Elesus Machines

Electrical Machines I Prof. Krishna Vasudevan, Prof. G. Sridhara Rao, Prof. P.
Sasidhara Rao
D.C Machines
1 Introduction
The steam age signalled the beginning of an industrial revolution. The advantages
of machines and gadgets in helping mass production and in improving the services spurred
the industrial research. Thus a search for new sources of energy and novel gadgets received
great attention. By the end of the 18th century the research on electric charges received
a great boost with the invention of storage batteries. This enabled the research work on
moving charges or currents. It was soon discovered ( in 1820 ) that, these electric currents
are also associated with magnetic field like a load stone. This led to the invention of an
electromagnet. Hardly a year later the force exerted on a current carrying conductor placed
in the magnetic field was invented. This can be termed as the birth of a motor. A better
understanding of the inter relationship between electric and magnetic circuits was obtained
with the enumeration of laws of induction by Faraday in 1831. Parallel research was contem-
porarily being done to invent a source of energy to recharge the batteries in the form of a
d.c. source of constant amplitude (or d.c. generator). For about three decades the research
on d.c. motors and d.c. generators proceeded on independent paths. During the second half
of the 19th century these two paths merged. The invention of a commutator paved the way
for the birth of d.c. generators and motors. These inventions generated great interest in the
generation and use of electrical energy. Other useful machines like alternators, transformers
and induction motors came into existence almost contemporarily. The evolution of these
machines was very quick. They rapidly attained the physical configurations that are being
used even today. The d.c. power system was poised for a predominant place as a preferred
Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Electrical Machines I Prof. Krishna Vasudevan, Prof. G. Sridhara Rao, Prof. P. Sasidhara Rao
system for use, with the availability of batteries for storage, d.c. generators for conversion of
mechanical energy into electrical form and d.c. motors for getting mechanical outputs from
electrical energy.
The limitations of the d.c. system however became more and more apparent
as the power demand increased. In the case of d.c. systems the generating stations and the
load centers have to be near to each other for efficient transmission of energy. The invention
of induction machines in the 1880s tilted the scale in favor of a.c. systems mainly due to
the advantage offered by transformers, which could step up or step down the a.c.voltage
levels at constant power at extremely high efficiency. Thus a.c. system took over as the
preferred system for the generation transmission and utilization of electrical energy. The
d.c. system, however could not be obliterated due to the able support of batteries. Further,
d.c. motors have excellent control characteristics. Even today the d.c. motor remains an
industry standard as far as the control aspects are concerned. In the lower power levels and
also in regenerative systems the d.c. machines still have a major say.
In spite of the apparent diversity in the characteristics, the underlying princi-

ples of both a.c. and d.c. machines are the same. They use the electromagnetic principles
which can be further simplified at the low frequency levels at which these machines are used.
These basic principles are discussed at first.

1.1 Basic principles
Electric machines can be broadly classified into electrostatic machines and electro-
magnetic machines. The electrostatic principles do not yield practical machines for commer-
cial electric power generation. The present day machines are based on the electro-magnetic
principles. Though one sees a variety of electrical machines in the market, the basic under-
lying principles of all these are the same. To understand, design and use these machines the
following laws must be studied.
1. Electric circuit laws - Kirchof f s Laws
2. Magnetic circuit law - Ampere s Law
3. Law of electromagnetic induction - F araday s Law
4. Law of electromagnetic interaction -BiotSavart s Law
Most of the present day machines have one or two electric circuits linking a common
magnetic circuit. In subsequent discussions the knowledge of electric and magnetic circuit
laws is assumed. The attention is focused on the Faradays law and Biot Savarts law in the
present study of the electrical machines.
1.1.1 Law of electro magnetic induction
Faraday proposed this law of Induction in 1831. It states that if the magnetic
flux lines linking a closed electric coil changes, then an emf is induced in the coil. This
emf is proportional to the rate of change of these flux linkages. This can be expressed
mathematically,
d
e (1)
dt
3

where is the flux linkages given by the product of flux lines in weber that are linked
and N the number of turns of the coil. This can be expressed as,
d
eN (2)
dt
Here N is the number of turns of the coil, and is the flux lines in weber link-
ing all these turns. The direction of the induced emf can be determined by the application of
Lenzs law. Lenzs law states that the direction of the induced emf is such as to produce an
effect to oppose this change in flux linkages. It is analogous to the inertia in the mechanical
systems.
The changes in the flux linkages associated with a turn can be brought about by
(i) changing the magnitude of the flux linking a static coil
(ii) moving the turn outside the region of a steady field
(iii) moving the turn and changing the flux simultaneously
These may be termed as Case(i), Case(ii), and Case(iii) respectively.
This is now explained with the help of a simple geometry. Fig. 1 shows a rectan-
gular loop of one turn (or N=1). Conductor 1 is placed over a region with a uniform flux
density of B Tesla. The flux lines, the conductor and the motion are in mutually perpendic-
ular directions. The flux linkages of the loop is BLN weber turns. If the flux is unchanging
and conductor stationary, no emf will be seen at the terminals of the loop. If now the flux
alone changes with time such that B = Bm . cos t, as in Case(i), an emf given by
d
e= (Bm .L.N cos t) = (Bm .L.N). sin t.
dt
= jBm .L.N. cos t volt (3)

L
B
- +
Figure 1: Faradays law of Induction
appears across the terminals. This is termed as a transformer emf.

If flux remains constant at Bm but the conductor moves with a velocity v, as in Case(ii),
then the induced emf is
d d(Bm .L.N) dX
e= = = Bm .L.N volts (4)
dt dt dt
but
dX
=v e = Bm .L.N.v volts (5)
dt
The emf induced in the loop is directly proportional to the uniform flux density under which
it is moving with a velocity v. This type of voltage is called speed emf (or rotational emf).
The Case(iii) refers to the situation where B is changing with time and so also is X. Then
the change in flux linkage and hence the value of e is given by
d d(Bm .L.X.N. cos t) dX

e= = = Bm . cos t.L.N. Bm .L.X.N.. sin t. (6)
dt dt dt
In this case both transformer emf and speed emf are present.

The Case(i) has no mechanical energy associated with it. This is the principle
used in transformers. One coil carrying time varying current produces the time varying field
and a second coil kept in the vicinity of the same has an emf induced in it. The induced emf
of this variety is often termed as the transformer emf.
The Case(ii) is the one which is employed in d.c. machines and alternators. A
static magnetic field is produced by a permanent magnet or by a coil carrying a d.c. current.
A coil is moved under this field to produce the change in the flux linkages and induce an emf
in the same. In order to produce the emf on a continuous manner a cylindrical geometry
is chosen for the machines. The direction of the field, the direction of the conductor of the
coil and the direction of movement are mutually perpendicular as mentioned above in the
example taken.
In the example shown above, only one conductor is taken and the flux cut by
the same in the normal direction is used for the computation of the emf. The second con-
ductor of the turn may be assumed to be far away or unmoving. This greatly simplifies the
computation of the induced voltage as the determination of flux linkages and finding its rate
of change are dispensed with. For a conductor moving at a constant velocity v the induced
emf becomes just proportional to the uniform flux density of the magnetic field where the
conductor is situated. If the conductor, field and motion are not normal to each other then
the mutually normal components are to be taken for the computation of the voltage. The
induced emf of this type is usually referred to as a rotational emf (due to the geometry).
Application of Faradays law according to Case(iii) above for electro mechani-

