Operating Characteristics of

Synchronous Machine
ELECTRICAL MACHINES

Operating Characteristics of Synchronous Machine:

The Operating Characteristics of Synchronous Machine are examined here under
conditions of variable load and variable excitation. One of these quantities will be
assumed to be held constant at a time while the other will be allowed to vary over a wide
range. Further, here too the armature resistance will be assumed negligible. This does
not significantly change the operating characteristic of the machine but leads to easier
understanding of the machine operation. The more general case of the machine with
armature resistance accounted for will be discussed in Sec. 8.9. By virtue of
negligible resistance assumption, the electrical power at the machine terminals and the
mechanical power at its shaft are simply related as follows:

Generating Machine

Motoring Machine

Power-angle Characteristic
Figure 8.29 shows the circuit diagrams and phasor diagrams of a synchronous
machine in generating mode (Figs 8.29(a) and (c)) and motoring mode (Figs 8.29 (b) and
(d)). The machine is assumed to be connected to infinite bus-bars of voltage Vt. It is easily
observed from the phasor diagrams that in generating mode, the excitation emf Ef leads
Vt by angle , while it lags Vt in the motoring mode. It follows from the phasor triangle
OMP (Figs 8.29(c) and (d)) that
Multiplying both sides of Eq. (8.41) by Vt

where Pe = Vt la cos = electrical power (per phase) exchanged with the bus-bars =
Angle between Ef and Vt and is called the power angle of the machine ( has opposite
sign for generating/motoring modes).
The relationship of Eq. (8.42) is known as the power-angle characteristic of the machine
and is plotted in Fig. 8.30 for given Vt and Ef. The maximum power

occurs at = 90 beyond which the machine falls out of step (loses synchronism). The
machine can be taken up to Pe,max only by gradually increasing the load. This is known as
the steady-state stability limit of the machine. The machine is normally operated at much
less than 90. The phasor diagram of a generating machine under condition of Pe,max is
drawn in Fig. 8.31. Obviously /a will be several timesmax larger than the rated machine
current in this condition.

Operation at Constant Load with Variable Excitation

At constant load, from Eq. (8.42)
It is therefore, observed that at constant load, as the excitation emf Ef, is varied (by varying
field current If), the power angle varies such that Ef sin remains constant. The machine
behaviour is depicted by the phasor diagrams of Figs (8.32(a) and (b)). As Ef varies, the
tip of phasor Ef moves on a line parallel to Vt and at distance Efsin=PeXs/Vt from it. Since
Iacos = constant, the projection of the current phasor on Vt must remain constant, i.e.
the tip of the current phasor traces a line perpendicular to Vt at distance Iacos =
Pe/Vt from the origin. The current phasor I a is always located at 90 to phasor I aXs(phasor
joining tips to Ef and Vt in the direction of Ef). The excitation (Ef) corresponding to unity
power factor is known as normal excitation, while the excitation larger than this is called
over-excitation and less than this is called under-excitation. The following conclusions*
are drawn from the phasor diagrams of Figs 8.32(a)
 Generating Machine
1. The machine supplies a lagging power factor current when over-excited.
2. The machine supplies a leading power factor current when under-excited.
Motoring Machine
1. The machine draws a leading power factor current when over-excited.
2. The machine draws a lagging power factor current when under-excited.
It is also easily observed from these phasor diagrams that the magnitude of the armature
current exhibits a minimum when its excitation is continuously increased from an under-
excited state. The nature of la versus excitation (If) plot for various values of load (real
power) is shown in Fig. 8.33. These are known as V-curves of synchronous machine by
virtue of their shape. Though only one figure is drawn for generating/motoring operation,
the actual shape of V-curves for the two cases will not be identical. A little reflection will
show that PF versus If plots will be inverted V-curves.
Minimum Excitation
From Figs. 8.32(a) and (b) it is seen that as excitation is reduced, the angle 5 continuously
increases. The minimum permissible excitation, Ef (min), corresponds to the stability limit,
i.e. = 90. Obviously
Minimum field current and corresponding armature current for a given pu load at the limit
of stability is indicated by the dotted curve in Fig. 8.33.

Observation
In a synchronous machine the real electrical power exchanged with the bus-bars is
controlled by the mechanical shaft power irrespective of excitation. The excitation, on the
other hand, governs only the power factor of the machine without affecting the real power
flow. For example, in a generator if it is desired to feed more real power into the bus-bars
the throttle must be opened admitting more steam into the turbine (coupled to generator)
thereby feeding more mechanical power into shaft. As a consequence the power angle
increases and so does the electrical power output (Eq. 8.42)). However, if it is desired to
adjust the machine power factor, its excitation should be varied (well within the limit
imposed by Eq. (8.46)).

Compounding Curve
The dotted curves of Figure 8.33 pertain to constant terminal voltage, constant power
factor operation of a synchronous machine. For a generating machine operation these
curves are called compounding curves. These are presented once again in Fig. 8.34 as
the field current needed for a given armature current or kVA loading at a particular power
factor for constant terminal voltage. These are useful guide for generator operation in a
power house.

Synchronous Condenser
It has been seen above that a synchronous motor under over-excited condition operates
at a leading power factor. Synchronous motors are therefore employed in large power

installations for improving the overall power factor of the installation.

At no-load with losses assumed negligible, a synchronous motor operates at

which means that Ef and Vt are in phase. It is seen from the phasor diagram of Fig. 8.35,
that the machine (motor) draws zero power factor leading current
and draws zero power factor lagging current

Thus a synchronous motor at no-load behaves as a variable condenser or inductor by

simply varying its excitation. The machine operated under such a condition (motor on no-
load or light load) is known as a synchronous condenser and finds application in large
integrated power systems for improving the power factor under heavy-load conditions and
for deproving the power factor under light-load conditions, thereby controlling the voltage
profile of the power system within reasonable limits.

Dual-purpose Synchronous Motor

Synchronous motor is used in an industry/factory for serving two purposes. It drives a
constant speed mechanical load such as a large pump, a dc generator, etc. and at the
same time it also corrects an otherwise low lagging pf of the electrical load such as
induction motors and fluorescent tubes. Such a synchronous motor serving dual-purpose
is called dual-purpose synchronous motor.