Power and Torque Characteristics 307

EXAMPLE 6.3
A 3φ, 5 kVA, 208 V, four-pole, 60 Hz, star-connected synchronous machine has negligible
stator winding resistance and a synchronous reactance of 8 ohms per phase at rated terminal
voltage.
The machine is first operated as a generator in parallel with a 3φ, 208 V, 60 Hz power
supply.

(a) Determine the excitation voltage and the power angle when the machine is delivering
rated kVA at 0.8 PF lagging. Draw the phasor diagram for this condition.
(b) If the field excitation current is now increased by 20 percent (without changing the prime
mover power), find the stator current, power factor, and reactive kVA supplied by the
machine.
(c) With the field current as in (a), the prime mover power is slowly increased. What is the
steady-state (or static) stability limit? What are the corresponding values of the stator (or
armature) current, power factor, and reactive power at this maximum power transfer
condition?

Solution
The per-phase equivalent circuit for the synchronous generator is shown in Fig. E6.3a.
208
(a) Vt = pffiffiffi = 120 V=phase
3

Stator current at rated kVA;

5000
Ia = pffiffiffi = 13:9 A
3 × 208

φ = −36:9 for lagging pf of 0:8

From Fig. E6.3a,

FIGURE E6.3
308 chapter 6 Synchronous Machines

Ef = Vt =0 + Ia jXs
= 120=0 + 13:9=−36:9  8=90
= 206:9=25:5
Excitation voltage Ef = 206:9 V=phase
Power angle δ =+ 25:5

Note that because of generator action, the power angle is positive.

The phasor diagram is shown in Fig. E6.3b.
(b) The new excitation voltage E0f = 1:2 × 206:9 = 248:28 V. Because power transfer remains
same,
Vt Ef Vt E0f
sin δ = sin δ0
Xs Xs
or

Ef sin δ = E0f sin δ0

or
Ef sin 25:5
sin δ0 = 0 sin δ =
Ef 1:2
δ0 = 21
The stator current is

Ef −Vt
Ia =
jXs

248:28 =21 −120 =0

=
8 =90

142:87 =38:52
=
8 =90

= 17:86 =−51:5 A
Power factor = cos 51:5 = 0:62 lag
Reactive kVA = 3jVt jIa j sin 51:5
= 3 × 120 × 17:86 × 0:78 × 10−3
= 5:03
or, from Eq. 6.26,
 Power and Torque Characteristics 309

0 1
2
120 × 248:28 120 A
Q = 3@ cos 21 − × 10−3
8 8

= 3ð3476:86−1800Þ

= 5:03

(c) From Eq. 6.25, the maximum power transfer occurs at δ = 90 .

3Ef Vt 3 × 206:9 × 120

Pmax = = = 9:32 kW
Xs 8

Ef −Vt 206:9 =+ 90 −120 =0

Ia = =
jXs 8 =90

= 29:9 =30:1 A

Stator current Ia = 29:9 A


Power factor = cos 30:1 = 0:865 leading

The stator current and power factor can also be obtained by drawing the phasor diagram
for the maximum power transfer condition. The phasor diagram is shown in Fig. E6.3c.
Because δ = +90 , Ef leads Vt by 90 . The distance bd between phasors Vt and Ef is the
voltage drop Ia Xs , and the current phasor Ia is in quadrature with Ia Xs .
From the phasor diagram,

jIa Xs j2 = jEf j2 + jVt j2

0 11=2
2 2
206:9 + 120
Ia = @ A = 29:9 A
82

From the two triangles abc and abd,

= bac ==adb = φ
ab 120
tan φ = ad = 206:9 = 0:58

φ = 30:1
PF = cos 30:1 = 0:865 lead
310 chapter 6 Synchronous Machines

EXAMPLE 6.4
The synchronous machine in Example 6.3 is operated as a synchronous motor from the
3φ, 208 V, 60 Hz power supply. The field excitation is adjusted so that the power factor is unity
when the machine draws 3 kW from the supply.
(a) Find the excitation voltage and the power angle. Draw the phasor diagram for this
condition.
(b) If the field excitation is held constant and the shaft load is slowly increased, determine the
maximum torque (i.e., pull-out torque) that the motor can deliver.

