Three Phase Synchronous Machines

Overview
 Introduction
 Three Phase Synchronous
Generator  Three Phase Synchronous
 Constructional Details Motor
 Armature Windings  Principle of Operation
 Types of Rotor
 Starting Methods
 Exciter
 Working Principle  No Load and Load operation
 EMF equation, distribution factor,  Phasor Diagram
pitch factor
 Effect of Excitation and Power
 Armature reaction and its effects
 Alternator with load and its phasor Factor Control
diagram

2
Introduction
 A synchronous machine is an AC machine in which the rotor
moves at a speed which bears a constant relationship to the
frequency of currents, in the armature winding.
 A synchronous machine is one of the important types of
electric machines.
 Synchronous machine are AC rotating machine which can be
used as either generator or motor.
 In case of a generator, the machine has to be driven at a
constant speed equal to the synchronous speed.Whereas
synchronous motor automatically rotates at a constant speed
equal to the synchronous speed.

3
 Introduction
 Large AC network operating at constant frequency rely almost
exclusively on synchronous generators (also called the alternators)
for the supply of electrical energy.
 Private, standby end peak-load plants with diesel or gas- turbine
prime movers also have synchronous generators.
 Synchronous machines are generally constructed in larger sizes.
 Small size alternators are not economical.The modern trend is to
build alternators of very large size capable of generating 500 MVA
or even more.
 The synchronous motor is rarely built in small sizes owing to
superior performance characteristics and economical
construction of induction motors.

4
Construction
 The main parts of a synchronous machine are:
 Stator or armature
 Rotor
 Exciter

5
Stator or Armature
 The armature is an iron ring formed of laminations of special
magnetic iron or steel alloy (silicon steel) having slots on its inner
periphery to accommodate armature conductors and is known as
stator.
 The whole structure is held in a frame which may be of cast iron
or welded steel plates.
 The field rotates in between the stator; flux of the rotating field
cuts the core of the stator continuously and therefore causes eddy
current loss in the stator core.To minimize the eddy current loss,
the stator core is laminated.
 The stator is exactly same as the stator of 3 – ø induction motor.It
has uniformly distributed three phase armature winding.

6
Rotor
 The field system is just like that of a d.c. generator which is excited
from a separate source of 125 or 250V dc supply.
 The excitation is usually provided from a small dc shunt or compound
generator, known as an exciter, mounted on the shaft of the alternator
itself.
 The field system of the alternator is rotated within the armature ring
and is known as rotor.
 The exciting current is supplied to the rotor through two slip-rings
and brushes.
 Rotor is the rotating part of the machine with number of magnetic
poles excited by the dc source from exciter.
 There are two types of rotor, namely, cylindrical type rotor and salient
7
pole rotor.
 Cylindrical Rotor
 This type of rotor has got smooth magnetic poles in form of a
closed cylinder.
 These types of rotors are used in very high speed alternators
(driven by steam turbines).
 To reduce the peripheral velocity, the diameter of the rotor is
reduced and axial length is increased. Such rotors have two or four
poles (see figure 1).
 The cylindrical rotor (or also known as non-salient pole type) has
the following special features:
 They are of small diameter and of very long axial length
 Less windage loss
 High operating speed i.e. 3000 RPM
 Robust construction and noiseless operation

8
 Figure 1: Cylindrical Rotor (Non-Salient Pole Rotor)

9
Salient Pole Rotor
 The rotor of this type is used almost entirely for low and moderate
speed alternators, since it is least expensive and provides
ample(enough) space for the field ampere-turns.
 Salient poles cannot be employed in high speed generators on
account of very high peripheral speed (100 to 170 meters per
second) and the difficulty of obtaining sufficient magnetic
strength.
 The salient poles are made of thick steel laminations riveted
together and are fixed to rotor by a dovetail joints.
 The salient pole field structure have large diameter and short axial
length, the pole shoes cover almost 2/3 of pole pitch and salient
poles are employed with hydraulic turbines or diesel engines.
 The speed is 100 to 375 RPM (see figure 2).

