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Description
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produce a constant voltage at the stator output. The field current is much smaller
than the output current of the alternator; for example, a 70-amp alternator may
need only 2 amps of field current.
The field windings are initially supplied via the ignition switch and charge
warning light, which is why the light glows when the ignition is on but the engine
is not running. Once the engine is running and the alternator is generating, a
diode feeds the field current from the alternator main output, thus equalizing the
voltage across the warning light which goes out. The wire supplying the field
current is often referred to as the "exciter" wire. The drawback of this
arrangement is that if the warning light fails or the "exciter" wire is disconnected,
no priming current reaches the alternator field windings and so the alternator will
not generate any power. However, some alternators will self-excite when the
engine is revved to a certain speed. The driver may check for a faulty exciter-
circuit by ensuring that the warning light is glowing with the engine stopped.
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Parts
The stationary part of a motor or alternator is called the stator and the
rotating part is called the rotor. The coils of wire that are used to produce a
magnetic field are called the field and the coils that produce the power are called
the armature. The coils of wire that are used to create the field and the armature
are sometimes referred to as the “windings”.
Function
Exciter
The exciter field coils are on the stator and its armature is on the rotor.
The AC output from the exciter armature is fed through a set of diodes that are
also mounted on the rotor to produce a DC voltage. This is fed directly to the field
coils of the main alternator, which are also located on the rotor. With this
arrangement, brushes and slip rings are not required to feed current to the
rotating field coils. This can be contrasted with a simple automotive alternator
where brushes and slip rings are used to supply current to the rotating field.
Main Alternator
Control System
Varying the amount of current through the stationary exciter field coils
controls the strength of the magnetic field in the exciter. This in turn controls the
output from the exciter. The exciter output is fed into the rotating field of the main
alternator to supply the magnetic field for it. The strength of the magnetic field in
the main alternator then controls its output. The result of all this is that a small
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current, in the field of the exciter indirectly controls the output of the main
alternator and none of it has to go through brushes and slip-rings.
AVR
Hybrid automobiles
Hybrid automobiles replace the separate alternator and starter motor with
a combined motor/generator that performs functions, cranking the internal
combustion engine when starting, providing additional mechanical power for
accelerating, and charging a large storage battery when the vehicle is running at
constant speed. These rotating machines have considerably more powerful
electronic devices for their control than the simple automotive alternator
described above.
Radio alternators
Principle of Operation
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Illustration
SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR
Description
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Parts
Functions
If we imagine that the rotor magnetic field moves past the “a” stator phase
first, we would expect a strong induced voltage for the a-phase. As the rotor turns
and moves its magnetic field past the b and c coils, those coils would also show
a surge in voltage respectively. The sequence of voltages shown in the figure is
termed the abc-sequence since the a-phase takes its peak first, then the b-phase
and finally the c-phase. Note that the voltages all have the same frequency and
equal amplitude but are displaced by 120o. (As the rotor turns and moves past
the a’, b’ and c’, the negative voltage peaks occur.)
The DC current flowing in the field winding will set up a magnetic field on
the rotor (think here North and South poles). The prime mover (mechanical
engine) will then spin the rotor at what we will soon refer to as synchronous
speed. The magnetic field sweeping past, the stationary stator coils will induce
voltages. This phenomenon is described by Faradays law, and was present as
the back EMF in the DC motors you studied previously. Since the phase coils are
spatially displaced, the induced voltages will be time displaced and will constitute
a balanced set (same frequency, equal amplitude, and displaced).
Principle of Operation
If you start forcing the magnet around (instead of letting the current from
the grid move it), you will discover that it works like a generator, sending
alternating current back into the grid. (You should have a more powerful magnet
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to produce much electricity). The more force (torque) you apply, the more
electricity you generate, but the generator will still run at the same speed dictated
by the frequency of the electrical grid.
You may disconnect the generator completely from the grid, and start your
own private 3-phase electricity grid, hooking your lamps up to the three coils
around the electromagnets. (Remember the principle of magnetic / electrical
induction from the reference manual section of this web site). If you disconnect
the generator from the main grid, however, you will have to crank it at a constant
rotational speed in order to produce alternating current with a constant frequency.
Consequently, with this type of generator you will normally want to use an indirect
grid connection of the generator.
