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Synchronous Alternator

The document discusses how alternators work by using rotating magnetic fields to induce alternating current in stator windings, with the basic components being a rotor, stator, exciter, diodes, and automatic voltage regulator. Alternators are used in vehicles, power stations, wind turbines, and industrial diesel generators to convert mechanical power into alternating current electricity through the principles of electromagnetic induction.

Uploaded by

Shaun Harrison
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views

Synchronous Alternator

The document discusses how alternators work by using rotating magnetic fields to induce alternating current in stator windings, with the basic components being a rotor, stator, exciter, diodes, and automatic voltage regulator. Alternators are used in vehicles, power stations, wind turbines, and industrial diesel generators to convert mechanical power into alternating current electricity through the principles of electromagnetic induction.

Uploaded by

Shaun Harrison
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Generating Electricity

Shaun Harrison
Contents

 Introduction
 Basic Principles of Operation
 Alternator Design
 Summary
 Questions
 Further Information
Introduction

What is an alternator?

Alternators convert mechanical power into AC electricity.

They’re found in, amongst others;


 Vehicle electrical systems (charge alternator)
 Power Stations
 Wind Turbines
 Industrial Diesel Generators
Industrial Diesel Generators

Industrial Diesel Generators (Generator Sets) are machinery that incorporate;


 A Prime Mover – The diesel engine
 An Alternator
 Ancillary equipment such as fuel tanks, starting batteries, control panel,
exhaust system, acoustic canopy or attenuators

The flywheel from the engine is often directly coupled to the alternator, no
gearbox or clutch, the rpm of the alternator rotor is equal to the rpm of the
diesel engine.
Basic Principles of Operation

 Michael Faradays Laws of Induction tells us when a conductor moves in


respect to a magnetic field, an emf is induced.
 If the conductor is part of a circuit then current will flow.
 Flemings right hand rule can be used to show the direction of current flow.
Basic Principles of Operation

Flemings Right Rule


 With the thumb, first finger, and
second finger at right angles;
 the thumb represents the direction
of movement
 the first finger the direction of the
magnetic field
 the second finger will give the
direction current would flow
through the conductor
Basic Principles of Operation

Self excited single bearing auxiliary


magnet alternator. Auxiliary Magnet Alternators
 An alternator uses mechanical
power to rotate a conductor
through a magnetic field, or rotate
a magnetic field inside a
conductor.
 Auxiliary Magnet Alternators are a
type of self excited alternator, that
use only electromagnets and
contain no permanent magnets at
all.
Industrial Alternators

 The main alternator components are;


 The main rotor and main stator
 exciter rotor and exciter stator
 Shaft and bearings
 Diodes
 Automatic voltage regulator.
MAIN ROTOR
AND STATOR

AUTOMATIC
VOLTAGE
REGULATOR
(AVR)
SHAFT AND
BEARINGS

EXCITER
ROTOR AND
STATOR
DIODES
Industrial Alternators

 The shaft rotates as a result of an external force, in the case of a diesel


generator, this is the diesel engine. The bearings, coated in grease, keep
friction to a minimum.
 As the shaft rotates the two rotors rotate at the same speed.
 The exciter rotor rotating within the magnetised stator produces an emf. This
alternating emf passes through a set of diodes to deliver a DC emf & current
into the main rotor.
 This is called the field current and as the field current increases, so does the
magnetic field strength.
Alternating EMF

 The electromagnet rotor creates a


constantly changing magnetic field
in the stator windings (coil)
 The magnitude can be calculated
with the formula:
 𝐸 = 𝐵𝑙𝑣
 v being the velocity perpendicular
to the magnetic field, at angle 𝜃
this is sin 𝜃 v
 This is where the sine wave comes
from.
3 Phase Electricity

 To generator a 3-phase supply,


three stator windings are used.
 These are at intervals of 120°.
 Each winding gives one phase of
a 3-phase electricity system at
one terminal.
 The other terminals are tied at
the star point to give a neutral.
AVR
 The stator windings have a self inductance, and
at 50 Hz there is an inductive reactance (𝑋𝑙 )
 Increased load also leads to an decrease in
terminal voltage due to increased internal
resistance (V=IR – as I increases, 𝑉(𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝) increases)
 To counter the voltage drop as a result of 𝑋𝑙 and
internal resistance, the AVR increases the current
in the rotor windings (field current)
 This increases magnetic field strength.
 As 𝐸 = 𝐵𝑙𝑣 or in a rotating magnetic flux 𝐸 =
𝐵𝑙𝑠𝑖𝑛∅𝜃𝑣, increasing magnetic field strength
increases voltage, and brings terminal voltage
back to the desired value.
Frequency

 The alternator is synchronous, this means the frequency of the AC supply


matches the speed of the rotor (which matches the speed of the engine)
 In the UK a 50Hz supply is required,
 For a 4-pole alternator (2 pairs of poles)
60 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 ∗ 50 (𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦)
 The shaft RPM must be 𝑟𝑝𝑚 = or 𝑟𝑝𝑚 = 1500
2 (𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠)

 As the load current increases, so does an opposing magnetic flux


 The engine must produce more power at fixed speed to maintain the output
frequency
Current/Power

 The current flowing through the


stator windings causes a
temperature rise in the
conductors.
 The windings must be large enough
to allow the design current to flow
safely
 As the design current increases,
the physical size of the alternator
increases
Summary

 An alternator requires the input of


mechanical force
 This force is used to move a
magnetic field inside a coil/s of
conductors
 The movement induces an emf in
the conductors
 Circuits from the stator windings
take electrical power from the
alternator
QUESTIONS?
A Video Explanation

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