10
 Figure 2: Salient Pole Rotor

11
12
 Exciter
 It is a self excited dc generator mounted on the shaft of the
main machine.
 The function of the exciter is to supply dc current to the field
winding of the rotor.
 The dc current generated by the exciter is fed to the field
winding of the alternator through slip ring and carbon
brushes.

13
Synchronous Generator
 Synchronous Generator

15
Figure 6: : Alternator with salient pole rotor
Synchronous Generator

 Synchronous generator is also known as alternator as it produces

alternating voltage.
 The shaft of the machine is driven by the prime mover at a constant
speed equal to the synchronous speed (i.e. Ns = 120f/P).
 Like the dc generator a synchronous generator functions on the basis
of Faraday‟s Law.
 The exciter (dc generator) builds up its voltage and supplies dc
current to the field winding of the main generator.
 The magnetic flux produced by the rotor pole will cut the stationary
three phase stator winding.
 Hence, according to the Faraday‟s Law of electromagnetic induction,
three phase emf will induce in the stator winding.
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 Synchronous Generator

 In an actual power generating station, speed governor is used

to keep the speed of the machine constant automatically at
any load condition so that the frequency of generated emf is
constant.
 But there is one important difference between the two.
 In DC generator, the field poles are stationary and armature
conductor are rotating.
 But in synchronous generator, the field poles are rotating and
armature conductor (i.e. stator conductors) are stationary.

17
 Synchronous Generator

 Considering the machine as shown

in Figure 3 and assuming that the
flux density in the air gap is
uniform implies that sinusoidally
varying voltages will be induced in
the three coils RR,YY, and BB if
the rotor carrying dc rotates at a
constant speed, Ns.

Figure 3:AThree PhaseWound Rotor

18
 Figure 5: Flux density distribution
Figure 4: A 3 – ø round rotormachine
produced by the rotor excitation

19
 Synchronous Generator
 If ø is the flux per pole, ω is the angular frequency & N is the
number of turns in phase (coil RR‟) then the voltage induced
in phase R is given by:
 eR = ωNø sinwt = Em sinωt
 Here, Em = 2πfNø & f = (ω/2π) is the frequency of the
induced voltage.As phases „Y‟& „B‟are displaced from phase R
by ± 120° then the corresponding voltage may be written
as,
 eY = Em sin (ωt – 120°)
 eB = Em sin (ωt + 120°)

20
 Synchronous Generator
 After an AC generator is brought up to its proper speed (for 50
Hz, 3 – ø, if P = 2 then, NS= 120f/P = 3000 RPM and if P = 4,
then NS = 1500 RPM) by its prime mover, its field is excited from
a DC generator.
 As the poles move under the armature conductors on the stator,
the field flux cutting across the conductors induces an emf in
them.
 Since, no commutator are used this alternating emf generated
appears at the stator winding terminals.
 The amount of emf depends in the field strength and speed of the
rotor.
 The speed is controlled by the governor attached to the prime
mover. Since, most generators are operated at constant speed,the
amount of emf generated becomes dependent on the field
excitation.
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 Synchronous Generator: EMF Equation
Let Z = No. of conductors or coil sides in series per phase
Or, Z = 2.T, whereT = No. of turns in series per phase.
P = No. of magnetic pole in the rotor
f = frequency of induced emf
ø = magnetic flux per pole
N = speed of the rotor in RPM
 In one revolution of the rotor (i.e., in 60/N sec) each stator
conductor is cut by a flux of ø. P,webers.
 Therefore, average emf induced per conductor = dø/dt
= ø.P/(60/N), volts

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Synchronous Generator: EMF Equation
 But f = (P.N)/120 or, N = 120f/P
 Therefore, average emf induced per conductor
= (ø.P/60)*(120f/P) = 2.f.ø, volts
 Then, average emf induced per phase = 2.f.ø.Z
(Where, Z=2T)
= 2.f.ø.2T = 4.f.ø.T, volts
 We know that form factor for sinewave
= RMS value/ Average value
= 1.11
 Therefore, RMS value of emf per phase
= 1.11 * 4.f.ø.T
= 4.44 f.ø.T, volts…………………………..(1)

24
 Synchronous Generator: EMF Equation
 Besides the factor indicated by the equation (1), there are
some other factors which affects the magnitude of emf
induced in stator windings.
 The factors are:
 pitch factor &
 distribution factor of the stator winding.

