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Carbon Pile Regulators

The early alternators used carbon pile regulators as part of their excitation system. A carbon pile regulator uses carbon discs that can vary resistance through changes in pressure from an electromagnet coil. As the alternator load changes, the output voltage also varies, affecting the strength of the electromagnet. This causes changes in pressure on springs that control the resistance of the carbon pile. A lower resistance allows more current to flow for higher excitation, increasing the output voltage. Conversely, a higher resistance reduces excitation and voltage when the output voltage is already high. Thus, the carbon pile regulator automatically adjusts the excitation to maintain a steady output voltage.

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Rajeev Valunjkar
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435 views

Carbon Pile Regulators

The early alternators used carbon pile regulators as part of their excitation system. A carbon pile regulator uses carbon discs that can vary resistance through changes in pressure from an electromagnet coil. As the alternator load changes, the output voltage also varies, affecting the strength of the electromagnet. This causes changes in pressure on springs that control the resistance of the carbon pile. A lower resistance allows more current to flow for higher excitation, increasing the output voltage. Conversely, a higher resistance reduces excitation and voltage when the output voltage is already high. Thus, the carbon pile regulator automatically adjusts the excitation to maintain a steady output voltage.

Uploaded by

Rajeev Valunjkar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Carbon Pile Regulators

An excitation system of an A.C. generator consists of a direct


current generator and a voltage controlling unit known as the
voltage regulator. An excitation system’s main function is to
supply and control the direct current for the rotor pole windings.
Voltage regulators are of several types and are used depending
on the generator requirement. The level of excitation current and
the resulting field pole strength produced is adjusted
automatically using an AVR (automatic voltage regulator)
attached to the system.

The early alternators were provided with an excitation system that


consisted of a small D.C. generator, and the voltage was regulated
mainly by a carbon pile regulator. In this article we will learn about
the construction and operation of a carbon pile regulator.

An Alternator with a Carbon


Pile Regulator
As shown in the diagram, the alternator has a direct current
exciter whose armature is mounted on the extension of an
alternator shaft. The D.C. exciter is a small shunt generator
wherein the majority of the current of the armature is supplied to
the alternator rotor windings through a slip ring and carbon brush
arrangement. The trimming resistor and hand regulator shown in
the sketch is for the adjustment of initial setting of the main
regulator.

Operation of the Circuit


The current generated from the regulator arrangement produces
a magnetic field. When rotating, the rotor causes a magnetic flux
to be produced, and this flux is cut by the stator windings. This
results in the generation of a voltage and current output in the
stator windings.

A small part of the current produced in the stator windings is


passed to the shunt field so as to provide excitation for the DC
exciter itself. The amount of current flow through the exciter shunt
field is controlled by a resistance, which is made up of carbon
discs or a carbon pile packed into a ceramic tube.

The resistance of the carbon disc is varied by pressure change.


This pressure is controlled by a magnetic field produced by an
electromagnet coil. The current for this electromagnetic coil is
supplied through the transformer and rectifier circuit from
alternator output to the terminal board. This means that as the
load changes the alternator voltage also varies. The strength of
the electromagnet also increases or decreases due to this load
change, resulting in the change in the compression on springs
and thus the resistance of the carbon pile.

The resistance of the carbon is least when the pressure on springs


is least and on the armature greatest. This occurs only when there
is low output voltage which causes solenoid to be weak. Due to
this effect, low resistance and more current flows to the shunt and
high excitation is produced. This high excitation when fed to rotor
produces more voltage.

In the same manner, the pressure will be low when strong


solenoid field is present in the arrangement, i.e. when alternator
voltage is high. Due to this a small amount of current is conveyed
to the shunt, mainly because of high resistance, resulting in less
excitation and reduced output voltag

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