II yr/III Sem/Mech/EEE 2 Marks with Answers Unit-III

Unit III : Alternators

1. Why almost all large size Synchronous machines are constructed with rotating field system
type?

The following are the principal advantages of the rotating field system type construction of
Synchronous machines:
The relatively small amount of power, about 2%, required for field system via slip-rings and
brushes.
For the same air gap dimensions, which is normally decided by the kVA rating, more space is
available in the stator part of the machine for providing more insulation to the system of
conductors, especially for machines rated for 11kV or above.

Insulation to stationary system of conductors is not subjected to mechanical stresses due to

centrifugal action.
Stationary system of conductors can easily be braced to prevent deformation. It is easy to
provide cooling arrangement for a stationary system of conductors.
Firm stationary connection between external circuit and system of conductors enable he machine
to handle large amount of volt-ampere as high as 500MVA.

2. Write down the equation for frequency of emf induced in an Altenator.

Frequency of emf induced in an Alternator,f ,expressed in cycles per second or Hz, is given by the
following equation F = (PN)/120 Hz, Where P- Number of poles N-Speed in rpm

3. How are alternators classified?

According to type of field system

Stationary field system type
Rotating field system type
According to shape of field system
Salient pole type Smooth
cylindrical type

4. Name the types of Alternator based on their rotor construction.

Alternators can be classified into the following two types according to its rotor construction
Smooth cylindrical type alternator
Salient pole alternator

5. Why do cylindrical Alternators operate with steam turbines?

Steam turbines are found to operate at fairly good efficiency only at high speeds. The high speed
operation of rotors tends to increase mechanical losses and so the rotors
should have a smooth external surface. Hence, smooth cylindrical type rotors with less diameter and large
axial length are used for Synchronous generators driven by steam turbines with either 2 or 4 poles.

6. Which type of Synchronous generators are used in Hydro-electric plants and why?

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As the speed of operation is low for hydro turbines use din Hydro-electric plants, salient pole type
Synchronous generators are used. These allow better ventilation and also have other advantages over
smooth cylindrical type rotor.
7. What are the advantages of salient pole type construction used for Synchronous machines?

Advantages of salient-pole type construction are : They

allow better ventilation
The pole faces are so shaped that the radial air gap length increases from the pole
center to the pole tips so that the flux distribution in the air-gap is sinusoidal in shape which will
help the machine to generate sinusoidal emf
Due to the variable reluctance the machine develops additional reluctance power
which is independent of excitation

8. Why is the stator core of Alternator laminated?

The stator core of Alternator is laminated to reduce eddy current loss.

9. How does electrical degree differ from mechanical degree?

Mechanical degree is the unit for accounting the angle between two points based on their
mechanical or physical placement. Electrical degree is used to account the angle between two points in
rotating electrical machines. Since all electrical machines operate with the help of magnetic fields, the
electrical degree is accounted with reference to the magnetic field. 180 electrical degree is accounted as
the angle between adjacent North and South poles.

10. What is the relation between electrical degree and mechanical degree?

The number of poles P, the electrical machine has, as given by the following equation

11. What is distributed winding?

When coil-sides belonging to each phase are housed or distributed in more than one slot under
each pole region then the winding is called distributed winding. A full pitch coil has width of coil
otherwise called coil-span as 180 - angle between adjacent slots in electrical degree and x= 1,2,3

12. Why is short pitch winding preferred over full-pitch winding?

Advantages
Waveform of the emf can be approximately made to a sine wave and distorting
harmonics can be reduced or totally eliminated.
Conductor material , copper , is saved in the back and front end connections due to
less coil-span.
Fractional slot winding with fractional number of slots/phase can be used which in
turn reduces the tooth ripples.
Mechanical strength of the coil is increased.

13. Write down the formula for distribution factor.

m=number of slots/ pole/ phase n =

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order of harmonic

14. Define winding factor.

The winding factor Kd is defined as the ratio of phasor addition of emf induced in all the coils
belonging to each phase winding to their arithmetic addition.

15. Why are Alternators rated in kVA and not in kW?

The continuous power rating of any machine is generally defined as the power the machine or
apparatus can deliver for a continuous period so that the losses incurred in the machine gives rise to a
steady temperature rise not exceeding the limit prescribed by the insulation class. Apart from the
constant loss incurred in Alternators is the copper loss, occurring in the 3 phase winding which

depends on I2 R, the square of the current delivered by the generator. As the current is directly
related to apparent power delivered by the generator , the Alternators have only their apparent power
in VA/kVA/MVA as their power rating.

