Electric Machines I

Three Phase Synchronous

Machine

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 Introduction
➢ A synchronous machine is an AC rotating machine whose speed under
steady state condition is proportional to the frequency of the current in its
armature. The magnetic field created by the armature currents rotates at
the same speed as that created by the field current on the rotor, which is
rotating at the synchronous speed.

➢ Synchronous machines are commonly used as generators especially for

large power systems, such as turbine generators and hydroelectric
generators in the grid power supply. Because the rotor speed is
proportional to the frequency of excitation.

➢ synchronous motors can be used in situations where constant speed drive

is required.

➢ Unloaded synchronous machines (synchronous condensers) are often

installed in power systems solely for power factor correction or for control
of reactive kVA flow. The reactive power generated by a synchronous
machine can be adjusted by controlling the magnitude of the rotor field
current.

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 Synchronous Machine Structures
➢ Synchronous machines are AC machines that have a field circuit supplied
by an external DC source.

➢ In a synchronous generator, a DC current is applied to the rotor winding

producing a rotor magnetic field. The rotor is then turned by external
means producing a rotating magnetic field, which induces a 3-phase
voltage within the stator winding.

➢ In a synchronous motor, a 3-phase set of stator currents produces a

rotating magnetic field causing the rotor magnetic field to align with it.
The rotor magnetic field is produced by a DC current applied to the rotor
winding.

➢ Field windings are the windings producing the main magnetic field (rotor
windings for synchronous machines). The field windings are on the rotor
and excited by dc current, or permanent magnets

➢ Armature windings are the windings where the main voltage is induced
(stator windings for synchronous machines). And almost invariably on the
stator and is usually a three phase winding.
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 Synchronous Machine Structures
➢ Because the rotor is subjected to changing magnetic fields, it is
constructed of thin laminations to reduce eddy current losses.

➢ A DC current must be supplied to the field circuit on the rotor if it is an

electromagnet. Since the rotor is rotating, a special arrangement is
required to get the de power to its field windings. There are two common
approaches to supplying this de power:
1. Supply the DC power from an external DC source to the rotor by means
of slip rings and brushes.
2. Supply the DC power from a special DC power source mounted directly
on the shaft of the synchronous generator.

➢ Slip rings are metal rings completely encircling the shaft of a machine
but insulated from it. One end of a DC rotor winding is connected to each
of the two slip rings on the machine’s shaft. Graphite-like carbon brushes
connected to DC terminals ride on each slip ring supplying DC voltage to
field windings regardless the position or speed of the rotor. Slip rings and
brushes have certain disadvantages: increased friction and wear
(therefore, needed maintenance), brush voltage drop can introduce
significant power losses.
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 Synchronous Machine Structures
➢ Since no mechanical contact occurs between the rotor and the stator,
exciters of this type require much less maintenance.

➢ There are two types of rotor structures: round or cylindrical rotor and
salient pole rotor. round rotor structure is used for high speed
synchronous machines, such as steam turbine generators, while salient
pole structure is used for low speed applications, such as hydroelectric
generators.

(a) round or cylindrical rotor and (b) salient rotor structures

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 Principle of Operation
1) From the external source, the field winding is supplied with a DC current
(excitation current) that generates a DC flux.

2) Rotor (field) windings are mechanically turned (rotated) at synchronous

speed.

3) The rotating magnetic field produced by the field current induces

voltages in the outer stator (armature) windings. The frequency of these
voltages is in synchronism with the rotor speed.

The rate of rotation of the magnetic fields in the machine is related to the
stator electrical frequency.

𝑵𝒔𝒑
𝒇𝒔 =
𝟏𝟐𝟎
fs : electrical frequency, in Hz
Ns : mechanical speed of magnetic field,
in rpm (equals speed of rotor for
synchronous machines)
P : number of poles
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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
The magnitude of the voltage induced in a given stator phase is
𝐸𝐴 = 4.44𝑁𝑠𝜙𝑓
The internal generated voltage EA is directly proportional to the flux and to
the speed, but the flux itself depends on the current flowing in the rotor field
circuit. Since EA is directly proportional to the flux, the internal generated
voltage EA is related to the field current.
The voltage EA is the internal generated voltage produced in one phase of a
synchronous machine. However, this voltage EA is not usually the voltage
that appears at the terminals of the generator.

