Voltage regulation of cylindrical machine by Zero power factor method:
The method is also called potier triangle method of determining the regulation. The
method requires following data to calculate the regulation.
1. The armature resistance per phase (Ra).
2. Open circuit characteristics which is the graph of open circuit voltage against the
field current. This is possible by conducting open circuit test on the alternator.
3. Short circuit characteristics which is the graph of short circuit current against field
current. This is possible by conducting short circuit test on the alternator.
4. Zero power-factor characteristic .
Open Circuit Test
Procedure to conduct this test is as follows :
i) Start the prime mover and adjust the speed to the synchronous speed of the alternator.
ii) Keeping rheostat in the field circuit maximum, switch on the d.c. supply.
iii) The T.P.S.T switch in the armature circuit is kept open.
iv) With the help of rheostat, field current is varied from its minimum value to the 1.1
times the rated voltage. Due to this, flux increasing the induced e.m.f. Hence voltmeter
reading, which is measuring line value of open circuit voltage increases. For various
values of field current, voltmeter readings are observed.
From the above readings, graph of (Voc)ph against If is plotted.
Short Circuit Test
After completing the open circuit test observation, the field rheostat is brought
to maximum position, reducing field current to a minimum value.
The T.P.S.T switch is closed. As ammeter has negligible resistance, the armature gets
short circuited.
The field excitation is gradually increased till full load current is obtained through
armature winding.
This can be observed on the ammeter connected in the armature circuit.
The graph of short circuit armature current against field current is plotted from the
observation table of short circuit test.
This graph is called short circuit characteristics, S.C.C. This is also shown below.
The S.C.C. is a straight line graph passing through the origin while O.C.C.
resembles B-H curve of a magnetic material.
Zero power factor loading Test
1.With the help of prime mover make the synchronous machine to run at synchronous
speed. This speed is to be maintained constant throughout the experiment.
2.Synchronous machine is excited to its rated voltage by varying the field current.
3. As the switch S is closed power is delivered to the purely reactive load by
synchronous machine. The power delivered to the load is to be maintained at its rated
full load value by adjusting the variable reactance of the reactor(inductor) and also by
varying the excitation of field.
4. As the load is purely reactive load alternator will operate at zero power factor
lagging. Now the field current is increased till rated current starts flowing in the
armature winding.
5.The load is varied in steps and field current is also adjusted so that rated current flow
in the armature. In each step, the armature terminal voltage and field current is
measured and noted. A plot between these two noted quantities is drawn. This plot is
the zero power factor characteristics of generator.
𝐾 𝑂𝐶𝐶
𝐸𝑟 𝐶
𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒
𝐻 Potier triangle
𝑔𝑎𝑝
𝐼 𝑎 𝑥𝑙
zpfc
𝐺
𝐴𝑖𝑟 𝐷 𝐴
𝐵
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉
′
𝑐 𝐹𝑎
𝑂 𝐵′ 𝐹 𝐼𝑓
𝐹
′ 𝑃
𝐸 𝑝h
𝐹 𝐹 𝑎 ∅ 𝑎∝ 𝐼 𝑎
∅ 𝑓
𝑓
𝐹𝑎
𝐹𝑟
∅𝑟
Procedural steps to calculate %regulation using ZPF method
Step 1: Construct the potier triangle and determine the
Step 2: Determine the using the expression
Step 3: Calculate the j) for lagging loads
j) for leading loads
Step 4: Find the field current (mmf) required to produce
(of)
Step 5: Find the field current (mmf) required to produce the armature reaction drop .
Which is equal to length of BA or FP note it as
Step 6: Find the resultant field current (mmf) f
𝐼 𝑓 𝑟=√𝐼 + 𝐼
2 2 𝐼
𝑓1 𝑓2 − 2∗ 𝐼 𝑓 1 ∗ 𝐼 𝑓 2 cos ( 90± ∅) 𝑓 𝑟
𝐼 𝑓 2
90 + ∅
𝐼 𝑓 1
Step 7: Project the to resultant field current (mmf)
Obtain the resultant induced voltage E.
Step 8: Determine the regulation using the expression
.
The following data relate to a 3 phase 14860 kVA ,50Hz 40 pole star connected hydro
generator.
Exciting current (IF) 10 15 20.5 25 30 35 40 45
in Amp
E (V) in kV
f
6.45 9.0 11.0 12.2 13.25 14.0 14.5 15.0
S.C Test If =18 A , I s.c =780A
Z.P.F test If =52.5 A , I a =780A Vt = 11 kV
Find the voltage regulation at rated armature current of 780 A at 0.8 pf lag by Z.P.F and new
ASA methods. Take armature circuit resistance of 0.2 ohms per phase.
780A x axis 1division 5 A y axis 3 kV
Procedural steps to calculate %regulation using ZPF method
=6350.85V
780A x axis 1division 5 A y axis 3 kV
Step 1: from potier triangle and determine the
Step 2: using the expression
Step 3: Calculate the j) for lagging loads
6350.85j3.10) = 8137.14
Step 4: Find the field current (mmf) required to produce 14.093 kV
=
Step 5: Find the field current (mmf) required to produce the armature reaction drop .
Which is equal to length of BA or FP note it as
