ALTERNATORS

Introduction to Generator

 A generator is a machine that converts a rotating

mechanical energy into electrical energy through the
use of electromagnetic induction.
 Generators use two methods to induce a voltage into
a conductor.
Rotating Armature Rotating Field.
 Basic Generator Construction.

 A basic generator consists of following components

 Rotating Assembly(Rotor)
 Stationary Assembly (Stator)
 Exciter stator
 Exciter rotor
 Auto voltage regulator
 Rotating rectifier Assembly
 Cooling Fan
 Alternator body with its feet and bearings.
 The rotor assembly supplies the rotating magnetic field while the
voltage is induced into conductors located in the stator.
 Number of Poles?
 For power generation, engine should operate at 1500 rpm to
acquire a frequency of 50 Hz ( or 1800 rpm for 60 Hz). This
constrains the number of poles( pair of poles) for generator
rotor.
Frequency = P/2 x N/60
where P = No. of poles
P/2 = Pair of poles
N = Engine speed (rpm)
No. of Poles = (Frequency x 120) / N
for 50 Hz frequency and 1500rpm speed P = 4
for 3000 rpm machines, the alternator will have 2 poles
(i.e 1 pair ) in order to obtain 50 Hz frequency.
 Frequency

 Generators operate on the fixed frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

 Why fixed Frequency?
1 It is easier to produce fixed frequency power from a Genset both
technically & commercially.
2 Industrial motors are designed to operate at different speeds for
various applications. Hence very expensive variable frequency
equipment will be needed for different motors, which is not
feasible.
3 It is easier & cheaper to have DC drive through SCR/ Thyristor
type control where very precise & accurate speed control can be
achieved by a DC motor.
 Brush type Generators
 These generators have a static exciter ( excitation source). The
D.C. Excitation to main rotor was given by static exciter through
slip rings and brushes.

 Disadvantages
 Wear and tear of brushes and slip rings
 high maintenance
 sparking ,arching & heat generation.
 Because of these disadvantages brushless machines were
developed by putting small alternator on same shaft. This small
alternator is nothing but an exciter equipped with rotating
rectifier assembly.
Generator Windings

 Modern generators (alternators) are three phase generators.

 The stator has 3 windings located at 120° apart. These windings
are arranged in two ways as per the voltage requirement.
1 High WYE connection
2 Low WYE connection
 High WYE connection
Windings are connected in series to form
3 phase 4 wire connection
VL = 1.73 x Vphase
for phase voltage of 240 v , Output voltage will be 415 v

High WYE Low WYE

 Low WYE connection

Windings are connected in parallel to form 3 phase 4 wire
connection
Vphase = VL/ 1.732
for line voltage of 208 v , Output voltage will be 120 v
All commonwealth countries including India follow British
Engineering Standards for power generation.
(High WYE configuration)
 Three phase voltage = 415 v
 Single phase voltage = 240 v
where as, rest of the world follows Low WYE configuration.
 Three phase voltage = 208 v
 Single phase voltage = 120 v
In order to maintain same KVA rating, the current capacity
of low WYE alternators is doubled. As current increases,
cable size also increases which adds the cost.
But for human safety, low voltages are always safe.
 Alternator Overview

AVR
Main Stator
Exciter Field (Stator)

Exciter Rotor
(Armature)

Rotating Diodes

Main Field Rotor

 Alternator Terminology
 Brushless : A design of a.c. Generator without slip rings or
brushgear. This design needs a static main output winding with a
rotating magnetic field system.If the magnetic field is to be
produced electrically an exciter is required.
 Exciter : A small a.c generator usually on the same shaft as the
main machine. All the electrical power output produced by exciter
is rectified and used to establish the magnetic field of the main
machine.
 Self Excited : A design of a.c generator where the source of power
for the electrically produced magnetic field is derived from the
residual magnetism in the exciter stator.
 Separately Excited : A design of a.c generator where the source of
power for electrically produced magnetic field is derived externally.
 Operating Principle

 An output voltage is induced between the ends of a conductor (

usually copper wire), when the conductor is adjacent to a
magnet and there is constant relative motion between them.

