University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory

Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

Alternator Regulation
(E.M.F. & M.M.F. Methods)
Object:-

To determine the regulation of alternator by

i. E.M.F or Synchronous impedance method.

ii. m.m.f. or Ampere Turn method.

Theory:-

I. Regulation:-
The voltage regulation of an alternator is the voltage variation at the terminals
when a given load is thrown off, the excitation and speed remaining constant,
expressed as a fraction of the terminal voltage at the given load. If the give load is of
unity power factor or lagging power factor there will be a rise in voltage and the
regulation will be positive and if the load is of leading power factor there will be a
fall in a voltage and the regulation will be negative. This is called regulation up. The
variation of terminal voltage expressed as a fraction of terminal voltage on no load
when the load is thrown in, keeping excitation and speed constant is called
regulation down. Usually, because of the saturation, the value of regulation up. This
is illustrated in fig.1 curve I is the no load magnetization curve and curve II is load
magnetization curve. The regulation up is (DC/V) and regulation down is
(AB/V).AB variation in voltage when the given load is thrown in will be greater than
DC, the variation in voltage when the given load is thrown off.
no load voltage − load voltage
Hence regulation up =
load voltage

no load voltage − load voltage

Regulation down =
no load voltage

In figure (2) the variation of voltage with load for different power factors at
constant excitation and speed are shown where the Y axis - % percentage of no load
voltage and X axis - % percentage of full load current

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

V [v]

% of no - load voltage
No-Load
I D mag.
curve
V rated

0.0 lead
A Load
C mag.
II curve

0.
8
le
ad
0.
9
U

le
.p

ad
0.

.f
9
la
0.

g
0
la
g
B

If [A] % Full load current

Fig.1 variation of terminal voltage when Fig.2 variation of terminal voltage with
load is thrown off or in load at constant excitation

Let E t be the terminals voltage on no load, E be the terminal voltage on load

considering armature reaction, V The terminal voltage on load considering effect of
armature reaction armature resistance and armature leakage reactance drops,

Then the equivalent circuit diagram and phasor diagram of alternator will be as
shown in figure (3a) and (3b).

Xa Xl Ra

Et
IX
a
E
Load

Et E V
IX
 V IR l
a
Ia

Fig.3 a Fig.3 b

Where:-

X a is reaction reactance

X e Armature leakage reactance

Ra Armature resistance

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

It we combine the effect of armature reaction and armature leakage reactance we have
Xs = Xa + Xl

Where X s is called the synchronous reactance.

Then Z s = Ra + jX s

Where Z s is called synchronous impedance.

The corresponding equivalent circuit and phasor diagram are shown in fig.3c and
3d respectively.

Xs Ra

Zs Et

IZ s
Load

Et V
IX
s
 V IR
a
Ia

Fig.3 C Fig.3 d

The ohmic value of Z s may be easily found by “open circuit test” short circuit test
figure (4). On O.C test the current is zero while the terminal voltage V = Et for a given
field excitation, figure (4a). On short circuit test, the whole of Et is consumed in
circulation the short circuit current I sc in the local circuit of impedance Z s , figure (4b),
therefore

Et
Zs =
I sc

Where Et is the O.C voltage and I sc is the short circuit current for the same field
current. In figure (4c) the O.C and short circuit characteristics and corresponding
Z s = f (I f ) is shown it is seen that if there is no saturation Z s is constant.

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

Xs Rs

Et = V

(a) V
Et Et = V O .C .

Xs Rs
Et = Isc Zs

I sc
(b) A I sc
Et Et = V S .C .

Xs
I sc R

V [v]
I [A] O.C.
Zs [  ] Zs

(C) .
S.C

If [A]

Fig.4

Ordinarily one chooses a constant value for Z s corresponding to excitation which

gives normal rated voltage on open circuit i.e.

