Alternator

Reference
(1) B.L.Thereja; Chapter: 37
(2) Rosenblatt; Chapter: 19
1
Physical Shape of Alternator

2
Rotor and Stator of Alternator

3
 Working principle
In case of alternator (AC generator), armature is
stationary and the field is rotating. When DC
voltage is applied to the field then a constant
magnetic flux is produced. At the presence of this
constant magnetic flux, rotor is rotated through the
prime over. When field (rotor) rotates, armature
conductors are cut by the magnetic flux and hence
an emf is induced in it. Since, the magnetic poles
are alternately N & S, therefore an alternating emf
is produced in the stator conductor. 4
 Short-Pitch or Fractional-Pitch
Winding

In most alternators, opposite conductors

of a coil are less than one pole pitch i.e
less than spanning over 1800. This type
of winding is known as short-pitch or
fractional-pitch winding
B. L. Thereja; Art:37.11; page:1309
5
Advantages & Disadvantages of short-
Pitch Winding
Advantages:
They save copper of end connection
They improve the wave-form of generated emf i.e
generated emf can be made to approximate to a sine
wave more easily and the distorting harmonics can be
reduced or totally eliminated.
Due to the elimination of high frequency harmonics,
eddy current and hysteresis losses are reduced,
thereby increasing the efficiency.
6
 Disadvantages

The disadvantages of using short-pitch

winding is that, the total voltage around the
coils is somewhat reduced. Because the
voltage induced in two sides of short-
pitched coil are slightly out of phase.
Therefore, the resultant vector sum is less
than their arithmetic sum
B. L. Thereja; Art:37.11; page:1309 7
 Pitch Factor
Q. What is pitch-factor? Derive the equation of
pitch-factor.
Ans: The pitch or coil span factor is defined as the
ratio of actual coil voltage to the coil voltage for a
full-pitch coil.
Hence, pitch factor, KP = Vector sum of induced
emf per coil/ Arithmetic sum of induced emf per
coil
Let, Es be the induced emf in each side of the coil.
Now consider the following figures:
B. L. Thereja; Art:37.11; page:1309 8
 E1 E2 Es
Es Es 
2 Es Fig-1 Es Fig-2

If the coils are full-pitch, then the total induced emf in the coil
according to Fig-1 is , E1=2ES
If the coil is short-pitched by an angle, then according to Fig-2 the
resultant induce emf is

E2   Es   Es   2 E cos
2 2 2
s
= 2 Es2 1  cos  
2 

Es 2.2 cos 2 Es cos
2 2 2 E cos 
E2 2  cos 
s
= =
 Kp  
E1 2 Es 2
9
 Distributed Winding
In each phase of an alternator if the coils are
not concentrated or bunched in one slot, but
are distributed in a number of slots, then such
type of winding is called distributed winding.

Q. What is distributed winding and distribution

factor?

B. L. Thereja; Art:37.12; page:1310 10

 Distribution or Breadth or Spread or
Winding factor

The ratio of actual phase voltage to that which would

exist for a concentrated winding is known as distribution
factor. It is also known as “Breadth factor” or “Spread
factor” or “Winding factor”. It is denoted by Kd
So, distribution factor, Kd = e.m.f with distributed
winding / e.m.f with concentrated winding

B. L. Thereja; Art:37.12; page:1311

11
 Derivation of Distribution factor

Let,  angular displacement

be the  c 
D
between slots. B
 = 1800 / No. of slots = 1800 /n M Es 
Let, m= No. of slots/phase/pole Er
A E
m = phase spread angle N
IfEs be the induced emf in one r r
 m
slot,then total voltage induced in
one polar group i.e arithmetic 2  o m 2
sum=m Es
 AM 
Now, from OAM, Sin   AM  rSin
2 r 2

 AB  E s  2 AM E s  2rSin
2
B.L.Thereja; Art:37.12; Page:1311-1312; Fig:37.21
12
 Derivation of Distribution factor
 
So, arithmetic sum= mE s  m.2rSin  2rmSin
2 2
m NE m
Now, from 
ONE, Sin   NE  rSin
2 r 2
m
 AE  E r  2 NE So, vector sum, E r  2rSin
2
2rSin m Sin m
2  2
So, distribution factor, Kd =
2rmSin  mSin 
2 2
When is very small then, Sin  
2 2
Sin m
 2
So, Kd m
13
2
 Equation of induced emf
Let,
Z = No. of conductors or coil sides in series/phase
= 2T [ where T= No. of coils or turns per phase]
P = No. of poles; N = Rotor Speed in r.p.m
F = Frequency of the induced emf in HZ
φ = Flux per pole in wb
Kd = Distribution Factor
Sin m
 2
Kc = pitch or span factor mSin 
2
K f = Form factor=1.11 
 cos
2

B. L. Thereja; Art:37.13; page:1313 14

 Equation of Induced e.m.f
In one revolution of the rotor each stator conductor is cut by a flux of
60
φp. So, dφ= φp & dt = s. So, average induced
N
d p NP 120 f
emf per conductor =   N 
dt 60 60 Again, p
N
d p 120 f
 average induced emf per conductor = dt  60  p  2f
If there are z conductors in series/phase, then average emf/phase
2 fz
and R.M.S 4fT
 value of emf/phase=
1volt.
.11 If4the
fT  are
coils 4.44 fT
short-pitched
& distributed, then actual induce emf = 4.44 K c K d fT
volt. If the alternator is star-connected then the line voltage is
times3the phase voltage.
B. L. Thereja; Art:37.13; page:1313 15
 Effect of Harmonics on Pitch &
Distribution Factor
Pitch Factor Distribution Factor
 --For Fundamental Sin m
K c  cos Kd  2 --For fundamental
mSin 
2
3
 cos --For 3 rd
Harmonics 2
2
5 Sin 3m
 cos  2 --For 3rd Harmonics
--For 5th Harmonics
2 mSin 3
2

Math: B.L. Thereja; Sin 5m

 2 --For 5th Harmonics
Example:37.8,37.13 mSin 5
2
B. L. Thereja; Art:37.14; page:1313-1314 16
 Alternator Characteristics
Eg = Generated Voltage

Xa VT = Terminal Voltage
L
O
Ra I a VT A Ia
d = Armature current

Ra
E
g
= Armature Resistance

Xa = Armature reactance

E g  I a Ra  I a ( jX a )  VT  0
E g  I a ( Ra  jX a )  VT
17
Rosenblatt Art:19.9, Fig:19.13; page:381
 Effect of Power factor on Generated
Voltage
Eg  VT cos   I a Ra  2

 VT sin   I aX a  2

For Lagging power Factor Eg Ia X a

I a Ra
VT VT sin 
 Ia

VT cos
Rosenblatt Art:19.9, Fig:19.14; page:38218
Generated Voltage For Unity Power Factor

Eg  VT  I a Ra    I a X a 
2 2

Rosenblatt Art:19.9, Fig:19.14; page:382

Eg
Ia X a

Ia VT

I a Ra
19
Generated Voltage For Leading Power Factor

Eg  VT cos  I a Ra  2

 VT sin   I a X a  2

Rosenblatt Art:19.9, Fig:19.14; page:382

VT cos
Ia

Eg
I a X a VT sin 
VT

I a Ra
Rosenblatt; Math: Example:19.9, 19.10
20