cal energy conversion results in the generation of both transformer and rotational emf to be
present in the coil moving under a changing field. This principle is utilized in the induction
machines and a.c. commutator machines. The direction of the induced emf is
emf and
current
Force Motion F
B
(a) (b)
Figure 2: Law of induction-Generator action
decided next. This can be obtained by the application of the Lenzs law and the law of
interaction. This is illustrated in Fig. 3.
In Case(i), the induced emf will be in such a direction as to cause a opposing

mmf if the circuit is closed. Thus, it opposes the cause of the emf which is change in and
hence . Also the coil experiences a compressive force when the flux tries to increase and
a tensile force when the flux decays. If the coil is rigid, these forces are absorbed by the
supporting structure.
In Case(ii), the direction of the induced emf is as shown. Here again one could
derive the same from the application of the Lenzs law. The changes in the flux linkages is

emf
current
F
Motion,Force
B
(a) (b)
Figure 3: Law of interaction- Motor action
brought about by the sweep or movement of the conductor. The induced emf, if permitted
to drive a current which produces an opposing force, is as shown in the figure. If one looks
closely at the field around the conductor under these conditions it is as shown in Fig. 2(a)and
(b). The flux lines are more on one side of the conductor than the other. These lines seem
to urge the conductor to the left with a force F . As F opposes v and the applied force,
mechanical energy gets absorbed in this case and the machine works as a generator. This
force is due to electro magnetic interaction and is proportional to the current and the flux
swept. Fig. 3(a)and (b) similarly explain the d.c.motor operation. The current carrying con-
ductor reacts with the field to develop a force which urges the conductor to the right. The
induced emf and the current are seen to act in opposite direction resulting in the absorption
of electric energy which gets converted into the mechanical form.
In Case (iii) also the direction of the induced emf can be determined in a
similar manner. However, it is going to be more complex due to the presence of transformer

emf and rotational emf which have phase difference between them.
Putting mathematically, in the present study of d.c.machines,
F = B.L.I Newton
When the generated voltage drives a current, it produces a reaction force on the
mechanical system which absorbs the mechanical energy. This absorbed mechanical energy
is the one which results in the electric current and the appearance of electrical energy in
the electrical circuit. The converse happens in the case of the motor. If we force a current
against an induced emf then the electrical power is absorbed by the same and it appears
as the mechanical torque on the shaft. Thus, it is seen that the motoring and generating
actions are easily changeable with the help of the terminal conditions.

2 Principles of d.c. machines
D.C. machines are the electro mechanical energy converters which work from a d.c.
source and generate mechanical power or convert mechanical power into a d.c. power. These
machines can be broadly classified into two types, on the basis of their magnetic structure.
They are,
1. Homopolar machines
2. Heteropolar machines.
These are discussed in sequence below.
2.1 Homopolar machines
Homopolar generators
Even though the magnetic poles occur in pairs, in a homopolar generator the conductors
are arranged in such a manner that they always move under one polarity. Either north pole
or south pole could be used for this purpose. Since the conductor encounters the magnetic
flux of the same polarity every where it is called a homopolar generator. A cylindrically
symmetric geometry is chosen. The conductor can be situated on the surface of the rotor
with one slip-ring at each end of the conductor. A simple structure where there is only
one cylindrical conductor with ring brushes situated at the ends is shown in Fig. 4. The
excitation coil produces a field which enters the inner member from outside all along the
periphery. The conductor thus sees only one pole polarity or the flux directed in one sense.
A steady voltage now appears across the brushes at any given speed of rotation. The polarity
of the induced voltage can be reversed by reversing either the excitation or the direction of
10

+ N - Brush
A B
Flux
S
Field A B
+ N -
coil
Figure 4: Homopolar Generator
11

rotation but not both. The voltage induced would be very low but the currents of very large
amplitudes can be supplied by such machines. Such sources are used in some applications
like pulse-current and MHD generators, liquid metal pumps or plasma rockets. The steady
field can also be produced using a permanent magnet of ring shape which is radially mag-
netized. If higher voltages are required one is forced to connect many conductors in series.
This series connection has to be done externally. Many conductors must be situated on the
rotating structure each connected to a pair of slip rings. However, this modification intro-
duces parasitic air-gaps and makes the mechanical structure very complex. The magnitude
of the induced emf in a conductor 10 cm long kept on a rotor of 10 cm radius rotating at
3000 rpm, with the field flux density being 1 Tesla every where in the air gap, is given by
e = BLv
3000
= 1 0.1 2 0.1 = 3.14 volt
60
The voltage drops at the brushes become very significant at this level bringing down the
efficiency of power conversion. Even though homopolar machines are d.c. generators in a
strict sense that they generate steady voltages, they are not quite useful for day to day use.
A more practical converters can be found in the d.c. machine family called hetero-polar
machines.
2.2 Hetero-polar d.c. generators
In the case of a hetero-polar generator the induced emf in a conductor goes through a
cyclic change in voltage as it passes under north and south pole polarity alternately. The
induced emf in the conductor therefore is not a constant but alternates in magnitude. For
12

c
B -
d
+
A
Load
Figure 5: Elementary hetro-polar machine
Field coil
Pole
v
N
v
10
11 9
12 8
Commutator S1 7
A+ -
v
B
1 F1
S2
Armature core
v
F2
S3
6
F4
Yoke
F3
2
S4
v
3 5
4
Figure 6: Two pole machine -With Gramme ring type armature
13

a constant velocity of sweep the induced emf is directly proportional to the flux density
under which it is moving. If the flux density variation is sinusoidal in space, then a sine
wave voltage is generated. This principle is used in the a.c generators. In the case of d.c.
generators our aim is to get a steady d.c. voltage at the terminals of the winding and not
the shape of the emf in the conductors. This is achieved by employing an external element,
which is called a commutator, with the winding.
Fig. 5 shows an elementary hetero-polar, 2-pole machine and one-coil arma-

ture. The ends of the coil are connected to a split ring which acts like a commutator. As
the polarity of the induced voltages changes the connection to the brush also gets switched
so that the voltage seen at the brushes has a unidirectional polarity. This idea is further
developed in the modern day machines with the use of commutators. The brushes are placed
on the commutator. Connection to the winding is made through the commutator only. The
idea of a commutator is an ingenious one. Even though the instantaneous value of the in-
duced emf in each conductor varies as a function of the flux density under which it is moving,
the value of this emf is a constant at any given position of the conductor as the field is sta-
tionary. Similarly the sum of a set of coils also remains a constant. This thought is the one
which gave birth to the commutator. The coils connected between the two brushes must be
similarly located with respect to the poles irrespective of the actual position of the rotor.
This can be termed as the condition of symmetry. If a winding satisfies this condition then
it is suitable for use as an armature winding of a d.c. machine. The ring winding due to
Gramme is one such. It is easy to follow the action of the d.c. machine using a ring winding,
hence it is taken up here for explanation.
14