Illustration
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INDUCTION MOTOR
Polyphase Motor
Description
Parts
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The stator in Figure above is wound with pairs of coils corresponding to
the phases of electrical energy available. The 2-phase induction motor stator
above has 2-pairs of coils, one pair for each of the two phases of AC. The
individual coils of a pair are connected in series and correspond to the opposite
poles of an electromagnet. That is, one coil corresponds to a N-pole, the other to
a S-pole until the phase of AC changes polarity. The other pair of coils is oriented
90o in space to the first pair. This pair of coils is connected to AC shifted in time
by 90o in the case of a 2-phase motor. In Tesla's time, the source of the two
phases of AC was a 2-phase alternator.
The stator in Figure above has salient, obvious protruding poles, as used
on Tesla's early induction motor. This design is used to this day for sub-fractional
horsepower motors (<50 watts). However, for larger motors less torque pulsation
and higher efficiency results if the coils are embedded into slots cut into the
stator laminations.
Functions
The stator and the rotor are electrical circuits that perform as
electromagnets. The stator is the stationary electrical part of the motor. The
stator core of a NEMA motor is made up of several hundred thin laminations.
Principle of Operation
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electromagnet is such that it pulls against the permanent magnet. The disk
follows with a little less speed than the permanent magnet.
Illustration
Single-phase Motor
Description
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stator field (Lenz’s law applies). The interaction between the rotor and stator
fields will not produce rotation, however. The interaction is shown by the double-
ended arrow in figure 4-10, view A. Because this force is across the rotor and
through the pole pieces, there is no rotary motion, just a push and/or pull along
this line.
Parts
Functions
A single-phase power system has one coil in the generator. Therefore, one
alternating voltage is generated. The voltage curve of a single-phase AC
generator is shown in Figure 16.
We will not go into detail here regarding how each single-phase motor
type functions.
Principle of Operation
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Once the rotor is up to full speed, it will continue to run with the second
winding disconnected. This is because the rotor circuit is both resistive and
inductive. If we consider the magnetic field rotating in the same direction as the
rotor, the frequency of the current will be low, so the rotor current will be primarily
limited by the rotor resistance. In the case of the counter rotating field, the
frequency of the induced current will be almost twice line frequency and so the
inductance of the rotor will play a much greater role in limiting the rotor current. In
other words, once the motor is up to speed, it will lock on to one field only and
the second winding can be disconnected. If the second winding remains in
circuit, the displaced field reduces the magnetic fluctuations in the gap and
therefore provides a more even torque and less vibration. Some "start" windings
are only designed for intermittent operation and they must be disconnected at the
end of the start. Continuous operation using these windings would cause a
winding failure. Most single phase motors are fitted with a centrifugal switch to
disconnect the start winding once the motor is close to full speed.
Illustration
SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
Description
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contained within a magnetic field. The force is described by the Lorentz force law
and is perpendicular to both the wire and the magnetic field. Most magnetic
motors are rotary, but linear motors also exist. In a rotary motor, the rotating part
(usually on the inside) is called the rotor, and the stationary part is called the
stator. The rotor rotates because the wires and magnetic field are arranged so
that a torque is developed about the rotor’s axis.
Parts
Functions
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distribution had been developed at the time. Like Sturgeon's motor, there was no
practical commercial market for these motors.
Principle of Operation
The strong rotating magnetic field attracts the strong rotor field activated
by the dc. This results in a strong turning force on the rotor shaft. The rotor is
therefore able to turn a load as it rotates in step with the rotating magnetic field. It
works this way once it’s started. However, one of the disadvantages of a
synchronous motor is that it cannot be started from a standstill by applying three-
phase ac power to the stator. When ac is applied to the stator, a high-speed
rotating magnetic field appears immediately. This rotating field rushes past the
rotor poles so quickly that the rotor does not have a chance to get started. In
effect, the rotor is repelled first in one direction and then the other. A synchronous
motor in its purest form has no starting torque. It has torque only when it is
running at synchronous speed. A squirrel-cage type of winding is added to the
rotor of a synchronous motor to cause it to start. The squirrel cage is shown as
the outer part of the rotor in figure 4-7. It is so named because it is shaped and
looks something like a turn able squirrel cage. Simply, the windings are heavy
copper bars shorted
Synchronous motors are made in sizes ranging from sub fractional self-
excited units to large-horsepower, direct-current-excited motors for industrial
drives. In the fractional-horsepower range, synchronous motors are used
primarily where precise constant speed is required.
Illustration
REFERENCES
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Books:
Internet:
http://www.wikipedia.org/
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