Synchonous Machine - Fall2023

SYNCHRONOUS
MACHINES
Fall 2023
DR. ATIF IQBAL

PROFESSOR, DEPT. OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING,
QATAR UNIVERSITY
Synchronous Machines
• Constant speed machine
• Speed of the machine is always equal to 120f/P which is

called synchronous speed
• It is doubly fed machine (In case of motor operation, dc is

given to field on rotor and ac to armature on stator).
• Synchronous motors are not self starting
• In case of generator dc is given to rotor and ac is collected at

stator
Dr. Atif Iqbal 1

Construction of Synchronous Machines
Synchronous machines are AC machines that have a field circuit
supplied by an external DC source.
In a synchronous generator, a DC
current is applied to the rotor
winding producing a rotor
magnetic field. The rotor is then
turned by external means
producing a rotating magnetic field,
which induces a 3-phase voltage
within the stator winding.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 2

Continued.
The rotor of a synchronous machine is a large electromagnet. The
magnetic poles can be either salient (sticking out of rotor surface)
or non-salient construction.
Non-Salient Salient
or
Cylindrical
Dr. Atif Iqbal 4

Continued.
Salient pole without field Salient pole A synchronous

windings – with field rotor with
observe laminations windings 8 salient poles
Dr. Atif Iqbal 5

Continued.
Two common approaches are used to supply a DC current to the field circuits on the
rotating rotor:
1. Supply the DC power from an
external DC source to the rotor by
means of slip rings and brushes;
2. Supply the DC power from a

special DC power source mounted
directly on the shaft of the
machine.
Slip rings are metal rings completely encircling the shaft of a machine but
insulated from it. One end of a DC rotor winding is connected to each of the two
slip rings on the machine’s shaft. Graphite-like carbon brushes connected to DC
terminals ride on each slip ring supplying DC voltage to field windings regardless
the position or speed of the rotor.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 6

Continued.
Slip rings
Brush
Slip rings and brushes have certain disadvantages: increased friction and wear (therefore, needed
maintenance), brush voltage drop can introduce significant power losses. Still this approach is
used in most small synchronous machines.
On large generators and motors, brushless exciters are used.

A brushless exciter is a small AC generator whose field circuits are mounted on the stator and
armature circuits are mounted on the rotor shaft. The exciter generator’s 3-phase output is
rectified to DC by a 3-phase rectifier (mounted on the shaft) and fed into the main DC field circuit.
It is possible to adjust the field current on the main machine by controlling the small DC field
current of the exciter generator (located on the stator).
Since no mechanical contact occurs between the rotor and the stator, exciters of this type require
much less maintenance.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 7

Rotation speed of synchronous Generator
By the definition, synchronous generators produce electricity whose

frequency is synchronized with the mechanical rotational speed.
Where,
f ↪is the electrical frequency, Hz;

Ns P
f  Ns ↪is mechanical speed of
120 magnetic field (rotor speed for
synchronous machine), rpm;
P ↪ is the number of poles.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 11

EMF Equation
E  2NfKW  4.44 NfKW

Since flux in the machine depends on the field current through it, the
internal generated voltage is a function of the rotor field current.
Magnetization curve (open-circuit characteristic) of a synchronous

machine
Dr. Atif Iqbal 12

Synchronous Motor Armature Reaction
Continued.
Equivalent Circuit
Dr. Atif Iqbal 29

Phasor Diagram
Continued.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 38

Phasor Diagram[Generator]
PF=Lagging (0)
E f

jX s Ia
 Vt 0 
Ia Ra
Ia
E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt cos   I a Ra 2  Vt sin   I a X s 2
Dr. Atif Iqbal 39

Continued.
PF=Leading (>0)
E f jX s Ia
Ia


Ia Ra
Vt 0 
E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt cos   I a Ra 2  Vt sin   I a X s 2
Dr. Atif Iqbal 40

Continued.
PF=Unity (=0)
E f
jX s Ia

Ia Vt 0 Ia Ra
E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt  I a Ra 2  I a X s 2
Dr. Atif Iqbal 41

Voltage Regulation
 The voltage regulation of a synchronous generator

is the rise in the voltage at the terminal when the
load is reduced from full load rated value to zero,
speed and field current remaining constant.
No load voltage - Full load voltage E  V

V .R.   x100%
Full load voltage V
Dr. Atif Iqbal 42

V.R. Calculation Methods
 Direct Method
 Indirect Method
o Synchronous Impedance method or EMF
method
o Ampere turn method or MMF method
o Zero Power Factor method or Potier Method
Dr. Atif Iqbal 43