Fig. 6 shows a 2-pole, 12 coil, ring wound armature of a machine. The 12 coils
are placed at uniform spacing around the rotor. The junction of each coil with its neighbor
is connected to a commutator segment. Each commutator segment is insulated from its
neighbor by a mica separator. Two brushes A and B are placed on the commutator which
looks like a cylinder. If one traces the connection from brush A to brush B one finds that
there are two paths. In each path a set of voltages get added up. The sum of the emfs is
constant(nearly). The constancy of this magnitude is altered by a small value corresponding
to the coil short circuited by the brush. As we wish to have a maximum value for the output
voltage, the choice of position for the brushes would be at the neutral axis of the field. If
the armature is turned by a distance of one slot pitch the sum of emfs is seen to be constant
even though a different set of coils participate in the addition. The coil which gets short
circuited has nearly zero voltage induced in the same and hence the sum does not change
substantially. This variation in the output voltage is called the ripple. More the number of
coils participating in the sum lesser would be the percentage ripple.
Another important observation from the working principle of a heterogeneous

generator is that the actual shape of the flux density curve does not matter as long as the
integral of the flux entering the rotor is held constant; which means that for a given flux
per pole the voltage will be constant even if the shape of this flux density curve changes
(speed and other conditions remaining unaltered). This is one reason why an average flux
density over the entire pole pitch is taken and flux density curve is assumed to be rectangular.
A rectangular flux density wave form has some advantages in the derivation
of the voltage between the brushes. Due to this form of the flux density curve, the induced
15

emf in each turn of the armature becomes constant and equal to each other. With this back
ground the emf induced between the brushes can be derived. The value of the induced in
one conductor is given by
Ec = Bav .L.v Volt (7)
where
Bav - Average flux density over a pole pitch, Tesla.
L- Length of the active conductor, m.
v- Velocity of sweep of conductor, m/sec.
If there are Z conductors on the armature and they form b pairs of parallel circuits between
the brushes by virtue of their connections, then number of conductors in a series path is
Z/2b.
The induced emf between the brushes is
Z
E = Ec . (8)
2b
Z
E = Bav .L.v. Volts (9)
2b
But v = (2p).Y.n where p is the pairs of poles Y is the pole pitch, in meters, and n is the
number of revolutions made by the armature per second.
Also Bav can be written in terms of pole pitch Y , core length L, and flux per pole as

Bav = Tesla (10)
(L.Y )
Substituting in equation Eqn. 9,
Z pZn
E= .L.(2p.Y.n). = volts (11)
(L.Y ) 2b b
The number of pairs of parallel paths is a function of the type of the winding chosen. This
16

will be discussed later under the section on the armature windings.
2.2.1 Torque production
When the armature is loaded, the armature conductors carry currents. These current
carrying conductors interact with the field and experience force acting on the same. This
force is in such a direction as to oppose their cause which in the present case is the relative
movement between the conductors and the field. Thus the force directly opposes the motion.
Hence it absorbs mechanical energy. This absorbed mechanical power manifests itself as the
converted electrical power. The electrical power generated by an armature delivering a
current of Ia to the load at an induced emf of E is EIa Watts. Equating the mechanical and
electrical power we have
2nT = EIa (12)
where T is the torque in Nm. Substituting for E from Eqn. 11, we get
p..Z.n
2nT = .Ia (13)
b
which gives torque T as

1 Ia
T = .p..( )Z Nm (14)
2 b
This shows that the torque generated is not a function of the speed. Also,
it is proportional to total flux and Total ampere conductors on the armature, knowing that
Ia /2b is Ic the conductor current on the armature. The expression for the torque generated
can also be derived from the first principles by the application of the law of interaction. The
law of interaction states that the force experienced by a conductor of length L kept in a
17

uniform field of flux density B carrying a current Ic is proportional to B,L and Ic .

Force on a single conductor Fc is given by,
Fc = B.L.Ic Newton (15)
The total work done by an armature with Z conductors in one revolution is given by,

Wa = Bav .L.Ic .Z.(2p.Y ) Joules = .L.Ic .Z.2p.Y Joules (16)
L.Y
The work done per second or the power converted by the armature is,
Pconv = .2p.Z.Ic .n watts (17)
Ia
AsIc = (18)
2b
Ia
= .p.Z.n. (19)
b
which is nothing but EIa .
The above principles can easily be extended to the case of motoring mode
of operation also. This will be discussed next in the section on motoring operation of d.c.
machines.
2.2.2 Motoring operation of a d.c. machine
In the motoring operation the d.c. machine is made to work from a d.c. source and
absorb electrical power. This power is converted into the mechanical form. This is briefly
discussed here. If the armature of the d.c. machine which is at rest is connected to a d.c.
source then, a current flows into the armature conductors. If the field is already excited then
18

these current carrying conductors experience a force as per the law of interaction discussed
above and the armature experiences a torque. If the restraining torque could be neglected the
armature starts rotating in the direction of the force. The conductors now move under the
field and cut the magnetic flux and hence an induced emf appears in them. The polarity of
the induced emf is such as to oppose the cause of the current which in the present case is the
applied voltage. Thus a back emf appears and tries to reduce the current. As the induced
emf and the current act in opposing sense the machine acts like a sink to the electrical power
which the source supplies. This absorbed electrical power gets converted into mechanical
form. Thus the same electrical machine works as a generator of electrical power or the
absorber of electrical power depending upon the operating condition. The absorbed power
gets converted into electrical or mechanical power. This is briefly explained earlier with the
help of Figure 3(a) and 3(b). These aspects would be discussed in detail at a later stage.
19

3 Constructional aspects of d.c. machines
As mentioned earlier the d.c. machines were invented during the second half of the 19th
century. The initial pace of development work was phenomenal. The best configurations
stood all the competition and the test of time and were adopted. Less effective options were
discarded. The present day d.c. generator contains most, if not all, of the features of the
machine developed over a century earlier. To appreciate the working and the characteristics
of these machines, it is necessary to know about the different parts of the machine - both
electrical and non-electrical. The description would also aid the understanding of the reason
for selecting one form of construction or the other. An exploded view of a small d.c.
Figure 7: Exploded view of D.C.Machine
machine is shown in Fig. 7.

Click here to see the assembling of the parts.
The major parts can be identified as,
1. Body
2. Poles
20

3. Armature
4. Commutator and brush gear
5. Commutating poles
6. Compensating winding
7. Other mechanical parts
The constructional aspects relating to these parts are now discussed briefly in sequence.
Body The body constitutes the outer shell within which all the other parts are housed.
This will be closed at both the ends by two end covers which also support the bearings
required to facilitate the rotation of the rotor and the shaft. Even though for the
generation of an emf in a conductor a relative movement between the field and the
conductor would be enough, due to practical considerations of commutation, a rotating
conductor configuration is selected for d.c. machines. Hence the shell or frame supports
the poles and yoke of the magnetic system. In many cases the shell forms part of the
magnetic circuit itself. Cast steel is used as a material for the frame and yoke as the
flux does not vary in these parts. In large machines these are fabricated by suitably
welding the different parts. Those are called as fabricated frames. Fabrication as
against casting avoids expensive patterns. In small special machines these could be
made of stack of laminations suitably fastened together to form a solid structure.
Main poles Solid poles of fabricated steel with seperate/integral pole shoes are fastened
to the frame by means of bolts. Pole shoes are generally laminated. Sometimes pole
body and pole shoe are formed from the same laminations. Stiffeners are used on both
21

sides of the laminations. Riveted through bolts hold the assembly together. The pole
shoes are shaped so as to have a slightly increased air gap at the tips.
Inter-poles These are small additional poles located in between the main poles. These can
be solid, or laminated just as the main poles. These are also fastened to the yoke by
bolts. Sometimes the yoke may be slotted to receive these poles. The inter poles could
be of tapered section or of uniform cross section. These are also called as commutating
poles or compoles. The width of the tip of the compole can be about a rotor slot pitch.
Armature The armature is where the moving conductors are located. The armature is
constructed by stacking laminated sheets of silicon steel. Thickness of these lamination
is kept low to reduce eddy current losses. As the laminations carry alternating flux
the choice of suitable material, insulation coating on the laminations, stacking it etc
are to be done more carefully. The core is divided into packets to facilitate ventilation.
The winding cannot be placed on the surface of the rotor due to the mechanical forces
coming on the same. Open parallel sided equally spaced slots are normally punched in
the rotor laminations. These slots house the armature winding. Large sized machines
employ a spider on which the laminations are stacked in segments. End plates are
suitably shaped so as to serve as Winding supporters. Armature construction process
must ensure provision of sufficient axial and radial ducts to facilitate easy removal of
heat from the armature winding.
Field windings In the case of wound field machines (as against permanent magnet excited
machines) the field winding takes the form of a concentric coil wound around the main
poles. These carry the excitation current and produce the main field in the machine.
Thus the poles are created electromagnetically. Two types of windings are generally
employed. In shunt winding large number of turns of small section copper conductor is
22

