Chapter 4 - Synchronous Generators

Electric Machines and Power
Fundamentals
EECE 370
Synchronous Generators
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 1

Synchronous Generators- Introduction
• Synchronous generators, or alternators, are rotating
machines that convert input mechanical power into
electrical A.C. power.
• Main units for electricity generation, generate up to
96% of world’s electricity.
• Largest machines (up to 1000MW), hence mechanical
aspects have to be considered.
• This chapter explores the characteristics and operation

of synchronous generators.


Early 20th century Alternator, in the power

generating hall of a hydro-electric power station.

Large and small ac generators

Portable Generators- domestic usage

Diesel Engine Generators
Side view of a 100- kVA diesel generator.

Synchronous Generators- Operation
Principle of Operation
• A DC current is applied to the rotor (field) winding,
from an external source, which then produces a rotor
magnetic field.
• The rotor is turned by a prime mover (ex. Steam,

water etc.) producing a rotating magnetic field.
• This rotating magnetic field induces a 3-phase set of

voltages within the stator (armature) windings of the
generator.

Synchronous Generators- main parts
• Rotor: accommodates the “field winding” that
produces the main magnetic field in a machine (field
excitation).
• Stator: accommodates the “armature windings” where
the main voltage is induced.
• Brushes and slip rings: to provide a path for currents

in and out of the machine (in classical designs)

Slip Rings and Brushes
• Slip rings are metal rings encircling the shaft of a machine
but insulated from it. One end of the dc rotor winding is tied
to each of the 2 slip rings on the shaft of the synchronous
machine, and a stationary brush rides on each slip ring.
• A “brush” is a block of graphite-like carbon compound that
conducts electricity freely but has very low friction, hence it
doesn’t wear down the slip ring. The positive end of a dc
voltage source is connected to one brush and the negative
end is connected to the other.

Slip Rings
• Some problems with slip rings and

brushes:
– They increase the amount of maintenance
required on the machine, since the brushes
must be checked for wear regularly, and
must be dusted and cleaned.
– Brush voltage drop can be the cause of
significant power losses on machines with
larger field currents.

Rotor of a Synchronous Generator
• The rotor is a large electromagnet and the magnetic poles on the
rotor can either be salient or non- salient (round) construction.
Round
shape
Salient- pole
shape

Methods of Excitation
• A dc current must be supplied to the field circuit on the rotor.
Since the rotor is rotating, a special arrangement is required to
get the dc power to the field winding.
• The common ways for producing field flux are:

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
synchronous generator. (brushless exciters)
3. By means of permanent magnets.

Permanent Magnet Generators
• Permanent magnets are used to produce the magnetic fields.

• No need for a rotor winding. (no copper loss and no heat)
• No brushes or slip rings.
• For small sizes, (up to 10kVA).

Brushless Exciter
• A brushless exciter is a small dc generator with its field
circuit mounted on the stator and its armature circuit
mounted on the rotor shaft of the generator.
• The 3-phase output of the exciter generator is rectified to
direct current by a 3-phase rectifier circuit also mounted on
the shaft of the generator, and is then fed to the main dc
field circuit.
• By controlling the small dc field current of the exciter
generator, we can control the field current on the main
machine without slip rings and brushes.
• Since no mechanical contacts occur between the rotor and
stator, a brushless exciter requires less maintenance.

Brushless Exciter- ctd

Brushless exciter

Speed of a Synchronous Generator
• The speed of rotation of the magnetic field in the 3- phase

machine is related to the stator electrical frequency by:
nm P
fe 
120
or: nm = ns = 120fe/P
i.e. to maintain constant frequency, the generator of a given

pole number can run at one speed only.

The Internal Generated Voltage
As discussed before: E A  2 NC f e
NC
E A  Ke K
2
NC P
E A  Km K
2 2
• The internal generated voltage EA is directly
proportional to the flux and to the speed of the
machine.
• The flux itself is dependent on the current flowing in
the rotor. This means that the EA is related to the field
current.
The Magnetization Curve

Voltage Regulation
• For generator:
Vnl  V fl
VR   100%
V fl

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Electric Machines and Power

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 1

• This chapter explores the characteristics and operation

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 2

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 3

Early 20th century Alternator, in the power

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 4

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 5

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 6

Side view of a 100- kVA diesel generator.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 7

• The rotor is turned by a prime mover (ex. Steam,

• This rotating magnetic field induces a 3-phase set of

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 8

• Brushes and slip rings: to provide a path for currents

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 9

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 10

• Some problems with slip rings and

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 11

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 12

• The common ways for producing field flux are:

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 13

• Permanent magnets are used to produce the magnetic fields.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 14

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 15

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 16

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 17

• The speed of rotation of the magnetic field in the 3- phase

i.e. to maintain constant frequency, the generator of a given

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 18

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 20

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering 21

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