QUESTION BANK
DEPARTMENT OF EEE/Electrical Machines-II/III YEAR
UNIT-III
ALTERNATOR
1. Why a 3-phase synchronous motor will always run at synchronous speed?
Because of the magnetic coupling between the stator poles and rotor poles the motor runs
exactly at synchronous speed.
2. What are the two classification synchronous machines?
The classification synchronous machines are:
i. Cylindrical rotor type
ii. Salient pole rotor type
3. What are the essential features of synchronous machine?
i. The rotor speed is synchronous with stator rotating field.
ii. Varying its field current can easily vary the speed.
iii. It is used for constant speed operation.
4. Mention the methods of starting of 3-phase synchronous motor.
a. A D.C motor coupled to the synchronous motor shaft.
b. A small induction motor coupled to its shaft. (Pony method)
c. Using damper windings –started as a squirrel cage induction motor.
5. What are the principal advantages of rotating field system type of construction of
synchronous machines?
Form Stationary connection between external circuit and system of conditions enable
the machine to handle large amount of volt-ampere as high as 500 MVA.
The relatively small amount of power required for field system can be easily supplied
to the rotating field system via slip rings and brushes.
More space is available in the stator part of the machine for providing more insulation
to the system of conductors.
Insulation to stationary system of conductors is not subjected to mechanical stresses
due to centrifugal action.
6. Write down the equation for frequency of emf induced in an alternator.
F = PN / 120 Hertz
Where P = No. Of poles
N = Speed in rpm.
7. What are the advantages of salient pole type of construction used for synchronous
machines?
T h e y allow better ventilation.
The pole faces are so shaped radial air gap length increases from the pole center to the
pole tips so that flux distribution in the air gap is sinusoidal in shape which will help to
generate sinusoidal emf.
Due the variable reluctance, the machine develops additional reluctance power, which
is independent of excitation.
8. Why do cylindrical rotor alternators operate with steam turbines?
Steam turbines are found to operate at fairly good efficiency only at high speeds. The
high-speed operation of rotor tends to increase mechanical losses, so the rotors should have
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.
9. Which type of synchronous 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
synchronous generators are used. These allow better ventilation and also have other advantages
over smooth cylindrical type rotor.
10. What is the relation between electrical degree and mechanical degree?
Electrical degree θe and mechanical degree are related to one another by the number of
poles P, the electrical machine has, as given by the following equation.
θe = (P/2) θm
11. What is the meaning of electrical degree?
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 polarity of magnetic fields. 180 electrical degrees is
accounted as the angle between adjacent North and South poles
12. Why short-pitch winding is 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.
Kd = sin(mβ/2)
msin(β/2)
m - number of slots/pole/phase
β - angle between adjacent slots in electrical
degree n - order of harmonics.
14. Define winding factor.
The winding factor Kw is defined as the ratio of phasor addition of emf induced in all the
coils belonging to each phase winding of 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 the variable loss incurred in alternators is the copper loss,
occurring in the 3-phase winding, which depends on I2R, the square of the current delivered
by the generator. is directly related to apparent power delivered by the generator,Thus
the alternators have only their apparent power in VA/kVA/MVA as their power rating.
16. What are the causes of changes in voltage of alternators when loaded?
Voltage variation due to the resistance of the winding R.
Voltage variation due to the leakage reactance of the winding X1.
Voltage variation due to the armature reaction.
17. What is meant by armature reaction in alternators?
The interaction between flux set up by the current carrying armature conductors and the
main field flux is defined as the armature reaction.
18. What do you mean by synchronous reactance?
It is the sum of the leakage reactance X1 and armature reactance Xa
Xs = X1 + Xa
19. What is effective resistant [Reff]?
The apparent increase in resistance of the conductor when an alternating current is
flowing through it is known as effective resistance.
20. What is synchronous impedance?
The complex addition of resistance R and synchronous reactance jXs is synchronous impedance
Zs.
Zs = (R+jXs) = Zs∟θ
Where θ = tan –1(Xs/R)
|Zs| = √(R2+jXs2)
21. What is meant by load angle of an alternator?
The phase angle introduced between the induced emf phasor E and terminal voltage
phasor V during the load condition of an alternator is called load angle. The load angle increases
with increase in load. It is positive during generator operation and negative during motor
operation.
22. Define the term voltage regulation of alternator.
It is defined as the change in terminal voltage from no load-to-load condition
expressed as a function or terminal voltage at load condition, the speed and excitation conditions
remaining same.
% Regulation = (E-V)/V x 100
23. What is the necessity for predetermination of voltage regulation?
Most of the alternators are manufactured with large power rating and large voltage
ratings. Conduction load test is not possible for such alternators. Hence other indirect methods of
testing are used and the performance can be predetermined at any desired load currents
and power factors.
24. Why is the synchronous impedance method of estimating voltage regulation
is considered as pessimistic method?
Compared to other methods, the value of voltage regulation obtained by this method is
always higher than the actual value and therefore is called pessimistic method.
25. Why is the MMF method of estimating the voltage regulation is considered as
the optimization method?
Compared to 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 core saturation effect. As
this method requires more effort, the final result is very close to the actual value. Hence this
method is called the optimistic method.
10 MARK QUESTION
1. Describe with neat sketches the constructional details of a salient pole type alternator.
2. Draw a neat sketch showing the various parts of a synchronous machine. State the type
of synchronous generator used in nuclear power stations.
3. Discuss briefly the load charactertics of alternator for different power factor.
4. Explain any one method of predetermining the regulation of an alternator.
5. Explain why the potier reactance is slightly higher than leakages reactance.
6.Explain dark lamp method of synchronizing an alternator with the bus bar.
7.Explain Blondel’s two-reaction theory,
8.Explain how will you determine the d and q axes reactance of a synchronous machine in your
laboratory.
9.Derive an expression for synchronizing power.
10.For a salient pole synchronous machine, derive an expression for power developed as a
function of load angle.
11.Explain the operating principle of three-phase alternator.