V.R. Calculation Methods [Direct Method]
Continued.
• The alternator is run at synchronous speed and its

terminal voltage is adjusted to its rated value at the given
power factor. Then the load is removed and the speed
and field excitation are kept constant. The open circuit or
no load voltage is recorded.
• Suitable for small rated machine up to 5 kVA.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 44

V.R. Calculation Methods [EXAMPLE 2]
Continued.
A 3-phase 1500 kVA, 11 kV, star-connected has per phase

synchronous impedance Zs = 1 + j 20 Ω. Calculate voltage
regulation and power angle for a load of 1200 kW at power
factor of
a) 0.8 lagging,
b) 1 p.f.
c) 0.8 leading
Hint: Power angle is angle between E and V

(a)[delta = 9.36, Ef = 7457.94 V, V.R. = 17.42%]
(b)[delta = 11.11, Ef = 6536.5 V, V.R. = 2.92%]
(c) [delta = 13.44, Ef = 5623.2 V, V.R. = -11.46%]
Dr. Atif Iqbal 47

Power Flow & Efficiency [Generator]
2
Pcu  3I a Ra
Generator
Pin  T s
Pout
Pin
Core losses Pout  3Vt I a cos 

Rotational losses Pc
Prot
Pout
Efficiency :  
Pin
Dr. Atif Iqbal 48

Power Flow & Efficiency [Motor]
Continued.
Motor
Pin  3Vt I a cos 
Pout
Pin
Rotational losses Pout  T s

Core losses Prot
2 Pc
Pcu  3I a Ra
Pout
Efficiency :  
Pin
Dr. Atif Iqbal 49

Power Developed [Ra=0]
Continued.
IA
Ef
b
Xs PF=lagging (0)
= +  jXsIa 
d
Loa
Vt 
 a
Vt
Ia
Ef

Generator
The projection of Ef on the Ia phasor is identical with projection of Vt on Ia.
Pout  3Vt I a cos   3E f I a cos 
Dr. Atif Iqbal 50

Continued.
Ef b
PF=lagging (0)
jXsIa 

= +   a
Vt
Ia

The quantity ab
in the figure can ab  E sin   X I cos  E f sin 
f s a I a cos   Pout  3Vt I a cos 
be expressed in Xs
two ways :
Vt E f
Pout  3 sin 
XS
Dr. Atif Iqbal 51

Continued.
Power Torque
3Vt E f P
P sin( ) T
Xs s
 Pmax sin( ) 3 Vt E f
 sin( )
s X s
3Vt E f  Tmax sin( )
Pmax 
Xs 3 Vt E f Pmax
Tmax  
2
s X s s
3Vt E f 3Vt n
Q cos( )   s  s 2
Xs Xs 60
Dr. Atif Iqbal 52

Power and Torque Angle Characteristics
Continued.
Pmax
P
P  Pmax sin( ) T  Tmax sin( )
Tmax T
Unstable
Region
0 90 180

3Vt E f 3 Vt E f Pmax
Pmax  Tmax  
Xs s X s s
Static stability limits
Tmax: Pull-out Torque : Power or Torque Angle
Dr. Atif Iqbal 53

PARALLEL OPERATION OF ALTERNATORS
 In parallel with the infinite bus (large Power

System)
 In parallel with other synchronous generator
Dr. Atif Iqbal 1

WHY PARALLEL OPERATION ?
• Several generators connected in parallel can supply a bigger

load than one generator alone.
• Having many generators increases the reliability of the

power system, since the failure of one or more does not
cause a total power loss to the load
• If only one generator is used and it is not operating at near

full load, then it be inefficient. With several smaller
machines in parallel, it is possible to operate only few of
them at full load. (note that the generators operating at full
load give higher efficiency)
Dr. Atif Iqbal 2

WHY PARALLEL OPERATION ? CONTINUED
 The process of connecting one machine in parallel with

another machine or with an infinite bus-bar system is known
as Synchronization
 The machines already carrying load are known as ‘running

machine’
 Alternator which is to be connected in parallel with the system

is know as the incoming machine.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 3

CONNECTION TO AN INFINITE BUS
 In the main grid a large number of synchronous generators are

connected together in parallel operation, therefore, they make
what called infinite bus bar where is the voltage and frequency of
the infinite bus are constant
 To connect a generator the following must be satisfied:
1. The voltages are the same
2. The frequencies are the same
3. The phase sequence is the same
4. The phases are the same
Dr. Atif Iqbal 4

INFINITE BUS
 The large power system behaves like a large generator

having virtually zero internal impedance and infinite
rotational inertia. Such as system of constant voltage and
constant frequency regardless of the load is called infinite
bus-bar system.
 The infinite bus is a power system so large that its voltage

and frequency remains constant regardless of how much
real and reactive power is drawn from or supplied to it.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 5

