AC Machines

Introduction
Synchronous Machines:

Synchronous Generators: A primary source of electrical energy largest

(energy converter).
Synchronous Motors: Used as motors as well as power factor compensator
(synchronous condensers).

Asynchronous(Induction) Machines:

Induction Motors: Most widely used electrical motors in both domestic and
industrial applications.
Induction Generators: Due to lack of a separate field excitation, these
machines are rarely used as generators
 Induction Motor
Most popular motor today in the low and medium horsepower
range

Very robust in construction

Have replaced DC Motors in areas where traditional DC Motors

cannot be used such as mining or explosive environments

Of two types depending on motor construction: Squirrel Cage or

Slip Ring

Only Disadvantage: Most of them run with a lagging power factor

 STATOR CONSTRUCTION

Outer cover called as

stator(stationary) purpose is for
protection of the machine and to
hold the armature / stator winding

The inner periphery of the stator is

slotted and the three phase
balanced winding is placed on the
slot stator winding

A uniform airgap exists between

the stator and the rotor
 Squirrel Cage Rotor

Resistance of the rotor circuit is fixed

 Slip Ring Rotor
The rotor contains windings similar to stator.

The connections from rotor are brought out using slip rings that
are rotating with the rotor and carbon brushes that are static.

Resistance of the rotor circuit can be increased by adding three

phase rheostat

Under running conditions slip rings are automatically short

circuited by means of metal collar (just like squirrel cage rotor
 c
Fb a b RMF(Rotating Magnetic Field)
1.5

F 1
c Fa Fb Fc
b 0.5
Fa
Fc
a t00 t1 t2 t3
-0.5
Fc Fb
t = t0
-1

-1.5
-93 10 113 216
Ns = 120 f / p Space angle () in degrees
F F
Fa
a
b a Fa a
c b b
Fb c c
Fc Fc
b c F
b c b c

a Fb
a a
t = t2 t = t3
t=t
Torque Production in an Induction Motor
In a conventional DC machine field is stationary and the current
carrying conductors rotate.
We can obtain similar results if we make field structure rotating and
current carrying conductor stationary.
In an induction motor the conventional 3-phase winding sets up the
rotating magnetic field(RMF) and the rotor has short circuited
conductors.
An EMF and hence current is induced in the rotor due to the speed
difference between the RMF and the rotor, similar to that in a DC
motor.
This current produces a torque such that the speed difference
between the RMF and rotor is reduced.
Hence the rotor starts rotating in the same direction as that of stator
stator field in order to reduce the speed difference(opposing the
cause producing it)
 The starting torque of induction motor depends on the rotor
resistance (directly proportional).
As the resistance of the squirrel cage induction motor cannot be
changed after construction its starting torque cannot be varied
hence they are used in applications where starting torque required is
low
Resistance of slip ring induction motor can be increased by adding
rheostat and hence they have high starting torques. So they can be
used in applications where the motor is to be started with load
 Slip in Induction Motor
The speed difference cannot become zero because that would stop generation
of the torque producing current itself.

The parameter slip s is a measure of this relative speed difference

N s N r s r
s
Ns s
where Ns , s are the speeds of the RMF in RPM and rad/sec respectively
Nr , r are the speeds of the rotor in RPM and rad/sec respectively
 Wound or Slip ring Rotor

Induction motor -
Outside view of stator

Squirrel Cage Rotor

 Synchronous Generators
Are the primary source of all electrical energy
Commonly used to convert the mechanical
power output of steam turbines, gas turbines,
reciprocating engines, hydro turbines into
electrical power for the grid
Can be extremely large power ratings up to
1500MW!!!
Are known as synchronous machines because
they operate at synchronous speed (speed of
rotor always matches supply frequency)

Most commonly known as alternator

 Construction
The rotor can be Salient or Non-Salient
The rotor is mounted on a shaft driven by
mechanical prime mover
Rotating magnetic field created by DC
field winding on rotor, powered by slip-
rings / brushes
Stationary armature with 3-phase winding
on stator
An AC voltage is induced in the armature
winding to produce electrical power.
The electrical frequency of the 3- phase
output depends upon the mechanical
speed and the number of poles
3-phases directly connected to load
 There are numerous reasons for such an inside-out construction of a
synchronous generator, some of which are listed below.

1. Most synchronous generators are built in much larger sizes than their dc
counterparts. An increase in power capacity of a generator requires thicker
conductors in its armature winding to carry high currents and to minimize
copper losses.

2. Since the induced emf in the armature winding is quite high, it is easier to
insulate it when it is wound inside the stationary member rather than the
rotating member.

3. Since most of the heat is produced by the armature winding, an outer

stationary member can be cooled more efficiently than an inner rotating
member.

4. Since the output of a synchronous generator is of the alternating type, the

armature conductors in the stator can be directly connected to the
transmission line. This eliminates the need for three slip rings for ac power
output.
 A Non salient or
Cylindrical rotor

A Salient rotor or
Projecting pole rotor
Principle of Operation

When the rotor rotates at synchronous speed,

the field produced by the rotor also revolves at
synchronous speed. Hence the flux linking
with the stationary armature conductor
changes and so according to Faradays law an
emf is induced in the 3 phase armature
winding whose frequency is given by
f = NP / 120 Ns= 120f/P

Statically induced emf in the stationary armature

 As in the case of DC generators, the terminal voltage is less than
the generated voltage due to various reasons.

This drop in voltage increases with increase in load.

But this cannot be tolerated as most of our home appliances are

rated for particular voltage only less than which its efficiency and
life will be affected

A factor that gives an indication about this drop in voltage from no

load to full load is the voltage regulation

E0 V
% Re g
V
If the % regulation is low, it indicates that drop in voltage from no
load to full load is low and hence it is good alternator.

Normally the % reg should be less than 10%

 SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR
When three phase supply is given to
balanced three phase winding a rotating
magnetic field is set up revolving in
anticlockwise direction (Say)

Rotor winding is excited by DC source to

produce north and south pole (as per the
flux direction).

When the stator north pole is above rotor

south pole there will be force of attraction
and hence stator pulls rotor also in clockwise
direction
When the stator south pole is above rotor
south pole there will be force of repulsion
and hence the rotor tries to rotate in
anticlock wise direction

But due to high inertia, rotor will not

respond to repeated reversal of torques and
hence motor is not self starting
Starting a Synchronous Motor

A synchronous motor can not start by itself

the motor is equipped with a squirrel case winding (on its projecting
poles called as damper winding )so as to start as an induction motor
during starting, the dc field winding is short circuited
when the motor has accelerated close to synchronous speed, the dc
excitation is then applied to produce the field flux

Pull-in torque

- if the poles on the rotor at the moment the exciting current is applied
happen to be facing poles of opposite polarity on the stator, a strong
magnetic attraction is set up between them.
- the mutual attraction locks the rotor and stator poles together
- the rotor is literally yanked into step with the revolving field
Motor under Load
At no-load conditions, the rotor poles are
directly opposite the stator poles and their
axes coincide

As mechanical load is applied, the rotor

poles fall slightly behind the stator poles,
but continues to turn at synchronous speed

greater torque is developed with increase

separation angle

there is a limit : when the mechanical

load exceeds the pull-out torque; the
motor will stall and come to a halt
APPLICATIONS OF SYNCHRONOUS MOTOR

Power factor correction

Constant speed, constant load drives
Voltage regulation