ALTERNATOR

Group Members: Bui Hai Nam

Nguyen Tri Ngan Ha
Tran Hoang Yen Chi
Definition:
• an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical
energy in the form of alternating current.
• A generator which produces alternating current is referred to as an AC
generator and, through a combination of the words "alternating" and
"generator," the word "alternator" has come into widespread use. In
some areas, the word "alternator" is applied only to small AC
generators. This presentation treats the two terms synonymously.
Brief History of Alternators:
• Alternating current generating systems were known in simple forms from the
discovery of the magnetic induction of electric current in the 1830s. Rotating
generators naturally produced alternating current but, since there was little use
for it, it was normally converted into direct current via the addition of a
commutator in the generator.
• The late 1870s saw the introduction of first large scale electrical systems with
central generation stations to power Arc lamps, used to light whole
streets, factory yards, or the interior of large warehouses. Supplying the proper
amount of voltage from generating stations in these early systems was left up to
the engineer's skill in «riding the load».
I - Single-Phase Alternator (also known as single-phase generator)

a) Definition: 
• A single-phase alternator is an alternating current electrical generator (AC generator) that produces a single,
continuously alternating voltage. Single-phase generators can be used to generate power in single-phase
electric power systems. 
• It is found in applications that are most often used when the loads being driven are relatively light, and not
connected to a three-phase distribution, for instance, portable engine-generators. Larger single-phase
generators are also used in special applications such as single-phase traction power for railway electrification
systems.
• b) Principle and Structure:
• The design of revolving field generators is to have the armature part on stator (the stationary part
of a rotary system) and the magnetic field part on rotor (a moving component of an
electromagnetic system). 
• A generator has two basic parts – field and winding. The field is the magnetic field and the
winding is the conductor formed into a coil. The field is connected to a shaft that may be turned.
These are two elements necessary for electromagnetism. When the turning field is placed near
the winding, all of the elements are present for electromagnetism.
As the field turns past the fixed winding, the amount of current produced in the winding depends
upon the strength of the magnetic field moving past the winding. As the North Pole of the field
moves past the winding, a large current flows through the winding.

As the field continues to turn and the North Pole starts to move away from the winding, the current
decreases as the strength of the field “cutting” the winding decreases. When neither pole is nearest
the winding, the current through the winding is zero.
• As the field continues to turn, the South Pole moves toward the winding as the
North Pole moves away. Current starts to flow in the winding, but in the opposite
direction, because of the opposite pole moving closer to the winding. When the
South Pole is opposite the winding, the current is again strong, but in the
opposite direction.

• As the South Pole moves away, the current in the winding decreases, returning to
zero again when neither pole is close to the winding.
• The frequency output from an AC generator is:

where: Ν is the speed of rotation in r.p.m.

P is the number of “pairs of poles”
60 converts it into seconds.
II - Three-Phase Alternator:
• The principles of a three-phase generator are basically the same as that of a single-phase generator,
except that there are three equally-spaced windings and three output voltages that are all 120° out
of phase with one another. Physically adjacent loops (below Figure) are separated by 60° of rotation;
however, the loops are connected to the slip rings in such a manner that there are 120 electrical
degrees between phases.
• The individual coils of each winding are combined and represented as a single coil. The significance
of below Figure is that it shows that the three-phase generator has three separate armature
windings that are 120 electrical degrees out of phase.

Figure : Stationary Armature 3φ Generator

b)    AC Generator Connections
As shown in above Figure, there are six leads from the armature of a three-phase
generator, and the output is connected to an external load. In actual practice, the
windings are connected together, and only three leads are brought out and connected
to the external load.
1)    Delta-connected:
Two means are available to connect the three armature windings. In one type of
connection, the windings are connected in series, or delta-connected (∆) (below
Figure).

Figure : Delta Connection

• In a delta-connected generator, the voltage between any two of the
phases, called line voltage, is the same as the voltage generated in
any one phase.
• As shown in Figure, the three phase voltages are equal, as are the
three line voltages. The current in any line is √3 times the phase
current. You can see that a delta-connected generator provides an
increase in current, but no increase in voltage.

Where 
U_d: current in any line
U_p: phase current
2)    Wye Connection
• In the other type of connection, one of the leads of each winding is connected, and the remaining
three leads are connected to an external load. This is called a wye connection (Y) (Below Figure).
• The voltage and current characteristics of the wye-connected AC generator are opposite to that of
the delta connection. Voltage between any two lines in a wye-connected AC generator is 1.73
(or ) √3 times any one phase voltage, while line currents are equal to phase currents. The wye-
connected AC generator provides an increase in voltage, but no increase in current.

Figure : Wye Connection

III - Bonus: Single-Phase vs Three-Phase
• Single-phase and three-phase generators provide power differently. The most obvious evidence of
this is seen in power delivery. Both types provide AC power, but a three-phase system produces
three separate waves of power, delivered in sequence. 
• Single-phase systems deliver one constant wave of power, but the power level varies with the
electrical current coming in. That means that power levels can and do drop to zero during the
cycle. But for very large and demanding power applications, this dip could be detrimental, which
is why three-phase systems exist.
• The easiest way to visualize these power differences is to imagine a wave. One single wave starts
at zero, goes up to the peak, and goes back down to zero before the next wave starts.