Va : armature rms terminal Ia Ra jXal

voltage/phase.
Ia: armature current/phase. Esa jXm If
Ra: armature resistance.
Xal: armature leakage reactance. Va Er
Xm : armature magnetizing EA Rf Vf
reactance.
𝑋𝑠 = 𝑋𝑎𝑙 + 𝑋𝑚
The full equivalent circuit of
Xs: is the synchronous reactance. synchronous machine per phase 8
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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
Ia Ra jXal
Esa=jX mIa : self armature rms induced
voltage/phase.
EA: armature rms induced voltage Esa jXm If
due to the excitation /phase. Er
Er: armature resultant emf. Va
EA Rf Vf
𝐸𝑟 = 𝐸𝐴 + 𝐸𝑠𝑎
𝑉𝑓 = 𝑅𝑓𝐼𝑓 The full equivalent circuit of
synchronous machine per phase
Rf : field excitation winding
resistance.
If: excitation current.
Vf: excitation voltage.
𝑉𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑎𝑙 + 𝐸𝑠𝑎 + 𝐸𝐴

𝐸𝑠𝑎 = 𝑗𝑋𝑚𝐼𝑎
𝑉𝑎 = 𝐼𝑎(𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑎𝑙 + 𝑗𝑋𝑚) + 𝐸𝐴

𝑍𝑠 = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑎𝑙 + 𝑗𝑋𝑚 = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑠 Zs : synchronous impedance.

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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
𝑍𝑠 = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑎𝑙 + 𝑗𝑋𝑚 = 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑗𝑋𝑠
𝑍𝑠 = 𝑍𝑠 ∠𝛼 2 𝑋𝑠
𝑍𝑠 = 𝑅𝑎 2 + 𝑋𝑠 𝛼 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝑅𝑎
ϕa : power factor.
𝑽𝒂∠𝟎 = 𝑰𝒂∠𝝓𝒂 × 𝒁 𝒔 ∠𝑎 + 𝑬𝑨∠𝜹
δ: load angle.

δ=positive: generator.
Ia=negative: generator.
δ=negative: motor.
Ia=positive: motor.
δ=zero: compensator.

For Synchronous Generator

𝑬𝑨∠𝜹 = 𝑽𝒂∠𝟎 + 𝑰𝒂∠𝝓𝒂 × 𝒁 𝒔 ∠𝑎 Ia Ra jXal

Pg : air gap power/phase.

Esa jXm If
𝑃𝑔 = 𝐸𝐴𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 − 𝛿
Va Er
Pout : output power/phase.
EA AC
Rf Vf
3𝑉 𝐸
𝑃𝑜 𝑢 = 𝑉𝑎 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 = 𝑎 𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿 Pout
𝑋𝑠 Pg
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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
For Synchronous Generator
3𝑃𝑚
Tin : input torque. 𝑇𝑖 =
𝜔𝑠 Mechanical
Power (Pm)
3𝑃𝑔
Tg : air gap torque. 𝑇𝑔 =
𝜔𝑠
η: generator efficiency. Iron, Air Gap Power
Pm: mechanical Power Excitation and 𝑃𝑔= 𝐸𝐴𝐼𝑎cos(𝜙𝑎 − 𝛿)
3𝑉𝑎 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 Friction Losses
𝜂= 100%
3𝑃𝑚 + 𝑉𝑓𝐼𝑓
𝑉𝑓𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼𝑓2𝑅𝑓 Armature Cu Output Power
Losses
VR : voltage regulation. 𝑃𝑜 𝑢 = 𝑉𝑎 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎
Ia2Ra
Vnl: no load voltage.
Vfl: full load voltage. Ia Ra jXal

𝑉𝑛𝑙 − 𝑉𝑓𝑙 Esa jXm If

𝑉𝑅 = 100% Va Er
𝑉𝑓 EA Rf Vf
Pout
Pg 11
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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
For Synchronous Motor
𝑬𝑨∠𝜹 = 𝑽𝒂∠𝟎 − 𝑰𝒂∠𝝓𝒂 × 𝒁 𝒔 ∠𝑎
Ia Ra jXal
Pin : input power/phase.
3𝑉𝑎𝐸𝐴
𝑃𝑖 𝑛 = 𝑉𝑎 𝐼 𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛿 Esa jXm If
𝑋𝑠
Va Er
Pg : air gap power/phase.
𝑃𝑔 = 𝐸𝐴𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 − 𝛿 EA Rf Vf
3𝑃𝑔 Pin
Tg : air gap torque. 𝑇𝑔 = Pg
𝜔𝑠
3𝑃𝑚
Tload : load torque. 𝑇𝑙 𝑜 𝑎 =
𝜔𝑠
η: generator efficiency.
Pm: mechanical Power
3𝑃𝑚
𝜂= 100%
3𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 𝑉𝑓𝐼𝑓

𝑉𝑓𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼𝑓2𝑅𝑓
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 The Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Machine
For Synchronous Motor

