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Basic Principles and Functions of Electrical

This document discusses the basic principles and functions of electrical machines. It begins by classifying the major types of electrical machines as direct current, synchronous, and induction machines. It then describes the key components and operating principles of direct current machines, including the stator, rotor, armature winding, field winding, commutator, and brushes. The document also outlines the basic features of alternating current machines, focusing on their rigid frame, stator package, rotor construction, and bearing assemblies. It concludes by discussing how machine parameters are determined and the principles of electromagnetic induction that underlie generator and motor operation.

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Praveen Kumar
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168 views18 pages

Basic Principles and Functions of Electrical

This document discusses the basic principles and functions of electrical machines. It begins by classifying the major types of electrical machines as direct current, synchronous, and induction machines. It then describes the key components and operating principles of direct current machines, including the stator, rotor, armature winding, field winding, commutator, and brushes. The document also outlines the basic features of alternating current machines, focusing on their rigid frame, stator package, rotor construction, and bearing assemblies. It concludes by discussing how machine parameters are determined and the principles of electromagnetic induction that underlie generator and motor operation.

Uploaded by

Praveen Kumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Principles and Functions of

Electrical
Machines
ABSTRACT:Recent advances in power electronics and high speed
microprocessors have led to considerable attention in
electrical machines with regard to their applications in
industrial drives. This paper brings to the fore, various types
of electrical machines, their operations, and applications, as
well as the method of determining their parameters. Various
ways of protecting electric machines against overloads and
mechanical faults are also highlighted. It is anticipated that
the work presented in this paper will be of immense benefit
to practicing engineers especially in areas of machine
design, maintenance, and protection. (Keywords: electrical
machines, operation design, maintenance, protection, stator)

INTRODUCTION
The

Direct

machine,

Current

and

the

(D.C.)

machine,

induction

machine

the
are

synchronous
the

major

electromechanical conversion devices in industry [1]. The


merits of the squirrel cage induction machine are: lightness,
simplicity, ruggedness, robustness, less initial cost, higher
torque-inertia ratio, capability of much higher speeds, ease

of maintenance, etc [2, 3]. The most important feature which


declares it as a tough competitor to D.C. machines in the
drives field is that its cost per KVA is approximately one fifty
of its counter-part and it possesses higher suitability in
hostile environment.
Unfortunately, induction machines suffer from the drawback
that, in contrast to D.C. machines, their speed cannot be
easily and effectively adjusted continuously over a wide
range of operating conditions [4]. On the other hand, the
synchronous machine has the merit of being operated under
a wide range of power factors, both lagging and leading, and
are much better suited for bulk power generation. In the
induction motor, alternating current is applied to the stator
and alternating currents are induced in the rotor by
transformer action.
In the synchronous machine, direct current is supplied to the
rotor and Alternating Current (A.C.) flows in the stator. On
the other hand, a D.C. machine is a machine that is excited
from D.C. sources only or that itself acts as a source of D.C.
[5]. It is a common practice in industry to employ A.C.
motors whenever they are inherently suitable or can be
given

appropriate

electronics
industrial

characteristics

devices.
processes

Yet,

the

demands

by

means

increasing
greater

of

power

complexity
flexibility

of

from

electrical machines in terms of special characteristics and


speed control. It is in this field that the D.C. machines, fed

from the A.C. supply through rectifiers, are making their


mark. In this paper, we shall discuss the various types of
electric machines, thereafter; we shall look at the basic
features and principles of operation of electric machines.
Determination of machine parameters, basic protections,
maintenance, and electric machine applications are also
discussed.

CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTRIC MACHINES;There are several methods of classifying electric machines


Electric power supply - Electric machines are classified as D.C. and
A.C. machines as well as according to their stator and rotor
constructions as shown in Figure 1.
National Electric Manufacturers
Association (NEMA) Standards NEMA standards are voluntary
standards of the National Electric Manufacturers Association and
represent general practice in industry. They define a product, process,
or

procedure

construction,

with

reference

dimensions,

to

tolerances,

nomenclature
operating

composition,
characteristics,

performance, quality, rating, and testing. NEMA classifications of


Electric Machines are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: NEMA Classifications.