INFINITE BUS CONTINUED
 The voltage is constant (incoming machine is too small to

increase or decrease)
 The frequency is constant (because the rotational inertia is

too large to alter the speed of the system
 The impedance is very small since the system has large

number of alternators in parallel.
Dr. Atif Iqbal 6

SYNCHRONIZATION Source: Prof. Adel Gastli
Synchroscope
Dr. Atif Iqbal 9

VOLTAGES ARE NOT THE SAME, BUT FREQUENCY AND
PHASE SEQUENCE ARE THE SAME
EA
EAa
Constant Amplitudes
Ea
Same Lamps’
ECc EBb Brightness
Ec Eb
EC EB
Dr. Atif Iqbal 10

FREQUENCIES ARE NOT THE SAME, BUT VOLTAGE AND
EA
f1
EC EB
Ea
f2
Ec Eb
Lamps’ will
Variable Amplitudes Blink
Instant t = t1
Dr. Atif Iqbal 11

PHASE SEQUENCE ARE NOT THE SAME, BUT VOLTAGE
AND FREQUENCIES ARE THE SAME
EAa
EA
Ea
Constant Amplitudes
Eb
Different Lamps’
Brightness
EBb EB
EC
Ec
ECc
Dr. Atif Iqbal 12

PHASE IS NOT THE SAME, BUT VOLTAGE, FREQUENCY AND
f
Constant Amplitudes
Same Lamps’
Brightness
• Switch is closed when all the lamps are dark

-
Dr. Atif Iqbal 13

SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
Dr. Atif Iqbal
Dept. of Electrical Engineering
Qatar University
Synchronous Motor
 Synchronous motor is supplied by three-phase AC to the

stator and DC to the rotor
 Sync. Motors are not self-starting unlike induction motor
 It runs at constant speed equal to the Synchronous value
 The power factor can be changed
Dr. Atif Iqbal 1 Qatar University

Synchronous Motor
Continued
 The principle of Sync. Motor non-self starting behavior can

be understood from the figure given in the next slide
 Assume that a Sync. Motor is supplied by 50 Hz at stator

and has 2-poles. Hence the speed of the rotating field is
3000 rpm
 This is equivalent to two poles are moving at a speed of

3000 rpm
 The rotor is supplied by DC and hence produced fixed field

i.e. the poles are not moving. (see figure in the next slide)

Synchronous Motor
Continued
North 3000 rpm South 3000 rpm
t= t1 t= t2
3000 rpm 3000 rpm
South North
 The rotor is pulled in clockwise direction at t = t 1 and in the next instant is

pulled in the anticlockwise direction at t = t2.
 This is because the stator poles are moving fast and the rotor inertia is high
to react.
 Thus no net torque is produced and motor only vibrate.

Starting of Synchronous Motor
1. Use Variable frequency supply
1. Use Variable frequency supply
 The motor is started with low frequency
2. Use additional winding in the rotor supply. This will make the stator field rotate
(damper winding) slowly so that rotor poles can follow the stator
poles.
3. Use additional motor mounted on  Afterward, the frequency is gradually increased
the shaft to rotate the motor initially and the motor is brought to its desired speed.
 This is an expensive method.
 If variable speed operation is needed, this
method can be used.

Starting of Synchronous Motor
Continued
2. Use additional winding in the rotor
(damper winding)
 An additional winding similar to cage winding is mounted on the
rotor. This is called “Damper Winding or Amortisseur winding”
 Field winding is not excited and supply is given to the stator

winding
 Motor will behave as an Induction machine and will start
 Then the dc supply is turned on and motor will continue to run

at synchronous speed
 At synchronous speed no current will induce in the damper

winding and will be inactive.
3. Use additional motor mounted on
the shaft to rotate the motor initially

Equivalent Circuit
Vt  E f  Ia ( Ra  jX s )

Motor Operation
Vt  E f  Ia ( Ra  jX s )
XS Ra Ia
a-unity power
Ia - Ia Ra If
 Vt
- Ia Xs +
_ Ef Vt
Ef Ia
b-Lagging power factor c-Leading power factor

- Ia Ra Ia

 Vt
 - Ia Xs Vt  - Ia Ra
Ef - Ia Xs
Ia Ef

Phasor Diagram [Motor]
Ia
Xs Motor: PF=lagging (0) -IaRa
 
Vt 0 Ia -jXsIa Vt 0

Ra
<0 Ef
Ef
Motor
E  V 0  R I  jX I  E 
f t a a S a f

Torque – Speed Characteristics
Since the speed remains constant in a synchronous motor, the

torque-speed characteristic is a straight line, parallel to the
torque axis.
Tmax
-Tfl
N (rpm)
0 Ns

