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Three Phase Synchronous Machine

Synchronous machine is an a. c. machine
Three forms 1. Synchronous Motor
2. Syn Generator or Alternator
3. Syn Condenser
Main Two windings: 1. Armature winding
a) Similar to stator wdg of Ind. m/c.
b) Distributed ac winding.
c) Absorbs or imports ac power- Motor
d) Delivers or exports ac power - Generator
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2. Field winding
a) Similar to field wdg of dc machine
b) Concentrated dc winding.
c) Always absorbs or imports dc power
whether Motor or Generator
Therefore, syn. m/c is a DOUBLY excited ac m/c.
Armature winding is connected to ac source.
Field winding is connected to dc source.
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Third winding: Damper or ammortisseur winding
a) Similar to compensated winding of dc machine,
housed in the pole shoe.
b) But short circuited similar to squirrel cage wdg
c) Damps the rotor oscillations.

Rotor material: Chromium-Nickel –Molybdenum

steel=High tensile strength.
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 Stator Construction

• Stator is identical to the

induction motor

• Laminated low silicon steel

rings joined together

• Slots insulated with Mylar

• Example of 36 slot stator

with 3 coil conductors per
slot, 12 slots per phase

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 Stator Construction

• Stator is identical to the Stator frame

induction motor

• Laminated low silicon steel Stator

rings joined together slots with
insulator
• Slots insulated with Mylar

• Example of 36 slot stator

with 3 coil conductors per
slot, 12 slots per phase

• Slot insulator inserted by

hand

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 Stator Construction

• Stator is identical to the Stator frame

induction motor

• Laminated low silicon steel Stator

rings joined together slots with
insulator
• Slots insulated with Mylar
Coil
• Example of 36 slot stator
with 3 coil conductors per
slot, 12 slots per phase

• Slot insulator inserted by

hand

• Coils inserted by hand

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 Stator Construction

• Coils can be placed in single or double layers

Stator slot

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 Stator Construction

Single layer Coil

1 coil arm
per slot

Stator Slots

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 Stator Construction

Double layer Stator Slots

Coil

2 coil arms in
each slot

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 Stator Construction

Stators can be very large

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 Rotor Construction

Two types of rotor

• Salient Pole

• Cylindrical

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 Construction
1. Salient pole syn m/c 2. Cylindrical rotor syn m/c
The Differences are:
1.

Salient pole Cylindrical rotor13

 Rotor Construction

Salient Pole
Difference between pole face
curvature and stator creates non-linear
variation in flux across pole face

Non-linear variation in flux across

pole face produces sinusoidal
change in the induced EMF

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 Rotor Construction

Cylindrical
Difference in coil spacing creates non-
linear variation in flux around the rotor
surface

Non-linear variation in flux around

rotor surface produces sinusoidal
change in the induced EMF

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 Rotor Construction

Cylindrical
Difference in coil spacing creates non-
linear variation in flux around the rotor
surface

Non-linear variation in flux around

rotor surface produces sinusoidal
change in the induced EMF

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Usually field wdg is on rotor and armature wdg on stator

Armature wdg + – DC ON
R1

Y2 B2 Brushes

Shaft

B1 Y1 2 Slip rings
Field wdg
R2
Flux is set up
If rotor is rotated by Prime Mover
or by Motor or by Turbine 17
Now consider armature wdg is on rotor and field wdg
on stator

R1 Armature
Y2 B2 wdg
B1 Y1
R2

Field wdg

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The advantages of providing the field winding on rotor
and armature winding on stator:
1. Field on rotor requires TWO slip rings. Armature on
rotor requires FOUR slip rings. Less slip ring losses.
2. It is economical. For example:
Rating of armature=200MVA, 11kV
200 103
Line current   10,500 A
3 11
For this current, slip rings should be larger in size and
properly insulated from the shaft for 11kV.
Rating of field=1MW, 500V
1000
Field current   2000 19
A
0.5
 Slip rings should be smaller in size and are insulated
for 500V only.
3. Stationary armature can be INSULATED satisfactory
for higher voltages, ie upto 33kV.
4. Stationary armature can be COOLED more efficiently
upto 1000MW or above.
5. Low power field wdg gives LIGHTER rotor, so LOW
torque is required to rotate the rotor .
6. Higher speed and more output are possible for a
given dimensions.

