Module 2

Alternator Tests

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 Alternator Tests
1. Armature Resistance Test
It is used to determine the resistance per phase of the
windings of an alternator.

𝑹 𝟑𝑹
𝑹𝒂 = 𝑹𝒂 =
𝟐 𝟐
 Alternator Tests
2. No-Load or Open-circuit Test
The purpose of the open-circuit test is to determine the
synchronous reactance and impedance per phase of an
alternator.

Eoc

Eoc Eoc
V Ra Ra V

Eoc Eoc Eoc

Ra

𝑽
𝑬𝑶𝑪 = 𝑬𝑶𝑪 = 𝑽
𝟑
 Alternator Tests
3. Short-circuit Test
The purpose of the short circuit tests is to determine the
synchronous reactance and impedance per phase of an
alternator.
IL

IL A

A Isc

Isc
Ra Ra

A
Ra
A

A
A

𝑰𝑳
𝑰𝑺𝑪 = 𝑰𝑳 𝑰𝑺𝑪 =
𝟑
 Alternator Tests
The purpose of the open-circuit and short circuit tests is
to determine the synchronous reactance and impedance
per phase of an alternator.

𝑬𝑶𝑪
𝒁𝑺 =
𝑰𝑺𝑪 𝑿𝑺 = 𝒁 𝑺 𝟐 − 𝑹𝒂 𝟐

Where: Zs = synchronous impedance per phase

Xs = synchronous reactance per phase
Ra = armature resistance per phase
V = line-to-line voltage
IL = line current
Eoc = open-circuit voltage per phase
Isc = short circuit current per phase
R = ohmmeter reading
V = voltmeter reading
A = ammeter reading
 Sample Problems
1. Find the synchronous impedance and reactance of a 1-phase
alternator in which a given field current produces an armature
current of 200 A on short-circuit and a generated e.m.f. of 50 V
on open-circuit. The armature resistance is 0.1 ohm. To what
induced voltage must the alternator be excited if it is to deliver a
load of 100 A at a p.f. of 0.8 lagging, with a terminal voltage of
200 V.
Solution:
𝐸𝑂𝐶 50
𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 0.25 Ω
𝐼𝑆𝐶 200

𝑋𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 2 − 𝑅𝑎 2 𝑋𝑆 = (0.25)2 −(0.1)2 𝑋𝑆 = 0.23 Ω

𝑍𝑆 = 0.1 + 𝑗0.23 Ω
Let 𝑉𝑇 be the reference vector,

𝑉𝑇 = 200∠0° 𝑉

𝐼𝑎 = 100∠ − cos −1 0.8

𝐼𝑎 = 100∠ − 36.87° 𝐴

𝐸𝑔 = 𝑉𝑇 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑍𝑆

𝐸𝑔 = 200∠0° + 100∠ − 36.87° 0.1 + 𝑗0.23

𝑬𝒈 = 𝟐𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟓∠𝟑. 𝟐𝟎° 𝑽

 Sample Problems
2. From the following test results, determine the voltage regulation
of a 2,000-V, 1-phase alternator delivering a current of 100 A at
0.8 leading p.f.
Test results: Full-load current of 100 A is produced on short-
circuit by a field excitation of 2.5 A. An e.m.f. of 500 V is
produced on open-circuit by the same excitation. The armature
resistance is 0.8 Ω.

Solution:
𝐸𝑂𝐶 500
𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 5 Ω
𝐼𝑆𝐶 100

𝑋𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 2 − 𝑅𝑎 2 𝑋𝑆 = (5)2 −(0.8)2 𝑋𝑆 = 4.93 Ω

𝑍𝑆 = 0.8 + 𝑗4.93 Ω
Let 𝑉𝑇 be the reference vector,

𝑉𝑇 = 2,000∠0° 𝑉 𝐼𝑎 = 100∠ cos −1 0.8

𝐼𝑎 = 100∠36.87° 𝐴
𝐸𝑔 = 𝑉𝑇 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑍𝑆

𝐸𝑔 = 2,000∠0° + 100∠36.87° 0.8 + 𝑗4.93

𝐸𝑔 = 1,822.70∠14.05° 𝑉

𝐸𝑔 − 𝑉𝑇 1,822.70 − 2,000
%𝑉𝑅 = × 100% %𝑉𝑅 = × 100%
𝑉𝑇 2,000

%𝑽𝑹 = −𝟖. 𝟖𝟕%

 Sample Problems
3. A 100-kVA, 3,000-V, 50-Hz 3-phase star-connected alternator
has effective armature resistance of 1 ohm. The field current of
40 A produces short-circuit current of 200 A and an open-circuit
emf of 1,040 V. Calculate the full-load voltage regulation at 0.8
p.f. lagging.

Solution:
𝐸𝑂𝐶 1,040Τ 3
𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 3 Ω
𝐼𝑆𝐶 200

𝑋𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 2 − 𝑅𝑎 2 𝑋𝑆 = (3)2 −(1)2 𝑋𝑆 = 2.82 Ω

𝑍𝑆 = 1 + 𝑗2.82 Ω
Let 𝑉𝑇 be the reference vector,

3,000 100 × 103

𝑉𝑇 = ∠0° 𝑉 𝐼𝑎 = ∠ − cos −1 0.8
3 3 3,000
𝐼𝑎 = 19.25∠ − 36.87° 𝐴

𝐸𝑔 = 𝑉𝑇 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑍𝑆

3,000
𝐸𝑔 = ∠0° + 19.25∠ − 36.87° 1 + 𝑗2.82
3
𝐸𝑔 = 1,780.31∠1.02° 𝑉
3,000
1,780.31 −
𝐸𝑔 − 𝑉𝑇 3
%𝑉𝑅 = × 100% %𝑉𝑅 = × 100%
𝑉𝑇 3,000
3

