Alternator or AC generator or synchronous generator

An alternator is an electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into alternating

electric energy.

Alternator works on the same principle of electromagnetic induction as DC generator.

There are two types of AC generators.

Rotating armature type: - armature rotates and field system is stationary (same as DC
generator) . Low power rating (used in many shops- small Diesel/kerosene generator)
Rotating field type:- armature is stationary and field system rotates. Rotating field type
alternators are more advantages than Rotating armature type. In general this type of
alternator is used (High power rating) all power plants.
Why Armature Winding Is Stationary In An Alternator?

At high voltages, it easier to insulate stationary armature winding, which may be as high
as 30 kV or more.

The high voltage output can be directly taken out from the stationary armature. Whereas,
for a rotary armature, there will be large brush contact drop at higher voltages, also the
sparking at the brush surface will occur.

Field exciter winding is placed in rotor, and the low dc voltage can be transferred safely.

The armature winding can be braced well, so as to prevent deformation caused by the
high centrifugal force.
Construction

In alternator, construction consists of armature winding is placed in the stationery element called
stator and filed winding on a rotating element called rotor.
An alternator has three phase winding on the stator and a field winding (DC winding) on the
rotor.
Stator: It is the stationary part of the machine and is buildup of sheet steel laminations to
minimize the eddy current losses. They are provided with slots on its inner periphery. A three phase
winding is placed in these slots and serves as the armature winding of the alternator. The
armature winding is always connected to stator and the neutral is connected to ground.
Rotor:- The rotor is rotating part of the alternator. The rotor having alternate N and S poles on
its outer periphery. These poles are magnetized by means of low DC voltage of 125 or 250 V
through two slip rings. This dc source (exciter) is generally a small dc generator mounted on the
shaft of the alternator.

There are two types of rotors:

i)

Salient pole type rotor (Projected Pole) ii) Non-salient pole type rotor (Cylindrical pole)
having the following characteristics.
Salient pole type rotor (Projected Pole)

The poles are projected

Large diameter and small axial length
Suitable for low speed alternator
Air gap is not uniform
More number of poles are used
Used in hydro electric power plant
low Speed (120 to 400 rpm)
More Noise
More windage loss

Non-salient pole type rotor (Cylindrical pole)

The poles are not projected

Small diameter and large axial length
Suitable for high speed alternator
Air gap is uniform
Only 2 or 4 poles are used
Used in thermal power plants
High speed (1500 or 3000 rpm)
Less noise
Less

Operation:
The rotor winding is energized from the DC exciter and an alternate N and S poles are
developed on the rotor. When the rotor is rotated in anticlockwise direction by prime mover, the
stator or armature conductors are cut by the magnetic flux of rotor poles. Consequently, emf is
induced in the stator due to electromagnetic induction. The direction of induced emf can be

found by Flemings right hand rule and frequency is given by

rotor in rpm; P = number of rotor poles.

Salient pole type rotor (Projected Pole)

f=

NP
120

where N= speed of

Salient means sticking out or projected out. A salient pole is a magnetic pole that is
projected out of the rotor surface. The magnetic wheel is made of cast iron or steel with good
magnetic quality. Poles are mounted on a large circular steel frame which is fixed to the shaft of
the alternator. The individual fixed pole windings are connected in series in such a way that when
the field winding is energized by the dc exciter, adjacent poles have opposite polarities.
The salient pole alternators are slow-speed machines, speed varying from 150 to 600
rpm. These alternators are driven by hydraulic turbines.
Salient type rotor has large diameter, small length and low speed. Diameter is usually
between 3-15 m.
Salient type rotor has non-uniform air-gap and more number of poles.
Low and medium speed alternators (120 400 rpm) driven by diesel engines or water
turbines have salient pole type rotors due to following reasons:
The salient field poles would cause an excessive windage loss if driven at high speed and
would tend to produce noise.
Salient-pole construction cannot be made strong enough to withstand the mechanical
stress at higher speeds.
Non-salient pole:
The rotor is made of smooth solid forged steel and cylindrical in shape. Rotor has a
number of slots along outer periphery. The field windings are embedded in these slots and are
connected in series to the slip ring. The field windings are wound such that N and S poles occur
alternately and are energized by the DC exciter. The number of filed poles may be two or four.
Non-salient pole is non-projecting surface type. Rotor has small diameter, large axial length and
uniform air-gap. Non-salient type rotor is used for high speed (1500 or 3000 rpm) are driven by
steam turbines.