SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES OPERATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

NO-LOAD AND SHORT-CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

No-load state.
Ef = f(If) for n=nN (const.)
open-circuit characteristic (occ)

Short-circuit state.
Isc = f(If) for n=nN (const.)
short-circuit characteristic (scc)
Per-unit values: Ir=I/IN Ur=U/UN (Er=E/UN)
IfoN nominal field current at
no-load (Ef=UN)
IfscN nominal field current at
short circuit (Isc=IN)
IfoN is usually applied as a
base for relative values of
field current
Ifr = If/IfoN
Short-circuit ratio is an important parameter of synchronous generator:
K sc =

IfoN
1
=
IfscN IfscNr

0.3 for cylindrical mach. (turbogene rator)

1.5 - for salient - pole m. (hydrogene rator)

Assume SM excited by IfoN. At no-load: Ef=UN.

At short circuit: Isc=CD and the state of machine can be shown by the
following phasor diagram:
BD [V ]
CD [A ] = X d [] for saturated machine
Ef

Xd =

Isc
AD [V ] = X
dun [ ] for unsaturate d machine
CD [A ]

BD [p.u.]
= X dr [p.u.]
CD [p.u.]

X dr =

Xd
Xd
=
ZN U N I N

From the triangles:

BD [p.u.] IfscNr
=
CD [p.u.]
1

X dr =

1
K sc

SM2- 1

STEADY-STATE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF GENERATOR

a)

External characteristics; voltage-current characteristics; constant

excitation characteristics

U = f(I)

for

If = const
cos = const
n = const
lagging character of load
leading character of load

b)

Regulation characteristics; constant voltage characteristics

If = f(I)

for

U = const
cos = const
n = const

lagging character of load; Ef > U ; machine is

overexcited
leading character of load; Ef < U ; machine is
underexcited

Characteristics for a) and b):

Voltage regulation
U r =

Ef U
U

[p.u.]

for nominal load current, nominal excitation and nominal power factor
U rN =

EfN UN
UN

[p.u.]

Ur for lagging power factor can be of significant value; it can be of zero

value for leading power factor or even be negative.
Usually in power stations synchronous generators operate on
lagging loads (p.f. = 0.8 0.9 lag) and have a large positive voltage
regulation (voltage drop). To keep the voltage constant a wide range
control of field current is required.

SM2- 2

c)

V-curves of synchronous generator (Mordeys curves)

I = f(If)

for

SM2- 3

P = const
U = const
n = const

For example for P = 0

U s = jX d I
Us
E U
I = j
= j f
Xd
Xd
I =

E
U
f
Xd
Xd

If we neglect saturation of magnetic core

Ef = cIf and V-curves for P = 0 and other
values of active power are shown

d)

Active power load angle characteristic P = f(L) or Te = f(L)

In cylindrical generator (Xd = Xq) and with assumption R1 0

P = mUI cos
and due to phasor
diagram
X d I cos = Ef sinL
I cos =

Ef
sin L
Xd

P =m

UEf
sinL
Xd

hence

and due to the relation T =

1
P to so

described active power corresponds electromagnetic torque

Te =

1 UEf
sinL
m

Xd

Both relations are sinusoidal

functions.
Tb breakdown torque (maximum
torque) for given Ef (i.e. for given
excitation); - it appears for L = 90o.
Tb
P
= b 2
TN
PN

(stability margin);

therefore, usually LN 30o

For L < 0 Te < 0 - negative value of
torque means DRIVING TORQUE.
MOTOR MODE OF OPERATION

These characteristics are

named power angle
characteristics in US and
angle characteristics in
Poland.

In salient-pole generator (Xd Xq) and with assumption R1 0

I is resolved into d- and qcomponents.

SM2- 4

This phasor diagram is an

example of Blondels diagram.

Voltage drops corresponding to Id & Iq

currents are:
Ud = XqIq
Uq = XdId
From the diagram
Ef = U cos L + X d Id from where

U sin L = X q Iq

Id =

Ef
U

cos L and
Xd
Xd

Iq =

U
cos L
Xq

Substituting these relations (forId and Iq) to the following expression for
power
P = mUI cos = mU (Id sin L + Iq cos L )
yields
UEf
U 2 1
1

P =m
sin L + m
sin 2L
Xd
2 X q X d
144244
3 14444
4244444
3
1

(T=P/)

1 power (torque) due to field

excitation (synchronous
torque)
2 power (torque) due to
saliency (Xd Xq); it doesnt
depend on Ef (or If) !
RELUCTANCE TORQUE !
RELUCTANCE MACHINES
(with no excitation)
3 total power (torque).

