EM 4: SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR

Task: to understand how to operate a synchronous generator and to measure

some of the characteristics for a three phase synchronous generator

Theory: The characteristics here measured are the no load characteristics, the short
circuit characteristics and the load characteristics

Circuit Diagram :

Equipment:

rpm

A A U2 V2 W2 Im
F2 A2 F2

M TG G

F1 A1 U1 V1 W1 F1

U IA

S Rmy
- + - + - +
220 V 0-220 V
F

RB
M = Electric torque meter MV 100

G = Synchronous machine MV 122

TG = Tachometer generator MV153

Rmy = Shunt rheostat TS 500/440

U = Voltmeter 300 V TI 105

Im = Ammeter 1.6A TI 101

IA = Ammeter 6A TI 102

S = Switch TO 3
 RB = Load resistor TB 40

F = Power pack TF 123A

For later use

XL = Load inductor TB 41

XC = Load capacitor TB 42

1. Connecting up and start

1.1 Connect the torque meter as motor and the synchronous machine as generator
in accordance with the circuit diagram

1.2 Make a note of the ratings of the synchronous machine shown on the rating plate
on the rear of the machine. These ratings must not be exceeded at any time during
the laboratory exercises

1.3 The supervisor should now check the connections

1.4 Turn on the fixed DC voltage switch

Adjust the shunt rheostat of the torque meter as least 0,25 A. This value must
be kept constantly throught the experiment. The switch S must be off

1.5 Set the variable DC voltage control on the power pack to zero and turn on the
variable DC voltage switch. Then slowly turn up the variable DC voltage and the
motor should rotate in the clockwise direction. Adjust the variable DC voltage in
order to bring the speed of motor to exactly 1500 rpm and this speed must be kept
constant throughout the exercise
2. Measurement of no load characteristic 𝑬 = 𝒇(𝑰𝒎)

i.e. the induced no load voltage as function of the exciting E

current

2.1 The switch S must be off. Vary the excitation current Im in

steps of 0.2A from zero to maximum (see ratings). For every Im
step make a note of Im and the induced voltage read on the
voltmeter U

Check the speed and the speed (1500 rpm) must be kept constantly.

3. Measurement of short circuit characteristic 𝑰𝑨 = 𝒇(𝑰𝒎 )

i.e. the armature current as function of the excitation current when the stator is short
circuited
IA
3.1 Adjust the shunt rheostat Rmy of the synchronous machine
to bring the excitation current to zero. Short circuit all three
phases on the S on the side on which the load resistor is
Im
connected

3.2 Turn on switch S. Vary the armature current in steps of 0.5A from zero to maximum
(see ratings) with the shunt rheostat Rmy and for each step make a note of IA and
Im

Check the speed and the speed (1500 rpm) must be kept constantly.

3.3 Adjust the shunt rheostat of the synchronous machine to bring the exciting current
to zero. Turn off switch S and remove the short circuit

4. Measurement of load characteristic 𝑼 = 𝒇(𝑰𝑨 )i.e. the generator voltage as

function of the armature current
U
4.1 Adjust the shunt rheostat Rmy of the synchronous machine to Φ = -90o

bring the voltage (U) to 220V. Make a note of setting of the

generator exciting current Im. This value of Im, like the speed, Φ = 0o

must be keptconstantthroughout the experiment and should Φ = +90o

IA
therefore be checked from time to time
4.2 Turn on switch S and with the load resistor RB vary the armature current in steps of
0.5A up to maximum (see ratings)

For each step make a note of current IA and voltage U

Check the speed excitation current and speed!

4.3 Turn off switch S and replace the load resistor by the delta connected load inductor

4.4 Turn on switch S and with the load inductor vary armature current in steps up to
maximum (see Ratings). For each step make a note of current IA and voltage U

Check the speed excitation current and speed!

4.5 Turn off switch S and replace the load inductor by the star connected load capacitor

4.6 Turn on switch S and with the load capacitor vary armature current in steps up to
maximum (see Ratings). For each step make a note of current I A and voltage U.
terminate the measurement when the voltage has risen to 300V.

Check the speed excitation current and speed throught the exercise.

Tasks

a. Draw graphs of the no load characteristic and short circuit characteristic in the same
diagram and with common Im axis

b. Draw graphs of the three load characteristics in the same diagram and with
common IA axis

c. Read the no load characteristic the excitation current Imo corresponding to the read
voltage

d. Read the short circuit characteristic the short circuit current Iko obtained at the
excitation current Imo

e. Calculate the synchronous reactance of the generator per phase as :

𝑈𝑛 127 𝑜ℎ𝑚
𝑋𝑆 = = ⁄𝑝ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒
𝐼𝑘𝑜 𝐼𝑘𝑜
𝐼𝑘𝑜
f. Calculate the short circuit ratio of the generator 𝐾𝑐 = , where In = rated current
𝐼𝑛

of the generator.
No load Short circuit
characteristic characteristic

Im E T Im IA T
(A) (V) (Nm) (A) (A) (Nm)

Load Characteristics

Im = const = ....... A
Φ = 0o Φ = +90o Φ = -90o
IA U T IA U T IA U T
(A) (V) (Nm) (A) (V) (Nm) (A) (V) (Nm)
0 220 0 220 0 220
EM 5: SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