used. The resistance of such winding would be an order of magnitude larger than the
armature winding resistance. In the case of series winding a few turns of heavy cross
section conductor is used. The resistance of such windings is low and is comparable
to armature resistance. Some machines may have both the windings on the poles.
The total ampere turns required to establish the necessary flux under the poles is
calculated from the magnetic circuit calculations. The total mmf required is divided
equally between north and south poles as the poles are produced in pairs. The mmf
required to be shared between shunt and series windings are apportioned as per the
design requirements. As these work on the same magnetic system they are in the form
of concentric coils. Mmf per pole is normally used in these calculations.
Armature winding As mentioned earlier, if the armature coils are wound on the surface of
the armature, such construction becomes mechanically weak. The conductors may fly
away when the armature starts rotating. Hence the armature windings are in general
pre-formed, taped and lowered into the open slots on the armature. In the case of
small machines, they can be hand wound. The coils are prevented from flying out due
to the centrifugal forces by means of bands of steel wire on the surface of the rotor in
small groves cut into it. In the case of large machines slot wedges are additionally used
to restrain the coils from flying away. The end portion of the windings are taped at
the free end and bound to the winding carrier ring of the armature at the commutator
end. The armature must be dynamically balanced to reduce the centrifugal forces at
the operating speeds.
Compensating winding One may find a bar winding housed in the slots on the pole
shoes. This is mostly found in d.c. machines of very large rating. Such winding is
called compensating winding. In smaller machines, they may be absent. The function
23

and the need of such windings will be discussed later on.
1.Clamping cone
4 2.Insulating cups
3.Commutator bar
3 4.Riser
2
2 5.Insulating gasket
1
5
Figure 8: Cylindrical type commutator-a longitudinal section
Commutator Commutator is the key element which made the d.c. machine of the present
day possible. It consists of copper segments tightly fastened together with mica/micanite
insulating separators on an insulated base. The whole commutator forms a rigid and
solid assembly of insulated copper strips and can rotate at high speeds. Each com-
mutator segment is provided with a riser where the ends of the armature coils get
connected. The surface of the commutator is machined and surface is made concentric
with the shaft and the current collecting brushes rest on the same. Under-cutting the
mica insulators that are between these commutator segments has to be done periodi-
cally to avoid fouling of the surface of the commutator by mica when the commutator
gets worn out. Some details of the construction of the commutator are seen in Fig. 8.
Brush and brush holders Brushes rest on the surface of the commutator. Normally
electro-graphite is used as brush material. The actual composition of the brush depends
on the peripheral speed of the commutator and the working voltage. The hardness of
the graphite brush is selected to be lower than that of the commutator. When the
24

brush wears out the graphite works as a solid lubricant reducing frictional coefficient.
More number of relatively smaller width brushes are preferred in place of large broad
brushes. The brush holders provide slots for the brushes to be placed. The connection
Pigtail
Pressure
spring
Brush
Brush holder box
(a)
Radial Trailing
Reaction
Motion of commutator
(b)
Figure 9: Brush holder with a Brush and Positioning of the brush on the commutator
from the brush is taken out by means of flexible pigtail. The brushes are kept pressed
on the commutator with the help of springs. This is to ensure proper contact between
25

the brushes and the commutator even under high speeds of operation. Jumping of
brushes must be avoided to ensure arc free current collection and to keep the brush
contact drop low. Fig. 9 shows a brush holder arrangement. Radial positioning of the
brushes helps in providing similar current collection conditions for both direction of
rotation. For unidirectional drives trailing brush arrangement or reaction arrangement
may be used in Fig. 9-(b) Reaction arrangement is preferred as it results in zero side
thrust on brush box and the brush can slide down or up freely. Also staggering of the
brushes along the length of the commutator is adopted to avoid formation of tracks
on the commutator. This is especially true if the machine is operating in a dusty
environment like the one found in cement plants.
Other mechanical parts End covers, fan and shaft bearings form other important me-
chanical parts. End covers are completely solid or have opening for ventilation. They
support the bearings which are on the shaft. Proper machining is to be ensured for
easy assembly. Fans can be external or internal. In most machines the fan is on the
non-commutator end sucking the air from the commutator end and throwing the same
out. Adequate quantity of hot air removal has to be ensured.
Bearings Small machines employ ball bearings at both ends. For larger machines roller
bearings are used especially at the driving end. The bearings are mounted press-fit
on the shaft. They are housed inside the end shield in such a manner that it is not
necessary to remove the bearings from the shaft for dismantling. The bearings must be
kept in closed housing with suitable lubricant keeping dust and other foreign materials
away. Thrust bearings, roller bearings, pedestal bearings etc are used under special
cases. Care must be taken to see that there are no bearing currents or axial forces on
the shaft both of which destroy the bearings.
26

4 Armature Windings
Main field
N
Commutator Compole field
& Brush X
X
x
x x
x
x
X
x x
Shaft Compensating
x x S
S winding
x x
v
x x
X
x
Armature
x
winding x
x
X X
Yoke
N X
Figure 10: Cross sectional view
Fig. 10 gives the cross sectional view of a modern d.c. machine show-
ing all the salient parts. Armature windings, along with the commutators, form the heart
of the d.c. machine. This is where the emf is induced and hence its effective deployment
enhances the output of the machine. Fig. 11(a) shows one coil of an armature of Gramme
ring arrangement and Fig. 11(b) shows one coil as per drum winding arrangement. Earlier,
a simple form of this winding in the form of Gramme ring winding was presented for easy
understanding. The Gramme ring winding is now obsolete as a better armature winding has
27

X X
X X
/2 /2 /2 /2

(a) Ring winding (b) Drum winding
Figure 11: Ring winding and drum winding
28

been invented in the form of a drum winding. The ring winding has only one conductor in
a turn working as an active conductor. The second conductor is used simply to complete
the electrical connections. Thus the effectiveness of the electric circuit is only 50 percent.
Looking at it differently, half of the magnetic flux per pole links with each coil. Also, the
return conductor has to be wound inside the bore of the rotor, and hence the rotor diameter
is larger and mounting of the rotor on the shaft is made difficult.
In a drum winding both forward and return conductors are housed in slots cut
on the armature (or drum). Both the conductors have emf induced in them. Looking at it
differently the total flux of a pole is linked with a turn inducing much larger voltage induced
in the same. The rotor is mechanically robust with more area being available for carrying
the flux. There is no necessity for a rotor bore. The rotor diameters are smaller. Mechanical
problems that existed in ring winding are no longer there with drum windings. The coils
could be made of single conductors (single turn coils) or more number of conductors in series
(multi turn coils). These coils are in turn connected to form a closed winding. The two sides
of the coil lie under two poles one north and the other south, so that the induced emf in
them are always additive by virtue of the end connection. Even though the total winding
is a closed one the sum of the emfs would be zero at all times. Thus there is no circulating
current when the armature is not loaded. The two sides of the coil, if left on the surface, will
fly away due to centrifugal forces. Hence slots are made on the surface and the conductors
are placed in these slots and fastened by steel wires to keep them in position. Each armature
slot is partitioned into two layers, a top layer and a bottom layer. The winding is called as
a double layer winding. This is a direct consequence of the symmetry consideration. The
distance, measured along the periphery of the armature from any point under a pole to a
similar point under the neighboring pole is termed as a pole pitch. The forward conductor
is housed in the top layer of a slot and the return conductor is housed in the bottom layer
29

