆𝑃 𝑃𝐹𝐿
=
∆𝑓 𝑓𝑁𝐿 − 𝑓𝐹𝐿
∆𝑓
GD =
∆𝑃
∆𝑓 𝐺𝑆𝑅 𝑥 𝑓𝐹𝐿
=
∆𝑃 𝑃𝐹𝐿
Where:
∆𝑓 = change in frequency due to change in load
𝑃𝐹𝐿 = rating of an alternator
GD = Governors droop