25
 Pitch Factor
 The coil span of the armature winding ideally equals to a pole pitch (i.e.,
spacing over 180° electrical).
 But in actual machine, the span may be less than 180° electrical,such
winding is known as “short pitch winding”.

25
Fig.(a) Fig.(b)
 Pitch Factor
 Let us take an example of a stator having 24 numbers of slots with
4-pole winding.
 Coil span = No. of slots/ No. of poles = 24/4 = 6
 Fig a. shows a full pitched winding with coil span = 6
 Let EAB = emf induced across the coil side -AB
 , ECD = emf induced across the coil side - CD
 Here, EAB & ECD are exactly 180° out of phase. Hence, the total
emf across the coil is given by:
 EAD = EAB + ECD = E + E = 2 E(say)
 Fig b, shows a short-pitched winding with coil span = 5 (shorted
by a slot). Short pitch coils are used to improve the waveform of
generated emf.The generated waveform can be made
approximately sine wave with short-pitched winding.

27
Pitch Factor
 In Fig. (b), one slot = 180°/6 = 30°
 Therefore, EAB & ECD are 180° - 30° = 150° out of phase.
Hence, the total emf across the coil is given by the vector sum
of EAB & ECD.
 Hence, EAD= 2E cos (∝/2) = 2 E cos 15°
Now, the pitch factor is defined as,
KP
= emf induced in the short pitch coil/ emf induced in the full
pitch coil
= [2E cos(∝/2)] /2E = cos 15°= 0.966

28
 Distribution Factor
 In an actual machine the stator winding are not concentrated
in a slot. The windings are uniformly distributed in many
numbers of slots to form polar group under each pole (see
fig. c).

Fig c: Distributed winding

29
 Distribution Factor
 The figure shows only a R-phase winding for 4 pole, 24 slots stator so
that the slot per pole per phase is 2.
 The coil sides AB & CD constitute one polar group.Angular
displacement between AB & CD is 30° electrical.
 If the two coil side AB and CD are bunched in a slot, then the total emf
induced in the two coil side will be the arithmetic sum of EAB & ECD.
 Since, the coil sides are distributed into two slot; the individual emfs
have a phase difference of 30°.
 Their vector sum will be again 2Ecos 15°.
 The distribution factor is defined as:
KD = emf induced with distributed winding/emf induced with
concentrated winding
= [2E cos(∝/2)]/2E = cos 15°°= 0.966


30
 Distribution Factor
 Note that, if the winding are concentrated in a slot,extremely
deep slot will be required to accommodate whole turns of
windings, which will increase the armature leakage reactance.
 Now, considering the two factors i.e. pitch and distribution
factors, equation 1 can be written as:

E = 4.44 KP.KD.f.ø.T volts per phase ………………………(2)

 Since, NS =120f/P
 Hence, E.∝ NS. ø……………………………….(3)
 The flux per pole ø can be controlled by changing the field
current through rotor field winding. Automatic voltage regulator is
used to control this field excitation so that the alternator generates
constant voltage at any load condition.

31
 Synchronous Generator
 Figure D shows a two pole synchronous generator & the
waveform of emf induced in R – R‟phase.
 The emf induced can be represented by the mathematical
equation:
eR = EM Sin ωt = EM Sin 2π f.t…………………(4)
Where,
ω = Angular velocity of the rotor (radian/sec)
f = frequency of emf induced.

32
 Fig D: Two pole machine

33
 Synchronous Generator
 EMF induced in theY-phase coil & B-phase coil will have similar
waveform as that of eR, but eY lags eR by 120° & eB lags eR by 240°
& their mathematical equation are given by:
eY = EM Sin (ωt + 120°)…………………………. (5)
eB = EM Sin (ωt - 240°)…………………………..(6)
 When the rotor completes one revolution (360° geometrical
degree), a cycle of emf will generate.
 The frequency of emf generated is given by:
f = P.N/120
 Where, P = No. of magnetic poles in the rotor
N = Speed of rotor in RPM

