Alternator or Synchronous Generator

Alternator
Definition: The synchronous generator or alternator is an electrical
machine that converts the mechanical power from a prime mover into an
AC electrical power at a particular voltage and frequency.
Difference between DC Generator and Alternator:
It is seen that in the case of a DC generator, basically, the nature of
the induced e.m.f in the armature conductors is of alternating type. By
using commutator and brush assembly it is converted to DC and made
available to the external circuit.
If commutator is dropped from a DC generator and induced e.m.f is
tapped from an armature directly outside, the nature of such emf will be
alternating. Such a machine without a commutator, providing an AC emf to
the external circuit is called an alternator.
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 Construction of Synchronous generator or alternator
In Synchronous generator or alternators the stationary winding is called 'stator' while
the rotating winding is called 'Rotor'.
Stator:
The stator in the synchronous generator is a stationary armature. This consists of a core and
the slots to hold the armature winding similar to the armature of a DC generator. The stator
core uses a laminated construction. It is built up of special steel stampings insulated from
each other with varnish or paper. The laminated construction is basically to keep down eddy
current losses.
Generally choice of material is steel to keep down
hysteresis losses. The entire core is fabricated in a frame
made of steel plates. The core has slots on its periphery
for housing the armature conductors. The frame does not
carry any flux and serves as the support to the core.
Ventilation is maintained with the help of holes cast
in the frame.
Rotor:
There are two types of rotors used in the alternators:
1) Salient pole rotor
2)Smooth cylindrical rotor
1) Salient pole rotor:

This is also called projected pole type

as all the poles are projected out from the surface of the rotor. The poles are built up
of thick steel laminations. The poles are bolted to the rotor as shown in the figure.
The pole face has been given a specific shape. The field winding is provided on the
pole shoe. These rotors have large diameters and small axial lengths. As the
mechanical strength of salient pole type is less, this is preferred for low-
speed alternators ranging from 125 r.p.m to 500 r.p.m. The prime movers used to
drive such rotor are generally water turbines and I.C. engines.

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Rotor:
2)Smooth cylindrical rotor

This is also called non-salient type or non-projected pole type or round rotor. This rotor
consists of a smooth solid steel cylinder, having a number of slots to accommodate the field
coil. These slots are covered at the top with the help of steel or manganese wedges. The
unslotted portions of the cylinder itself act as the poles. The poles are not projecting out and
the surface of the rotor is smooth which maintains a uniform air gap between stator and
rotor.
These rotors have small diameters and large axial lengths. The main advantage of this type is
that these are mechanically very strong and thus preferred for high-
speed alternators ranging between 1500 to 3000 r.p.m. Such high-speed alternators are
called 'turbo-alternators'. The prime movers used to drive such type of rotors are generally
steam turbines, electric motors.
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 Working of Synchronous generator or alternator
The alternators work on the principle of electromagnetic induction. When there is a relative motion
between the conductors and the flux, emf gets induced in the conductors. The dc generators also work on the
same principle. The only difference in the practical synchronous generator and a dc generator is that in
an alternator the conductors are stationary and field is rotating. But for understanding, the purpose we
can always consider relative motion of conductors w.r.t the flux produced by the field winding.
EMF Equation of an Alternator
Let
Φ = Flux per pole, Wb
P = Number of Poles
Ns = Synchronous Speed in RPM
Z = Total Number of Conductors or coil sides in series / Phase
Z = 2T
T = Number of coils or Turns per phase
Tph = Turns in series per phase
= ( No. of slots * No. of cond. per slot) / (2 x 3)
Zph = Conductor per phase
Zph = Z / 3. No. of phase 3
Kc or Kp = Pitch factor or coil span factor
Kd = Distribution factor
Kp = Cos (α / 2 )
Kd = Sin (mβ / 2)
m Sin(β / 2)
Problems
1. A 12-pole 5rps, star connected alternator has 60 slots with 20 conductors/slot. Flux/pole
is 0.02Wb, sinusoidally distributed. Winding factor is 0.97. Find (a) frequency, (b) phase
emf and (c) line emf.

