AC Machines

Lecture 9: Voltage Regulation

Mr. Melat Khalil

Email: [email protected]
 Introduction

• The voltage regulation of an alternator is defined as the change in terminal

voltage from no-load to full-load (the speed and field excitation being
constant) divided by full-load voltage.
No−load voltage − Full−load voltage
voltage regulatio% = × 100
Full−load voltage
𝐸𝑜 − 𝑉
= × 100
𝑉
• With the change in load, there is a change in terminal voltage of the
alternator. The magnitude of this change depends on both the load and the
load power factor.
 Introduction
• The effects of different load power factors on the change in the terminal voltage with changes
of load on the alternator are shown below.
• The voltage regulation is positive both at unit and lagging
p.f. because this causes rise in terminal voltage when the
load is removed. However, in case of leading p.f. the
terminal voltage may fall when the load is thrown off.
Therefore, at leading p.f. voltage regulation may be
negative.

• The factors affecting the voltage regulation of an

alternator are:
1. 𝐼𝑎𝑅𝑎 drop in armature winding
2. 𝐼𝑎𝑋𝐿 drop in armature winding
3. Voltage change due to armature reaction
 Determination of voltage regulation
• To determine the voltage regulation of smooth cylindrical rotor type
alternators, the following methods may be used:
• 1. Direct load test
• 2. Indirect Method

1.Direct load test: it is performed only on small alternators (say 5 kVA). In

this case, the alternator is run at synchronous speed with the help of a prime-
moves and its terminal voltage is adjusted to its rated value V and the load is
varied until the ammeter and wattmeter indicate the rated values at given
power factor. Then the load is removed keeping the speed and field excitation
constant. At open circuit i.e., at no-load, the terminal voltage 𝐸𝑜 is recorded.
Then voltage regulation is determined
 Determination of voltage regulation
2. Indirect method: For large size alternator, indirect methods are used to
determine voltage regulation. These methods are:
i. Synchronous impedance method or EMF method
ii.Ampere-turn method or MMF method
iii.Zero power factor method or Potier method.

• For either method, the following data are required:

i. Armature resistance
ii.Open-circuit characteristic (O.C.C.)
iii.Short-Circuit characteristic (S.C.C.)
 Armature resistance

• The armature resistance 𝑅𝑎 per phase is determined by using direct current

and the voltmeter-ammeter method. This is the DC value. The effective
armature resistance (AC resistance) is greater than this value due to skin
effect.
• It is a usual practice to take the effective resistance 1.5 times the DC value
(𝑅𝑎 = 1.5 𝑅𝑑𝑐 ).
 Open-circuit characteristic (O.C.C.)
• Like the magnetization curve for a DC machine, the Open-circuit
characteristic of an alternator is the curve between armature terminal voltage
(phase value) on open circuit and the field current when the alternator is
running at rated speed.
• The field current 𝐼𝑓 is gradually increased from zero (by adjusting field
rheostat) until open-circuit voltage 𝐸0 (phase value) is about 50% greater than
the rated phase voltage.
 Short-circuit characteristic (S.C.C.)
• In a short-circuit test, the alternator is run at rated speed and the armature
terminals are short-circuited through identical ammeters.
• The field current 𝐼𝑓 is gradually increased from zero until the short-circuit
armature current 𝐼𝑆𝐶 is about twice the rated current. The graph between short-
circuit armature current and field current gives the short-circuit characteristic
(S.C.C.).
 Synchronous impedance method or EMF
method
• In this method of finding the voltage regulation of an alternator, it is need the EMF
quantities of all the armature parameters (armature resistance, Armature leakage
reactance, armature reaction).
• Using the following simple procedure to obtain the voltage regulation.
1. Plot the OCC and SCC curve in a graph.
2. For the rated full load
current (𝐼𝑠𝑐 ) of alternator
[which is to be found from
the rating of alternator],
draw a line that cuts the
SCC curve, from that draw
a vertical line towards the
x-axis and find the field
current(𝐼𝑓 ).
 Synchronous impedance method or EMF method

