Operating Characteristics of Synchronous

Machine
Operating Characteristics of Synchronous Machine:
The Operating Characteristics of Synchronous Machine are examined here under conditions of
variable load and variable excitation. One of these quantities will be assumed to be held constant
at a time while the other will be allowed to vary over a wide range. Further, here too the
armature resistance will be assumed negligible. This does not significantly change the operating
characteristic of the machine but leads to easier understanding of the machine operation. The
more general case of the machine with armature resistance accounted for will be discussed in
Sec. 8.9. By virtue of negligible resistance assumption, the electrical power at the machine
terminals and the mechanical power at its shaft are simply related as follows:

Generating Machine

Motoring Machine

Power-angle Characteristic

Figure 8.29 shows the circuit diagrams and phasor diagrams of a synchronous machine in
generating mode (Figs 8.29(a) and (c)) and motoring mode (Figs 8.29 (b) and (d)). The machine
is assumed to be connected to infinite bus-bars of voltage V t. It is easily observed from the
phasor diagrams that in generating mode, the excitation emf Ef leads Vt by angle δ, while it lags
Vt in the motoring mode. It follows from the phasor triangle OMP (Figs 8.29(c) and (d)) that
Multiplying both sides of Eq. (8.41) by Vt

where Pe = Vt la cos Φ = electrical power (per phase) exchanged with the bus-bars δ = Angle
between Ef and Vt and is called the power angle of the machine (δ has opposite sign for
generating/motoring modes).
The relationship of Eq. (8.42) is known as the power-angle characteristic of the machine and is
plotted in Fig. 8.30 for given Vt and Ef. The maximum power

occurs at δ = 90° beyond which the machine falls out of step (loses synchronism). The machine
can be taken up to Pe,max only by gradually increasing the load. This is known as the steady-state
stability limit of the machine. The machine is normally operated at δ much less than 90°. The
phasor diagram of a generating machine under condition of P e,max is drawn in Fig. 8.31.
Obviously /a will be several timesmax larger than the rated machine current in this condition.

Operation at Constant Load with Variable Excitation

At constant load, from Eq. (8.42)

It is therefore, observed that at constant load, as the excitation emf E f, is varied (by varying field
current If), the power angle δ varies such that E f sin δ remains constant. The machine behaviour
is depicted by the phasor diagrams of Figs (8.32(a) and (b)). As E f varies, the tip of phasor
E̅f moves on a line parallel to V̅t and at distance Efsinδ=PeXs/Vt from it. Since IacosΦ = constant,
the projection of the current phasor on V t must remain constant, i.e. the tip of the current phasor
traces a line perpendicular to Vt at distance IacosΦ = Pe/Vt from the origin. The current phasor I̅ a
is always located at 90° to phasor I̅ aXs (phasor joining tips to E̅f and V̅t in the direction of E̅f). The
excitation (Ef) corresponding to unity power factor is known as normal excitation, while the
excitation larger than this is called over-excitation and less than this is called under-excitation.
The following conclusions* are drawn from the phasor diagrams of Figs 8.32(a)
Generating Machine

1. The machine supplies a lagging power factor current when over-excited.

2. The machine supplies a leading power factor current when under-excited.

Motoring Machine

1. The machine draws a leading power factor current when over-excited.

2. The machine draws a lagging power factor current when under-excited.

It is also easily observed from these phasor diagrams that the magnitude of the armature current
exhibits a minimum when its excitation is continuously increased from an under-excited state.
The nature of la versus excitation (If) plot for various values of load (real power) is shown in Fig.
8.33. These are known as V-curves of synchronous machine by virtue of their shape. Though
only one figure is drawn for generating/motoring operation, the actual shape of V-curves for the
two cases will not be identical. A little reflection will show that PF versus If plots will be
inverted V-curves.

Minimum Excitation

From Figs. 8.32(a) and (b) it is seen that as excitation is reduced, the angle 5 continuously
increases. The minimum permissible excitation, Ef (min), corresponds to the stability limit, i.e. δ
= 90°. Obviously
Minimum field current and corresponding armature current for a given pu load at the limit of
stability is indicated by the dotted curve in Fig. 8.33.

Observation

In a synchronous machine the real electrical power exchanged with the bus-bars is controlled by
the mechanical shaft power irrespective of excitation. The excitation, on the other hand, governs
only the power factor of the machine without affecting the real power flow. For example, in a
generator if it is desired to feed more real power into the bus-bars the throttle must be opened
admitting more steam into the turbine (coupled to generator) thereby feeding more mechanical
power into shaft. As a consequence the power angle δ increases and so does the electrical power
output (Eq. 8.42)). However, if it is desired to adjust the machine power factor, its excitation
should be varied (well within the limit imposed by Eq. (8.46)).

Compounding Curve
The dotted curves of Figure 8.33 pertain to constant terminal voltage, constant power factor
operation of a synchronous machine. For a generating machine operation these curves are called
compounding curves. These are presented once again in Fig. 8.34 as the field current needed for
a given armature current or kVA loading at a particular power factor for constant terminal
voltage. These are useful guide for generator operation in a power house.

Synchronous Condenser

It has been seen above that a synchronous motor under over-excited condition operates at a
leading power factor. Synchronous motors are therefore employed in large power

installations for improving the overall power factor of the installation.

At no-load with losses assumed negligible, a synchronous motor operates at

which means that Ef and Vt are in phase. It is seen from the phasor diagram of Fig. 8.35, that the
machine (motor) draws zero power factor leading current
and draws zero power factor lagging current

Thus a synchronous motor at no-load behaves as a variable condenser or inductor by simply

varying its excitation. The machine operated under such a condition (motor on no-load or light
load) is known as a synchronous condenser and finds application in large integrated power
systems for improving the power factor under heavy-load conditions and for deproving the
power factor under light-load conditions, thereby controlling the voltage profile of the power
system within reasonable limits.

Dual-purpose Synchronous Motor

Synchronous motor is used in an industry/factory for serving two purposes. It drives a constant
speed mechanical load such as a large pump, a dc generator, etc. and at the same time it also
corrects an otherwise low lagging pf of the electrical load such as induction motors and
fluorescent tubes. Such a synchronous motor serving dual-purpose is called dual-purpose
synchronous motor.