Types

Features

A. Open:
i. Drip-proof

Operate with dripping liquids up to 15 0 from

vertical
Guarded by limited size openings (less
than 0.75 inch)
Ventilated with separate motor driven
blower, can have
other types of protection
ii. Guarded
iii. Externally ventilated
B. Totally enclosed:

i. Non-ventilated (TENV)
ii. Fan-cooled (TEFC)

iii. Water-cooled

Not equipped for external cooling


Cooled by external integral fan

Cooled by circulating water

BASIC FEATURES OF ELECTRIC MACHINES


The basic structural features of a D.C. machine are:
Stator - The stator carries the field winding. The stator
together with the rotor constitutes the magnetic circuit or
core of the machine. It is a hollow cylinder.
Rotor - It carries the armature winding. The armature is the
load carrying member. The rotor is cylindrical in shape.
Armature Winding - This winding rotates in the magnetic
field set up at the stationary winding. It is the load carrying
member mounted on the rotor. An armature winding is a
continuous winding; that is, it has no beginning or end. It is
composed of a number of coils in series as is shown in Figure
2.

Depending on the manner in which the coil ends are


connected to the commutator bars, armature windings can
be grouped into two: lap windings and wave windings. Wave
winding gives greater voltage and smaller current ratings
while the lap winding supplies greater current and smaller
voltage ratings.
Field Winding - This is an exciting system which may be an
electrical winding or a permanent magnet and which is
located on the stator.
Commutator - The coils on the armature are terminated
and

interconnected

through

the

commutator

which

comprised of a number of bars or commutator segments


which are insulated from each other. The commutator
rotates with the rotor and serves to rectify the induced
voltage and the current in the armature both of which are
A.C.

Brushes - These are conducting carbon graphite spring


loaded to ride on the commutator and act as interface
between the external circuit and the armature winding.
Poles - The field winding is placed in poles, the number of
which is determined by the voltage and current ratings of
the machine.
Slot/Teeth - For mechanical support, protection from
abrasion, and further electrical insulation, non-conducting
slot liners are often wedged between the coils and the slot
walls. The magnetic material between the slots is called
teeth. Figure 3 shows cross-sectional views of slot/Teeth
geometry

On the other hand, the basic constructional features of an


A.C. machine (e.g induction machine) are:

Rigid Frame - The whole construction ensures compact and


adaptable design at low weight and low vibration level in all
operating conditions and throughout the whole speed range
[8]. Figure 4 shows a basic ABB Rigid Frame Design.

Stator Package - The stator core is a stack of in electrical


sheet steel laminations insulated by a heat resistant
inorganic resin. The radial cooling ducts ensure uniform and
efficient cooling. The stator package, shown in Figure 5 forms
a solid block which retains its rigidity throughout the long
lifetime of the machine.

Rotor Construction - The rotor of A.C. machines can be of


wound type or squirrel cage type. A typical squirrel cage
rotor is shown in Figure 6. Depending on the number of poles
and whether the shaft is of the spider or cylindrical type, the
rotor core is shrunk onto the shaft and the conductor bars
tightly caulked into the slots to prevent bar vibration.

Rugged Bearing Assemblies - The bearings are designed


for reliable continuous operation and ease of maintenance.
Depending on the rated power, either spherical seated self
aligning sleeve bearings or anti-friction bearings with a life
time of over 100,000 hours are available [8]. See Figure 7 for
ABB rugged bearing assemblies.

Two related physical principles underlie the operation of


generators and motors. The first is the principle of
electromagnetic induction discovered by Michael Faraday in
1831 [9]. If a conductor is moved through a magnetic field,
or if the strength of a stationary conducting loop is made to
vary, a current is set up or induced in the conductor. The
converse of this principle is that of electromagnetic

DETERMINATION OF MACHINE PARAMETERS


The nameplate gives sufficient information on the rated
current, power, frequency, voltage, winding temperature,
and stator winding connection.
However, it may be necessary to determine the winding
resistances and reactances as well as the mechanical
properties of the machine in order to evaluate the machine

performance under both steady and dynamic conditions. For


instance, the

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