THAKUR INSTITUTE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY

Distance Learning (DSL)

Module-3

ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS

TOTAL ALLOCATED HOURS(T) –

APPLICABLE CAT. B1.1/B1.3/B3

PREPARED BY Neha Shivale APPROVED BY Sunil Saxena (Dy. TM)

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Syllabus
SUB MODULE SYLLABUS ALLOTTED LEVEL
HOURS

3.17 AC •Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and waveform 2

GENERATORS produced
•Operation and construction of revolving armature
and revolving field type AC generators
•Single phase, Two phase and three phase alternators
•Three phase star and delta connections advantages
and uses
•Permanent Magnet Generators.

This PPT has been made in accordance with approved syllabus of MTOE

NAME Neha Shivale AUTHORISATION NO. TIAT/A/27

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Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and waveform produced

• Generators used to produce an alternating current are called AC

generators or alternators.
• The simple generator constitutes one method of generating an
alternating voltage. It consists of a rotating loop, marked A and B, placed
between two magnetic poles, N and S. The ends of the loop are
connected to two metal slip rings (collector rings), C1 and C2. Current is
taken from the collector rings by brushes.
• If the loop is considered as separate wires A and B, and the left-hand
rule for generators is applied, then it can be observed that as wire A
moves up across the field, a voltage is induced which causes the current
to flow inward.
• As wire B moves down across the field, a voltage is induced which
causes the current to flow outward. When the wires are formed into a
loop, the voltages induced in the two sides of the loop are combined.
• Therefore, for explanatory purposes, the action of either conductor, A or
B, while rotating in the magnetic field is similar to the action of the loop
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• In a simple AC generator a loop of wire are inside the magnetic field

produced by two opposite magnetic poles. Contact is made to the
loop as it rotates by means of slip-rings and brushes.
• Figure illustrates the generation of alternating current with a simple
loop conductor rotating in a magnetic field. As it is rotated in a
counter clockwise direction, varying values of voltages are induced in
it.
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• Position 1
• The conductor A moves parallel to the lines of force. Since it cuts no
lines of force, the induced voltage is zero. As the conductor advances
from position 1 to position 2, the voltage induced gradually increases. 
• Position 2
• The conductor is now moving perpendicular to the flux and cuts a
maximum number of lines of force; therefore, a maximum voltage is
induced. As the conductor
• Position 3
• At this point, the conductor has made one-half of a revolution and
again moves parallel to the lines of force, and no voltage is induced in
the conductor. As the A conductor passes position 3, the direction of
induced voltage now reverses since the A conductor is moving
downward, cutting flux in the opposite direction. As the A conductor
moves across the south pole, the induced voltage gradually increases
in a negative direction, until it reaches position 4.
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• Position 4
• Like position 2, the conductor is again moving perpendicular to the
flux and generates a maximum negative voltage. From position 4 to 5,
the induced voltage gradually decreases until the voltage is zero, and
the conductor and wave are ready to start another cycle.  
• Position 5
• The curve shown at position 5 is called a sine wave. It represents the
polarity and the magnitude of the instantaneous values of the
voltages generated. The horizontal base line is divided into degrees,
or time, and the vertical distance above or below the base line
represents the value of voltage at each particular point in the
rotation of the loop.
 
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Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and
waveform produced
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AC GENERATOR COMPONENTS AND ITS FUNCTIONS

• The field in an AC generator consists of coils of conductors within the generator that
receive a voltage from a source (called excitation) and produce a magnetic flux.  The
magnetic flux in the field cuts the armature to produce a voltage.  This voltage is
ultimately the output voltage of the AC generator.
• Armature
• The  armature  is  the  part  of  an  AC  generator  in  which  voltage  is  produced.
This  component consists of many consists  of  many coils of wire that are large coils
 of  wire  that  are  large  enough  to  carry  the  full-load  current  of  the generator.
• Prime Mover: The prime mover is the component that is used to drive the AC
generator.  The prime mover maybe any type of rotating machine, such as a diesel
engine, a steam turbine, or a motor.
• Rotor
• The rotor of an AC generator is the rotating component of the generator, The rotor is
driven by the generator’s prime mover, which may be a steam turbine, gas turbine, or
diesel engine.   Depending on the type of generator, this component may be the
armature or the field.   The rotor will be the armature if the voltage output is
generated there; the rotor will be the field if the field excitation is applied there.
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• Stator
• The stator of an AC generator is the part that is stationary. Like the rotor, this
component may be the armature or the field, depending on the type of generator.  The
stator will be  the  armature  if the  voltage  output  is generated  there;  the  stator will
 be  the  field  if  the field excitation is applied there.
• Slip Rings
• Slip rings are electrical connections that are used to transfer power to and from the
rotor of an AC generator.
• The slip ring consists of a circular conducting material that is connected to the rotor
windings and insulated from the shaft.   Brushes ride on the slip ring as the rotor
rotates.   
• The electrical connection to the rotor is made by connections to the brushes. Slip rings
are used in AC generators because the desired output of the generator is a sine wave.
• In a DC generator, a commutator was used to provide an output whose current always
flowed in the positive direction, as shown in Figure. This is not necessary for an
AC generator.
• Therefore, an AC generator may use slip rings, which will allow the output current and
voltage to oscillate through positive and negative values.  This oscillation of voltage and
current takes the shape of a sine wave.
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Comparison of AC and DC GENERATOR OUTPUT

