Synchronous Machines

Synchronous Machines
Synchronous generators or alternators are used to convert
mechanical power derived from steam, gas, or hydraulic-turbine
to ac electric power
Synchronous generators are the primary source of electrical
energy we consume today
Large ac power networks rely almost exclusively on synchronous
generators
Synchronous motors are built in large units compare to induction
motors (Induction motors are cheaper for smaller ratings) and
used for constant speed industrial drives

Constructional Features of Synchronous Machines

Basic parts of a synchronous generator:
Rotor - dc excited winding
Stator - 3-phase winding in which the ac emf is generated

Machine physical size and structure:

The severe electric and magnetic loadings in a synchronous
machine produce heat that must be properly dissipated
The manner in which the active parts of a synchronous
machine are cooled determines its overall physical size and
structure

Various Types

Salient-pole synchronous machine

Cylindrical or round-rotor synchronous machine

Salient-Pole Synchronous Generator

1. Most hydraulic turbines have to turn at low speeds
(between 50 and 300 r/min)

2. A large number of poles are required on the rotor

d-axis

Non-uniform
air-gap

D 10 m
q-axis

Turbine
Hydro (water)

Hydrogenerator

Salient-Pole Synchronous Generator

Stator

Cylindrical-Rotor Synchronous Generator

D1m

Turbine

L 10 m
Steam

d-axis
Stator winding

High speed

3600 r/min 2-pole

Uniform air-gap
Stator

1800 r/min 4-pole

Direct-conductor cooling (using

hydrogen or water as coolant)

q-axis

Rotor winding
Rotor

Rating up to 2000 MVA

S

Turbogenerator

Cylindrical-Rotor Synchronous Generator

Stator

Cylindrical rotor

Operation Principle
The rotor of the generator is driven by a prime-mover

A dc current is flowing in the rotor winding which

produces a rotating magnetic field within the machine

The rotating magnetic field induces a three-phase

voltage in the stator winding of the generator

Electrical Frequency
Electrical frequency produced is locked or synchronized to
the mechanical speed of rotation of a synchronous
generator:

fe

nm P
120

where fe = electrical frequency in Hz

P = number of poles
nm= mechanical speed of the rotor, in r/min

Generated Voltage
The generated voltage of a synchronous generator is given by

EA K f w
where f = flux in the machine (function of IF)
w = angular speed
Kc= synchronous machine constant
EA

IF

Saturation characteristic (generated voltage vs field current) of

a synchronous generator.

Voltage Regulation
A convenient way to compare the voltage behaviour of two
generators is by their voltage regulation (VR). The VR of a
synchronous generator at a given load, power factor, and at rated
speed is defined as

VR

Vnl V fl
V fl

100%

Where Vfl is the full-load terminal voltage, and Vnl (equal to Ef)
is the no-load terminal voltage (internal voltage) at rated speed
when the load is removed without changing the field current.
For lagging power factor (PF), VR is fairly positive, for unity
PF, VR is small positive and for leading PF, VR is negative.

Equivalent Circuit_1
o

The internal voltage EA produced in a machine is not usually

the voltage that appears at the terminals of the generator.
The only time EA is same as the output voltage of a phase is
when there is no armature current flowing in the machine.
There are a number of factors that cause the difference between
EA and Vf:

o
o

The distortion of the air-gap magnetic field by the current flowing

in the stator, called the armature reaction

The self-inductance of the armature coils.

The resistance of the armature coils.

The effect of salient-pole rotor shapes.

Equivalent Circuit_2
motor

IA
jXl

jX

RA
+

+
generator

+
EA

Eres

IA
Vf

Equivalent circuit of a cylindrical-rotor synchronous machine

Phasor Diagram

Phasor diagram of a cylindrical-rotor synchronous generator,

for the case of lagging power factor
Lagging PF: |Vf|<|EA| for overexcited condition
Leading PF: |Vf|>|EA| for underexcited condition

Three-phase equivalent circuit of a cylindrical-rotor

synchronous machine
The voltages and currents of the three phases are 120o apart in angle,
but otherwise the three phases are identical.
+

VL-L

Vf
EA1 jXs
+

RA
IA1
VL-L =1.41Vf

Determination of the parameters of the equivalent

circuit from test data
The equivalent circuit of a synchronous generator that has been
derived contains three quantities that must be determined in order
to completely describe the behaviour of a real synchronous
generator:

The saturation characteristic: relationship between IF and f (and

therefore between IF and EA)
The synchronous reactance, Xs
The armature resistance, RA

The above three quantities could be determined by performing the

following three tests:
Open-circuit test
Short-circuit test
DC test

Open-circuit test
The generator is turned at the rated speed
The terminals are disconnected from all loads, and the field current
is set to zero.
Then the field current is gradually increased in steps, and the
terminal voltage is measured at each step along the way.
It is thus possible to obtain an open-circuit characteristic of a
generator (EA or Vf versus IF) from this information
IF
+
Vdc

Vt

Short-circuit test

Adjust the field current to zero and short-circuit the terminals of

the generator through a set of ammeters.
Record the armature current Isc as the field current is increased.
Such a plot is called short-circuit characteristic.
IF
A

Vdc

Isc

DC Test
The purpose of the DC test is to determine RA. A variable DC voltage
source is connected between two stator terminals.
The DC source is adjusted to provide approximately rated stator current,
and the resistance between the two stator leads is determined from the
voltmeter and ammeter readings

then

RDC

VDC
I DC

If the stator is Y-connected, the per phase stator resistance is

RDC
RA
2
If the stator is delta-connected, the per phase stator resistance is
RA

3
RDC
2

Determination of Xs
For a particular field current IFA, the internal voltage EA (=VA) could
be found from the occ and the short-circuit current flow Isc,A could
be found from the scc.
Then the synchronous reactance Xs could be obtained using
Z s, unsat R A2 X s2,unsat
EA or Vt (V)

Air-gap line
OCC

Vrated

Isc (A)
SCC

VA

IFB

X s , unsat Z s2, unsat R A2

: RA is known from the DC test.

Isc,B

IFA

V A E A
I scA

Isc, A
IF (A)

Since Xs,unsat>>RA,

E A Vt , oc
X s,unsat

I scA I scA

Xs under saturated condition

EA or Vf (V)

Air-gap line
OCC

At V = Vrated,

Z s, sat

R A2

Vrated

X s2,sat

X s , sat Z s2, sat R A2

Vrated E A

I scB

Isc (A)
SCC

VA

Isc,B

IFA

Isc, A
IF (A)

IFB

: RA is known from the DC test.

Equivalent circuit and phasor diagram under SC condition

jXs
EA +

RA
IA

+
Vf=0

Vf=0

EA
jIAXs

IA

IARA

Short-circuit Ratio
Another parameter used to describe synchronous generators is the
short-circuit ratio (SCR). The SCR of a generator defined as the
ratio of the field current required for the rated voltage at open
circuit to the field current required for the rated armature current
at short circuit. SCR is just the reciprocal of the per unit value of
the saturated synchronous reactance calculated by
EA or Vf (V)

Air-gap line

Isc (A)

SCR

OCC
Vrated

SCC
Isc,rated

IF_V
rated

IF_Isc rated

IF (A)

I F _ Vrated
I F _ Iscrated

X s _ sat in p.u.

Example 5-1 (pp.287-288)

A 200 kVA, 480-V, 60-Hz, 4-pole, Y-Connected synchronous
generator with a rated field current of 5 A was tested and the
following data was taken.
a) from OC test terminal voltage = 540 V at rated field
current
b) from SC test line current = 300A at rated field current
c) from Dc test DC voltage of 10 V applied to two terminals,
a current of 25 A was measured.
1. Calculate the speed of rotation in r/min
2. Calculate the generated emf and saturated equivalent circuit
parameters (armature resistance and synchronous reactance)

Solution to Example 1

j1.02

1.
+
fe = electrical frequency = Pnm/120
EA
fe = 60Hz
P = number of poles = 4
nm = mechanical speed of rotation in r/min.
So, speed of rotation nm = 120 fe / P
= (120 x 60)/4 = 1800 r/min
2. In open-circuit test, IA = 0 and EA = Vf
EA = 540/1.732
= 311.8 V (as the machine is Y-connected)
In short-circuit test, terminals are shorted, Vf = 0
EA = IAZs or Zs = EA /IA =311.8/300=1.04 ohm
From the DC test, RA=VDC/(2IDC)
= 10/(2X25) = 0.2 ohm
2
2
Synchronous reactance Z s , sat R A X s ,sat

X s, sat Z s2, sat R A2 1.04 2 0.2 2 1.02

0.2

IA

+
Vf

Parallel operation of synchronous generators

There are several major advantages to operate generators in

parallel:

Several generators can supply a bigger load than one machine

by itself.
Having many generators increases the reliability of the power
system.
It allows one or more generators to be removed for shutdown
or preventive maintenance.