Upper coil side
B
S A
N
C
D
Lower
coil side
A
N
(a) End view
Upper coil side B Lower coil side

Inactive
Active
S A N A S
Inactive
Armature
C D
(b) Developed view
Figure 12: Arrangement of a single coil of a drum winding
30

of a slot which is displaced by about one pole pitch. The junction of two coils is terminated
on a commutator segment. Thus there are as many commutator segments as the number of
coils. In a double layer winding in S slots there are 2S layers. Two layers are occupied by a
coil and hence totally there are S coils. The S junctions of these S coils are terminated on S
commutator segments. The brushes are placed in such a manner that a maximum voltage
appears across them. While the number of parallel circuits in the case of ring winding is
equal to the number of poles, in the case of drum winding a wide variety of windings are
possible. The number of brushes and parallel paths thus vary considerably. The physical
arrangement of a single coil is shown in Fig. 12 to illustrate its location and connection to
the commutators.
Fig. 13 shows the axial side view while Fig. 13-(b) shows the cut and spread view
of the machine. The number of turns in a coil can be one (single turn coils) or more (multi
turn coils ). As seen earlier the sum of the instantaneous emfs appears across the brushes.
This sum gets altered by the voltage of a coil that is being switched from one circuit to the
other or which is being commutated. As this coil in general lies in the magnetic neutral
axis it has a small value of voltage induced in it. This change in the sum expressed as the
fraction of the total induced voltage is called as the ripple. In order to reduce the ripple,
one can increase the number of coils coming in series between the brushes. As the number
of coils is the same as the number of slots in an armature with two coil sides per slot one is
forced to increase the number of slots. However increasing the slot number makes the tooth
width too narrow and makes them mechanically weak.
To solve this problem the slots are partitioned vertically to increase the number
of coil sides. This is shown in Fig. 14. In the figure, the conductors a, b and c belong to a
coil. Such 2/3 coils occupy the 2/3 top coil sides of the slot. In the present case the number
of coils in the armature is 2S/3S.
31

(a)End view
11 2
10
3
1
12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
N S N S
12
1
2
11
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
+ - + Motion
-
(b)Developed view
Figure 13: Lap Winding

32

Press board
Copper
Mica Tape
Press board
(a) Single coil-side perlayer
(b) More coil sides perlayer
Figure 14: Partitioning of slots
33

As mentioned earlier, in a drum winding, the coils span a pole pitch where
ever possible. Such coils are called full pitched coils. The emf induced in the two active
conductors of such coils have identical emfs with opposite signs at all instants of time. If the
span is more than or less than the full pitch then the coil is said to be chorded. In chorded
coils the induced emfs of the two conductor may be of the same sign and hence oppose each
other( for brief intervals of time). Slight short chording of the coil reduces overhang length
and saves copper and also improves commutation. Hence when the pole pitch becomes frac-
tional number, the smaller whole number may be selected discarding the fractional part.
Similar to the pitch of a coil one can define the winding pitch and commutator
pitch. In a d.c. winding the end of one coil is connected to the beginning of another coil
(not necessarily the next), this being symmetrically followed to include all the coils on the
armature. Winding pitch provides a means of indicating this. Similarly the commutator
pitch provides the information regarding the commutators to which the beginning and the
end of a coil are connected. Commutator pitch is the number of micas between the ends of
a coil. For all these information to be simple and useful the numbering scheme of the coils
and commutator segments becomes important. One simple method is to number only the
top coil side of the coils in sequence. The return conductor need not be numbered. As a
double layer is being used the bottom coil side is placed in a slot displaced by one coil span

from the top coil side. Some times the coils are numbered as 1 1 , 2 2 etc. indicating

the second sides by 1 , 2 etc. The numbering of commutators segments are done similarly.
The commutator segment connected to top coil side of coil 1 is numbered 1. This method
of numbering is simple and easy to follow. It should be noted that changing of the pitch
34

of a coil slightly changes the induced emf in the same. The pitch of the winding however
substantially alters the nature of the winding.
The armature windings are classified into two families based on this. They are
called lap winding and wave winding. They can be simply stated in terms of the commutator
pitch used for the winding.
4.1 Lap winding
The commutator pitch for the lap windings is given by
yc = m, m = 1, 2, 3... (20)
where yc is the commutator pitch, m is the order of the winding.

For m = 1 we get a simple lap winding, m = 2 gives duplex lap winding etc. yc = m
gives a multiplex lap winding of order m. The sign refers to the direction of progression
of the winding. Positive sign is used for progressive winding and the negative sign for the
retrogressive winding. Fig. 15 shows one coil as per progressive and retrogressive lap wind-
ing arrangements. Fig. 16 shows a developed view of a simple lap winding for a 4-pole
armature in 12 slots. The connections of the coils to the commutator segments are also
shown. The position of the armature is below the poles and the conductors move from left
to right as indicated. The position and polarity of the brushes are also indicated. Single
turn coils with yc = 1 are shown here. The number of parallel paths formed by the winding
equals the number of poles. The number of conductors that are connected in series between
the brushes therefore becomes equal to Z/2b. Thus the lap winding is well suited for high
current generators. In a symmetrical winding the parallel paths share the total line current
35

Progressive Retrogressive
yc =+1 yc = -1
s1 s2 F1 F2 F2
s2 F3 s3
1 2 3 1 2 3 4
(a) Lap winding
Coil span
s1 F1
1 2 _1
c+
p
(b) Wave winding
Figure 15: Typical end connections of a coil and commutator
36

1 2
S
N S N S
13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Motion
A1 + B1 - A2 + B2 -
Figure 16: Developed view of a retrogressive Lap winding
37

equally.
The increase in the number of parallel paths in the armature winding brings
about a problem of circulating current. The induced emfs in the different paths tend to
differ slightly due to the non-uniformities in the magnetic circuit. This will be more with the
increase in the number of poles in the machine. If this is left uncorrected, circulating currents
appear in these closed parallel paths. This circulating current wastes power, produces heat
and over loads the brushes under loaded conditions. One method commonly adopted in d.c.
machines to reduce this problem is to provide equalizer connections. As the name suggests
these connections identify similar potential points of the different parallel paths and connect
them together to equalize the potentials. Any difference in the potential generates a local
circulating current and the voltages get equalized. Also, the circulating current does not
flow through the brushes loading them. The number of such equalizer connections, the
cross section for the conductor used for the equalizer etc are decided by the designer. An
example of equalizer connection is discussed now with the help of a 6-pole armature having
150 commutator segments. The coil numbers 1, 51 and 101 are identically placed under the
poles of same polarity as they are one pole-pair apart. There are 50 groups like that. In
order to limit the number of links to 5(say), the following connections are chosen. Then
1,11,21,31, and 41 are the coils under the first pair of poles. These are connected to their
counter parts displaced by 50 and 100 to yield 5 equalizer connections. There are 10 coils
connected in series between any two successive links. The wave windings shall be examined
next.
38

