SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE TRAINER

OPERATING MANUAL

ENERGY LAB-I
DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING
TERI SAS
Introduction
With the development of the technology and the way in which human labor is getting minimized and the
comforts increasing tremendously the use of electrical energy is ever increasing. Basically, electric power is the
main source of energy for carrying out many functions, as it is a clean and efficient energy source, which can
be easily transmitted over long distances. With the availability of Transformer for changing the voltage levels to
a very high value (of say 132kV to 400kV) the use of AC power has increased rapidly and the DC power is
used only at remote places where AC power cannot be supplied through power lines or cables or for a few
social purposes.

A synchronous generator is an electrical machine producing alternating emf (Electromotive force or voltage) of
constant frequency. In our country the standard commercial frequency of AC supply is 50 Hz. In U.S.A. and a
few other countries, the frequency is 60 Hz. The AC voltages generated may be single phase or 3-phase
depending on the power supplied. For low power applications single phase generators are preferable.
The basic principles involved in the production of emf and the constructional details of the generators are
discussed below.

Elementary AC. Generators

The generators require a prime mover that imparts linear or reciprocating motion to the conductor. Most of the
commercial prime movers provide rotary motion in the commercial generators. The conductors of most
commercial generators are rotated about a central axis of a shaft. The conductors are housed in slots cut in a
cylindrical structure (made of magnetic material) known as the armature. The armature is supported at both
ends by means of bearings attached to the shaft that goes through the center of the armature. The armature is
rotated inside the field structure by providing a small gap between these two members. This gap is known as
the air gap and is usually of the order of 1 to 1.5 CMS. If the air gap is maintained constant throughout the
spread of the pole arc, we have a fairly constant flux density under it in a plane perpendicular to the plane of
the conductor’s motion. i.e., in a radial direction respect to the field and armature structure. Since the emf is
also proportional to B, the flux density in the air gap of AC generators is arranged to be distributed as closely to
a sine wave as possible by suitable shaping (chamfering as it is technically known) of the pole shoe.

Since the relative motion between the conductors and the magnetic flux lines is responsible for the production
of emf, it is immaterial whether the conductors are rotated or the magnetic flux producing poles are rotated. In
most of the alternators it is the field that is rotated rather than the conductors. In an alternator the external
connection to the load can be taken directly from the conductors since there is no need for any rectification as
in a DC generator. In a DC generator the rectification of the emf is achieved through a mechanical rectifier—-
the commutator and brush arrangement. Moreover, the load current supplied by the alternator can be easily
supplied from stationary coils without any difficulty as there will be no sparking and wear and tear of the
brushes and slip rings. Where as the low values of D.C excitation current to the field coils can be easily sent
through the slip rings and brush arrangement.

Thus, the usual arrangement in an elementary synchronous generator is as shown in Fig. 6. The conductors
are housed in slots cut in the armature structure. Only a single coil of N turns, indicated in its cross-section by
the two coil sides a and -a placed in diametrically opposite slots on the inner periphery of the stator (i.e. the
armature, as it is a stationary member here) is shown in Fig. 6.

The conductors forming these coil sides are parallel to the shaft of the machine and are connected in series by
end connections (not shown in the figure). The coils are actually formed by taking a continuous copper wire of
suitable cross section round a diamond shaped bobbin. The completed coil is shown in Fig. 7. The copper wire
is usually of fine linen covered, cotton covered or enamel covered so as to have sufficient insulation between
the conductors of the same coil. The actual layout and interconnection of various coils so as to obtain the
required voltage from the synchronous machine (alternator) is presented in the following section.
 Experiment 1

Aim
i) To understand the principle of operation of synchronous generator
ii) Find out its regulation using direct loading method

Apparatus Required

S.No Equipments Specification Quantity

1 DC Shunt Motor and Motor 1HP 1
Alternator coupled to each Alternator 1KW
other
2. Rheostat 270 ohm 1.2A 2
3. Ammeter DC 2A 1
4. Ammeter AC 5A 1
5. Voltmeter AC 300V 1
500V 1

Theory
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

It is- essential to include the following equipment/instruments of proper type and range, to serve the function
indicated against each.

1. DC motor - used as a prime-mover for the alternator i.e. coupled with the alternator.

2. Rheostat, R1 -used as a variable resistance and connected in the field circuit of dc motor to obtain and
maintain the speed of the motor and hence the alternator at its rated value.

3. Rheostat, R2 - connected in field circuit of alternator as a variable resistance to vary the field current of
alternator.
4. Ammeter, A1 - connected in the field circuit of alternator to measure the field current

5. Voltmeter - connected across a stator phase to measurement open circuit voltage.

6. Ammeter, A2 - to measure the current of alternator.

PROCEDURE

1. Connect the circuit as per figure

2. Adjust the position of rheostat, R1 for maximum possible current in the field circuit of dc motor, to ensure (i)
low starting speed (ii) high starting torque.

3. Set the position of rheostat, R2 for minimum current in the field circuit of alternator, to ensure low value of
generated emf at starting.

4. Switch on the dc mains, feeding the dc motor and the field circuit of alternator through MCB given there.

5. Start the dc motor, using the starter properly. Various resistance steps of the starter should be cut out slowly,
so that the motor does not draw high current during starting.

6. Set the speed of the motor and hence the alternator at its rated value by varying rheostat, R1 provided in the
field circuit of the motor.

7. Note-down the open circuit voltage of the alternator.

8. Repeat step 7 for various values of field current (can be obtained by varying the rheostat, R2 provided in the
field circuit of alternator). Observations should be continued, till the open circuit voltage is 360V phase to phase

9. Set the position of rheostat, R2.

10. Now again put a balance three phase load on the alternator output. Open circuit voltage to a Value of 360V
and the put the load on the armature using load.

15 The Armature terminal voltage is E before pressing load on it and after pressing load the terminal voltages
are V thus regulation achieved is calculated using formula.

Regulation achieved in % = {(E-V)/V}X 100

Calculation

Regulation achieved in % = {(E-V)/V}X 100

Result

Regulation achieved at load= …………………………

Precautions

1) All the connections should be made in OFF Conditions

2) All the connections should be checked as per the circuit diagram after that
only switch on the power supply
3) Never Play with the stray wires and Redo wiring in ON Conditions