Synchronization
Before connecting a generator in parallel with another
generator, it must be synchronized. A generator is said to be
synchronized when it meets all the following conditions:

The rms line voltages of the two generators must be

equal.
The two generators must have the same phase sequence.
The phase angles of the two a phases must be equal.
The oncoming generator frequency is equal to the
running system frequency.
a
Generator 1

Load

c
Switch

a/
Generator 2

b/
c/

Synchronization

Generator

Load

Rest of the
power system

Xs1
EA1
Xs2
EA2

Generator

Xsn
EAn

Infinite bus
V, f are constant
Xs eq = 0

Concept of the infinite bus

When a synchronous generator is connected to a power system,
the power system is often so large that nothing the operator of the
generator does will have much of an effect on the power system.
An example of this situation is the connection of a single
generator to the Canadian power grid. Our Canadian power grid
is so large that no reasonable action on the part of one generator
can cause an observable change in overall grid frequency. This
idea is idealized in the concept of an infinite bus. An infinite bus
is a power system so large that its voltage and frequency do not
vary regardless of how much real or reactive power is drawn
from or supplied to it.

Active and reactive power-angle characteristics

Pm

Pe, Qe
Vt

Fig. Synchronous generator connected to an infinite bus.

P>0: generator operation

P<0: motor operation
Positive Q: delivering inductive vars for a generator action or
receiving inductive vars for a motor action
Negative Q: delivering capacitive vars for a generator action or
receiving capacitive vars for a motor action

Active and reactive power-angle characteristics

Pm

P e , Qe
Vt

The real and reactive power delivered by a synchronous

generator or consumed by a synchronous motor can be
expressed in terms of the terminal voltage Vt, generated voltage
EA, synchronous impedance Zs, and the power angle or torque
angle d.
Referring to Fig. 8, it is convenient to adopt a convention that
makes positive real power P and positive reactive power Q
delivered by an overexcited generator.
The generator action corresponds to positive value of d, while
the motor action corresponds to negative value of d.

Active and reactive power-angle characteristics

Pm

The complex power output of the generator in voltamperes per phase is given by
_

S P jQ V f I *A
where:
Vf = terminal voltage per phase
IA* = complex conjugate of the armature current per phase

Taking the terminal voltage as reference

_

V f Vf j 0

the excitation or the generated voltage,

_

E A E A cos d j sin d

P e , Qe
Vf

Active and reactive power-angle characteristics

and the armature current,
_

IA

E A cosd Vf jE A sin d

E A V f

jX s

Pm

Vt

jX s

where Xs is the synchronous reactance per phase.

E A cos d Vf jE A sin d
S P jQ V f I *A Vt

jX
s

P
Q

Vf E A sin d
Xs

Vf E A sin d
Xs

&

Vf E A cos d Vf2
Xs

Pe, Qe

Vf E A cos d Vf2
Xs

Active and reactive power-angle characteristics

Pm

P e , Qe
Vf

Vf E A sin d
Xs

&

Vf E A cosd Vf2
Xs

The above two equations for active and reactive powers hold
good for cylindrical-rotor synchronous machines for negligible
resistance
To obtain the total power for a three-phase generator, the above
equations should be multiplied by 3 when the voltages are line-toneutral
If the line-to-line magnitudes are used for the voltages, however,
these equations give the total three-phase power

Steady-state power-angle or torque-angle characteristic of a

cylindrical-rotor synchronous machine (with negligible
armature resistance).
Real power or torque

Pull-out torque
as a generator

generator
d

p/2
0

p/2

motor

Pull-out torque
as a motor

Steady-state stability limit

Total three-phase power:

3Vf E A
Xs

sin d

The above equation shows that the power produced by a synchronous

generator depends on the angle d between the Vf and EA. The maximum
power that the generator can supply occurs when d=90o.
Pmax

3Vf E A
Xs

The maximum power indicated by this equation is called steady-state stability

limit of the generator. If we try to exceed this limit (such as by admitting
more steam to the turbine), the rotor will accelerate and lose synchronism
with the infinite bus. In practice, this condition is never reached because the
circuit breakers trip as soon as synchronism is lost. We have to resynchronize
the generator before it can again pick up the load. Normally, real generators
never even come close to the limit. Full-load torque angle of 15o to 20o are
more typical of real machines.

