SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS

(ALTERNATORS)

Construction of synchronous machines

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);
armature windings are the windings where the main
voltage is induced (stator windings for synchronous
machines).

Construction of synchronous machines

Based on the construction of the machines, it may
be classified as
1. Rotating Armature type 2. Rotating Field type
1. Rotating Armature type

Looks very much like a dc generator except that there

are 3 slip-rings in place of commutator
Required magnetic fields are produced by dc
electromagnet placed on the stationary member called
stator
The current and generated is collected by means of
brushes and slip-rings on revolving member, called the
rotor
Economical for the small low voltage generator
Suitable for small power plants

Construction of synchronous machines

2.Rotating Field type
Practically all medium and large machines are always
revolving field type with these advantages:
Easier to insulate stationary armature winding for very high
voltages
Load circuit can be connected directly with the fixed
terminals of stator without passing through slip-rings and
brushes
Only two slip-rings are required for the supply of dc to the
rotor for excitation
The exciting current is supplied at low voltages of 125 or
250 v, there is no difficulty in insulating them.
Slip rings and brushes have certain disadvantages:
increased friction and wear (therefore, needed
maintenance), brush voltage drop can introduce significant
power losses. Still this approach is used in most small
synchronous machines.

Construction of synchronous machines

Synchronous machine consists essentially of two parts
1.Armature (or stator)
2.Field magnet system or Rotor
1.Armature (or Stator)

Iron ring, formed of laminations of special magnetic iron

or steel alloy (silicon steel) having slots on its periphery
to accommodate armature conductors.

Stator core is laminated (thickness 0.5mm or less) and

insulated from each other with paper or varnish

Open slots are more commonly used because the coils

can be form-wound and insulated properly also removal
and replacement of defective coils

Open type of slots produce ripples in the emf wave

because distribution of air gap flux is into branches

Semi-closed type slots are better in this respect but do

not permit the use of form-wound coils

Construction of synchronous machines

2. Field magnet system or Rotor
(i) Salient pole type
(ii) Smooth cylindrical or non salient pole
type

Non-salient-pole rotor: usually

two- and four-pole rotors.

Salient-pole rotor: four and

more poles.

Rotors are made laminated to reduce eddy current losses.

Construction of synchronous machines

(i) Salient pole type
Used almost entirely for slow and moderate speed
alternators
Least expensive and cheaper than cylindrical rotor
machines when speed does not exceed 1000 rpm.
It can cause an excessive windage loss and produce noise if
driven at high speed
Usually made up of cast-iron or cast-steel and has a heavy
central hub
Pole shoes are laminated to avoid eddy current
The air gap is minimum under the pole centers and it is
max. in between the poles
The radial air gap length increases from the pole center to
the pole tips so that the flux distribution in the air gap is
sinusoidal

Construction of synchronous machines

Damper windings are used to damp rotor oscillations during
transient conditions and facilitate under unbalanced load
conditions
Large numbers of poles (4 to 60)
Have a large diameter and small length
(ii) Smooth cylindrical or non salient pole type
Used in very speed alternators
Subjected to high mechanical stresses due to high speed
and long round rotor
Normally two-thirds of the rotor is slotted for the field
winding and one-third is left without slots
it has following special features:
They are of smaller diameter and of very long axial length
Robust construction and noiseless operation
Less windage ( air resistance) loss

Construction of synchronous machines

Better in dynamic balancing

High operating speed (3000 rpm)
Give better emf waveform than salient pole field structure
No need of providing damper windings

Salient pole with field

windings

A synchronous rotor with 8 salient

poles

Construction of synchronous machines

Two common approaches are used to supply a DC current to the
field circuits on the rotating rotor:
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 machine.

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 machines 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.

Construction of synchronous machines

Brush

Construction of synchronous machines

Slip rings and brushes have certain disadvantages: increased

friction and wear (therefore, needed maintenance), brush voltage
drop can introduce significant power losses. Still this approach is
used in most small synchronous machines.
On large generators and motors, brushless exciters are used.
A brushless exciter is a small AC generator whose field circuits are
mounted on the stator and armature circuits are mounted on the
rotor shaft. The exciter generators 3-phase output is rectified to
DC by a 3-phase rectifier (mounted on the shaft) and fed into the
main DC field circuit. It is possible to adjust the field current on the
main machine by controlling the small DC field current of the
exciter generator (located on the stator).
Since no mechanical contact occurs between the rotor and the
stator, exciters of this type require much less maintenance.

Construction of synchronous machines

A brushless exciter: a
low 3-phase current is
rectified and used to
supply the field circuit
of the exciter (located
on the stator). The
output of the exciters
armature circuit (on
the rotor) is rectified
and used as the field
current of the main
machine.

Construction of synchronous machines

To make the
excitation of a
generator completely
independent of any
external power
source, a small pilot
exciter is often added
to the circuit. The
pilot exciter is an AC
generator with a
permanent magnet
mounted on the rotor
shaft and a 3-phase
winding on the stator
producing the power
for the field circuit of
the exciter.

Construction of synchronous machines

A rotor of large
synchronous
machine with a
brushless exciter
mounted on the
same shaft.

Many synchronous
generators having
brushless exciters
also include slip
rings and brushes to
provide emergency
source of the field
DC current.

Construction of synchronous machines

A large
synchronous
machine
with the
exciter
and salient
poles.

Thank you