Soln: P = 12, N/60 = 5 rps, winding type = Y, S = 60, Z/S = 20,  = 0.02 Wb, KW = 0.97 , f=?,
Eph =?, EL =?
f=PN/120=(12*5*60)/120=30 Hz
Total no of conductor Z = number of slots x conductor/ slot = 60 x 20= 1200
Conductor per phase Zph= 1200/3=400
Therefore Eph = 2.22 KW f Ф Zph where, KW = Kp Kd
= 2.22 x 0.97x 30 x 0.02 x 400
= 516.82 volts
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph = √3 x 516.82 = 895.15 volts
2. A 3 , 16-pole alternator has a star-connected winding with 144 slots and 10 conductors
per slot. The flux per pole is 0.03Wb, sine-distributed, and the speed is 375rpm. Find the
frequency, the phase and line electromotive forces. (Hint: Kw=1)

Soln: S = 144, P = 16, Z/S = 10,  = 0.03 Wb, N = 375 r.p.m, f=?, Eph=?, EL =?
f=PN/120=(16*375)/120=50 Hz
Total no of conductor Z = number of slots x conductor/ slot = 144 x 10= 1440
Conductor per phase Zph= 1440/3=480
Therefore Eph = 2.22 Kp Kd f Ф Zph
= 2.22 x 1 x 1 x 50 x 0.030 x 480
= 1598.4 volts
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph
= √3 x 1598.4 = 2768.51 volts
3. A 6-pole, 3, 50Hz alternator has 12 slots per pole and 4 conductors per slot. A flux per
pole of 25mWb is sinusoidally distributed along the air-gap. Determine the line emf if the
alternator is star-connected. Given: Winding Factor Kd = 0.96; Pitch Factor Kc=1

Soln: P = 6, S/P = 12x6 , S= 72, Z/S = 4,  = 25 mWb, f=50 Hz, Kd = 0.96, Kc = 1, winding type
= Y, EL =?
Total no of conductor Z = number of slots x conductor/ slot = 72 x 4= 288
Conductor per phase Zph= 288/3=96
Therefore Eph = 2.22 Kc Kd f Ф Zph
= 2.22 x 1 x 0.96 x 50 x 0.025 x 96
= 255.744 volts
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph
= √3 x 255.744 = 442.962 volts
4. A 3 , star-connected alternator has the following data: line voltage required to be generated on open-
circuit = 4000V (at 50Hz); speed = 500 rpm; stator slots/pole/phase = 3; conductors/slot=12. Calculate (i)
number of poles, (ii) useful flux/pole. Assume all conductors/phase to be connected in series and the coil to
be full-pitch.
Soln: EL =4000 V, S/P/Ph = 3, N = 500 rpm, Z/S = 12, f=50 Hz, Assume Kd = Kc = 1 for full-pitch winding, P=?,
Ф=?
P=120f/N=(120*50)/500=12
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph
S/P/Ph = 3, S = 3x12x3 = 108
Total no of conductor Z = number of slots x conductor/ slot = 108 x 12= 1296
Zph = Z/3 = 432
Eph = EL/ √3 = 2309.4011 Volts
Now, Eph = 2.22 Kc Kd f Ф Zph
2309.4011 = 2.22 x 1 x 1 x 50 x Ф x 432
= 48.16 mwb
5. Find the number of armature conductors in series per phase required for the armature of
a 3, 10-pole, 50Hz alternator with 90 slots. The winding is to be star-connected to give a
line voltage of 11000V. The flux per pole is about 0.16Wb. (Hint: Zph should be a multiple of
slots per phase)

Soln: P = 10, S= 90,  = 0.16 Wb, f=50 Hz, Assume Kd = Kc = 1, winding type = Y, EL =11000
V, Zph=?
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph
Eph = EL/ √3 = 6350.85 Volts
Eph = 2.22 Kc Kd f Ф Zph
6350.85 = 2.22 x 1 x 1 x 50 x 0.16 x Zph
Zph= 357.593
6. Calculate the speed and open-circuit line and phase voltages of a 4-pole, 3 phase 50Hz
star-connected alternator with 36 slots and 30 conductors per slot. The flux per pole is
0.05Wb sinusoidally distributed. Assume winding factor to be 0.96.

Soln: P = 4, S= 36, Z/S = 30,  = 0.05 Wb, f=50 Hz, Kw = 0.96, winding type = Y, N=?,EL =?,
Eph=?
f=PN/120, N=120f/P=1500 rpm
Total no of conductor Z = number of slots x conductor/ slot = 36 x 30= 1080
Zph=Z/3=360
Eph = 2.22 Kw f Ф Zph
Eph = 2.22 x 1 x 50 x 0.05 x 360
Eph= 1918.08 Volts
The line Voltage EL = √3 Eph = 3322.21 Volts