34
 Synchronous Generator
 Fig E shows a four pole synchronous generator.
 If the rotor is rotated at the same speed as the fig. D., during the
360° geometrical degree rotation of rotor (or during the time of
generating one cycle of emf in 2 pole machine) two cycle of emf
will generate in the 4-pole machine.
 The frequency of emf generated in 4-pole machine will be double
of frequency of emf in 2-pole machine [f = P.N/120 =
(4*3000)/120 = 100Hz].
 If EMF of 50 Hz is to be generated from the 4 pole machine, the
rotor has to be rotated at a lower speed of 1500 RPM.The relation
between electrical degree & geometrical degree is given by,

 Electrical degree = P/2 *geometrical degree

35
 Fig. E: Four pole machine

36
 Rotating Magnetic System
 The magnetic field system in synchronous generator is
opposite to that in a DC generator.
 A DC generator has stationary magnetic field pole and
rotating armature conductor whereas a synchronous
generator has rotating magnetic system & stationary
armature conductors.

37
Advantages of Rotating Magnetic System
 The rotating magnetic system has the following advantages:

 The output current can be sent to the load directly from the fixed
terminals on the stator without slip ring & brushes.

 It is easier to insulate stationary armature winding for high voltage

(usually 11 KV or higher) rather than rotating armature.

 The field winding deals with low current at low voltage. Therefore,
the rotating magnetic field winding can be easily insulated. Also,slip
rings & brushes do not have to handle large currents so that the
sparking problems at slip rings are minimum.

38
 Rotating Magnetic system
The magnitude of emf induced per phase is given by, e
= ω.N. ø Sin wt volt/phase
 In R.M.S.Value,
E = 4.44KC. Kd. føN volt per phase
Where,
KC = Coil span factor
Kd = distribution factor (the value of KC & Kd are less than 1)
f = frequency of emf generated in Hz
ø = flux per pole in weber.
N = number of terms in stator winding per phase.
 Since, NS = 120f/P
 E = 4.44 KC Kd (NS P/120) øN
 Therefore, E∝ NSø

39
 Effect of Armature Reaction in
Synchronous Generator
 When the synchronous generator is loaded with external load,
current will flow through the armature windings.
 These current carrying armature winding will set up its own
magnetic field which is also rotating in nature.
 The effect of this armature field on the field produced
by rotor is known as armature reaction.The nature of
armature reaction depends upon the power factor of the load.
 For unity power factor of load, the armature reaction is cross-
magnetizing in nature.
 For pure inductive load (lagging), the armature reaction is
demagnetizing in nature.
 For pure capacitive load (leading), the armature reaction is
magnetizing in nature.

40
 Armature Reaction

Fig a: Position after 90° rotation Fig b: Armature flux

41
 Armature Reaction

Fig c: Phasor diagram of generated voltage Fig D: Phasor diagram of armature flux

42
 Armature Reaction

Fig E: Resultant of armature flux

43
 Armature Reaction
1) If the load is purely resistive (p.f.=1), there will be no
phase difference between the terminal voltage (V) & the
armature current. Since, the nature of flux will be in phase
with armature current, the magnetic flux produced by
three phase windings will have similar waveform as that of
the terminal voltage as shown in fig a & b.
The mathematical equation of three flux can be written as:
 øR = øm Sin ωt
 øY = øm Sin (ωt - 120°)
 øB = øm Sin (ωt - 240°)

44
 Armature Reaction
 When the magnet rotates 90° from its zero position, voltage
& current in the R-coil will be positive maximum & voltage
& current in theY-coil & B- coil will be negative.
 These facts can be seen as follows:
 At ωt = 90°
øR = øm Sin 90 ° = øm
øY = øm Sin (ωt – 120°) = øm Sin (90° - 120°) = -1/2 øm
øB = øm Sin (ωt - 240°) = øm Sin (90° – 240°) = -1/2 øm
 Then, the net magnetic flux set by an armature is given by
the vector sum of øR, øY,& øB.

45
 Armature Reaction
 According to fig E, the resultant flux øA = 1.5 øm, whose
direction lags by an angle of 90° with the direction of main
flux (øm) produced by the rotor.
 Both of these flux rotates with the same speed in the same
direction.Therefore, at every instant the armature reaction
flux (øA) try to distort the main flux (øm).