Pull-out torque
The maximum torque or pull-out torque per phase that a two-pole
round-rotor synchronous motor can develop is
max

Pmax
Pmax

n
wm
2p s
60

where ns is the synchronous speed of the motor in rpm

P or Q
P
Q
d

Fig. Active and reactive power as a function of the internal angle

Example 5-2 (pp.291-294)

A 480 V, 60 Hz, -connected, four pole synchronous generator has the OCC
shown below. This generator has a synchronous reactance of 0.1 ohm and
armature resistance of 0.015 ohm. At full load, the machine supplies 1200 A
and 0.8 pf lagging. Under full-load conditions, the friction and windage
losses are 40 kW, and the core losses are 30 kW. Ignore field circuit losses.
a)
b)
c)

d)

e)

What is the speed of rotation of the generator?

How much field current must be supplied to the generator to make the
terminal voltage 480 V at no load?
If the generator is now connected to a load and the load draws 1200 A at 0.8
pf lagging, how much field current will be required to keep the terminal
voltage equal to 480 V?
How much power is the generator now supplying? How much power is
supplied to the generator by the prime-mover?
600
What is the machines overall efficiency?
500
400
If the generators load were suddenly disconnected
from the line, what would happen to its terminal voltage? 300
200
100
0
0

10

Problem 5-2 (p.338)

Solution to Problem 5-2 (p.338)

Solution to Problem 5-2 (p.338) Contd

Synchronous Motors
Motor

P, Q
Vt

A synchronous motor is the same physical machine as a

generator, except that the direction of real power flow is
reversed
Synchronous motors are used to convert electric power to
mechanical power
Most synchronous motors are rated between 150 kW (200
hp) and 15 MW (20,000 hp) and turn at speed ranging from
150 to 1800 r/min. Consequently, these machines are used in
heavy industry
At the other end of the power spectrum, we find tiny singlephase synchronous motors used in control devices and
electric clocks

Operation Principle
The field current of a synchronous motor produces a steadystate magnetic field BR
A three-phase set of voltages is applied to the stator windings of
the motor, which produces a three-phase current flow in the
windings. This three-phase set of currents in the armature
winding produces a uniform rotating magnetic field of Bs
Therefore, there are two magnetic fields present in the machine,
and the rotor field will tend to line up with the stator field, just
as two bar magnets will tend to line up if placed near each other.
Since the stator magnetic field is rotating, the rotor magnetic
field (and the rotor itself) will try to catch up
The larger the angle between the two magnetic fields (up to
certain maximum), the greater the torque on the rotor of the
machine

Vector Diagram
The equivalent circuit of a synchronous motor is exactly same as
the equivalent circuit of a synchronous generator, except that the
reference direction of IA is reversed.
The basic difference between motor and generator operation in
synchronous machines can be seen either in the magnetic field
diagram or in the phasor diagram.
In a generator, EA lies ahead of Vf, and BR lies ahead of Bnet. In a
motor, EA lies behind Vf, and BR lies behind Bnet.
In a motor the induced torque is in the direction of motion, and in a
generator the induced torque is a countertorque opposing the
direction of motion.

Vector Diagram
IA

Bs
Vf

jIA Xs

wsync

EA

Bnet

BR

Fig. The phasor diagram (leading PF: overexcited and |Vt|<|EA|) and
the corresponding magnetic field diagram of a synchronous motor.
Vf

d
IA

jIA Xs
EA

Fig. The phasor diagram of an underexcited synchronous

motor (lagging PF and |Vt|>|EA|).

Application of Synchronous Motors

Synchronous motors are usually used in large sizes because in small sizes
they are costlier as compared with induction machines. The principal
advantages of using synchronous machine are as follows:
Power factor of synchronous machine can be controlled very easily
by controlling the field current.
It has very high operating efficiency and constant speed.
For operating speed less than about 500 rpm and for high-power
requirements (above 600KW) synchronous motor is cheaper than
induction motor.
In view of these advantages, synchronous motors are preferred for driving
the loads requiring high power at low speed; e.g; reciprocating pumps and
compressor, crushers, rolling mills, pulp grinders etc.

Problem & Solution of 5-22 (p.343)

Problem & Solution of 5-22 (p.343)