%𝑽𝑹 = 𝟐. 𝟕𝟗%
 Sample Problems
4. A 3-phase 50-Hz star-connected 2000-kVA, 2,300 V alternator
gives a short-circuit current of 600 A for a certain field excitation.
With the same excitation, the open circuit voltage was 900 V.
The resistance between a pair of terminals was 0.12 Ω. Find
full-load regulation at 0.8 p.f. lagging. Assume effective
armature resistance is 1.5 times the armature resistance due to
skin effect.
Solution:
𝑅 0.12
𝑅𝑎 = 𝑅𝑎 = 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑎 = 0.06 Ω
2 2

Since effective armature resistance is 1.5 times the armature

resistance
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑅𝑎 = 1.5 0.06
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑅𝑎 = 0.09 Ω
 𝐸𝑂𝐶 900Τ 3
𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 = 0.87 Ω
𝐼𝑆𝐶 600

𝑋𝑆 = 𝑍𝑆 2 − 𝑅𝑎 2 𝑋𝑆 = (0.87)2 −(0.09)2 𝑋𝑆 = 0.87 Ω

𝑍𝑆 = 0.06 + 𝑗0.87 Ω

Let 𝑉𝑇 be the reference vector,

2,300 2,000 × 103

𝑉𝑇 = ∠0° 𝑉 𝐼𝑎 = ∠ − cos −1 0.8
3 3 2,300
𝐼𝑎 = 502.04∠ − 36.87° 𝐴
𝐸𝑔 = 𝑉𝑇 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑍𝑆

2,300
𝐸𝑔 = ∠0° + 502.04∠ − 36.87° 0.06 + 𝑗0.87
3
𝐸𝑔 = 1,647.73∠11.60° 𝑉

𝐸𝑔 − 𝑉𝑇
%𝑉𝑅 = × 100%
𝑉𝑇
2,300
1,647.73 −
3
%𝑉𝑅 = × 100% %𝑽𝑹 = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟎𝟔%
2,300
3
 Alternator Losses
The following are the total losses of an AC generator:
1. Electrical Losses
a. Armature copper loss
b. Field circuit copper loss
c. Brush contact copper loss
2. Rotational Losses
a. Friction and windage loss
b. Brush friction loss
c. Air Ventilation loss
d. Core loss
3. Exciter Losses
4. Stray Load Loss
 Sample Problems

5. A 10,000 kVA, 3-phase, star-connected 11,000 V, 2-pole turbo

generator has a synchronous impedance of 0.0145 + j0.5 ohms
per phase. The various losses in this generator are as follows:
Open-circuit core loss at 11,000 V = 90 kW
Windage and friction loss = 50 kW
Short circuit load loss at 525 A = 220 kW
Field winding resistance = 3 ohms
Field current = 175 A
Ignoring the change in field current, compute the efficiency at
(a) Rated load, 0.8 power factor leading
(b) Half rated load, 0.9 power factor lagging
Solution:
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
𝜂= × 100%
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 + 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠

a) Rated load, 0.8 power factor leading

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 10,000 0.8 = 8,000 𝑘𝑊
10,000 × 103
𝐼𝑎 = = 524.86 𝐴 ≈ 525 𝐴
3 11,000
Therefore the short-circuit loss of 220 kW is at full-load
For the losses,
Open-circuit core loss at 11,000 V = 90 kW
Windage and friction loss = 50 kW
Short circuit load loss at 525 A 2
= 220 kW
175 3
Field winding resistance copper loss = = 91.875 kW
1,000
Total loss = 451.875 kW
 8,000
𝜂𝐹𝐿 = × 100% 𝜼𝑭𝑳 = 𝟗𝟒. 𝟔𝟓%
8,000 + 451.875

b) At half rated load, 0.9 power factor leading

1
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 10,000 0.9 = 4,500 𝑘𝑊
2
For the losses,
Open-circuit core loss at 11,000 V = 90 kW
Windage and friction loss 2 = 50 kW
1
Short circuit load loss at half-rated = 220 = 55 kW
2
Field winding resistance copper loss = 91.875 kW

Total loss = 286.875 kW

4,500
𝜂𝐻𝐿 = × 100% 𝜼𝑯𝑳 = 𝟗𝟒. 𝟎𝟏%
4,500 + 286.875
 Sample Problems
6. A 2 MVA, 3.3 kV, 3-phase, star connected alternator delivers
rated load at a pf of 0.8 lagging. The effective resistance
between armature winding terminals is 0.12 ohm. The field
takes 70 A at 130 V. Friction and windage loss is 15 kW and
the core loss is 32 kW. Determine the full-load efficiency of the
alternator.
Solution:
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
𝜂= × 100%
𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 + 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠

At rated load, 0.8 power factor lagging

𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 = 2,000 0.8 = 1,600 𝑘𝑊
2 × 106
𝐼𝑎 = = 349.91 𝐴
3 3,300
For the losses,
Windage and friction loss = 15 kW
Core loss = 32 kW
2
0.12
Armature copper loss = 3 349.91 = 22.04 𝑘𝑊
2
Field winding copper loss = 70 130 = 9.1 kW
Total loss = 78.14 kW

1,600
𝜂𝐹𝐿 = × 100%
1,600 + 78.14

𝜼𝑭𝑳 = 𝟗𝟓. 𝟑𝟒%