Power Factor Control
 One of the major advantages of a synchronous motor is the

controllable power factor
 By varying the field current, the excitation voltage Ef is varied

and also the power factor
 Synchronous motor is supplied from the

infinite bus and operating under constant power Xs
 Since it is connected to the infinite Ia

bus, the terminal voltage of the synchronous
motor is constant
 Neglect stator resistance, the

Ef
~ Vt
following equations can be written

Continued
E f    Vt 0  I a X s (  90) 

Vt E f
P3 sin    kE f sin    constant
Xs
Hence,
E f sin    constant
Also
P  3Vt I a cos   constant
Hence
I a cos   constant

Continued
By changing Ef (If) we can adjust the PF (cosθ)
Iacos Locus of Ia for Xs

Leading
p.f.
constant power Ia
Ia3
~
Ef Vt
3 jXsIa2 jXsIa3
jXsIa1
Ia2 Vt
Lagging Efsin
p.f. 1
Ef1 Ef2 Ef3 Locus of Ef for

Ia1 constant power
Source: Prof. Adel

Ef1  Ef 2  Ef 3 I f1  I f 2  I f 3

Continued
 Ef = Ef1-Underexcitation-Lagging p.f. current

 Ef = Ef2-Normal Excitation-Unity p.f. current
 Ef = Ef3-Overexcitation-Leading p.f. current
 Variation of Stator current with field current for constant power
operation-V-Curve
 Variation of power factor with field current is called inverted V-
curve20

Continued
 The curve between armature current and field current gives V-curves of
synchronous motor
 V-curves show that armature current is minimum at unity power factor
 At leading or lagging power factors, armature current is more than its

value at unity power factor
 Increasing the field current, above the level for minimum armature
current, causes the motor to operate at leading p.f
 The motor is now overexcited and delivers reactive power to the

system

END OF
SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
END OF
SYNCHRONOUS
MACHINES

Synchonous Machine - Fall2023

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SYNCHRONOUS

DR. ATIF IQBAL

• Speed of the machine is always equal to 120f/P which is

• It is doubly fed machine (In case of motor operation, dc is

• Synchronous motors are not self starting

• In case of generator dc is given to rotor and ac is collected at

Dr. Atif Iqbal 1

Dr. Atif Iqbal 2

Dr. Atif Iqbal 4

Salient pole without field Salient pole A synchronous

Dr. Atif Iqbal 5

2. Supply the DC power from a

Dr. Atif Iqbal 6

On large generators and motors, brushless exciters are used.

Dr. Atif Iqbal 7

By the definition, synchronous generators produce electricity whose

f ↪is the electrical frequency, Hz;

P ↪ is the number of poles.

Dr. Atif Iqbal 11

E  2NfKW  4.44 NfKW

Magnetization curve (open-circuit characteristic) of a synchronous

Dr. Atif Iqbal 12

Dr. Atif Iqbal 29

Dr. Atif Iqbal 38

E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt cos   I a Ra 2  Vt sin   I a X s 2

Dr. Atif Iqbal 39

E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt cos   I a Ra 2  Vt sin   I a X s 2

Dr. Atif Iqbal 40

E f  Vt 0  Ra Ia  jX S Ia  E f  Ef  Vt  I a Ra 2  I a X s 2

Dr. Atif Iqbal 41

 The voltage regulation of a synchronous generator

No load voltage - Full load voltage E  V

Dr. Atif Iqbal 42

Dr. Atif Iqbal 43

• The alternator is run at synchronous speed and its

• Suitable for small rated machine up to 5 kVA.

Dr. Atif Iqbal 44

A 3-phase 1500 kVA, 11 kV, star-connected has per phase

Hint: Power angle is angle between E and V

Dr. Atif Iqbal 47

Core losses Pout  3Vt I a cos 

Dr. Atif Iqbal 48

Rotational losses Pout  T s

Dr. Atif Iqbal 49

The projection of Ef on the Ia phasor is identical with projection of Vt on Ia.

Pout  3Vt I a cos   3E f I a cos 

Dr. Atif Iqbal 50

Dr. Atif Iqbal 51

Dr. Atif Iqbal 52

Dr. Atif Iqbal 53

 In parallel with the infinite bus (large Power

 In parallel with other synchronous generator

Dr. Atif Iqbal 1

• Several generators connected in parallel can supply a bigger

• Having many generators increases the reliability of the

• If only one generator is used and it is not operating at near

Dr. Atif Iqbal 2

 The process of connecting one machine in parallel with

 The machines already carrying load are known as ‘running

 Alternator which is to be connected in parallel with the system

Dr. Atif Iqbal 3

 In the main grid a large number of synchronous generators are

 To connect a generator the following must be satisfied: