Generatorfundamentals1 140301183820 Phpapp02

 GE Power Systems
Generator Fundamentals
and the
Theory of Magnetism
Revision Date: 02/10/2000 Property of Power Systems University- Proprietary Information for Training Purposes Only!
Ampere’s Law expresses that whenever there is

an electric current of any kind, a magnetic field
is created and lines of flux encircle the current.
Magnetic field or flux established by current

flowing through a coil or wire, obey the Right
Hand Rule.
If the thumb of the right hand is pointed in the

direction of current flow, the finger will curl in the
direction of the magnetic flux.
What is the direction of the magnetic field around

the wire?
The concept of magnetomotive force, or MMF is

central to understanding the operation of a
generator.
MMF can be thought of as the strength of the

magnet.
What determines the strength of MMF of a

magnet?
The number of coil turns (N)

and
The magnitude of current (I)
The point at which lines of flux leave the

magnet is called the North Pole.
The point at which lines of flux enter the

magnet is called the South Pole.
Revision Date: 02/10/2000 TB1-03 Property of Power Systems University- Proprietary Information for Training Purposes Only!
Indicates that current is flowing into the page
Indicates that current is flowing out of the page
Draw the magnetic lines of flux.

Indicates that current is flowing into the page
Indicates that current is flowing out of the page

Where is the North Pole located?

S
N
What happens if you increase

current?
S
Revision Date: 02/10/2000 TB1-03

N Property of Power Systems University- Proprietary Information for Training Purposes Only!
The magnetic field that is produced around a

magnet causes a certain amount of flux to exist
around the same path.
The amount of flux is dependent upon the

magnetic field strength and the permeability of
the material through which the flux passes.
In the generator, flux interactions occur in the

armature windings located in the stationary part
of the machine (stator).
This voltage is referred to as generated or

terminal voltage.
Maximum generated voltage occurs when the

rotating magnetic field cuts at a 90 o angle.
Label the parts of the generator.
Stator
Stator
Where is the stator?
Stator
Rotor
Stator
Where is the rotor?
Stator
Rotor
Stator
What is the space called between

the rotor and the stator?
Stator
Rotor
Stator
Air Gap

Why did the flux go into the stator?

Because the stator is made of iron, it has

less resistance than air.
What happens to the flux as the rotor

turns?
The flux will rotate with the rotor and

still pass through the stator.
What would happen if the flux inside the

core became to large?
The core would eventually saturate and magnetic

lines of flux would go outside the stator core. The
flux outside of the core will induce a voltage into the
stator frame thus creating a current.
N
S
The current will cause excessive heating that will

eventually damage the generator!
N
S
Generating Electricity
For Generator Action (Voltage) to occur,

three conditions are required to be met to
induce a voltage:
Conductor
Magnetic Field
Relative Motion
• The Conductor is a length

of wire wrapped around the
metal ring.
The Magnetic Field is
produced by a battery and
connected to a rotating metal
bar.
• As DC flows through the

metal bar, a magnetic field is
formed creating a magnet.
• The magnet has a North and
South Pole.
• Rotating the magnet so

that the field cuts the
conductor causes relative
motion between the
conductor and the field.
• Each time a Pole cuts the
conductor, a voltage is
induced.
• Assumption: Every time the

North Pole passes by the
conductor, a maximum
positive (+) voltage is
induced into the conductor.
Operation of a Simple Generator
• DC is applied to the
generator rotor from an
external source through
slip rings and carbon
brushes.
• Slip Rings are made

from copper, brass or
steel and are insulated
from the generator
shaft.
• Larger generators will

use steel slip rings to
compensate for large
amounts of heat that
can be generated.
• Steel slip rings will
have a groove cut into
the face for cooling and
for proper bush wear.
• Smaller machines will

use copper or brass
because they are lighter
and there is not as much
heat.

• Brushes are made of a
carbon composite.
• Carbon is chosen
because it is an
excellent conductor,
cheaper to manufacture,
and easier to work with.

• Current to the rotor is
supplied by a DC power
source. This current is
called Excitation
Current.
• This current flows
through the brushes, slip
rings, closed loop, and
back to the source.
What is the stationary

components of the generator
Stator
called? __________________
What is the rotating portion
Rotor
called? __________________
What makes the electrical contact
between the excitation supply and
Slip Rings and Brushes
the rotor? _________________
Excitation supply provides what
DC
type of current? ______________
The armature is the part of the generator

where Current
________________________
and Voltage are induced .
Slip Rings are made of what?