3. For that field current, extend the line so that it cuts the OCC curve and
find the open circuit voltage 𝐸𝑜𝑐 volts (phase value).
4. From the open circuit voltage 𝐸𝑜𝑐 volts and short circuit current 𝐼𝑠𝑐, the
value of 𝑍𝑆 can be calculated using
𝐸𝑜𝑐
𝑍𝑠 =
𝐼𝑠𝑐
5. Then, the value of 𝑋𝑠 using
the formula,
𝑍𝑠 = 𝑅𝑎2 + 𝑋𝑠 2
 Synchronous impedance method or EMF method
6. Now, from the phasor diagram the following formulas can be used to
obtain the value for 𝐸𝑝ℎ
For Lagging Power factor,

For Leading Power factor,

7. Finally the voltage regulation of alternator can be determined from the

formula,
 Example
A 1200 KVA, 3300 V, 50 Hz, 3-phase, star-connected alternator has a armature resistance of 0.25 Ω
per phase. A field current of 40 A produces a short-circuit current of 200 A and an open circuit emf of
1100 V line to line. Calculate the voltage regulation on, (a) full-loud, 0.8 p.f. lagging;
(b) full-loud, 0.8 p.f. leading
Solution:
1200×103
F.L. output current, 𝐼𝑎 = = 210 A
3 × 3300

Terminal voltage/phase, 𝑉 = 3300/ 3 = 1905 V

O.C. voltage/phase
Synchronous impedance, 𝑍𝑠 = S.C. current/phase = 1100/ 3
= 3.17Ω
200
Synchronous impedance, 𝑋𝑠 = 𝑍𝑠 2 − 𝑅𝑎2 = 3.172 − 0.252 = 3.16Ω
(a) @ 0.8 p.f. lagging
From the phasor diagram, we have,

𝐸𝑜 = (𝑉 cos 𝜙 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 )2 +(𝑉 sin 𝜙 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑠 )2

cos 𝜙 = 0.8 and sin 𝜙 = 0.6
𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 = 210 × 0.25 = 52.5 V and 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑠 = 210 × 3.16 = 663.6 V

𝐸𝑜 = (1905 × 0.8 + 52.5)2 +(1905 × 0.6 + 663.6)2 = 2398 Volt/phase

𝐸𝑜 − 𝑉
voltage regulatio% = × 100
𝑉
2398 − 1905
voltage regulatio = × 100 = 25.9%
1905
(b) @ 0.8 p.f. leading
From the phasor diagram, we have,

𝐸𝑜 = (𝑉 cos 𝜙 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 )2 +(𝑉 sin 𝜙 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑠 )2

𝐸𝑜 = (1905 × 0.8 + 52.5)2 +(1905 × 0.6 − 663.6)2 = 1647 Volt/phase

𝐸𝑜 − 𝑉
voltage regulatio% = × 100
𝑉
1647 − 1905
voltage regulatio = × 100 = −13.54%
1905
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
• The ampere-turn /MMF method is the converse of the EMF method in the sense that
instead of having the phasor addition of various voltage drops/EMFs, here the phasor
addition of MMF due to field ampere-turns ( i.e., the product of field current and
number of turns in field winding ) required for the voltage drops are carried out.
Further the effect of saturation is also taken care of.
• The terminal voltage produced by field MMF of the alternator is the vector sum of
the following,
1. The MMF necessary to induce rated terminal voltage by the field ampere-turns
on no-load. This can be obtained by performing the open-circuit test on the
alternator.
2. The MMF produced by field ampere-turns has to overcome the demagnetizing
effect of armature reaction and impedance drop to produce full-load current
when the alternator is loaded. This value is obtained by a short-circuit test.
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method

• Similar to EMF or synchronous impedance method, the MMF method also utilizes
data obtained from O.C.C. and S.C.C. tests.
• In this method, when the alternator is loaded change in terminal voltage due to
armature leakage reactance is replaced by the additional armature reaction MMF,
and combined with the existing armature reaction MMF. So that the entire drop in
the alternator is due to armature reaction MMF.
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
• To determination of Voltage regulation for Leading Power factor using
ampere-turn (MMF) method;
1.Plot the OCC and SCC curve in the same graph.
2.Find the value of induced emf with the resistance drop using the
following formula, if resistance is given,

