ALTERNATORS
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED:
Electromagnetic induction: Whenever there is a change in magnetic flux associated with a closed
circuit an emf is induced.
• Faraday’s first law: induced emf lasts so long as the change in magnetic flux continues.
• Faraday’s second law: More the change in flux per time more the magnitude of emf. Eα
dΦ/dt
Fleming’s right hand rule (generator rule):
The forefinger, middle finger and the thumb of the right hand are held in the three mutually
perpendicular directions. If the fore finger points along the direction of the magnetic field and the
thumb is along the direction of motion of the conductor, then the middle finger points in the
direction of the induced current.
Q. what is the principle behind AC generator?
Ans. The operation of generators relies on the principle that –“ whenever there is mutual cutting
between a conductor and a magnetic field, a voltage and resulting current will be induced in the
conductor(Electromagnetic induction). The flow of induced current can be found by fleming’s right
hand rule”.
E ∝ Nφ
E - induced voltage.
N - speed of rotor.
φ - magnetic flux strength.
What are the conditions for paralleling of Generators?
1. Frequency of the incoming generator must be equal or slightly higher than live bus bar.
2. Voltage of the incoming generator must be equal or slightly higher than live bus bar to take up the
load immediately.
3. Incoming voltage must be in phase with live bus bar.
To satisfy the first condition, adjust the incoming generator speed using governor speed control(tolerance
.2%). For adjusting voltage, the excitation voltage is to be adjusted which is done using AVR
control(tolerance 5%). Phase difference is also controlled by governor speed control.
Procedure for paralleling:
• Make sure all the meters and indicators are in good working condition
• Start the incoming generator with correct starting procedure.
• Check the engine parameters and wait till the prime mover stabilizes.
• Move the selector switch towards the incoming generator. Now synchroscope will start rotating.
• Carry out adjustments to satisfy the conditions of paralleling (frequency, voltage and phase). And
make the synchroscope rotate clockwise at a speed of 4-5rev/sec.
• Close the circuit breaker of the incoming generator when the pointer is about to reach 12’Oclock
position.
• Turn the selector switch off from the incoming generator.
• Now start load sharing using the speed adjuster of the governor.
Q. What does different position of the synchroscope needle mean; what is the difference
between 6 O’clock and 12 O’clock?
Ans: 6 o’clock means that out of synchronisation. We cannot parallel the incoming generator. 12
o’clock means the perfect synchronised condition (voltage, frequency and phase sequence
matched).
Q. Why do we close the switch at 11 o'clock and not at 12 o' clock?
When the synchroscope needle is approaching 12 o'clock the "slip" (differential) between
the sine waves is approaching minimum (slip is zero when the synchroscope is at 12 o'clock) and
the voltage differential between the phases is minimal (it's zero when the synchroscope is at 12
o'clock). Due to time taken to close the synchronoscope switch, it is generally done at 11 o’clock.
Due to the small delay to close, by doing at 11 o’clock, we are achieving closing close to 12 o’clock.
Q. what is a synchroscope.
• An instrument which indicates that voltage , frequency and phase angle of two electrical
supplies of running machine and incoming machine are in synchronism and can be paralled.
• Synchroscope should not left in the circuit for more than 20 minutes as it cannot
continuously rotate.
Methods of synchronizing
Synchronising method
@ Synchroscope is the main method
@ Back-up methods are
Î Lamp dark method
Î Lamp bright method
Î Rotating lamp method or Sequence methods (preferable)
Sequence method
1) One of the lamps known as key lamp is connected in one phase.
2) Other two lamps are cross-connected.
3) If two frequencies differ, lamps will bright up in rotation. Clockwise indicates
incoming machine is fast, and counter-clockwise indicates it is slow
4) Synchronising moment is when key lamp is dark and other two lamps equally bright.
5) If phase rotation is wrong, all lamps will become bright and dark together.
How will you change the system voltage and frequency?
The voltage of the system with which several generators are paralleled may be raised or lowered by
increasing or decreasing, simultaneously, the field excitation of all generators.
System frequency can be raised or lowered by increasing or decreasing the speed of all the prime movers.
Load sharing: After synchronizing of two machines, load has to be shared.
What is KW load sharing?
