Automatic Voltage Regulator in Genset

Automatic Voltage Regulator in Generator Set
Pravat Kumar Behera
FormerlyTechnical Specialist-Controls, Cummins Technologies India Pvt Ltd

B.E(Electronics & Telecommunication),U.C.E,Burla(INDIA)
[email protected]
Abstract
An automatic voltage regulator (AVR) is an electronic device for automatically

maintaining generator output terminal voltage at a set value under varying load and
operating temperature. It controls output by sensing the Generator output voltage and
comparing it to a stable reference.
1 INTRODUCTION
The typical power conditioner is an automatic voltage regulator combined with one or
more other power-quality capabilities, such as:
1) Surge suppression
2) Short circuit protection (circuit breaker)
3) Line noise reduction
4) Phase-to-phase voltage balancing
5) Harmonic filtering, etc.
The voltage regulator is an adjustment device that controls the generator output voltage
within a specified range. Its function is to automatically control the generator voltage
and keep it constant when the rotating speed of the generator changes, so as to prevent
the generator voltage from being too high to burn out the electrical equipment and
cause the battery to overcharge. At the same time, it also prevents the generator
voltage from being too low, resulting in malfunctioning of electrical equipment and
insufficient battery charge.
Since the transmission ratio of generator to engine is fixed, the speed of generator will
change with the change of engine speed. The power supply of generator to electric
equipment and charging to battery both require its voltage to be stable, so it is
necessary to adjust the output voltage of generator if the voltage is kept at a certain
value basically.
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Figure 1.- Diagram of a complete excitation system
The excitation system consisting of:

•Main Rotor
•Exciter
•Rotating Rectifier Unit
•AVR
•Independent power supply from PMG
Main Rotor
Around each of the rotor’s laminated salient poles are directionally wound coils,which
form the basis of an electro-magnetic system. Current flowing through the rotor poles
contra-directional coils create a magnetic field within the complete rotor assembly,with
adjacent poles being magnetically polarised of opposite polarity; as seen in the diagram
below.
Main Rotor –4 poles
Figure 2.- Main Rotor

The design of the main rotor will depend on the speed at which the rotor will turn and
the frequency –50Hz or 60Hz –required. Other related technical aspects are as follows:
•Rotor winding resistances are typically in the region of 2to3 ohms.

•The current within the rotor coils will vary according to the size of alternator and
the level of electrical output kVA/kW being delivered.
Exciter
In the following diagram,the exciter is correctly depicted as a rotating electrical
assembly, located within the alternator,with the exciter armature(part of rotor having 3
phase windings) attached to the alternator shaft. The exciter rotor islocated adjacent to
the main rotor and is electrically separated by the rotating rectifier unit. The AVR is
shown connected to the exciter stator’s static field winding assembly by the pair of dc
current leads identified as F1 +ve and F2 –ve:
Figure 3.- Diagram of exciter
Rectifier Unit -Rotating Diode Assembly

The diodes within the rotating diode assembly are carefully selected to ensure their
current carrying capability,along with their voltage withstand capability,hasan operating
safety margin.
Figure 4.- Diagram of Diode assembly

PMG
Permanent Magnet Generators (PMG), also called Permanent Magnet Alternators
(PMA), used to provide a stable, reliable power source to Automatic Volatge regulator.
2 EXCITATION TYPE
Excitation systems can be defined as the system that provides field current to the rotor
winding of a generator. Well-designed excitation systems provide reliability of operation,
stability and fast transient response.
Majorly two type of excitation methods include:
• Shunt or Self Excited

• Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG)
Each method has its individual advantages. All methods use an Automatic Voltage
Regulator (AVR) to supply DC output to the exciter stator. The exciter rotor AC output is
rectified to a DC and applied as input to the main generator rotor. More advanced
systems use an additional input to the AVR.
The construction of the AVR vary with the excitation used. All receive input from the
stator of the generator when it rotates.The two types commonly used are:
• Silicone Controlled Rectifier (SCR) - Senses power level from the stator and
determines its firing for the exciter voltage.
• Field Effect Transistor (FET) - Senses power level from the stator and translates
in to a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal to the exciter stator. This style of
AVR can be used for excitation methods.

SHUNT excitation systems: In SHUNT excitation systems, the AVR power supply
and voltage reference are picked on the same output terminals. The AVR generates
and regulates the excitation current as a function of the alternator output voltage.
Fig. 5: Shunt excitation.
Separately excited or PMG: This method actually places an additional small

permanent magnet generator at the non-drive end of the alternator to produce power for
the AVR.
Fig. 6: Separately excited excitation

3 REFERENCE CIRCUIT
3.1 MOSFET Based Exciter coil drive circuit

3.2 SCR Based Exciter coil drive circuit

4 REFERENCE
1) Thyristor Excitation system for hydroelectric AC Generator 3S7931saioo series

2) Excitation System –Leroy Somerfactur
3) Design and manufacturing of digital MOSFET based-AVR for synchronous
generator

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Automatic Voltage Regulator in Generator Set

Pravat Kumar Behera

FormerlyTechnical Specialist-Controls, Cummins Technologies India Pvt Ltd

An automatic voltage regulator (AVR) is an electronic device for automatically

Making Technology simple Page 1

The excitation system consisting of:

Main Rotor –4 poles

Figure 2.- Main Rotor

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•Rotor winding resistances are typically in the region of 2to3 ohms.

Figure 3.- Diagram of exciter

Rectifier Unit -Rotating Diode Assembly

Figure 4.- Diagram of Diode assembly

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Majorly two type of excitation methods include:

• Shunt or Self Excited

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Fig. 5: Shunt excitation.

Separately excited or PMG: This method actually places an additional small

Fig. 6: Separately excited excitation

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3.1 MOSFET Based Exciter coil drive circuit

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Making Technology simple Page 7

1) Thyristor Excitation system for hydroelectric AC Generator 3S7931saioo series

Making Technology simple Page 8

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