 The output voltage is controlled by variation of the magnet’s field

strength (Excitation) in order to maintain the output voltage
under load and speed changes.(voltage regulation)
 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
SELF EXCITED, SELF REGULATED MACHINES

OUTPUT
Reference

Sensing
AVR Output of AVR -DC
Power

MAIN STATOR EXCITER

STATOR

EXCITER
MAIN ROTOR ROTOR

ROTATING
CLOCKWISE RECTIFIER
ROTATION ASSEMBLY EXCITER
MAIN STATOR
FROM DRIVE STATOR
END
  Main stator is stationary part with
AC windings
 Main Rotor is rotating part with DC
OUTPUT
winding
Reference
 Exciter stator is stationary part
Sensing
AVR
O/p of AVR with DC winding
Power  Exciter rotor is rotating part with
AC winding
MAIN STATOR EXCITER
STATOR
 Sensing input and Power input to
AVR are taken from main stator
winding.
EXCITER
MAIN ROTOR ROTOR  Machine is coupled to engine,
ROTATING
which drives the alternator rotor at
CLOCKWISE
ROTATION
RECTIFIER
ASSEMBLY EXCITER
1500 rpm.
MAIN STATOR
FROM DRIVE STATOR
END
  The stamping of exciter stator are
made of electrical grade steel which
holds residual magnetism.
Residual magnetism in exciter
stator develops magnetic flux in
OUTPUT
Reference exciter air gap. The conductor of
Sensing
exciter rotor cut this magnetic flux
O/p of AVR
AVR
and AC Voltage is induced in coils.
Power
 The three Phase AC voltage of
MAIN STATOR EXCITER
exciter rotor winding is given as
STATOR input to Rotating Diodes/ Rectifier
Assembly and this AC supply is
EXCITER converted into DC.
MAIN ROTOR ROTOR
 This DC supply is given to main
CLOCKWISE
ROTATING
RECTIFIER
rotor winding which develops
ROTATION
FROM DRIVE
MAIN STATOR ASSEMBLY EXCITER magnetic field strength and in turn
STATOR
END creates flux at air gap. The
conductors of main stator cut this
flux and voltage is generated in
main stator.
  This voltage is called as Residual
Voltage that is between 10 v to 60v
 The AVR senses this residual
voltage and compares it with Set
OUTPUT
Reference Voltage. Initial there is
Reference
huge difference between two
Sensing
O/p of AVR
values.
AVR
Power  The AVR takes residual voltage as
power input & rectifies it (AC to
MAIN STATOR EXCITER DC). This DC voltage is fed to
STATOR
exciter stator. Exciter Stator’s
residual magnetism is
EXCITER strengthened. Conductors of exciter
MAIN ROTOR ROTOR
rotor cut this flux and more Emf is
CLOCKWISE
ROTATING
RECTIFIER
developed in exciter rotor winding.
ROTATION
FROM DRIVE
MAIN STATOR ASSEMBLY EXCITER
STATOR
 The three phase Ac voltage of
END
exciter rotor is given to rectifier
assembly to convert it into DC and
then it is fed to main rotor.
  This DC supply adds to magnetic
field strength and in turns
increases flux level. This results in
more voltage generation in main
stator.It is then given to AVR to
OUTPUT
Reference compare with reference voltage
Sensing
value.
O/p of AVR
AVR
Power
 This process of voltage building
continues till the o/p voltage of
MAIN STATOR EXCITER
machine equals to set reference
STATOR voltage. Thus closed loop control
system of voltage regulation
EXCITER operates.
MAIN ROTOR ROTOR
 If o/p voltage decreases , AVR
CLOCKWISE
ROTATING
RECTIFIER
increases i/p to exciter stator ,thus
ROTATION
FROM DRIVE
MAIN STATOR ASSEMBLY EXCITER increasing the o/p voltage.
STATOR
END
 If o/p voltage increases , AVR
decreases i/p to exciter stator ,thus
decreasing the o/p voltage.
 Voltage Regulation
 The voltage regulation of an engine generator set is
the difference between steady state no load and
steady state full load output voltage expressed as a
percentage of the full load voltage.
VNL - VFL x 100
VFL
 Factors Affecting Voltage Regulation
 Temperature of winding (Temperature drift)
 Lagging power factor loads
 Leading power factor loads
 Rotating speed
 Nature and magnitude of the connected load
 Regulated voltage bandwidth
 Alternators

Frame Size And kVA Rating

Length

kVA  D2L
Diameter

ALTERNATOR
CENTER HEIGHT
 Energy Flow Diagram - Alternator
Main Stator Cu
Loss 3.6% Exciter stator & rotor
0.1 - 0.2 %
Main Rotor Cu
Loss 1.1%

Mechanical Electric
O/P from Power
engine 92.55%
100%

Friction + Stray Losses

Windage 0.6 - 0.7 %
Iron Losses Losses 0.6%
1.15%

Typically taken for UC27E - Stamford Alternator