SR : speed regulation.
Nnl: no load speed. Input Power
Nfl: full load speed. 𝑃𝑖 𝑛 = 𝑉𝑎 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎

𝑁𝑛𝑙 − 𝑁𝑓𝑙
𝑆𝑅 = 100%
𝑁𝑓𝑙
Armature Cu Air Gap Power
Losses
𝜔𝑛𝑙 − 𝜔𝑓𝑙 𝑃𝑔= 𝐸𝐴𝐼𝑎cos(𝜙𝑎 − 𝛿)
𝑆𝑅 = 100% Ia2Ra
𝜔𝑓

Ia Ra jXal Iron, Excitation Mechanical

and Friction Power (Pm)
Esa jXm Losses
If
Va Er
EA Rf Vf
Pin
Pg

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 Examples
Example: A 480-V, 60-Hz, Δ-connected, four-pole synchronous generator. This
generator has a synchronous reactance of 0.1Ω and an armature resistance of
0.015Ω, At full load, the machine supplies 1200 A at 0.8 PF lagging. Under
full-load conditions, the friction and windage losses are 40 kW, and the core
losses are 30 kW. Ignore any field circuit losses.
(a) What is the speed of rotation of this generator?
(b) If the generator is now connected to a load and the load draws 1200 A at
0.8 PF lagging, find armature rms induced voltage (EA)?
(c)How much power is the generator now supplying? How much power is
supplied to the generator by the prime mover? What is this machine's
overall efficiency?
(d)If the generator's load were suddenly disconnected from the line, what
would happen to its terminal voltage?
(e) Suppose that the generator is connected to a load drawing 1200 A at 0.8 PF
leading. find armature rms induced voltage (EA)?

120𝑓𝑠 120 × 60
(a) 𝑁𝑠 = = = 1800 𝑟𝑝𝑚
𝑝 4

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 Examples
(b) 𝑍𝑠∠𝛼 = 0.015 + 𝑗0.1 = 0.101∠81.46
1200
𝐼𝑎 = = 692.8 𝐴
3
𝐸𝐴∠𝛿 = 𝑉𝑎∠0 + 𝐼𝑎∠𝜙𝑎 × 𝑍𝑠∠𝛼 = 480∠0 + 692.8∠ − 36.78 × 0.101∠81.46

𝐸𝐴∠𝛿 = 529.9 + 𝑗49.2 = 532∠5.3𝑜

(c) 𝑃 =
𝑜𝑢𝑡 3𝑉𝑎𝐿𝐼𝑎𝐿 cos 𝜙𝑎 = 3𝑉𝑎𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 = 3 × 480 × 692.8 cos −36.78 = 799 KW

3𝑃𝑔 = 3𝐸𝐴 𝐼𝑎 cos 𝜙𝑎 − 𝛿 = 3 × 532 × 692.8 cos −36.78 − 5.3 = 820.6 KW

3𝑃𝑚 = 3𝑃𝑔 + 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 + 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠
3𝑃𝑚 = 820.6𝑘 + 40𝑘 + 30𝑘 = 890.6kW
𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 799
𝜂= 100% = 100% = 89.7%
3𝑃𝑚 + 𝑉𝑓𝐼𝑓 890.6 + 0

(c) The terminal voltage of the generator would rise to 532 V.

(e) 𝐸𝐴∠𝛿 = 𝑉𝑎∠0 + 𝐼𝑎∠𝜙𝑎 × 𝑍𝑠∠𝛼 = 480∠0 + 692.8∠36.78 × 0.101∠81.46

𝐸𝐴∠𝛿 = 446.7 + 𝑗61.7451.2∠7.8𝑜
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 Parallel Operation of Synchronous Generator

Advantages of synchronous generators

operation in parallel

• Several generators can supply a bigger load than one

machine by itself.
• Having many generators increases the reliability of the
power system, since the failure of anyone of them does not
cause a total power loss to the load.
• Having many generators operating in parallel allows one
or more of them to be removed for shutdown and
preventive maintenance
• If only one generator is used and it is not operating at
near full load, then it will be relatively inefficient. With
several smaller machines in parallel, it is
possible to operate only a fraction of them. The ones that
do operate are operating near full load and thus more
efficiently

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Parallel Operation of Synchronous Generator
The conditions required for paralleling
• The rms line voltages of the two generators must be equal.
This condition can be checked by using Voltmeter.
• The two generators must have the same phase sequence.
This condition can be checked by using small induction
Motor or using three-light-bulb method.
• The phase angles of the two a phases must be equal.
• The frequency of the new generator, called the oncoming
generator, must be slightly higher than the frequency of
the running system. This condition can be checked by
using frequency meter.

Generator1 Load

S1
Generator2

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