Steel, Copper, or Brass
______________________
Groove
Slip Rings may have a ________
that is used for what?
Cooling and Equal Current Distribution
___________________________
A North Pole will always produce a
Max Positive (+)
_____________________ ?
Revision Date: 02/10/2000 TB1-05.1 Property of Power Systems University- Proprietary Information for Training Purposes Only!
Generator Frequency
There are two factors that will determine frequency:
Speed of the Rotor

Number of Rotor Poles
Generator Frequency
Frequency = NP /120
where
N = rotor speed in rpm
P = number of rotor poles
Draw the AC Waveform

Induced Voltage
Draw the AC Waveform
Three Phase AC Generation
• The simple generator is

only a single-phase
generator because it only
has one set of windings in
the stator.
• Most power generators
have 3 sets of windings that
produce 3 distinct outputs
that are 120o apart.
• Each winding or phase is

actually several windings
connected in series.
• Windings connected in
series increase the voltage
in each phase. This is
desirable to limit the
strength of the excitation
current.
• The same assumptions

apply for the 3-phase
generator that applied to
the single-phase
generator: “A North
Pole under the winding
will produce a
maximum Positive (+)
voltage”.
Most generators are connected in “WYE or

Star”.
In the WYE connection, the three neutral

connections are connected together and the three
line terminals are connected to the system.
This connection can be used to detect ground faults within

the armature windings of the generator.
3-Phase AC Systems
• The equipment used in 3-phase systems has

many advantages over that employed in single-
phase service.
3-Phase AC Systems
• Advantages include:
• reduced size,
• increased reliability of transmission, and
• reduced cost because of machinery size and less
conductors.
Types of Power
The output capacity of a generator is expressed in

MVA, or Mega-Volt-Amperes.
Types of Power
However, the power systems engineer defines 3 types

of power: Real Power, Reactive Power, and Apparent
Power.
Real Power
The consumption of real power is associated with

circuit resistance.
Real Power
The primary characteristic of a resistor is that

when a current and voltage are present, energy is
lost is the form of heat.
Reactive Power
Reactive power is the power that is consumed by

reactive elements within a circuit.
These elements are ideally inductors and capacitors.
Reactive power is expressed as VARS.
Reactive power can be thought of as the amount

of power that is required to make magnetic
fields.
A distribution system, has both reactive and resistive

components.
The resultant power produced by the station is called

Apparent Power.
The Power Triangle
Aspects of AC Quantities
In AC circuits operating under steady state conditions,

all of the currents and voltages vary at the same
frequency; however the voltages and currents are
normally out of phase.
Phase Relationships
Lagging
Voltage leads Current
Found in Inductive Systems
Phase Relationships
Unity
Voltage and Current are in phase
Found in Purely Resistive Systems
Phase Relationships
Leading
Current leads Voltage
Found in Capacitive Systems

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 GE Power Systems

Ampere’s Law expresses that whenever there is

Magnetic field or flux established by current

If the thumb of the right hand is pointed in the

What is the direction of the magnetic field around

The concept of magnetomotive force, or MMF is

MMF can be thought of as the strength of the

What determines the strength of MMF of a

The number of coil turns (N)

The point at which lines of flux leave the

The point at which lines of flux enter the

Indicates that current is flowing into the page

Indicates that current is flowing out of the page

Draw the magnetic lines of flux.

Indicates that current is flowing into the page

Indicates that current is flowing out of the page

Draw the magnetic lines of flux.

Where is the North Pole located?

What happens if you increase

Revision Date: 02/10/2000 TB1-03

The magnetic field that is produced around a

The amount of flux is dependent upon the

In the generator, flux interactions occur in the

This voltage is referred to as generated or

Maximum generated voltage occurs when the

Label the parts of the generator.

Where is the stator?

Where is the rotor?

What is the space called between

Draw the magnetic lines of flux.

Why did the flux go into the stator?

Because the stator is made of iron, it has

What happens to the flux as the rotor

The flux will rotate with the rotor and

What would happen if the flux inside the

The core would eventually saturate and magnetic

The current will cause excessive heating that will

For Generator Action (Voltage) to occur,

• The Conductor is a length

• As DC flows through the

• Rotating the magnet so

• Assumption: Every time the

Operation of a Simple Generator

Operation of a Simple Generator

• Slip Rings are made

Operation of a Simple Generator

• Larger generators will

Operation of a Simple Generator

• Smaller machines will

Operation of a Simple Generator

Operation of a Simple Generator

Operation of a Simple Generator

What is the stationary

Operation of a Simple Generator

The armature is the part of the generator

Slip Rings are made of what?

There are two factors that will determine frequency:

Speed of the Rotor