3. For the rated voltage (𝐸𝑜𝑝ℎ), draw a line that

cuts the OCC curve, from that, draw a vertical
line and find the field current 𝐼𝑓1 and mark it as
A. [If the resistance is not given, neglect it and
hence for the rated voltage 𝑉𝑝ℎ, find the
corresponding field current 𝐼𝑓1].
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
4. Find the field current 𝐼𝑓2, that is responsible to circulate the full load
short circuit current (𝐼𝑠𝑐 ) by balancing the armature reaction. This is
obtained by drawing a line for full load short circuit current.
5.For Leading power factor, a line AC at an angle (90° – 𝜙) representing
𝐼𝑓2, is drawn.
6.Join OC, which is the resultant Field current (𝐼𝑓)
that is responsible for generating rated voltage
with the drops.
7.Now, in order to find the corresponding voltage,
with O as center and OC as radius, draw an arc
that cuts the x-axis at point D.
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
8. From this point D, draw a vertical line which cuts the OCC curve, from
that draw a horizontal line to y-axis and find the no load voltage (𝐸𝑝ℎ).
9. Finally the voltage regulation o alternator by mmf method can be
determined from the formula,
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
10.For Lagging power factor, current lags the voltage, so considering AB
as voltage phasor, draw the current phasor such that it lags the voltage by
Φ (the angle between this current phasor and x-axis is 90-Φ in clockwise
direction).
11.Join OC, which is the resultant field current (𝐼𝑓) that is responsible for
generating rated voltage with the drops.
 Ampere-Turn Method or MMF Method
11.For Unity power factor, repeat the same procedure but for a small
change. Here current is in phase with voltage, so considering AB as
voltage phasor, draw the current phasor such that it is in phase with the
voltage, and mark the point as C and continue with the same steps to
determine the voltage regulation.
 Example

A 3-phase, star-connected, 1000 kVA, 2000 V, 50 Hz alternator gave the following open-circuit
and short-circuit test readings :

Field current (A) 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

O.C. voltage (V) 800 1143 1500 1760 2000 2173 2350 2476 2600
S.C. armature current (A) 200 250 300

The armature effective resistance per phase is 0.2Ω. Draw the characteristic curves and determine
the full-load percentage regulation at a load p.f. of (1) 0.8 lagging, and (2) 0.8 leading.
 Solution:
The O.C.C and S.C.C. are shown in figure below
with the phase voltage as shown below
The open circuit phase voltage in volt are

800Τ 3 462 2173Τ 3 1255

1143Τ 3 660 2350Τ 3 1357

1500Τ 3 866 2476Τ 3 1430

1760Τ 3 1016 2600Τ 3 1501

2000Τ 3 1155
 1000×103
F.L. output current, 𝐼𝑎 = = 288.68 A
3 ×2000

Terminal voltage/phase, 𝑉 = 2000/ 3 = 1155 V

𝐸𝑜𝑝ℎ = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 cos(𝜙)
𝐸𝑜𝑝ℎ = 1155 + 288.68 × 0.2 × 0.8 = 1201.7 V
(1) @ 0.8 p.f. lagging
From the OCC, the field current required to produce the voltage of 1201.7 V is 32 A.
Therefore OA =𝐼𝑓1 = 32 A.

From the S.C.C., the field current required to produce full-load

current of 288.7A is 29 A. which represented by a phasor AB
drawn at angle (𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.8 = 36.8° ) to the right of the vertical
line AC. Then the total field current is OB. B

C 29

90° – 36.8° =53.2°

O 32 A
Total field current, OB = (32)2 +(29)2 +2 × 32 × 29 × cos(53.2°) = 54.18 A
From the OCC, the open circuit phase voltage corresponding to the field current of 54.18 A is
1555 V.
1555 − 1155
voltage regulatio = × 100 = 34.63%
1155 B
(2) @ 0.8 p.f. leading
29
For leading p.f. load the phasor AB which represented the field current C
required to produce full-load current (29 A), is drawn at angle (36.8° ) to

36.8°
the left of the vertical line AC. Then the total field current is OB.
90° – 36.8° =53.2°
Total field current, OB = (32)2 +(29)2 −2 × 32 × 29 × cos(53.2°)
O 32 A
OB = 27.5 A