Referring to fig.3d, we have for lagging loads

Et2 = (V cos  + IR) 2 + (V sin  + IX S ) 2

And for leading p.f. loads

Et2 = (V cos  + IR) 2 + (V sin  − IX S ) 2

Et − V
Hence of regulation = *100%
V

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 University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
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II- Methods of finding regulation

There are two methods generally used finding regulation. They are

A) synchronous impedance method also called emf method or pessimistic method

B) m.m.f. method or optimistic method.
C) zero p.f. method or potier method. (Another Experiment)

A. Emf method :-
For this method, data from O.C and S.C tests are required from these data Z s is
Et − V
determined knowing R, X s is found out then regulation is
V

Where:-

Et = (V cos  + IR) 2 + (V sin   IX s ) 2 see figure (3d)

+ Ve sign for up p.f and lagging of loads

- Ve sign for leading p.f loads

This method is called pessimistic method because the value of regulation obtained
is higher than the actual value. The reason for this is that during the sc test the iron parts
are unsaturated , but under normal operating conditions iron is saturated we have
assumed Z s = constant but Z s actually decreases with saturation , the effect of armature
reaction will varying depending upon the degree of saturation.

In this method the drop in the armature leakage reactance and the effect of armature
reactance have been converted into a voltage drop IX S hence this method is called emf
method.

B. Mmf method: -
In emf method it was assumed that each mmf acting upon the magnetic circuit can
be replaced by an emf it would produce if it acted separately. The converse of this
assumption i.e. each emf can be replaced by a mmf that would produce it, assuming the
magnetic circuit is unsaturated, is the vises of mmf method.

The data required are once again oc and sc characteristics. It is assumed that the
excitation required under short circuit condition to circulate rated current is used up to
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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

over come the effect of armature reaction ( F ) and leakage reactance drop ( Fx ) see
A
fig.5a.

Isc [A]

FA
F

+
Et

Fx
90 + 
Irated

V
 +
If [A]  IR

FA+Fx
I Er
(a) (b)

Fig. 5

In figure (5b) is shown the phasor diagram for mmf method E1 is the vector sum of
V and IR , FR is the excitation required to produced E1 and is found from occ. FR is
drawn perpendicular to E1 to FR is added ( F + Fx ) phasorially ( F + Fx ) is the
A A
excitation required to circulate full load current under short circuit condition to get F
the total excitation Et, corresponding to F, is obtained from occ and is drawn
perpendicular to F now the regulation can be calculated analytically we can find Et as
follows:-

I= I 0 , V= V 0

E1 = (V cos  + IR) 2 + (V sin  ) 2

= E1 

F = F 90 +  from o.c.c

R R

F + Fx = F + F 0 From scc
A A x

F = F − (F + F )
R A x

Or F = F 2 + ( F + Fx ) 2 − 2F ( F + Fx ) cos( 90 +  )
R A R A

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

Sin  =  we can simply the calculation if  is replaced by 

The above equation can also be written as:-

F = F 2 + ( F + Fx ) 2 + 2F ( F + Fx ) cos( 90 +  )
R A R A

Then E t is determined from occ corresponding to F the mmf method is sometimes

called optimistic method because it gives regulation values which are lower than the
actual values. This is so because this method also assumes unsaturated magnetic circuit.

If open circuit characteristic is were a straight line both emf and mmf methods give
the same results.

Procedure:

a) no load or open circuit characteristics

Connect the alternator as in figure (8), run it at rated speed. Note the readings of
terminal voltage on no load as excitation of alternator is increased gradually. Take
readings till about 25% more than the rated voltage is obtained.

b) short circuit test or short circuit characteristics

Connect the alternator as in figure (9) run the machine at rated speed and maintain it
constant, with no excitation on the alternator field. Making sure that the excitation
on alternator is increased gradually; take readings till about 25% more than the rated
current is obtained.

c) Measure the D.C. resistance of alternator phase and convert this into effective
resistance, taking a multiplying factor K=1.2. To simplify the calculations, resistance
of alternator may be neglected without much error.

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

Graphs:-

Draw O.C, S.C characteristics on the same graph paper.

Note: - Use phase quantities only.

Calculations:-

1) Calculate Z s for different excitations and plot Z s = f ( I f ) .

2) Calculate the regulation by using the above two methods at:-

a) Full load u.p.f
b) Full load 0.8 p.f lag.
c) Full load 0.8 p.f lead
And compare them and give your remarks.

3) Find the value of R, X S and Z s in p.u.

Discussion: -

1) Discuss the modern methods of automatic voltage control of alternators in a power

station.
2) Modern generators are designed with high p.u. value of synchronous reactance.
Why? Discuss.

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University of Technology Electrical Machines Laboratory
Electrical Engineering Fourth Year

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