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• Single Phase Alternator

• Since the emf induced in the armature of a generator is alternating, the
same sort of winding can be used on an alternator as on a DC generator.
This type of alternator is known as a single phase alternator, but since the
power delivered by a single phase circuit is pulsating, this type of circuit is
objectionable in many applications.
• A single phase alternator has a stator made up of a number of windings in
series, forming a single circuit in which an output voltage is generated.
illustrates a schematic diagram of a single phase alternator having four
poles. The stator has four polar groups evenly spaced around the stator
frame. The rotor has four poles, with adjacent poles of opposite polarity.
• As the rotor revolves, AC voltages are induced in the stator windings. Since
one rotor pole is in the same position relative to a stator winding as any
other rotor pole, all stator polar groups are cut by equal numbers of
magnetic lines of force at any time.
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• Two Phase Alternator

• Two phase alternators have two or more single phase windings spaced
symmetrically around the stator.
• In a two phase alternator, there are two single phase windings spaced
physically so that the AC voltage induced in one is 90° out of phase with
the voltage induced in the other.
• The windings are electrically separate from each other.
• When one winding is being cut by maximum flux, the other is being cut by
no flux. This condition establishes a 90° relation between the two phases.
• Three Phase Alternator
• A three phase, or polyphase circuit, is used in most aircraft alternators,
instead of a single or two phase alternator.
• The three phase alternator has three single phase windings spaced so
that the voltage induced in each winding is 120° out of phase with the
voltages in the other two windings.  
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• A schematic diagram of a three phase stator showing all the coils

becomes complex and difficult to see what is actually happening.
• A simplified schematic diagram, showing each of three phases.
• The rotor is omitted for simplicity The three voltages are 120° apart
and are similar to the voltages which would be generated by three
single phase alternators whose voltages are out of phase by angles of
120°. The three phases are independent of each other.
• In three phase circuit, connections can be given in two types:
• Star connection
• Delta connection
• Star Connection
• In star connection, there is four wire, three wires are phase wire and
fourth is neutral which is taken from the star point.
• Star connection is preferred for long distance power transmission
because it is having the neutral point.
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• In this we need to come to the concept of balanced and unbalanced current in

power system.
• When equal current will flow through all the three phases, then it is called as
balanced current.
• And when the current will not be equal in any of the phase, then it is unbalanced
current.
• In this case, during balanced condition there will be no current flowing through
the neutral line and hence there is no use of the neutral terminal.
• But when there will be unbalanced current flowing in the three phase circuit,
neutral is having a vital role.
• It will take the unbalanced current through to the ground and protect the
transformer.
• Unbalanced current affects transformer and it may also cause damage to the
transformer and for this star connection is preferred for long distance transmission.
• In star connection, the line voltage is √3 times of phase voltage. Line voltage is the
voltage between two phases in three phase circuit and phase voltage is the voltage
between one phase to the neutral line. And the current is same for both line and
phase.
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• It is shown as expression below

• Delta Connection
• In delta connection, there is three wires alone and no neutral
terminal is taken.
• Normally delta connection is preferred for short distance due to the
problem of unbalanced current in the circuit. The figure is shown
below for delta connection.
• In the load station, ground can be used as neutral path if required.
• In delta connection, the line voltage is same with that of phase
voltage. And the line current is √3 times of phase current. It is shown
as expression below,
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• In three phase circuit, star and delta connection can be arranged in

four different ways-
• Star-Star connection
• Star-Delta connection
• Delta-Star connection
• Delta-Delta connection 
• But the power is independent of the circuit arrangement of the three
phase system. The net power in the circuit will be same in both star
and delta connection.
• Since, there is three phases, so the multiple of 3 is made in the
normal power equation and the PF is power factor. Power factor is a
very important factor in three phase system and sometimes due to
certain error, it is corrected by using capacitors.
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• 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 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 Figure is   that   it   shows   that   the   three-
phase generator has three separate armature  windings  that are 120
electrical degrees out of phase.
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• 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.
• Two means are available to connect the three armature windings.
In one type of connection, the windings are connected in series, or delta-
connected.
• 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 root 3 times the phase current.   You can see
that a delta-connected generator provides an increase in current, but no increase
in voltage.

DELTA CONNECTION
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The power consumed by the load connected in delta configuration will be three times as compared
to star configuration.
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• In the other type of connection Wye/Star

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).
• 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 )
√3times  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 .
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• An advantage of a wye-connected AC generator is that each phase

only has to carry 57.7% of line voltage and, therefore, can be used for
high voltage generation.
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Permanent magnet generator

• What is a PMG?
• A permanent magnet generator is a synchronous generator in which the
excitation coil, normally in the rotor, has been replaced by a system
made up of permanent magnets which provide a constant excitation
field.
• It is used in those cases in which it does not matter if the voltage drops a
certain degree or when electronics are applied to the output of the
generator.
• The electronics can convert a voltage range into continuous voltage of a
constant value.
• How does it work?
• The operation of the PMG differs greatly from a normal synchronous
generator. In a normal generator, voltage is controlled by means of
excitation. In a PMG, excitation is constant which is why, when the
generator is charged, voltage drops without the option to regulate. 
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• What applications does it have?

• The PMGs manufactured by Obeki are used, for example, to feed the
regulators which act in the excitation of large synchronous
generators.
• The main benefit in these cases is that when there is a short-circuit in
the large synchronous generator, they are capable of supplying the
energy necessary to the regulator so that it can overexcite the
generator and maintain the voltage sufficient time so that the
protections can start.
• Another important use for our generators is wind power generation.
By means of Obeki wind turbines, brushes and differential systems
are eliminated, saving on maintenance, space and price.
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• What advantages does it have?

• The main advantage is its simplicity.
• The manufacturing and assembly of the rotor is cheaper if magnets
are used.
• They do not need maintenance because they do not have brushes.
The mechanical consistency of a PMG is superior, in addition to not
needing systems for its excitation.
• By eliminating the excitation, energy savings of 20% can be had by
simply using magnets.
• By being an energy source which is independent from the generator,
it can serve to supply energy to auxiliary system