S N S N
20 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Motion
+ A1 - B1 + A2 - B2
(a)Winding layout
_ 5
Full pitch: 21/4=5.25 ~
Span : 1 to 6
Yc=
_1
C+
2
= 21
_1
+
2
=
11
10 }
Commutator pitch 1-11 for retrogressive winding
1-11-21-10-20-9-19-8-18-7-17-
v
A2
A1
6-16-5-15-4-14-3-13-2-12-1
v
B2
B1
(b)Parallel paths
Figure 17: Developed view of a Retrogressive Wave winding
39

4.2 Wave windings
In wave windings the coils carrying emf in the same direction at a time are all
grouped together and connected in series. Hence in a simple wave winding there are only
two paths between the brushes, the number of conductors in each path being 50 percent of
the total conductors. To implement a wave winding one should select the commutator pitch
as
C1
yc = (21)
p
where C is the total segments on the commutator. yc should be an integer number; C and
p should satisfy this relation correctly. Here also the positive sign refers to the progressive
winding and the negative sign yields a retrogressive winding. yc = (C m)/p yields a multi-
plex wave winding of order m. A simple wave winding for 4 poles in 21 slots is illustrated in
Fig. 17. As could be seen from the figure, the connection to the next (or previous) adjacent
coil is reached after p coils are connected in series. The winding closes on itself after all the
coils are connected in series. The position for the brushes is indicated in the diagram.
It is seen from the formula for the commutator pitch, the choice of commutator
segments for wave winding is restricted. The number of commutator segments can only be
one more or one less than some multiple of pole pairs. As the number of parallel circuits is
2 for a simple wave winding irrespective of the pole numbers it is preferred in multi polar
machine of lower power levels.
As mentioned earlier the simple wave winding forms two parallel paths, duplex
wave winding has 2*2=4 etc. The coils under all the north poles are grouped together in
40

one circuit and the other circuit collects all the coils that are under all the south poles. Two
brush sets are therefore adequate. Occasionally people employ brush sets equal to the num-
ber of poles. This arrangement does not increase the number of parallel circuits but reduces
the current to be collected by each brush set. This can be illustrated by an example. A
4-pole wave connected winding with 21 commutator segments is taken. yc = (21 1)/2 = 10
. A retrogressive wave winding results. The total string of connection can be laid out as
shown below. If coil number 1 is assumed to be in the neutral axis then other neutral axis
coils are a pole pitch apart i.e. coils 6, 11, 16.
If the brushes are kept at commutator segment 1 and 6, nearly half the num-
ber of coils come under each circuit. The polarity of the brushes are positive and negative
alternately. Or, one could have two brushes at 11 and 16 or any two adjacent poles. By
having four brushes at 1, 6, 11 and 16 and connecting 1,11 and 6,16 still only two parallel
circuits are obtained. The brush currents however are halved. This method permits the use
of commutator of shorter length as lesser current is to be collected by each brush and thus
saving on the cost of the commutator. Fig. 17(b) illustrates this brush arrangement with
respect to a 21 slot 4 pole machine. Similarly proceeding, in a 6-pole winding 2,4 or 6 brush
sets may be used.
Multiplex windings of order m have m times the circuits compared to a simplex

winding and so also more restriction on the choice of the slots, coil sides, commutator
and brushes. Hence windings beyond duplex are very uncommon even though theoretically
possible. The duplex windings are used under very special circumstances when the number
of parallel paths had to be doubled.
41

4.3 Dummy coils and dummy commutator segments
Due to the restrictions posed by lap and wave windings on the choice of number
of slots and commutator segments a practical difficulty arises. Each machine with a certain
pole number, voltage and power ratings may require a particular number of slots and com-
mutator segments for a proper design. Thus each machine may be tailor made for a given
specification. This will require stocking and handling many sizes of armature and commu-
tator.
Sometimes due to the non-availability of a suitable slot number or commu-

tator, one is forced to design the winding in an armature readily available in stock. Such
designs, obviously, violate the symmetry conditions as armature slots and commutator seg-
ment may not match. If one is satisfied with approximate solutions then the designer can
omit the surplus coil or surplus commutator segment and complete the design. This is called
the use of a dummy. All the coils are placed in the armature slots. The surplus coil is
electrically isolated and taped. It serves to provide mechanical balance against centrifugal
forces. Similarly, in the case of surplus commutator segment two adjacent commutator seg-
ments are connected together and treated as a single segment. These are called dummy coils
and dummy commutator segments. As mentioned earlier this approach must be avoided as
far as possible by going in for proper slot numbers and commutator. Slightly un-symmetric
winding may be tolerable in machines of smaller rating with very few poles.
42

5 Armature reaction
Earlier, an expression was derived for the induced emf at the terminals of the
armature winding under the influence of motion of the conductors under the field established
by field poles. But if the generator is to be of some use it should deliver electrical output to a
load. In such a case the armature conductors also carry currents and produce a field of their
own. The interaction between the fields must therefore must be properly understood in order
to understand the behavior of the loaded machine. As the magnetic structure is complex
and as we are interested in the flux cut by the conductors, we primarily focus our attention
on the surface of the armature. A sign convention is required for mmf as the armature and
field mmf are on two different members of the machine. The convention used here is that
the mmf acting across the air gap and the flux density in the air gap are shown as positive
when they act in a direction from the field system to the armature. A flux line is taken
and the value of the current enclosed is determined. As the magnetic circuit is non-linear,
the field mmf and armature mmf are separately computed and added at each point on the
surface of the armature. The actual flux produced is proportional to the total mmf and the
permeance. The flux produced by field and that produced by armature could be added to
get the total flux only in the case of a linear magnetic circuit. The mmf distribution due to
the poles and armature are discussed now in sequence.
5.0.1 MMF distribution due to the field coils acting alone
Fig. 18 shows the distribution of mmf due to field coils over two pole pitches. It
is a step curve with the width being equal to the pole arc. The permeance variation at the
surface is given by Fig. 18 assuming the air gap under the pole to be uniform and neglecting
43

N S
mmf
Permeance
Practical
Flux density
Ideal flux density
Figure 18: Mmf and flux variation in an unloaded machine
44

the slotting of the armature. The no-load flux density curve can be obtained by multiplying
mmf and permeance. Allowing for the fringing of the flux, the actual flux density curve
would be as shown under Fig. 18.
5.0.2 MMF distribution due to armature conductors alone carrying currents
N S
N-Pole
S-Pole
Generator Flux
mmf
Figure 19: Mmf and flux distribution under the action of armature alone carrying current
The armature has a distributed winding, as against the field coils which
are concentrated and concentric. The mmf of each coil is shifted in space by the number of
slots. For a full pitched coil, each coil produces a rectangular mmf distribution. The sum
of the mmf due to all coils would result in a stepped triangular wave form. If we neglect
slotting and have uniformly spaced coils on the surface, then the mmf distribution due to the
armature working alone would be a triangular distribution in space since all the conductors
carry equal currents. MMF distribution is the integral of the ampere conductor distribution.
45

This is depicted in Fig. 19. This armature mmf per pole is given by
1 Ic .Z
Fa = .
2 2p
where Ic is the conductor current and Z is total number of conductors on the armature. This
peak value of the mmf occurs at the inter polar area, shifted from the main pole axis by half
the pole pitch when the brushes are kept in the magnetic neutral axis of the main poles.
5.0.3 Total mmf and flux of a loaded machine
Brush axis
N S
A Generator B
c
D
C
Field a
flux
B
o
A o
b
Armature flux
Total flux
Figure 20: Flux distribution in a loaded generator without brush shift
The mmf of field coils and armature coils are added up and the re-
sultant mmf distribution is obtained as shown in Fig. 20.
46

This shows the decrease in the mmf at one tip of a pole and a substantial rise
at the other tip. If the machine has a pole arc to pole pitch ratio of 0.7 then 70% of the
armature reaction mmf gets added at this tip leading to considerable amount of saturation
under full load conditions. The flux distribution also is shown in Fig. 20. This is obtained
by multiplying mmf and permeance waves point by point in space. Actual flux distribution
differs from this slightly due to fringing. As seen from the figure, the flux in the inter polar
region is substantially lower due to the high reluctance of the medium. The air gaps under
the pole tips are also increased in practice to reduce excessive saturation of this part. The
advantage of the salient pole field construction is thus obvious. It greatly mitigates the
effect of the armature reaction. Also, the coils under going commutation have very little
emf induced in them and hence better commutation is achieved. Even though the armature
reaction produced a cross magnetizing effect, the net flux per pole gets slightly reduced,
on load, due to the saturation under one tip of the pole. This is more so in modern d.c.
machines where the normal excitation of the field makes the machine work under some level
of saturation.
5.0.4 Effect of brush shift
In some small d.c. machines the brushes are shifted from the position of the mag-
netic neutral axis in order to improve the commutation. This is especially true of machines
with unidirectional operation and uni-modal (either as a generator or as a motor) operation.
Such a shift in the direction of rotation is termed lead (or forward lead). Shift of brushes
in the opposite to the direction of rotation is called backward lead. This lead is expressed
in terms of the number of commutator segments or in terms of the electrical angle. A pole
pitch corresponds to an electrical angle of 180 degrees. Fig. 21 shows the effect of a forward
47

Geometric Neutral axis

Brush axis
N S
Rotation
a
Field c
flux
Armature flux
Total flux
(a)Armature reaction with brush shift

N
Rotation
b
a a

b
S
(b)Calculation of demagnetizing mmf per pole
Figure 21: Effect of brush shift on armature reaction
48

brush lead on the armature reaction. The magnetization action due to the armature is no
longer entirely cross magnetizing. Some component of the same goes to demagnetize the
main field and the net useful flux gets reduced. This may be seen as the price we pay for
improving the commutation. Knowing the pole arc to pole pitch ratio one can determine
the total mmf at the leading and trailing edges of a pole without shift in the brushes.
Fmin = Ff .Fa (22)
Fmax = Ff + .Fa
where Ff is the field mmf, Fa is armature reaction mmf per pole, and is the pole arc to
pole pitch ratio.
1 Z.Ic
Fa = . (23)
2 2p
The net flux per pole decreases due to saturation at the trailing edge and
hence additional ampere turns are needed on the pole to compensate this effect. This may
be to the tune of 20 percent in the modern d.c. machines.
The brush shift gives rise to a shift in the axis of the mmf of the armature
reaction. This can be resolved into two components, one in the quadrature axis and sec-
ond along the pole axis as shown in Fig. 21.(b) The demagnetizing and cross magnetizing
component of the armature ampere turn per pole can be written as
2
Fd = .Fa (24)

2
Fq = (1 ).Fa (25)

where is the angle of lead . In terms of the number of commutator segments they are
Cl Ic Z Cl
Fd = .
C 4p
or .Ic .Z (26)
4p
C
49

where, Cl is the brush lead expressed in number of commutator segments.
5.0.5 Armature reaction in motors
As discussed earlier, for a given polarity of the field and sense of rotation, the
motoring and generating modes differ only in the direction of the armature current. Alter-
natively, for a given sense of armature current, the direction of rotation would be opposite
for the two modes. The leading and trailing edges of the poles change positions if direction
of rotation is made opposite. Similarly when the brush leads are considered, a forward lead
given to a generator gives rise to weakening of the generator field but strengthens the motor
field and vice-versa. Hence it is highly desirable, even in the case of non-reversing drives,
to keep the brush position at the geometrical neutral axis if the machine goes through both
motoring and generating modes.
The second effect of the armature reaction in the case of motors as well as
generators is that the induced emf in the coils under the pole tips get increased when a
pole tip has higher flux density. This increases the stress on the mica (micanite) insulation
used for the commutator, thus resulting in increased chance of breakdown of these insulating
sheets. To avoid this effect the flux density distribution under the poles must be prevented
from getting distorted and peaky.
The third effect of the armature reaction mmf distorting the flux density is
that the armature teeth experience a heavy degree of saturation in this region. This increases
the iron losses occurring in the armature in that region. The saturation of the teeth may
be too great as to have some flux lines to link the thick end plates used for strengthening
50

the armature. The increase in iron loss could be as high as 50 percent more at full load
compared to its no-load value.
The above two effects can be reduced by providing a compensating mmf at
Commutating pole
s
Main pole
N S
N N
S N
Compensating
winding
s
Figure 22: Compensating winding
the same spatial rate as the armature mmf. This is provided by having a compensating
winding housed on the pole shoe which carries currents that are directly proportional to the
armature current. The ampere conductors per unit length is maintained identical to that of
51

N S
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Rotation
mmf of
compensating
winding
Resultant
mmf
compole mmf
Armature
mmf
Main field
mmf
Figure 23: Armature reaction with Compensating winding
52

the armature. The sign of the ampere conductors is made opposite to the armature. This is
illustrated in Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 . Since the compensating winding is connected in series with
the armature, the relationship between armature mmf and the mmf due to compensating
winding remains proper for all modes of working of the machine. The mmf required to be
setup by the compensating winding can be found out to be
Ic .Z polearc
Fc = . (27)
4p polepitch
Under these circumstances the flux density curve remains unaltered under the poles between
no-load and full load.
The axis of the mmf due to armature and the compensating winding being
the same and the signs of mmf being opposite to each other the flux density in the region
of geometric neutral axis gets reduced thus improving the conditions for commutation. One
can design the compensating winding to completely neutralize the armature reaction mmf.
Such a design results in overcompensation under the poles. Improvement in commutation
condition may be achieved simply by providing a commutating pole which sets up a local
field of proper polarity. It is better not to depend on the compensating winding for improv-
ing commutation.
Compensating windings are commonly used in large generators and motors

operating on weak field working at high loads.
From the analysis of the phenomenon of armature reaction that takes place
in a d.c. machine it can be inferred that the equivalent circuit of the machine need not be
modified to include the armature reaction. The machine can simply be modelled as a voltage
53

source of internal resistance equal to the armature circuit resistance and a series voltage drop
equal to the brush contact drop, under steady state. With this circuit model one can arrive
at the external characteristics of the d.c. machine under different modes of operation.
5.1 Commutation
As seen earlier, in an armature conductor of a heteropolar machine a.c. voltages

are induced as the conductor moves under north and south pole polarities alternately. The
frequency of this induced emf is given by the product of the pole-pairs and the speed in
revolutions per second. The induced emf in a full pitch coil changes sign as the coil crosses
magnetic neutral axis. In order to get maximum d.c. voltage in the external circuit the coil
should be shifted to the negative group. This process of switching is called commutation.
During a short interval when the two adjacent commutator segments get bridged by the
brush the coils connected in series between these two segments get short circuited. Thus in
the case of ring winding and simple lap winding 2p coils get short circuited. In a simple wave
winding in a 2p pole machine 2 coils get short circuited. The current in these coils become
zero and get reversed as the brush moves over to the next commutator segment. Thus brush
and commutator play an important role in commutation. Commutation is the key process
which converts the induced a.c. voltages in the conductors into d.c. It is important to learn
about the working of the same in order to ensure a smooth and trouble free operation of the
machine.
54