16. What are the causes of changes in voltage in Alternators when loaded?

Variations in terminal voltage in Alternators on load condition are due to the following three
causes:
Voltage variation due to the resistance of the winding, R Voltage variation
due to the leakage reactance of the winding, Xt

17. What is meant by armature reaction in Alternators?

The interaction between flux set up by the current carrying armature and the main is defined as
the armature reaction.

18. What do you mean by synchronous reactance?

Synchronous reactance X s= (Xl + Xa) The value of leakage reactance Xl is constant for a machine
based on its construction. Xa depends on saturating condition of the machine. It is the addition of Xa ,
which represent the armature reaction effect between two synchronously acting magnetic fields that
makes the total reactance Xa to be called syncheornous reactance.

19. What is meant by synchronous impedance of an Alternator?

The complex addition of resistance, R and synchronous reactance , jXs can be represented
together by a single complex impedance Zs called synchronous impedance.
In complex form Zs = (R + jXs )
In polar form Zs = | Zs | <
Where | Zs | = _52 + X2 s )

20. What is meant by load angle of an Alternator?

The phase angle introduced between the induced emf phasor, E and terminal voltage phasor , U
during the load condition of an Alternator is called load angle.

21. Name the various methods for predetermining the voltage regulation of 3-phase Alternator.
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The following are the three methods which are used to predetermine the voltage regulation of smooth
cylindrical type Alternators
Synchronous impedance / EMF method
Ampere-turn / MMF method
Potier / ZPF method

22. How synchronous impedance is calculated from OCC and SCC?

Synchronous impedance is calculated from OCC and SCC as |Zs| = E0/Isc(for same If) A compromised
value of Zs is normally estimated by taking the ratio of (E0/Isc) at normal field current Ifn. A normal field
current Ifn is one which gives rated voltage Ur on open circuit. |Zs| = Ur/Iscn

23. What are the advantages and disadvantages of estimating the voltage regulation of an
Alternator by EMF method?

Advantages:
Simple no load tests (for obtaining OCC and SCC) are to be conducted Calculation
procedure is much simpler
Disadvantages:
The value of voltage regulation obtained by this method is always higher than the actual value

24. Why is the synchronous impedance method of estimating voltage regulation considered as
pessimistic method?

Compared to other methods, the value of voltage regulation obtained by the synchronous impedance
method is always higher than the actual value and therefore this method is called the pessimistic method.

25. In what way does the ampere-turn method differ from synchronous impedance method?

The ampere-turn /MMF method is the converse of the EMF method in the sense that instead of having
the phasor addition of various voltage drops/EMFs, here the phasor addition of MMF required for the
voltage drops are carried out. Further the effect of saturation is also taken care of.

26. What are the test data required for predetermining the voltage regulation of an Alternator by
MMF method?

Data required for MMF method are :

Effective resistance per phase of the -3phase winding R Open circuit
characteristic (OCC) at rated speed/frequency Short circuit
characteristic (SCC) at rated speed/frequency

27. Why is the MMF method of estimating the voltage regulation considered as the optimistic
method?

Compared to the EMF method, MMF method, involves more number of complex calculation steps.
Further the OCC is referred twice and SCC is referred once while predetermining the voltage regulation
for each load condition. Reference of OCC takes care of saturation effect. As this method require more
effort, the final result is very close to the actual value. Hence this method is called optimistic method.

28. State the condition to be satisfied before connecting two alternators in parallel

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The following are the three conditions to be satisfied by synchronizing the additional Alternator with
the existing one or the common bus-bars.
The terminal voltage magnitude of the incoming Alternator must be made equal to the existing
Alternator or the bus-bar voltage magnitude.
The phase sequence of the incoming Alternator voltage must be similar to the bus-bar voltage.
The frequency of the incoming Alternator voltage must be the same as the bus-bar voltage.

29. How do the synchronizing lamps indicate the correctness of phase sequence between existing
and incoming Alternators?

The correctness of the phase sequence can be checked by looking at the three sets of lamps connected
across the 3-pole of the synchronizing switch. If the lamps grow bright and dark in unison it is an
indication of the correctness of the phase sequence. If on the other hand, they become bright and dark one
after the other, connections to any two machine terminals have to be interchanged after shutting down
the machine.

30. What are the advantages and disadvantages of three dark lamps method of synchronizing?

Advantages:
The synchronous switch using lamps is inexpensive
Checking for correctness of the phase sequence can be obtained in a simple manner which is
essential especially when the Alternator is connected for the first time or for fresh operation after
disconnection .

Disadvantages:

The rate of flickering of the lamps only indicates the frequency difference between the bus-bar
and the incoming Alternator. The frequency of the incoming Alternator in relation to the bus-bar
frequency is not available.