46
 Armature Reaction
2) If the load in inductive (say the
load current lags the terminal
voltage „V‟by an angle of ∝), then
the waveforms of armature flux
will also lag by an angle of ∝
w.r.to that in case of resistive load.
 Hence, the resultant armature flux
(øA) lags the main flux (øm) by an
angle of (90° + ∝).
Fig. F: Phasor diagram ofmain
flux & armature reaction flux for
inductive load

47
 Armature Reaction
 Here, the armature reaction flux (øA) has two components:

 tøASin ∝ = component along the direction opposite to

øm.This component is known as demagnetizing component.
 øA Cos ∝ = component along the direction perpendicular o
øm.This component is known as cross- magnetizing component.

48
 Armature Reaction
3)If the load is capacitive (say the load current leads the voltage „V‟by
an angle of ∝), then the waveforms of armature flux will also lead
by an angle of ∝ w.r.to that in case of resistive load.
Hence, the resultant armature flux (øA) lags the main flux (øm) by an
angle of (90° – ∝).

Here, again the armature reaction

flux (øA) has two components:
•øA Sin∝ : Component along the
direction of øm. This component is
known as magnetizing component.
•øA cos∝ : Component along the
direction perpendicular to øm. This
component is known as cross-
48 Fig: Phasor diagram of main flux for magnetizing component.
capacitive load
 Alternator on Load
 It is known that the stator of the synchronous generator has
three sets of winding on which emfs are induced. Usually
these three windings are „star‟connected & the neutral is
earthed as shown in the figure.
 When the generator is loaded as shown in figure, current will
flow through the stator winding & some voltage drop will
take place in the stator winding. Therefore, the terminal
voltage across the load will not be equal to the emf induced
in the stator winding.

50
 Alternator on Load

Fig: Alternator with load

51
 Alternator on Load
 Let E = emf induced per phase in the stator winding
V = terminal voltage across the load per phase
 At no- load operation, the terminal voltage (V) will be equal
to the emf induced (E). But at loaded operation, the terminal
voltage (V) will be less than the emf induced (E) due to
following three reasons:
 Voltage drop due to armature winding resistance.
 Voltage drop due to leakage reactance of armature winding
 Armature reaction

52
 Alternator on Load
 Let Ra = Armature winding resistance perphase
 XL = Leakage reactance of armature winding per
phase
 Then, the terminal voltage is given by,

53
 Alternator on Load
 Fig shows the phasor
diagram showing the effects
of armature resistance &
armature leakage reactance.
 In the figure,
 Ø = power factor angle of Fig: Phasor diagram
the load

54
 Parallel operation and synchronization
 If the load on a generator station becomes so large that the rating of the
running generators is exceeded, it becomes necessary to add another
generator in parallel to increase the power available from the generating
station.
 Before, two synchronous generators may be connected in parallel; the
following conditions must be fulfilled:
 Their phase sequence must be the same
 Their terminal voltages must be equal
 Their voltages must be in phase
 Their frequencies must be equal.
 The percent impedance of both alternators should be same.
 When two generators are operating so that requirements are satisfied,
they are said to be in synchronous. The operation of getting the machine
into synchronism is called synchronizing.

55
 Arrangement for Synchronization

56
 Parallel operation and synchronization
 Figure shows an arrangement for synchronizing two alternators.
Alternator-1 is running & alternator-2 is required to be connect in
parallel with alternator- 1.
 The alternator-2 is speeded up to its synchronous speed by the
prime mover.
 The switch SI is open in the beginning.
 First of all the phase sequence is checked to confirm the
respective phases are connected.
 The excitation of the alternator is adjusted so that the voltmeter
reads zero indicating that the terminal voltage of both alternators
are equal.The condition of same frequency & the phases of emf
generated by the both alternator can be checked by the three lamp
synchronoscope.

57
 Parallel operation and synchronization
 The lamp LI is connected acrossY &Y‟,L2 is connected across B & R‟
& L3 is connected across R & B‟.
 Physically these three lamps are installed in a triangular format.
 If the conditions of same terminal voltage of both the alternators,
equal frequency of both the alternators & in phase sequence of
emf generated by both the alternators, are satisfied then LI gets
zero voltage across it, L2 & L3 gets maximum line voltage across
them.
 Hence, at these conditions LI will get darkand L2 L3 will be
equally bright.Then we close switch S1 to connect the two
alternator in parallel.