By adjusting the governor we are increasing the power supplied by one alternator and decreasing
the other. KW load sharing is done by governor control. When power demand increases, current is
drawn from the stator which opposes the rotor movement. This is sensed by governor and
increases the fuel and maintains the speed of the rotor. In the end both power and current
increases with voltage remaining constant.
What is isochronous governor?
The system frequency is kept constant by the governor for every change in KW load.
What is governor droop?
Droop = ∗ 100% . It is usually expressed as a percentage of the full-
load speed. Varies from 2% to 4% .
Not enough droop – Hunting, surging or difficulty in response to a load change.
Too much droop - slow governor response in picking up or dropping off a load.
(NOTE: THE SPEED OF THE PRIME MOVER IS FIXED, BUT ITS TORQUE CAN BE VARIED.)
What is kVAr loading ?
When excitation of one generator is increased , its power factor increases towards lagging side
causes lagging current to flow from it. When excitation is decreased its power increases towards
leading side causes leading current to flow from it. In both the cases it’s a WATTLESS current
which flows between the generators and load increasing the losses without increasing the kW load.
AVR controls the excitation and keeps the power factor similar between generators running in
parallel.
Change in excitation causes change in kVAr load. Change in kW load is adjusted by governor
control.
Q. what is excitation.
To supply and control the correct d.c. current for the rotor pole winding to produce the
required generator a.c output voltage.
Level of the excitation current and resulting pole field strength are automatically adjusted by
voltage regulating component such as :
• Carbon pile regulator
• Vibrating contact regulator
• Static automatic voltage regulator
Q. Explain about brushless alternator
• In this machine slip rings and brushes are eliminated and excitation is provided not by
conventional d.c exciter but by a small alternator.
• The a.c exciter has the unusual arrangement of three-phase output windings on the rotor
and magnetic poles fixed in the casing.
• The casing pole coils are supplied with direct current from an automatic voltage regulator.
• Three phase current generator in the windings on the exciter rotor passes through a
rectifier assembly on the shaft and then to the main alternator poles. No slip rings are
needed.
• Silicon rectifiers fitted in a housing at the end of the shaft are accessible for replacement
and their rotation assists cooling.
Working of Brushless alternator
1. D.C fixed poles produces magnetic field when current passes through it.
2. When prime mover starts rotating, the field interacts with rotating armature and
induces 3Φ A.C current.
3. This 3Φ is rectified into D.C current by poly phase silicon rectifier and given to the main
armature.
4. The D.C current develops the revolving magnetic field.
5. This revolving magnetic field induces emf in stator windings.
What is meant my residual magnetism?
D.c fixed poles gets energy (after voltage regulation via AVR) from the developed output
A.C. When the prime mover is started from the rest, it’s the residual magnetic field which
gives excitation and induces current in the exciter armature of the rotor. Even before
voltage regulation takes place a residual magnetic field exists in the poles. It’s the fact that
all ferrous metals have residual magnetism when the current had carried by it before. But
due to shelf life and improper operation residual magnetism is lost.
How to restore residual magnetism? -“Flashing the exciter field”
1. Remove the exciter field terminals (+ve & -ve ) from the voltage regulator.
2. Check the resistance in the circuit and ensure no grounding in the circuit.
3. Connect +ve terminal to the positive pole of the 12 V battery.
4. Hold the –ve terminal over the insulated portion of the lead wire, touch negative pole of
battery for about 5 to 10 seconds and then remove it.
5. Reconnect +ve and –ve terminals to the voltage regulator.
6. Repeat the procedure if the generator fails to build voltage.
What is Hunting of generators?
The torque delivered by the diesel engine is pulsating. This varying output from engine makes the
rotor to oscillate over the Rated rpm. This oscillation of rotor is called Hunting. Hunting causes
generators to shift load from one to another. We use fly wheel in the engine to provide uniform
torque to avoid hunting. To counteract hunting we use damper winding which opposes the
oscillation due to induced current on it.
Q. Generator safety devices.
• Over speed trip
• F.o. low pressure alarm
• L.o low pressure trip and alarm
• Jacket water high temperature alarm
• L.o high temperature alarm
• Crankcase relief valve
Power management system (PMS):
It has two [Link] and [Link] mode. Under manual mode PMS has no control over
the generators and main switchboard. We can operate generator locally. Under automatic mode PMS
automatically synchronizes and shares the load.
What is the Requirement for UMS operation?
The system controls the following features.
