III.

Potier method / zpf Lag Method

- Proposed by Prof. Potier

Used to Pre-determine the Voltage Regulation of Alternator

Applicable only for Non-salient pole machines

Provides estimation of Leakage Reactance. Hence more
accurate

X s Xl Xa

Xl - Linear quantity or saturation independent quantity,

while
Xa - Saturation dependent quantity
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Potier method / zpf Lag Method (contd.)

Following tests are to be conducted to pre-determine the

voltage regulation.
(i) Open circuit test (ii) Short circuit test
(iii) zpf test (iv) Armature resistance measurement

Analytical Method Network equations

Eo (V I Ra j I X l ) j I X a
^

Eo E1 j I X a
^

E1 (V I Ra j I X l )

I f I f 1 I f 2

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Potier method / zpf Lag Method Experimental set up

SPST
+
A

L F A
A1
M

220V
DC

F2 0

F1
A2

V
~

Alternator Field

F1

2
0

C
B
F2

OC Test
E0 (V)

Three phase
choke coil

zpf Test

SC Test

If (A)

V (V)
ISC (A)

0
0

If (A)

If (A)

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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

OD is the field current required
to circulate rated current at SC.

Plot OCC (E0 vs If) and ZPF load

characteristics (V vs If) on the same
graph.

During Short circuit condition,

field current causes an e.m.f.
which

is

just

sufficient

overcome

the

Synchronous

impedance drop.

to

E0 I Z s

Ra usually negligible. Hence,

E0 IX s

ie. OD corresponds to field

current required to compensate
IXs drop.
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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

Corresponding to rated voltage, fix
point A on ZPF characteristics.
Fix point F on the horizontal line
through A such that FA = OD.
Draw the air-gap line OG passing
through the origin and tangent to
the initial portion of OCC. From
point F, draw the line FH parallel

to OG to meet OCC at point H.

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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

From H drop a perpendicular to FA to meet the same at point J.
AJH is the Potier triangle. HJ corresponds to IXp or IXl drop.

Find leakage Reactance X l X P IX P

I

AJ is the field current (If2) required to overcome armature reaction effect.

After getting Xl, IRa and IXl is

vectorially added to terminal
voltage V, and we get E1.

E1 (V I Ra j I X l )

If1

corresponding

to

this

voltage is found out from

OCC.
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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

^

I f I f 1 I f 2
where If is the resultant field
current which would generate a
voltage

E0

under

no-load

condition.
The open circuit e.m.f. E0
corresponding to field current If
is found from OCC.
After

determining

E0,

Voltage Regulation can be predetermined

for

any

load

condition.
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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

For lagging pf,

V V 0

I I 0

0
E1 V 0 ( I ) ( Ra j X p ) E1 E1
0

Refer to OCC and find the field current If1

required to develop the internal emf E1.
From the phasor diagram,

I f 1 I f 1 (90 )0

Refer Potier triangle & find If2 required to overcome armature reaction effect.

If 2

If 2(1800 )

If If1 If2 If (900 )

Compute
Refer to OCC and find the open circuit e.m.f . E0 corresponding to the field

current If.
Eo Eo

Percentage Voltage Regulation

%V .R

E0 V
*100
V

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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

For leading pf,

V V 0

I I 0

E1 V 0 ( I ) ( Ra j X p ) E1 E1 0
0

Refer to OCC and find the field current If1

required to develop the internal emf E1.

0
From the phasor diagram, I f 1 I f 1(90 )

Refer Potier triangle & find If2 required to overcome armature reaction
effect.

If 2

If 2(1800 )

Compute
If If1 If2 If (900 )
Refer to OCC and find the open circuit e.m.f . E0 corresponding to the

field current If.

Eo Eo

Percentage Voltage Regulation

%V .R

E0 V
*100
V

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Potier method - Analytical method (contd.)

For upf,

V V 0

I I 00

E1 V 0 ( I 0 ) ( Ra jX p ) E1 E1 0
0

Refer to OCC and find the field current If1

required to develop this emf E1.
From the phasor diagram,

I f 1 I f 1 (90 )0

Refer Potier triangle & find If2 required to overcome armature reaction
effect.

If 2

If 21800

If If1 If2 If (900 )

Compute
Refer to OCC and find the open circuit e.m.f . E0 corresponding to the

field current If. Eo Eo

Percentage Voltage Regulation

%V .R

E0 V
*100
V

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