Solution
The per-phase equivalent circuit for motoring operation is shown in Fig. E6.4a.
(a) 3Vt Ia cos φ = 3 kW = 3Vt Ia for cos φ = 1:
3000
Ia = = 8:33 A
3 × 120

Ef = Vt −Ia jXs
= 120 =0 − 8:33 =0  8 =90
= 137:35 =−29

Excitation voltage Ef = 137:35 V=phase

Power angle δ = −29

Note that because of motor action, the power angle is negative.

The phasor diagram is shown in Fig. E6.4b. Ef and δ can also be calculated from the
phasor diagram.
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
Ef = jVt j2 + jIa Xs j2 = 1202 + ð8:33 × 8Þ2
= 137:35 V=phase
jIa Xs j 8:33 × 8
tan δ = = = 0:555
jVt j 120

jδj = 29
δ = −29

FIGURE E6.4
 Power and Torque Characteristics 311

(b) Maximum torque will be developed at δ = 90 . From Eq. 6.25a,

3 × 137:35 × 120
Pmax = = 6180:75 W
8

Pmax 6180:75
Tmax = = = 32:8 N  m
ωsyn ð1800=60Þ × 2π

EXAMPLE 6.5
A 3φ, 460 V, 60 Hz, 1200 rpm, 125 hp synchronous motor has the following equivalent
circuit parameters:

Ra = 0:078 Ω, Xal = 0:05 Ω, Xar = 1:85 Ω

Nre =Nse = 28:2
For rated conditions the field current is adjusted to make the motor power factor unity.
Neglect all rotational losses and power lost in the field winding.

(a) For rated operating conditions, determine the motor current Ia , field current If , and
power angle δ.
(b) Draw the phasor diagram.

Solution
(a) For rated conditions, from Fig. 6.17c,
pffiffiffi
Pin = 3 × 460 × Ia = 3 × 0:078Ia2 + 125 × 746
Ia = 121:4 A

Let

460
Vt = pffiffiffi =0 = 265:6 =0 V
3

Ia = 121:4 =0 A
Ea = Vt − Ia Ra
= 265:6 =0 −121:4 =0 × 0:078
= 256:13 =0 V
Xs = 0:05 + 1:85 = 1:9 Ω
256:13 =0
Im = = 134:74 =−90 A
1:9 =90
312 chapter 6 Synchronous Machines

FIGURE E6.5

If0 = Im − Ia
= 134:74 =−90 − 121:4 =0
= 181:4 =−132 A
β = −132

From Eq. 6.7c,

pffiffiffi
2
n= × 28:2 = 13:29
3
From Eq. 6.7b,

181:4 1:9
If = × = 14:02 A
13:29 1:85
δ = −132 + 90 = −42

(b) The phasor diagram is drawn in Fig. E6.5.

Complex Power Locus

If the real power and reactive power given by Eqs. 6.24 and 6.26 are plotted in the per-phase
complex S-plane, the locus will be a circle of radius jVt jjEf j=jXs j with center at 0, −jVt j2 =jXs j as
shown in Fig. 6.22. For an operating point x, the power angle δ and the power factor angle φ are
indicated. The various circles shown in the figure correspond to various excitation voltages.
The locus of the maximum power representing the steady-state limit is a horizontal line
(passing through the center) for which δ = 90 .

6.6 CAPABILITY CURVES

A synchronous machine cannot be operated at all points inside the region bounded by the
circle shown in Fig. 6.22 without exceeding the machine rating. The region of operation is
restricted by the following considerations:
1. Armature heating, determined by the armature current.
2. Field heating, determined by the field current.
3. Steady-state stability limit.