1. Automatic blackout start of the standby generator.
2. Automatic synchronizing.
3. Automatic frequency control.
4. Automatic load sharing.
5. Preferential tripping of loads.
6. Sequential restart of essential consumers.
7. Automatic generator start and connection in response to a heavy consumer start request.
8. Automatic generator start/shutdown in response to high/low load conditions.
9. Pre-selection of the standby generator priority is achieved by operation of the standby
generator selection switch on the synchronizing panel.
Maintenance carried out in Alternator.
• Before starting the maintenance of a alternator ensure that other alternator can take up the
necessary load till the completion of the maintenance.
• After off loading, stop the prime mover, shut off air starting system, open the indicator cock,
switch off the circuit breaker and tag out.
• Area should be well ventilated and illuminated throughout the maintenance period.
• Clean the cooling passage and air filters.
• Using vacuum cleaner clean the stator and rotor winding.
• Oil and dirt deposition will interfere in cooling of circuits resulting in overheating of
components. Using electro solvent fluid we can remove the dirt and oil.
• Corrosive liquids and gases will affect the insulation and varnish resulting in deterioration of
insulation causing short circuit.
• Electro solvent can be applied using lint free rags soaked on the liquid or can be sprayed and
latter dried by the rags.
• Baking of alternator using lamps (not more than 430C) is done to remove moisture and
drying of cleaning liquid.
• Measure air gap between stator and rotor using insulated feeler gauge
• Before insulation check, disconnect the star point of the terminal box. Thereby
separating each phase. And diode connections have to be removed.
1. Phase to phase
2. Phase to earth
3. Rotor to earth
4. Stator to earth
• Minimum insulation requirement is given by the formulae
∗ ∗!"
M ohms . eg : #" = .81 ()ℎ+ ≅ 1 ( )ℎ+
$
After maintenance work-
Reassemble all necessary parts.
Check no load running, the synchronizing and loading.
On load, practically check for excessive temperature rises and load sharing
stability when running in parallel.
How to calculate kVA of an alternator?
Voltage of the machine* Ampere*√3 (for 3 phase)
For 430 v , 834 ampere ,3Φ alternator kVA= 430*834*√3= 650 kVa
What is air gap?
This is the clearance between Rotor and stator. It should be uniform and measured using insulated
feeler gauge at various positions particularly at lower side of the rotor.
More air gap= Increases reluctance (decreases power factor)
Less air gap = May cause sparkling.
Variation in air gap is mainly due to the worn out bearings.
AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR.
The generator output voltage is sensed in the sensing element, this element produces a low voltage
output which is proportional to the generator output.
The low voltage output from the sensing unit is compared to a set value representing normal terminal
voltage in the reference bridge. The reference bridge will generate an error signal which is
proportional to the difference between the generator output and its required output.
The error signal may well be amplified to create enough signal strength for the rest of the circuit.
The amplified error signal will be used in a firing circuit, the firing circuit will use the size of the
error signal to determine at which position in the cycle the thyristors, which supply the excitation
field, should be turned on. If the generator output voltage has dropped then the position of firing for
the thyristors needs to be brought closer to the start of the a.c. cycle.
The final component is the generator field supply circuit, this circuit may be directly supplying the
power to the generator field through slip rings or it may supply the power to a brushless exciter field
which will in turn supply the main field. The power for the field is drawn from an a.c. source, this
power is rectified from a.c. to d.c. via a thyristor rectifier, i.e. a controlled bridge. The firing circuit
controls the point at which the thyristors turn on and therefore they control the power passing to the
field.
Requirements of voltage regulation:
Voltage regulation of main alternator should be such that at all load from zero to full, the
voltage to be maintained within 2.5% of rated voltage under steady condition. For
emergency gen. it is 3.5%.
When 80% of full load current is given to a no load running generator suddenly the voltage
change should
hould not exceed 15%. And should be restored within 3% of final steady voltage
within 1 second.
When do stand by generator starts automatically?
Selected stand by generator(s) to be automatically started by the following electrical abnormal or
engine troubles (black-out change).
1. Bus high and low voltage.
2. Bus low frequency.
3. ACB abnormal trip.
4. Engine over speed trip.
5. Engine C.F.W high temperature trip.
6. Engine low pressure trip.
Standby generator select switches should be provided on the switchboard.