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 Operation as a Synchronous Generator

Two pole cylindrical rotor example

A’
A’
• Field produced on rotor by dc current
through slip rings
BB C
C
• Rotor field is turned at 3000rpm by a
prime mover

• EMFs induced in stator coils with N S

frequency of 50Hz

• Magnetic Flux distributed around rotor C’

B’
produces sinusoidal variation in induced C’ B’
EMF
A
• Phase coils separated by 120o causes
delay between phase EMFs A

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 Operation as a Synchronous Generator

Two pole cylindrical rotor example

Period = 20ms
• Field produced on rotor by dc current
through slip rings
C A B
• Rotor field is turned at 3000rpm by a
prime mover

• EMFs induced in stator coils with

frequency of 50Hz

• Magnetic Flux distributed around rotor

produces sinusoidal variation in induced
EMF

• Phase coils separated by 120o causes

delay between phase EMFs

• Delay between phases = 20/3 = 6.667ms 6.667ms

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 Calculations

Synchronous speed

fS = supply frequency
required
RPM
p = pole pairs

Induced EMF
Volts per
phase

Φ = flux per pole set by

rotor current
z = conductor in series per
phase

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 Operation as a Synchronous Generator

Generated EMF relationship

Open circuit
The open circuit EMF generated depends stator saturation
upon EMF

• Rotor speed

• Rotor current

Relationship between open circuit stator

EMF and rotor current is a straight line linear
until the steel begins to saturate when it
becomes non-linear. Rotor current

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 Operation as a Synchronous Motor

Two pole cylindrical rotor example

NS
A’
• Stator field rotates at 3000rpm from 50Hz
supply
B NR
• Rotor field must be locked on to stator
field speed
• Motor runs a synchronous speed whatever N S
the mechanical load provided rotor field is
strong enough
C’
B’
NR = NS
• This is impossible within an induction A
motor as there wound be no induced
currents to cause rotation

• This motor runs at synchronous speed

hence the name – SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

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 Operation as a Synchronous Motor

Two pole cylindrical rotor example

• Stator field rotates at 3000rpm from 50Hz

supply

• Rotor field must be locked on to stator

field speed
• Motor runs a synchronous speed whatever
the mechanical load provided rotor field is
Rotor Speed
strong enough (NR)

NR = NS
NS
• This is impossible within an induction
motor as there wound be no induced
currents to cause rotation

• This motor runs at synchronous speed Load Torque

hence the name – SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

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 Operation as a Synchronous Motor

The V-curve

The rotor current can be

adjusted to vary the power
factor of the stator

Unity power factor is achieved

when stator current is at its
minimum

This machine can be used to

correct power factor of
induction motors when
connected in parallel

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 Synchronous Motor
Starting: If 3-phase supply is given to armature, a rotating
magnetic field is produced.
The speed of this rotating field is synchronous
R speed, Ns=120f/P.
δ
The stator produces a two pole field,
N which is rotating in clockwise direction.
If field winding is excited, poles are
created on rotor as shown.
+
-

B S Y
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 Synchronous Motor
Starting: If 3-phase supply is given to armature, a rotating
magnetic field is produced.
The speed of this rotating field is synchronous
R speed, Ns=120f/P.
δ
The stator produces a two pole field,
N which is rotating in clockwise direction.
If field winding is excited, poles are
N created on rotor as shown.
+
The angle between stator and rotor field
- axes is δ, torque angle
S
T=(P/ω)
B S Y The torque is proportional to sinδ.
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 Synchronous Motor
Starting: The torque varies sinusoidally with time, it
reverses during each half cycle.
Te
R
δ
N
N
+
Therefore, the average torque over
- a complete cycle is ZERO.
S
Hence, syn motor, on its own, has
B S Y NO NET starting torque. 30
 SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE
SUMMARY
• SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR RATINGS
• One major difference is that a large EA gives a
leading PF, instead of lagging in syn. Gen.

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