Task :
To observe how synchronous motor works and to study its characteristics when
synchronous motor works as as phase compensator and as motor driver
Theory:
The synchronous machine is started with the torque meter and the synchronization is done
by means of sequential lighting of the synchronous lamp. The machine is then drive as
synchronous capacitor and as motor

Circuit Diagram:

Rmy

rpm 220 V

A A U2 V2 W2 Im
F2 A2 F2

G TG M

F1 A1 U1 V1 W1 F1

- +
220 V
F RB

IA

Cos meter

0 R S T
3x220 V F
Equipment :

G : Electric torque meter MV 100

M : Synchronous machine MV122
TG : Tachometer generator MV153
Rmy : Shunt rheostat
UG, UN : Voltmeter 240V TI 105
IA : Ammeter 6A TI 102
Im : Ammeter 1.6A TI 101
S : Switch T0 30
K : Terminal board with short circuit button TM 125
E : Power factor meter 5A (Cap. 0.5-1-0.5 Ind)
P1 :3 phase Wattmeter
RB : Load resistor TB 40
F : Power pack TF 123A

1. Connecting up and start

1.1 Connect all of the equipment as shown in the circuit diagram above and make sure
that the load switch S must be off.
1.2 Make a note of the ratings of the synchronous machine marked on the rating plate.
These ratings must not be exceeded at any time during the laboratory exercise
1.3 The teacher check the connections
1.4 Turn on the variable 3 phase AC voltage switch & adjust its voltage regulator to 220
V.The motor then starts and comes up about 1450 rpm.
1.5 Turn on the fixed DC voltage switch.it will bring the speed to exactly 1500 rpm.
During the experiment, the shunt rheostat of Rmy can be adjusted to control the
excitation current & continuously check that the current would not be too great for
its nominal current.
3. The synchronous motor as phase compensator
Measurement of V characteristics𝐼𝐴 = 𝑓(𝐼𝑚 ), i.e. the rotor current as function of the
exciting current of the synchronous motor
3.1 With the shunt the rheostat Rmy vary the excitation current of IA
the synchronous motor in steps of 0.2 A from minimum to
maximum as determined by the current ratings of the
synchronous motor (see ratings). For each step make a note
Im
of Im, IA, UN, P1 and cosφ. If in any measurement the power
factor deflection goes outside the scale, note ind and cap. Observe that with
overexcited synchronous motor the power factor must be capacitive
3.2 Adjust the shunt rheostat Rmy of the synchronous motor to bring the rotor current to
minimum. Adjust the shunt rheostat of the torque meter to bring the excitation
current to zero, set the load resistor RB to minimum load current & turn on switch S
3.3 Turn up the shunt rheostat and load resistor of the torque meter to bring the torque
to 3.0 Nm
3.4 With the shunt rheostat Rmy vary the excitation current of the synchronous motor in
steps from minimum to 1.4 A in steps of 0.2 A. For each step make a note of Im, IA,
UN, P1 and cosφ. Check that the torque is 3.0 Nm throughout.

4. The synchronous machine as driving motor

Measurement of power characteristics 𝐼𝐴 = 𝑓(𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 )and 𝑄 = 𝑓(𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 ), i.e. the
armature current and reactive power, respectively, as function of the power output

Q
IA

Pout
Pout

4.1 Adjust the shunt rheostat of the torque meter to bring the torque to minimum. Adjust
the shunt rheostat of the synchronous machine to bring the rotor current to
minimum (example : 0,5 A). Make a note of the excitation current of the
synchronous machine. The excitation current must be kept constant
throughout the experiment
4.2 Load the synchronous machine by varying the shunt rheostat of the torque meter
and the load resistor RB from minimum load to nominal load of motor (check ratings
& calculate T nom) minimal 5 steps. For each step make a note of M, Im, IA, UN, P1
and cosφ.
4.3 With the shunt rheostat of the torque meter adjust the torque to minimum. Change
the excitation current of the synchronous machine to 1.0A and maintain this value
constant throughout the experiment
4.4 Load the synchronous machine by varying the shunt rheostat of the torque meter
and the load resistor RB in steps of 0.5A up to the rated current of the synchronous
motor. For each step make a note of T, Im, IA, UN, P1 and cosφ.

Problem and Tasks

a. Calculate for all measurements:
The total input power Pin = 3 . P1
The apparent power S = √3 . 𝑈𝐿 . 𝐼𝑎
The reactive power 𝑄 = √𝑆 2 − 𝑃𝑖𝑛2
2𝜋 .1500
The power output 𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑇
60

Observe the sign of Q which is obtained from cos φ.

b. Draw graphs of the V-charateristics Ia = f ( Im ) for measurement 3 with common
Im axis.
c. Draw graphs of the power characteristics Ia = f (Pout ) and Q = f(Pout) for
measurement 4.
d. Calculate what percentage of the rated power of the synchronous machine can be
used when operating as overexcited phase compensator.
 MEASURED VALUES CALCULED VALUES
Meas. M Im IA UL P1 cos Lag/ S Pin Q
no (Nm) (A) (A) (V) (Watt) φ Lead (VA) (Watt) (VAR) (Watt)

3.1

3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.2
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
3.0
0,5
0,5
0,5
0,5
4.2
0,5
0,5
0,5

1
1
1
4.4
1
1
1