31. How synchronoscope is used for synchronizing Alternators?

Synchronoscope can be used for permanently connected Alternators where the correctness of phase
sequence is already checked by other means. Synchronoscope is capable of rotating in both directions.
The rate of rotation of the pointer indicates the amount of frequency difference between the Alternators.
The direction of rotation indicates whether incoming Alternator frequency is higher or lower than the
existing Alternator. The TPST switch is closed to synchronize the incoming Alternator when the pointer
faces the top thick line marking.

32. Why synchronous generators are to be constructed with more synchronous reactance and
negligible resistance?

The presence of more resistance in the Synchronous generators will resist or oppose their
synchronous operation. More reactance in the generators can cause good reaction between the two and
help the generators to remain in synchronism in spite of any disturbance occurring in any one of the
generators.

33. List the factors that affect the load sharing in parallel operating generators?

The total active and reactive power delivered to the load, connected across the common bus-bars, are

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shared among Synchronous generators, operating in parallel, based on the following three factors
Prime-mover characteristic/input
Excitation level and
Percentage synchronous impedance and its R/X ratio

34. How does the change in prime mover input affect the load sharing?

An increase in prime-mover input to a particular generator causes the activepower shared by it to

increase and a corresponding decrease in active-power shared by other generators. The change in
reactive power sharing is less appreciable. The frequency of the bus-bar voltage will also subjected to
slight increase in value.

35. How does change in excitation affects the load sharing?

The decrease in excitation in one generator causes the reactive power shared by it to decrease and a
corresponding increase in reactive-power shared by other generators. The change in active-power
sharing is less appreciable. There will be a slight decrease in terminal voltage magnitude also.

36. What steps are to be taken before disconnecting one Alternator from parallel operation?

The following steps are to be taken before disconnecting one Alternator from parallel operation
The prime-mover input of the outgoing generator has to be decreased and that of other
generators has to be increased and by this the entire active-power delivered by
the outgoing generator is transferred to other generators.

The excitation of the outgoing generator has to be decreased and that of other generators have
to be increased and by this the entire reactive-power delivered by the outgoing generator is
transferred to other generators.
After ensuring the current delivered by the outgoing generator is zero, it has to be
disconnected from parallel operation.

37. An Alternator is found to have its terminal voltage on load condition more than that on no load.
What is the nature of the load connected?

The nature of the load is of leading power factor , load consisting of resistance and capacitive reactance.
Apart of the machine to provide more insulation, it is easy to provide cooling system, stationary system of
conductors can easily be braced to prevent deformation.

38. What are the advantages of salient type pole construction used in sync.machines?

They allow better ventilation, the pole faces are so shaped radial air gap length increases from pole center
to pole tips so flux distortion in air gap is sinusoidal so emf is also sinusoidal.

39. Which type of sync. generators are used in hydroelectric plants and why?

As the speed of operation is low, for hydro turbines used in hydroelectric plants,
salient pole type sync. generator is used because it allows better ventilation also
better than smooth cylindrical type rotor

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40. Why are alternators rated in KVA and not in KW?

As load increases I2R loss also increases, as the current is directly related to
apparent power delivered by generator, the alternator has only their apparent power
in VA/KVA/MVA as their power rating.

41. Why the sync. impedance method of estimating voltage regulation is is considered as pessimistic
method?

Compared to other method, the value of voltage regulation obtained by this method is always higher than
the actual value so it is called as pessimistic method.

42 Why MMF method of estimating voltage regulation is considered as optimistic method?

Compared to EMF method, MMF method involves more no. of complex calculation steps. Further the OCC is
referred twice and SCC is referred once while predetermining the voltage regulation for each load
condition. Reference of OCC takes core saturation effect. As this method require more effort, final result is
very close to actual value, hence this method is called as optimistic method.
43. Define voltage regulation of the alternator?

It is defined as the increase in terminal voltage when full load is thrown off, assuming field current and
speed remaining the same.
% reg = [(E0 V)/V]x100
Where E0 = no terminal voltage V = full load rated terminal voltage

44. How is arm. winding in alternators is different from those used in dc machines?

The arm. winding of the alternator is placed in the stator, but in the case of dc machines the arm winding is
placed in the rotor.
45. What is hunting how can it be prevented?

When a sync motor is used for driving a fluctuating load, the rotor starts oscillating about its new position
of equilibrium corresponding to the new load. This is called hunting or
phase swinging. To prevent hunting dampers are damping grids are employed.
46. What is meant by armature reaction in Alternators?

47. What is meant by load angle of an Alternator?

48. List the factors that affect the load sharing in parallel operating generators?

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49. What steps are to be taken before disconnecting one Alternator from parallel
operation?

50. How does increase in excitation of the Alternator connected to infinite bus-bars
affect this operation?

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