AC Machines

Alternators

Alternators differ from Generators by:

 They don't have commutators, they
have slip rings (to apply a DC
excitation current to the rotor.)
 Alternators have a rotating field (Rotor)
spinning inside the stationary Stator,
instead of the Generators’ stationary
field and rotating conductors.
Basic Alternator Construction

 Made up of a stator around a rotor.

 Rotor has the magnetic field created
via a small DC excitatory current to
produce an electromagnetic field.
 Stator is the surrounding stationary
conductors from which the power is
generated.
Frequency of Power Produced

 Frequency is speed Dependant

 f = frequency in Hz
 P = number of poles(alternator
construction cannot be changed)
 N= speed in rpm
 f =PN/120
 N= 120 f/P
 P=120 f/N
Controlling Alternator Output

 Control the field strength of the

(rotating flux) via DC supply
 Either manually with a rheostat, or
automatically through electronic
control
Single Phase AC Motors

 Squirrel Cage Motor

Squirrel Cage Motor
 Split phase (separate Start windings -
more turns thin wire and Run windings
fewer turns thick wire)
 at 75% speed of motor centrifugal
switch opens and removes start
winding from the current.
 Capacitor start to change the phase of
Start winding
Squirrel Cage Motor
Shaded Pole AC Motors
 Cannot reverse
 Fractional HP 1/100-1/20
 Used in cooling fans, etc.
Universal AC Motor

 Similar in design to a DC motor

 Stator and Armature windings.
connected in series.
 To reverse direction, swap the polarity
of the Armature windings in relation to
the Stator windings.
Universal AC Motor
Three Phase Alternators (3⍬)

 3 wave forms displaced rotational

120° apart
 3 phase connections can be Delta or
WYE/STAR connected.
Three Phase Motors (3⍬)
 Stator(same as squirrel cage)
 The “Squirrel Cage” Chases the spinning
field.
 There will always be a lag in the cage/rotor
called slip. This is caused by losses like
friction.
Three Phase Motors (3⍬)
Three Phase Motor (3⍬)
Wiring
AC Motor Nameplates
Insulation Classes