58
 Parallel operation and synchronization
 If the alternator-2 is running fast i.e., frequency of
alternator-2 is greater than the frequency of alternator- 1.
Lamps will glow one after another in order of 2, 3, 1 i.e., in
anti-clockwise direction. In this case, the speed of alternator-
2 has to be adjusted until LI gets dark and L2 L3 are equally
bright.
 If the alternator-2 is running slow i.e., frequency of
alternator-2 is less than the frequency of alternator-1, lamp
will glow one after other in the order of 3,2,1 i.e., in
clockwise direction. In this case the speed of alternator -2 has
to be adjusted until L1 gets dark and L2 L3 are equally bright.

59
Synchronous Motor
 Synchronous Motor
 A synchronous motor has the same relationship to an
alternator as a DC motor has to a DC generator. i.e., if an
alternator is supplied with AC power it is capable of rotating
as a motor and doing mechanical work.
 If the mechanical power supplied to a rotating alternator is
removed while the DC field remains energized, and an AC
supply is then connected across the armature terminals,
torque will be developed and the alternator will continue to
rotate at a speed determined by the AC supply frequency and
number of poles on the synchronous machine.

61
 Synchronous Motor
 Synchronous motors are AC motor which always rotates at a
constant speed equal to synchronous speed.
 Some characteristics feature of synchronous motor are:
 It can run either at synchronous speed or not at all, i.e; while
running it maintains a constant speed equal to the synchronous
speed.
 It is not self starting; some auxiliary means has to be used to
start the motor.
 The motor can be operated at wide range of power factors both
lagging and leading.

62
 Operating principle

Fig.: A salient rotor synchronous motor

63
 Operating principle
 When the starter winding are supplied by 3 – ø voltage,
rotating magnetic field will produce.
 At starting, the rotor field windings are unexcited and the
rotor is driven at synchronous speed by some auxiliary
means.
 Then, the rotor field windings are supplied by DC current
and the auxiliary means axis disconnected, the rotor pole and
stator pole will get engaged with a strong force and the rotor
continuously rotates with synchronous speed.

64
 Operating principle

Figure: Circuit diagram of 3 – ø synchronous motor

 Figure shows the circuit diagram of a synchronous motor.

 Like in DC motor back emf is induced in the armature winding.
 The magnitude of back emf Eb is proportional to the flux per pole (ø) or field
current If.
 XS = Synchronous reactance of armature winding
 Ra = Resistance of armature winding
65
 Operating principle
 Since, the stator winding has fixed number of turns and rotor
speed is constant, and Eb emf is AC in nature, the magnitude
of Eb is constant unless If is changed. But the phase angle of Eb
changes with load. (see the phasor diagram in figure)

Fig: Phasor diagram

66
 Operating principle
 Synchronous motor is not self starting.
 When the stator windings are supplied by three phase
voltage, rotating magnetic field will produce.
 At the same time if the rotor field windings are excited by
DC current, the rotor poles will get magnetized.
 But the interaction between stator magnetic field and rotor
magnetic field will not be able to produce a continuous
rotation. This fact can be explainedas follows:

67
 Operating principle
 At starting, the position of rotor poles could have many
alternative positions relative to the stator poles as shown in
figure below:

68
 Operating principle
 If the relative position between rotor poles and stator poles at
the starting is as shown as fig a., the like poles will get repel
and the tendency of the rotor will be to rotate in anti-
clockwise direction.
 But after some time, the N-pole of the stator and S-pole of
the rotor comes face to face.
 Then, these opposite poles will try to get attracted with each
other, then the tendency of the rotor will be to rotate in
clockwise direction. But the heavy mass of the rotor cannot
response to such a quick reversal of direction of rotation.
Hence, the rotor remains at rest.

