Synchronous Generator or Alternator
A synchronous generator is a synchronous machine which converts mechanical power into
AC electric power through the process of electromagnetic induction.
Synchronous generators are also referred to as alternators or AC generators. The term
"alternator" is used since it produces AC power. It is called synchronous generator because it
must be driven at synchronous speed to produce AC power of the desired frequency.A
synchronous generator can be either single-phase or poly-phase (generally 3phase).
Construction of Synchronous Generator or Alternator
As alternator consists of two main parts viz.
1. Stator
2. Rotor
Stator − The stator is the stationary part of the alternator. It carries the armature winding in
which the voltage is generated. The output of the alternator is taken form the stator.The
stator of the alternator includes several parts, viz. the frame, stator core, stator or armature
windings, and cooling arrangement.
The stator frame may be made up of cast iron for small-size machines and of welded steel for
large-size machines.The stator core is assembled with high-grade silicon content steel
laminations. These silicon steel laminations reduce the hysteresis and eddy-current losses in
the stator core.The slots are cut on the inner periphery of the stator core. A 3-phase armature
winding is put in these slots.The armature winding of the alternator is star connected. The
winding of each phase is distributed over several slots. When current flows through the
distributed armature winding, it produces an essential sinusoidal space distribution of EMF.
Rotor − The rotor is the rotating part of the alternator. The rotor produces the main field
flux.The rotor of the alternator carries the field winding which is supplied with direct current
through two slip rings by a separate DC source (also called exciter). The exciter is generally
a small DC shunt generator mounted on the shaft of the alternator.
For the alternator, there are two types of rotor constructions are used viz. the salient-pole
type and the cylindrical rotor type.
1. salient-pole Rotor
2. cylindrical rotor
Salient Pole Rotor
The term salient means projecting. Hence, a salient pole rotor consists of poles projecting out
from the surface of the rotor core. This whole arrangement is fixed to the shaft of the
alternator as shown in the figure. The individual field pole windings are connected in series
such that when the field winding is energised by the DC exciter, the adjacent poles have
opposite polarities.
The salient pole type rotor is used in the low and medium speed (from 120 to 400 RPM)
alternators such as those driven by the diesel engines or water turbines because of the
following reasons −The construction of salient pole type rotor cannot be made b enough to
withstand the mechanical stresses to which they may be subjected at higher speed.If the
salient field pole type rotor is driven at high speed, then it would cause windage loss and
would tend to produce noise.Low speed rotors of the alternators possess a large diameter to
provide the necessary space for the poles. As a result, the salient pole type rotors have large
diameter and short axial length.
Cylindrical Rotor
The cylindrical rotors are made from solid forgings of high-grade nickel-chrome-
molybdenum steel.The construction of the cylindrical rotor is such that there are no-physical
poles to be seen as in the salient pole rotor.In about two-third of the outer periphery of the
cylindrical rotor, slots are cut at regular intervals and parallel to the rotor shaft.The field
windings are placed in these slots and is excited by DC supply. The field winding is of
distributed type.The unslotted portion of the rotor forms the pole faces.It is clear from the
figure of the cylindrical rotor that the poles formed are non-salient, i.e., they do not project
out from the rotor surface.The cylindrical type rotor construction is used in the high-speed
(1500 to 3000 RPM) alternators such as those driven by steam turbines because of the
following reasons −The cylindrical type rotor construction provides a greater mechanical
strength and permits more accurate dynamic balancing.It gives noiseless operation at high
speeds because of the uniform air gap.The flux distribution around the periphery of the rotor
is nearly a sine wave and hence a better EMF waveform is obtained.A cylindrical rotor
alternator has a comparatively small diameter and long axial length. The cylindrical rotor
alternators are called turbo-alternators or turbo-generators. The alternator with cylindrical
rotor have always horizontal configuration installation.