Rotors of synchronous reluctance motors

1 ferromagnetic core
2 starting & damping cage
3 magnetic flux barriers

Xd
= 1. 5 2
Xq

Xd
= 2. 5 3
Xq

Xd
=5
Xq

SM2- 5
OPERATION OF SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR WITH A POWER
SYSTEM
SYNCHRONIZATION OF GENERATOR connection of synchronous
generator on to the system
busbars.
CB circuit-breaker
Condition of correct synchronization:
To avoid heavy currents flow after
switching on, the voltages (potentials)
of generator terminals and system
terminals should be of equal value
before and after connection equal
potentials at CB terminals:
uug = uusy
uvg = uvsy
uwg = uwsy

instantaneous values for t o+ must be the same.

to time of CB closing

Practically this one general conditions is satisfied when the following

more practical conditions are fulfilled:
1.
rms values Ug = Usy (5% difference allowed);
2.
frequencies fg = fsy (0.2 0.4 Hz difference allowed);
3.
phase sequences are the same (of generator & system)
4.
instantaneous values are practically equal at the moment of
connection

< 5o
co-phasal position
of generator &
system voltage
stars;
5.

voltage curves (waveforms) of generator & system are sinusoidal.

In power stations synchronization by means of synchroscope or

automatic.
In laboratory: voltmeter + lamps connected in so called rotating light
arrangement with one dark bulb:

Three bulbs are located

symmetrically at circumference
of a circle.
In case of the same phase
sequences of GEN and SYS an
effect of rotating light appears.
The speed of rotation is
proportional to the difference of
frequencies.
In case of different sequences
all bulbs pulsate
simultaneously.

OPERATION OF GENERATOR AT SYSTEM BUSBARS

(infinite busbars)
After synchronization with infinite busbars: Ug = Usy = const; f = const
a) Field current regulation ( = reactive power regulation)

L = 0 P = 0

By means of excitation regulation we can control

ONLY REACTIVE POWER:

when If > IfoN reactive (inductive) power is delivered to the system;

when If < IfoN reactive (capacitive) power is delivered to the system or
reactive (inductive) power is absorbed from the system
and delivered to generator.
b) Torque (mechanical power, active power) regulation
point 0 after ideal
synchronization Efo = Us1 and I = 0
point 1 If ; Ef and Ef1 > U
Us1 I1 (overexcitation)
P1 = mUI1 cos 1 = 0
Q1 = mUI1 sin 1 = mU1I1
point 2 driving torque T
(mechanical power )
Ef2 = Ef1 but rotor accelerates and
L = L2 Us2 I2
P2 = mUI2 cos 2
(b )
Q2 = mUI2 sin 2
Te 2 = cmUI2 cos 2 = m

UEf 2
sin L 2 = T
Xd

steady-state operation, active power P2 delivered to the system.

Point 3 - If ; Ef Ef3 Us3 I3 only transiently! It is not steady state
because
P3 = mUI3 cos 3
Te3 = cmUI3 cos 3 f T and generator is slowing down to point 4
Point 4 due to Te3 > T angle L L4 Us3 I4
P4 = mUI 4 cos 4 = P2 (b ) Te 4 = T
Q4 = mUI 4 sin 4 f Q2
steady-state operation with the same P but with Q increased. Lines a
and b are hodographs of constant active power (torque), active currents.

SM2- 6

Conclusion: During operation of synchronous generator with U = const

(connection to infinite busbars):
1. By means of field current the control of only reactive power is
possible;
2. Control of active power delivered to the system is possible only by
means of mechanical power driving the generator (regulation of
prime mover turbine);
3. Both above regulations practically dont affect each other (are
independent).

SM2- 7

SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
Consider 3 steps of synchronous machine (generator) operation:
1. synchronization,
2. overexcitation,
3. application of breaking torque (mechanical load) to the machines
shaft:

What is the result?

Te =

1 UE f
cos < 0 (!)
Xd

For the machine considered as generator the negative torque

(electromagnetic torque produced in the machine) means driving
character of this torque (not breaking as it is in generator).
The machine becomes a motor. Active power delivered to the system

P = mUI cos < 0

i.e. the active power is delivered to the machine

(to the motor) from the mains.

All possible positions of armature current phasor:

Overexcited synchronous machine

can operate as synchronous motor
(converting electrical active power into
mechanical) and simultaneously can
deliver reactive inductive power to the
supply (to the system).
How to start such a motor?

Compare this situation to

induction motor. Induction
motor always absorbs reactive
inductive power from the mains.
Synchronous motor seems to
be much better from this point
of view.