69
 Operating principle
 If the relative position between rotor poles and stator poles at the
starting is as shown in figure b, the unlike poles will get attracted
and the tendency of the rotor will be to rotate in clockwise
direction along with the stator poles.
 But the heavy mass of the rotor cannot pick –up the synchronous
speed immediately.
 Therefore, after sometime, N-pole of the stator and N- pole of the
rotor comes face to face.
 Now, the like poles repels each other and the tendency of the
rotor will be to rotate in anti- clockwise direction. But the heavy
mass of the rotor cannot response to such a quick reversal of
direction of rotation. Hence, the rotor remains at rest.

70
 Operating principle
 If the relative position between rotor poles and stator poles at
the starting is as shown in figure c, the like poles will get
repel and the tendency of the rotor will be to rotate in anti-
clockwise direction.
 But after sometime, the N-pole of the stator and S-pole of
the rotor comes face to face.
 Then these opposite poles will try to get attract with each
other, then, the tendency of the rotor will be to rotate in
clockwise direction. But the heavy mass of the rotor cannot
response to such quick reversal of direction of rotation.
Hence, the rotor remains at rest.

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 Operating principle
 Hence, at any position, the motor is not self starting.
 If the rotor is rotated up to or near to the synchronous speed
(before supplying voltage to the stator) by some auxiliary
means without exciting the rotor field winding & then stator
and field are excited by their respective supply, the rotor pole
will get magnetically locked up into synchronism with the
stator poles, then the rotor rotates continuously even the
auxiliary means is removed.

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 Starting method
 It has been explained that a synchronous motor must be
accelerated up to the synchronous speed by some auxiliary
means before exciting the stator and field.
 Various methods are available for starting the synchronous
motor. These methods are asfollows:
 A DC motor coupled to the shaft of synchronous motor.
 Using field exciter of synchronous as DC motor.
 A small induction motor of atleast one pair of poles less than
the synchronous motor.
 Using damper winding as a squirrel cage induction motor.

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 Starting method
 The first method is sometime used in the laboratories with
synchronous motors without damper winding. Theunexcited
rotors is rotated by means of a DC motor coupled to the
shaft of the synchronous motor.The speed of the DC motor
is adjusted by its field regulator. As the speed reach near to
synchronous speed, the field winding of the synchronous
motor is excited by the DC current and the DC motor is
switched off. Then the motor continuously rotates with
synchronous speed.

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 Starting method
 The second method is similar to the first method except that
the exciter of the synchronous motor i.e., a DC shunt
generator is operated as DC motor for the time being and as
the speed reaches close to the synchronous speed, the DC
machine is again used as an exciter.
 The third method, using an auxiliary induction motor with
atleast one pair of pole less, involves the same synchronizing
process as that of the first method.

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 Starting method
 Most of the modern synchronous motors are started with the
help of the damper windings (see fig below)

Fig: Rotor pole with damper winding

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 Starting method
 It should be noted that the shorting strip, which short
circuits the rotor bars, contains holes for bolting to the next
set of damper winding on the next pole.
 In this way, a complete squirrel cage winding is formed.
 Although the bars are not of the capacity to carry the rated
synchronous motor load, they are sufficient to start the
motor as induction motor.
 Star-delta or auto transformer methods are used to reduce
the starting current drawn by the motor.

77
 Starting method
 It is practically impossible to start a synchronous motor with
its field excited.
 Even with unexcited condition, the rapidly rotating magnetic
field of the stator will induce extremely high voltage in many
turns of the field winding.
 Therefore, it is better to short circuit DC field winding
during the starting period, whatever, voltage and current are
induced in it may then aid in producing induction motor
action.

78
 Starting method
 All the above methods shall be used with the synchronous
motor without load.
 In order to start the synchronous motor with load, phase
wound damper winding shall be used so that external
resistance can be inserted to produce high starting torque.
 Figure shows the schematic diagram of phase wound damper
winding for starting synchronous motor.

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 Starting method

80
 Starting method
 Such motor will have rotor with five slip ring.
 Two for the DC field excitation and three for AC star
connected wound damper winding.
 The motor is started with full external resistance per phase
and DC field circuit open.
 As the motor approaches synchronous speed, the starting
resistance is reduced and when the field voltage is applied,
the motor pulls into synchronism.

