ELECTRICAL MACHINES

Rotating Electrical Machines are widely used for converting

energy from one form to another.
Types of Electrical Machines:
1. Rotary Converter- electrical energy of one form is
changed into electrical energy of another.
Ex. Converting AC to DC
The input is first converted into mechanical
energy, so that the rotating part functions as an electric
motor; the resulting rotation then causes the machine to
become a generator, thereby converting mechanical
energy into DC electrical energy.
2. Frequency Converter- it changes AC electrical energy at
one frequency into AC electrical energy at another
frequency.
3. Generator- converts mechanical energy to electrical
energy.
Generator is driven by mechanical machine usually
called a prime mover. Prime mover may be a steam
turbine, a gasoline engine or an electric motor.
NOTE: Generator action can take place when and only
when there is a relative motion between the conducting
wires and magnetic lines of force.
4. Motor converts electrical energy to mechanical
energy. ( To be discussed further after DC Generator)
GENERATOR

All rotating electric motors consist essential of

two important parts.
1. An even set of electromagnets or permanent
magnets.
2. Laminated steel core containing currentcarrying copper wires or so-called the
armature winding.
In the DC generator, the armature winding is
mechanically rotated through the stationary magnetic
fields created by electromagnets or the permanent
magnets.
( In the AC generator, the electromagnets or the
permanent magnets and their magnetic fields are rotated
with respect to the stationary armature winding.)
ARMATURE WINDING

Armature winding of all types of motors and

generators, whether of direct or alternating
current, are always wound on laminated steel
cores of good magnetic permeability.
Current in the armature windings of all motors
and generators whether of direct or alternating
current is always alternating.
Explanation: Alternating voltages are always
generated in the windings of ac and dc generators.
In AC generator, the generated alternating emf is
transmitted directly to the load; In DC generator, the
generated alternating emf is first rectified by a
commutator and its brushes, that is changed to
direct current, before it is transmitted to its load.
FIELD POLES

The electromagnets ( called field poled ) used in

all DC generators and motors are very simple in
construction.

generator. If the excitation is produced by a single

winding connected to the positive and negative bus
bars fed by another dc generator it is called a
separately excited shunt generator.

NOTE: There are always an even number of field

poles in a given machine and each one consists of a
laminated steel core, of rectangular cross-section,
surrounded by one or more copper coils.

COMPOUND GENERATORS- It has two complete

sets of field windings for excitation purposes.
1.) Shunt Field
2.) Series Field

The spread-out portion of the pole core or shoe

permits the magnetic flux to enter the armature core
over a wider area than would be possible with a
core having straight sides.

Both windings are placed over one set of pole cores

and act together to create a common set of magnetic
fluxes.

When the field structure is assembled for a

stationary-field type of machine, the electromagnets
are bolted to a yoke ring so that they project radially
inward toward the rotating armature.
TYPES OF DC GENERATOR
There are only two types of DC generator. They
are distinguished by the way in which the flux is
produced by the electromagnets. The type of
generator is however, absolutely independent of the
manner in which the armature winding is placed on
the armature core and connected to the commutator.
SHUNT GENERATOR if the excitation is
produced by a single winding connected to its own
positive and negative brushes, the machine is called
a self-excited shunt generator or simply shunt

Its shunt field is, in every respect, exactly like that

used in the shunt generator.
Its series field winding, however, differs greatly
from the shunt-field wingding because it contains
very few turns of heavy wire, has an extremely low
resistance, and is excited by the comparatively large
load current.
NOTE: Since the two types of generator differ only
by the addition or omission of a series field, it is
quite possible to operate a compound generator as a
shunt generator by completely disconnecting the
series field from the machine or to change a shunt
generator into a compound generator by properly
winding a series field directly over the shunt field.
VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF DC
GENERATORS

The most important characteristic of a generator is

its voltage behavior with respect to loading.
When the armature of a machine is delivering no
current to a consuming device, it is said operating at
no load. ( It will of course, be sending a
comparatively low value of current into its own
shunt if it is a self-excited shunt generator.
If the armature is delivering rated ( name-plate )
current to one or more electrical consuming device,
the machine is said to be operating at full load.
Now then, if a shunt generator is operating at full
load at a given voltage and the load is suddenly
removed so that the machine is performing at no
load, the voltage will always rise above the full-load
value.
SPEED OF DC GENERATORS
It is customary for a DC generator, whether shunt or
compound, to operate at a speed that remains
substantially constant at all times.

Obviously, the speed of a generator is determined

and controlled by the machine that drives it, that is
the prime mover. Therefore, if the prime mover is a
constant-speed machine such as a turbine, a steam
engine, a gas engine, a water wheel, or a
synchronous motor, the generator speed will be
constant.
If, for some reason, a DC generator is operated at a
speed much higher or lower than that intended by
the manufacturer, it will usually not perform with
complete satisfaction unless corrective measures are
taken to forestall faulty operation.
For example, a lower speed will cause a generator
to overheat, while a higher speed will give rise to
poorer commutation that is, sparking at the
commutator, and wider voltage changes with
variations in load. Furthermore, the fields of DC
generators operating at speeds other than those
recommended by the manufacturer would have to
be modified to accommodate such changes; for
example, if the speed of a generator were to be
increased without a change in voltage, it would be
necessary to weaken the field.
COMMUTATING POLES FOR DC MACHINES