GABRIEL GRECO – A00201829

WINTER 2021
Synchronous Generators
This document will serve as a template for submitting your assignment for course credit.

Only hard copy will be accepted for course credit, e-mailed assignments are not accepted. Remember
that No name = No grade

Remember that grading is based on how thorough an answer was provided and its relevance to the
question.

Direct copying from the textbooks is to be avoided, explain in your own words. Remember that anything
used from a textbook or online source needs to be cited properly. A citation should not be more than 15 %
of the answer. Unless otherwise directed, answers that are a result of an internet search will not be
accepted, the questions and the answers are based on information found in the course reference
material.

These questions are based on material found in the following Textbooks:

Chapters 16 of the Electrical Machines, Drives and Power Systems textbook, 6 th edition

Unit 32 of Delmar’s standard textbook of electricity, 6th edition

All answers are to be in the form of complete sentences. Work is due March 19th, 2021.
The assignment will be submitted in hard copy, either in person or dropped off at Mr.
Levesque’s office in Room 1813.

Synchronous generators

1. What are the advantages of using a stationary armature in large synchronous generators
as compared to using a revolving armature generator?

A revolving-field synchronous generator has a stationary armature which is directly

4 points/

2. Why is it a standard practice to connect the stator of a generator in a Wye configuration?

Using a wye connection reduces the phase voltage to 58% of the voltage between lines,
which allows for a reduction in the amount of insulation in the slots. This enables an
increase in the cross section of the conductors, which permits an increase in current,
thereby increasing the power output of the machine. A wye connection is also preferred
because the line-to-neutral harmonics cancel each other out, whereas in a delta
configuration the harmonics add, leading to a third-harmonic circulating current which
increases I2R losses.

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Synchronous Generators
4 points/

3. State the main physical differences between steam-turbine generators and salient–pole
generators.

Salient-pole rotors require a large number of poles on the rotor in order to produce the
proper frequency at low speeds. Squirrel-cage windings are sometimes embedded in the
pole faces to dampen oscillations of the rotor due to variations in load. Low-speed rotors
have a large diameter to provide space for the poles. Cylindrical rotors are small and more
efficient than salient-pole rotors, and are often used in high speed applications.

3 points/

4. In reference to the previous question, for a given power output, which of these machines
will be physically larger?

The salient-pole generator will be physically larger than the steam-turbine generator.

1 point/

5. In analyzing a hydropower site, it is found that the turbines should turn at close to 350
r/min. If the directly coupled generators must generate a North American frequency of 60
Hz, calculate the following:
a) The number of poles on the rotor

120∗60
P=
350
P=20.57
The rotor requires 20 poles in order to turn at a speed of 350RPM at 60Hz.

b) The exact turbine speed

N= 120*60/20

N=360RPM

4 points/

6. An isolated three phase generator produces a no-load line voltage of 13.2 KV. If a load
having a lagging power factor of 0.8 is connected to the machine, must the excitation be
increased or decreased in order to maintain the same line voltage?

A lagging power factor denotes that the load is inductive and will decrease the no-load line
voltage by a certain amount. In order to maintain the value of line voltage the excitation
current must be increased.

2 points/

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Synchronous Generators
7. List all of the conditions that must be met before a generator producing three-phase
alternating current can be connected to a three-phase network?
i) The generator frequency is equal to the system frequency.
ii) The generator voltage is equal to the system voltage.
iii) The generator voltage is in phase with the system voltage.
iv) The phase sequence of the generator is the same as that of the system.

4 points/

8. Calculate the number of poles on the aircraft generator shown in figure 16.11 of the Wildi
textbook.

P=120∗400/12000
P=4
A generator revolving at 12000RPM at a frequency of 400 contains 4 poles.

2 points/

9. Calculate the number of poles on the generator in Figure 16.12 of the Wildi textbook
using the information given in the article.

P=120∗110 /1100
P=12
A generator rotating at a speed of 1100RPM at a frequency of 110Hz contains 12 poles.

2 points/

10. A three phase generator turning at 1200 r/min generates a no-load voltage of 9kv, 60
Hz. How will the terminal voltage be affected if the following loads are connected to its
terminals?

Resistive load: The current will be in phase with the terminal voltage; however, the voltage
will be 90° ahead of the current which will cause the terminal voltage to decrease.

Inductive load: An inductive load will lag the terminal voltage by 90°thus creating a drop in
terminal voltage.

Capacitive load: An inductive load will lead the terminal voltage by 90° thus increasing the
terminal voltage.

2 points per answer – Total 6 points/

11. Because the synchronous motor and generator are almost identical in their construction,
what role does the amortisseur/damper winding play when a generator is operating and
producing electricity? Explain this in your own words, no copying from the textbook!

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The rotor of a synchronous motor contains a set of squirrel-cage bars known as
armortisseur windings. When power is connected to the stator a magnetic field develops and
cuts the armortisseur windings and induces a voltage into the armortisseur winding. Current
flow through the armortisseur winding creates a rotating magnetic field that is attracted to
the magnetic field of the stator. When the rotor speed is close to synchronous of the field,
DC is applied to the rotor and the windings of the rotor become electromagnets. The
magnetic field of the rotor will then lock with the magnetic field of the stator. Once the rotor
turns at synchronous speed with the field there will be no more cutting action between the
stator and the armortisseur windings, causing current in the damper to cease flow. The
armortisseur windings allow the motor/generator to start as a squirrel-cage induction motor,
and provide high starting resistance, which creates good starting torque and low starting
current.

5 points/

12. Unit 32, paragraph 32-8 of the Delmar textbook, states that when a group of AC
alternators are running in parallel as part of a network, the new alternator that was
added to the system, must increase its power in order to transmit energy.

In your own words, please explain what the author is inferring when he uses the term
“power”. The answer lies in the Wildi textbook, Chapter 16 but will require some reading
to comprehend.

When a generator is synced to the infinite bus the induced voltage will be equal to and in
phase with the terminal voltage. Consequently, there will be no potential difference across
the synchronous reactance and no load current. By varying the excitation current the
synchronous reactance will develop a potential difference and will either lag or lead the
terminal voltage by 90°. The terminal voltage and induced voltage will still have the same
values; however, the phase angle produces a difference of potential across the synchronous
reactance and allows load current to flow. Hence, when two equal voltages are out of phase
there will be a potential difference between then terminal voltage and the induced voltage.
When the output current is almost in phase with the terminal voltage the generator will feed
active power into the infinite bus, and when current leads the terminal voltage the generator
will draw reactive power from the infinite bus. The reactive power drawn by the generator is
used to produce part of the magnetic field of the generator while the remainder is supplied
by the excitation current.

5 points/

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