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 No-load and loaded operation
 It had already been explained that a synchronous motor is not
self- starting.
 It had to be speeded up to synchronous speed by some
auxiliary means, the supply to the DC winding of the rotor
had to be switched on, then the rotor poles will get
magnetically locked up with stator poles.
 However, the engagement between stator and rotor poles is
not absolutely rigid one. As the load on the motor increases,
the rotor progressively tends to fall but the motor still
continue to run with the synchronous speed.

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 No-load and loaded operation
 At no load, if there is no power loss in the motor, the stator
poles and rotor poles will be along the same axis and phase
difference between the applied voltage „V‟and the back emf
„Eb‟, developed in the armature winding will be exactly 180°
(see fig a).
 But this is not possible in practice, because some power loss
takes place due to iron loss and friction loss.
 Hence, the rotor pole lags by some angle with the stator pole
and the phasor diagram will be as shown in figure b.

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 No-load and loaded operation
 The current drawn by armature at no load is given by,

 Where, ER = Net voltage across the armature

 ZS = Synchronous impedance per phase

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 No-load and loaded operation
 In case of DC motor, the speed of the armature decreases
with increase in load, due to which the back emf will
decrease and then the armature current will increase to
overcome the increased load.
 But in case of synchronous motor, the speed does not change
with load.
 When the load on a synchronous motor increases, the rotor
poles lags the stator poles by larger angle and the phase angle
between V and Eb will increase (note that magnitude of Eb
will remain constant) so that the net voltage ER will increase
and the armature current will increase.

85
 No-load and loaded operation

86
 Effect of Excitation
 The DC current supplied to the rotor field winding is
known as excitation in synchronous motor.
 As the speed of the synchronous motor is constant, the magnitude
of back emf remains constant provided the flux per pole produced
by the rotor does not change.
 So, the magnitude of back emf can be changed by field excitation.
 If the excitation is changed at a constant load, the magnitude of
armature current and power factor will change. By changing the
excitation, the motor can be operated at both lagging and leading
power factor.This fact can be explained by the following analysis:

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 Effect of Excitation
 The value of excitation for which the magnitude of back emf,
Eb is equal to the applied voltage, V is known as 100%
excitation.
 If the excitation is more than 100%, then the motor is said to
be over excited and if the excitation is less than 100%, then
the motor is said to be under excited.
 Consider a synchronous motor operating with a constant
load. Figure 7(a) in the next slide shows the phasor diagram
for the case of 100% excitation. i.e., when Eb = V (in
magnitude). The armature current Ia lags behind V by a small
angle ø. θ is the phase angle between Ia and ER, whose
magnitude is given by θ = tan-1 (XS/Ra). Since, XS and Ra are
constant, angle also remains constant.
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 Effect of Excitation

89
 Effect of Excitation
 If the motor is under excited, the magnitude of Eb will be less
thanV.
 Therefore, the resultant of Eb & V i.e., ER will shift upward
by some angle, then the direction of Ia will also shift by same
angle so that angle again remains constant as shown in figure
(7 b). Here, the magnitude of Ia has increased and Ia lags V by
greater angle so that power factor is decreased, but the active
component Ia cosø remains same, so the output power also
remains constant.

90
 Effect of Excitation
 Figure (7 c) represents the condition for over excited motor
i.r., when Eb>V, therefore, the resultant voltage vector ER is
pulled in the anti-clockwise and Ia is also shifted in anti-
clockwise direction. It is seen that now motor is drawing a
lagging current.
 It may also happen for same value of excitation, that Ia may
be in phase with V.i.e., power factor is unity as shown in
figure (7 d). At this instant the current drawn by motor is
minimum.

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 Effect of Excitation
 The following two important points can be understood from the
above discussion:
 The magnitude of armature current varies with excitation.The
current has large values at both low and high values of excitation.
In between, it has minimum value corresponding to a certain
excitation for which power factor is unity.The variation of Ia with
excitation are shown in figure 8 which are known as „V‟curves
because of their shape.
 For the same input armature current varies between a wide range
and power factor also vary accordingly with excitation.When over
excited, motor runs with leading power factor and the motor runs
with lagging power factor when under excited. The variations of
power factor with excitation is shown in figure 8 and is known as
inverted ”V” curve. It should be noted that minimum armature
current corresponds to unity power factor.
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 Effect of Excitation

Fig 8: V & inverted V- curves

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