THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
B. Sc. in Electrical & Computer Engineering

ECNG 2000
THREE PHASE SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Contents
1. General Information ................................................................................................................ 2
2. Lab Learning Outcomes .......................................................................................................... 3
3. Pre-Lab .................................................................................................................................... 3
3.1.

Required reading resources ............................................................................................. 3

3.2.

Recommended reading resources ................................................................................... 3

4. in-lab ........................................................................................................................................ 4
4.1

OPEN CIRCUIT TEST................................................................................................... 5

4.2

SHORT CIRCUIT TEST ................................................................................................ 6

Diagram showing connections for short circuit test .................................................................... 6

4.3
5

LOAD TEST ................................................................................................................... 7

Post-Lab ................................................................................................................................... 8
5.1

Results ............................................................................................................................. 8

5.2

Questions and Calculations ........................................................................................... 10

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Lab #:
Name of the Lab:

Lab Weighting:

2.5%

Delivery mode:

Lecture
Online
Lab
Other

Synchronous Machines
4

Estimated total
study hours1:

Venue for the Lab:

Energy Systems Lab

Lab Dependencies2

The theoretical background to this lab is provided in ECNG 2000

Theoretical content link: http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/

Recommended
prior knowledge
and skills3:

To undertake this lab, students should be able to:

Understand the operation of the synchronous machines
Derive the synchronous impedance of the machine

Course Staff
Mr. Alvin
Lutchman
Mr. Tariq
Wadi

Position/Role
Lecturer

E-mail
Phone
Office


[email protected] 3142
328

Lab Tech

[email protected]

2677

Office
Hours

Pwr Elec
Lab

Estimate includes teaching time, study time, and student preparation time for classes and labs.
Include any Co-requisites, Post-requisites, or Forbidden course /lab combinations with respective code (C/P/F).
3
Lecturers can state lab input requirements in terms of student behaviours.
2

2. LAB LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the lab assignment, students will be able to:

Cognitive Level

Understand the interaction between the DC Machines and the Synchronous

Generator

Determine the synchronous impedance of the synchronous motor and the

equivalent circuit

Using the equivalent circuit to predict the regulation of the machine under
loaded conditions and compare it with values obtained in the load test.

3. PRE-LAB
Due Date:
Submission
Procedure:
Estimated time to
completion:

On the day of the lab

Pre Lab is posted on http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/
3 hrs

3.1. Required reading resources

ECNG 200 Class notes

3.2. Recommended reading resources

Basic Electric Machines -Del Toro page 225

Electric Machines & Power Systems -Del Toro page 238

Electric Machinery -Fitzgerald & Kingsley page 311

Electric Machines and their Applications -Hindmarsh page 461

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

4.

IN-LAB

Allotted Completion
Time:
3hrs.
Walk with graph paper
Required lab
Equipment:

The open circuit and the short circuit test are used to obtain the unsaturated synchronous
impedance and an approximate value of saturated synchronous impedance. In the case of a
constant voltage source having constant impedance, the impedance can be found by dividing the
open circuit terminal voltage by the short circuit current. However when the impedance is a
function of the open circuit voltage, as it is when the machine is saturated, the open circuit
characteristics or the magnetization curve in addition to the short circuit characteristic required.

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

4.1 OPEN CIRCUIT TEST

Diagram showing connections for open circuit test

4.1.1

Do not energize the circuit until the demonstrator checks the circuit and permission
is given to energize.

4.1.2

Slowly start the D.C. motor couple to the alternator and adjust its speed to correspond to
the alternator. (The armature of the alternator is kept on open circuit).

4.1.3

Then increase the Shunt Regulator current of the alternator from zero value and note the
no-load voltage across the alternator for various field currents.

4.1.4

(Do not decrease the field current at any time.)

4.1.5

Record values of induced voltage up to and beyond the rated voltage.

4.1.6

Repeat this test with decreasing values of voltage (induced) and record the results in
Table 5.1

4.1.7

Using graph paper, plot the open circuit characteristics for both increasing and decreasing
field current.(Plot on the same page) ( To be completed and signed by the
demonstrator before leaving the lab)
De energize the circuit

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

4.2 SHORT CIRCUIT TEST

Diagram showing connections for short circuit test

4.2.1

Using the circuit diagram above, connect the circuit for the short circuit test

4.2.2

Do not energize the circuit until the demonstrator checks the circuit and permission
is given to energize.

4.2.3

Slowly start the D.C. motor couple to the alternator and adjust its speed near to or at
synchronous speed using the D.C. Motor as the prime mover.

4.2.4

With the field at zero current, short-circuit the alternator armature terminals through a
suitable ammeter.

4.2.5

With the machine running at or near synchronous speed, increase the field current from
the zero value in suitable steps so that up to full load current flows in the short circuit
armature of the alternator.

4.2.6

Record the results in Table 5.2

4.2.7

De-energize the circuit

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

4.3 LOAD TEST

In this test the machine is introduced to normal working conditions. This test evaluates how the
machine operates under different working conditions. We will compare the results of the load
test with the parameters developed in the open circuit and the short circuit test.
4.3.1

Set up the circuit as shown in the diagram below.

Circuit diagram showing connections for the Load test

4.3.2

Do not energize the circuit until the demonstrator checks the circuit and permission
is given to energize.

4.3.3

Slowly start the D.C. motor couple to the alternator and adjust its speed near to or at
synchronous speed and maintain it at this value throughout this test. This may be done
by using a rheostat between Z an A in the DC Motor field panel.

4.3.4

Adjust the field current of the alternator so that the rated voltage is obtained on the open
circuit. Note the field current and maintain it at this value throughout this test.

4.3.5

Increase the Load on the alternator in steps and record the values of voltages and currents
on the AC and DC sides of the circuit. (Record at least 9 readings in Table 5.3.)

4.3.6

De-energize the circuit

4.3.7

Proceed to answer the questions in the post lab exercise

7

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

POST-LAB

ID #:

5.1 Results

Table 5.1 Open Circuit Test Results

Reading
Increasing

Reading

No.

Decreasing

No.
Speed(rpm)

If/amps

Voc/volts

Speed(rpm) If/amps

Voc/volts

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

Table 5.2 Short Circuit Test Results

Reading No.

If / Amps

IA / Amps

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Table 5.3: Load Test Results

Reading # Speed (rpm) Load/ohms

AC
IA / Amps

VA / Volts

DC
IA / Amps

VA / Volts

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

LAB #4: Synchronous Machines

5.2 Questions and Calculations

5.2.1

Discuss the nature of the open circuit and short circuit graphs plotted in the lab.

5.2.2

Determine and plot the synchronous impedance versus the field current characteristics.
Explain the shape of the curve

5.2.3

Using the synchronous impedance corresponding to rated voltage on the open circuit,
predetermine the regulation at:
(a) full-load, unity power factor
(b) full-load, 0.8 power factor lag
(c) full-load, 0.8 power factor lead

5.2.4

From the Load Test, plot the armature voltage against the load current. Discuss your
findings.

5.2.5

Compare the regulation at full-load, unity power factor obtained from the load test with
predetermined values.

End of Lab #2:

The Synchronous Machines lab

10