Exercise 19

Alternator Power

OBJECTIVES
• To observe the effect of dc excitation upon the power delivered by an
alternator.
• To observe the effect of power delivered by an alternator upon the torque of
the prime mover.

DISCUSSION
Apart from portable or mobile engine driven ac alternators operating in remote
areas or for emergency use, most ac generators feed into large electrical distribu-
tion networks where the frequency and voltage have been established by other
generators operating in the system. Alternators are then said to feed into an "infi-
nite bus", meaning literally, a large electrical distribution system of tremendous
power. The existing frequency and voltage of this infinite bus cannot be altered by
the addition of any incoming alternator.
The incoming alternator will have a constant flux in its air-gap because of the fixed-
frequency and voltage of the "infinite bus" it is connected to. The flux is normally
produced by the dc rotor current and/or the ac currents in the stator. Should the do
current be less than that needed to produce the required flux, then the stator must
supply the difference by drawing lagging reactive power from the infinite bus.
Conversely, if the do rotor current is larger than required, the stator will draw lead-
ing reactive power from the infinite bus, and the alternator looks like a capacitor.
Changing the dc excitation of an alternator that is lied" into an infinite bus can only
cause it to exchange more or less reactive power with the infinite bus.
An alternator can only deliver active power (watts) to an infinite bus by forcing its
rotor to move ahead of its normal no-load position. Mechanical torque must be
applied to attain and keep this advanced rotor position. The torque multiplied by
the speed is a measure of the mechanical power which the alternator receives
and, therefore, the electric power it delivers. It is clear then, that the prime mover
must apply torque to the rotor. The more torque applied the greater will be the
active power delivered by the alternator until it reaches the limit of its capacity.

An alternator can smoothly glide into synchronous motor operation when the prime
mover ceases to deliver driving torque to it. In fact, an alternator (operating as a
synchronous motor off the infinite bus) may deliver mechanical power to its prime
mover. An alternator, driven by a water turbine, can, in stepless fashion, become a
synchronous motor, driving the water turbine as a water pump.
 1

Alternator Power 1

INSTRUMENTS AND COMPONENTS 1

MODEL
DESCRIPTION
8426-10
AC Voltmeter
8501
DC Motor/Generator
Wiring Module DC Motor/Generator
Synchronous Motor/Generator
8502
8507
1
8508
Wiring Module for Synchronous Motor/Generator
DC Volt-Ammeter
AC Ammeter
8513
1
5
88855111546
Three-Phase Wattmeter
Three-Phase Varmeter
Synchronizing Module 8518
I
Field Rheostat (2) 8524
Three-Phase Power Supply
Connection Lead Set
8525
8550
I
Electrical Tachometer (2 kW) 8930
Coupler 8943

PROCEDURE
Caution: High voltages are present in this Laboratory Experiment! Do not
make any connections with the power on! The power should be
turned off after completing each individual measurement!

I: 1.
L a) Connect your DC Motor/Generator and your Synchronous Motor!
Generator to their respective wiring modules and couple them 1
together.

b) Install your Electrical Tachometer on one of the two machines.

2. a) Using your Power Supply Module, your Wiring Module for DC Motor/
Generator, your Wiring Module for Synchronous Motor/Generator, two
Field Rheostat Modules, your DC Metering Module, your AC Ammeter
Module, your AC Voltmeter Module, your Synchronizing Module, your
Three Phase Wattmeter Module and your Three Phase Varmeter
Module, connect the circuit shown in Figure 19-1.

b) Note that the alternator output is connected through the wattmeter, the
varmeter and the synchronizing modules to the fixed 208 V ac 34> out-
put of the power supply (terminals 1, 2 and 3).

c) Note that the alternator rotor is connected to the fixed 120 V dc output
of the power supply (terminals 8 and N).

d) Note that the dc shunt motor is connected to the variable 0-120 V de

output of the power supply (terminals 7 and N).

❑ 3. a) Set the dc motor field rheostat at its full cw position (for minimum
resistance).