From the OCC, the open circuit phase voltage corresponding to the field current of 27.5 A is
1120 V.
1120 − 1155
voltage regulatio = × 100 = −3.03%
1155
 Zero Power Factor or Potier Method
• The regulation obtained by synchronous impedance (emf) method and ampere-turn
(mmf) method is based on the total synchronous reactance i.e., (the sum of
reactance due to armature leakage flux and due to armature reaction effect). This
introduces error due to vectorial addition of magnetic fluxes.
• Zero power factor method is based on the separation of reactances due to leakage
flux and that due to armature reaction flux, therefore, it gives more accurate results.

• For determining voltage regulation by this method, the following data is required:
1.Effective resistance of armature winding
2.Open-circuit characteristic (OCC)
3.Field current to circulate full-load current in the stator
4.Zero-power factor full-load voltage characteristic—a curve plotted between
terminal voltage and field current while the machine is being running on
synchronous speed and delivering full-load current at zero power factor
 Zero power factor characteristic
• The curve of zero power factor characteristic can be obtained by taking various steps
as explained below:
1. The machine is rotated at rated synchronous speed by a prime-mover.
2. A pure inductive load (variable load) is connected across the armature terminals
and the excitation or field current of the alternator is raised so as to cause flow of
full-load armature current.
Usually, the alternator is loaded by an under-excited synchronous motor while
plotting zero pf full-load curve.
3. The value of the reactance is then increased step by step in such a way that the
excitation current is adjusted to a value that causes full-load rated armature
current to flow. In the process, the armature terminal-voltages are varied from
125 % to 25 % of the rated voltage in steps, maintaining the speed and rated
armature current constant throughout the test.
 Zero power factor characteristic
• Zero power factor full-load voltage-excitation characteristic can be drawn by knowing two
points A and B. Point A is obtained from a
short-circuit test with full-load armature current.
Hence OA represents excitation (field current)
required to overcome demagnetizing effect of
armature reaction and to balance leakage
reactance drop at full load. Point B is obtained
when full load current flows through the armature
but wattmeter reads zero.
• From point B, line BC is drawn equal and parallel to
AO. Then a line is drawn through C parallel to initial
straight part of OCC (parallel to extended OG),
intersecting the OCC at D. BD is joined and a
perpendicular DF is dropped on BC. The triangle BFD
is imposed at various points of OCC to obtain
corresponding points on the zero factor curve.
 Zero power factor characteristic

• In triangle BDF the length BF represents armature reaction excitation and the
length DF represents leakage reactance drop (𝐼 𝑋𝐿)*.
• This is known as Potier reactance voltage drop and
the triangle is known as Potier triangle. The Potier
reactance is given, as
 Potier Regulation Diagram
• To determine voltage regulation, Potier regulation diagram is drawn as follows:
1. OV is drawn horizontally to represent terminal voltage, V on full load and OI is
drawn to represent full load current at a given power factor. (say lagging).
2. Draw VE perpendicular to phasor OI and equal to reactance drop (𝐼𝑋𝐿),
neglecting resistance drop.
3. Join OE, where OE represents
generated emf E.
4. From OCC find field excitation 𝐼𝑓1,
corresponding to generated emf E.
5. Draw oa = 𝐼𝑓1 perpendicular to phasor
OE to represent excitation required to
induce emf OE on open circuit.
 Potier Regulation Diagram
7. Draw ab = 𝐼𝑓2 parallel to load current phasor OI to represent excitation equivalent to
full-load armature reaction.
8. Join ob = 𝐼𝑓 which gives total excitation required. If the load is thrown off, then
terminal voltage will be equal to generated emf corresponding to field excitation
ob = 𝐼𝑓 . Hence, emf 𝐸𝑜 may be determined from OCC corresponding to field excitation
ob = 𝐼𝑓 . Where,the phasor 𝐸𝑜 will lag behind phasor ob by 90°. Here, 𝐸𝐸𝑜 represents
voltage drop due to
armature reaction. Now regulation can
be obtained from the relation.
Example
23
A