ELECTRICAL MACHINES (ELM611S) - Laboratory 3

Student’s full name:______________________ Student No: ______________________

Bench No: ______________ Date: ____________

SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS

OBJECTIVE:
To obtain the performance characteristics of a synchronous motor, operating from an infinite bus. The
performance is to be studied with:

1. Constant excitation and variable load

2. Constant input power and variable excitation

STARTING OF THE MOTOR

 The synchronous motor-DC generator set is connected as shown in Fig 1.

 The motor must be started as an induction motor and then ‘pulled into step’ by switching
ON the excitation.
 The motor must be started in star and run in star.

Marks
Lab 25
Post Lab 25
Report 10
Total Marks 60

LAB PROCEDURE

1. Constant excitation, variable load

a. Start & run the synchronous motor on no load. Adjust the excitation for normal excitation and keep this
constant. Vary the load slowly and note V1, I1, W1 and W2
b. Repeat (a), for an under-excitation & an over –excitation.

Complete your measurements in the tables provided below

Under No-Load (2)

V1(V) I1(A) W1(W) W2(W)

Normal Excitation (0.47) (5)

ELM611S LAB 3/2023 H Amushembe & R Tjiwemu
 Load(A) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.6
Vm(V)
Im(A)
W1(W)
W2(W)

Under Excitation (0.40) (5)

Load(A) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.6
V1(V)
I1(A)
W1(W)
W2(W)

Over Excitation (0.54) (5)

Load(A) 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.4
Vm(V)
Im(A)
W1(W)
W2(W)

2. V-curves with constant input power

a. Load the synchronous motor and keep the mechanical load constant (and hence the output is also
constant if the losses are neglected).

b. Starting with no-load, vary the excitation and observe field current If and the motor current IL and record
your readings in the table below.

c. Repeat for 50%, 75% and 100% of mechanical loading, record the readings in the appropriate tables.

No-Load (2)
If (A) 0.11 0.14 0.17 0.2 0.23 0.26 0.29 0.32 0.38 0.41 0.44 0.47 0.5 0.52
Im(A)

25% (2)
If (A) 0.26 0.28 0.32 0.36 0.4 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.6
Im(A)

75% (2)
If (A) 0.34 0.36 0.4 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.6
Im(A)

100% (2)
If (A) 0.38 0.4 0.44 0.48 0.52 0.56 0.6
Im(A)

POST LAB [25]

ELM611S LAB 3/2023 H Amushembe & R Tjiwemu

 1. Calculate the power factor using the readings of W1 and W2, for Part 1 of the lab exercise
(15)
2. By using matlab and the data recorded in part 2, plot Im and power factor separately against a.c power
input on x-axis. This should be one plot with all excitation levels. (6)
3. For Part 2 of the Lab exercise, use matlab and the data recorded to create the V-curve plots for this
motor by plotting the armature current magnitude versus field current. This should be one plot with both
power levels. (4)

LABORATORY REPORTING

Write a Laboratory Report and submit it by the deadline as shown in the course outline to the Lab Technician. The
lab report should include the following: (10)

 Objective of the experiment

 Introduction/ Brief Theoretical Background
 Experimental Set-up
 Procedure (Summarised)
 Findings/Results
 Analysis of Results
 Conclusion

APPENDIX

ELM611S LAB 3/2023 H Amushembe & R Tjiwemu

ELM611S LAB 3/2023 H Amushembe & R Tjiwemu
NB: Make the cover page of this lab manual the cover page of your report. All Lab
reports are due on the same date one week after the lab experiment was
conducted before 12h30.

ELM611S LAB 3/2023 H Amushembe & R Tjiwemu