4 3 2 1 Ia Ia
2Ia
4 3 2 1
Motion
(a) 2Ia
tb
4 3 2 Ia 1 Ia
I2 i I1
4 3 2 1
x 2Ia
Thickness (b)
tb
dth 4 3 2 Ia Ia 1
Entering Edge Wi
Length
Leaving Edge
2Ia
4 3 2 1
(c) 2Ia
tb
(a)Location of Brush (b)Process of commutation
Figure 24: Location of the brush and Commutation process
55

5.1.1 Brushes
Brush forms an important component in the process of commutation. The coil

resistance is normally very small compared to the brush contact resistance. Further this
brush contact resistance is not a constant. With the brushes commonly used, an increase in
the current density of the brushes by 100 percent increases the brush drop by about 10 to
15 percent. Brush contact drop is influenced by the major factors like speed of operation,
pressure on the brushes, and to a smaller extent the direction of current flow.
Major change in contact resistance is brought about by the composition of

the brush. Soft graphite brushes working at a current density of about 10A/cm2 produce a
drop of 1.6V (at the positive and negative brushes put together) while copper-carbon brush
working at 15A/cm2 produces a drop of about 0.3V. The coefficient of friction for these
brushes are 0.12 and 0.16 respectively. The attention is focussed next on the process of
commutation.
5.1.2 Linear Commutation
If the current density under the brush is assumed to be constant through out the
commutation interval, a simple model for commutation is obtained. For simplicity, the brush
thickness is made equal to thickness of one commutator segment. In Fig. 24(b), the brush
is initially solely resting on segment number 1. The total current of 2Ia is collected by
the brush as shown. As the commutator moves relative to the brush position, the brush
position starts to overlap with that of segment 2. As the current density is assumed to be
constant, the current from each side of the winding is proportional to the area shared on the
56

two segments. Segment 1 current uniformly comes down with segment 2 current increasing
uniformly keeping the total current in the brush constant. The currents I1 and I2 in brush
segments 1 and 2 are given by
x x
I1 = 2Ia (1 ) and I2 = 2Ia (28)
tb tb
giving I1 + I2 to be 2 Ia .
Here x is the width of the brush overlapping on segment 2. The process of commutation
would be over when the current through segment number 1 becomes zero. The current in
the coil undergoing commutation is
(I1 I2 ) 2x
i = I1 Ia = Ia I2 = = Ia (1 ) (29)
2 tb
The time required to complete this commutation is
tb
Tc = (30)
vc
where vc is the velocity of the commutator. This type of linear commutation is very close
to the ideal method of commutation. The time variation of current in the coil undergoing
commutation is shown in Fig. 25.(a). Fig. 25.(b) also shows the timing diagram for the
currents I1 and I2 and the current densities in entering edge e , leaving edge l and also the
mean current density m in the brush. Machines having very low coil inductances, operating
at low load currents, and low speeds, come close to this method of linear commutation.
In general commutation will not be linear due to the presence of emf of self
induction and induced rotational emf in the coil. These result in retarded and accelerated
commutation and are discussed in sequence.
57

Ia 2Ia
I1 I2
i
m = = "
0 Tc Time
Time of Time of Tc
communication -Ia 0 commutation
(a) (b)
Figure 25: Linear commutation
5.1.3 Retarded commutation
Retarded commutation is mainly due to emf of self induction in the coil. Here
the current transfer from 1 to 2 gets retarded as the name suggests. This is best explained
with the help of time diagrams as shown in Fig. 26.(a). The variation of i is the change in

the current of the coil undergoing commutation, while i is that during linear commutation.
Fig. 26(b) shows the variation of I1 and current density in the brush at the leaving edge and
Fig. 26.(c) shows the same phenomenon with respect to I2 at entering edge. The value of
current in the coil is given by i undergoing commutation. m is the mean current density in
the brush given by total current divided by brush area of cross section. l and e are the
current density under leaving and entering edges of the brush. As before,
I1 = Ia + i and I2 = Ia i (31)
58

2Ia P =AB/AC
+Ia B
+Ia I1=Ia+i
i C m
0 t Tc
i
Q
-Ia 0 A t Tc
(a) commutation (b) Leaving edge density

2Ia
E
I2=Ia-i
F
"=DF/DE
0 t Tc t
D
(c)Entry edge density
Figure 26: Diagrams for Retarded commutation
59

The variation of densities at leaving and entering edges are given as
AB
l = .m (32)
AC
DF
e = .m (33)
DE
At the very end of commutation, the current density

di di
e = m . / (34)
dt dt
di 2Ia
= m . /
dt Tc
If at this point di/dt = 0 the possibility of sudden breaking of the current and
hence the creation of an arc is removed .
Similarly at the entering edge at the end of accelerated commutation, shown

in Fig. 27.(b).
di 2Ia
e = m . / (35)
dt Tc
Thus retarded communication results in di/dt = 0 at the beginning of commutation
(at entering edge) and accelerated communication results in the same at the end of commu-
tation (at leaving edge). Hence it is very advantageous to have retarded commutation at the
entry time and accelerated commutation in the second half. This is depicted in Fig. 27.(b1 ).
It is termed as sinusoidal commutation.
Retarded commutation at entry edge is ensured by the emf of self induction

which is always present. To obtain an accelerated commutation, the coil undergoing com-
mutation must have in it an induced emf of such a polarity as that under the pole towards
which it is moving. Therefore the accelerated commutation can be obtained by i) a forward
60

" =AB/AC
" =DB/DC
Ia D m
C

Ia B
0 i Tc
i
0 i Tc
i
B
-Ia A -Ia
(a1 ) (a2 )
"
Ia C S
A
m B
Ia R =PR/PQ
Q " =SR/SQ
i Leaving edge
Entering
edge
0 Tc time
0 Tc time
i
i
-Ia P -Ia
(b1 ) (b2 )
Figure 27: Accelerated and Sinusoidal commutation
61

lead given to the brushes or by ii) having the field of suitable polarity at the position of the
brush with the help of a small pole called a commutating pole. In a non-inter pole machine
the brush shift must be changed from forward lead to backward lead depending upon gener-
ating or motoring operation. As the disadvantages of this brush shifts are to be avoided, it
is preferable to leave the brushes at geometric neutral axis and provide commutating poles
of suitable polarity (for a generator the polarity of the pole is the one towards which the
conductors are moving). The condition of commutation will be worse if commutating poles
are provided and not excited or they are excited but wrongly.
The action of the commutating pole is local to the coil undergoing commu-
tation. It does not disturb the main field distribution. The commutating pole winding
overpowers the armature mmf locally and establishes the flux of suitable polarity. The com-
mutating pole windings are connected in series with the armature of a d.c. machine to get
a load dependent compensation of armature reaction mmf.
The commutating pole are also known as compole or inter pole. The air gap
under compole is made large and the width of compole small. The mmf required to be
produced by compole is obtained by adding to the armature reaction mmf per pole Fa the
mmf to establish a flux density of required polarity in the air gap under the compole Fcp
.This would ensure straight line commutation. If sinusoidal commutation is required then
the second component Fcp is increased by 30 to 50 percent of the value required for straight
line commutation.
The compole mmf in the presence of a compensating winding on the poles
62

will be reduced by Fa * pole arc/pole pitch. This could have been predicted as the axis of
the compensating winding and armature winding is one and the same. Further, the mmf of
compensating winding opposes that of the armature reaction.
5.2 Methods of excitation
It is seen already that the equivalent circuit model of a d.c. machine becomes very
simple in view of the fact that the armature reaction is cross magnetizing. Also, the axis
of compensating mmf and mmf of commutating poles act in quadrature to the main field.
Thus flux under the pole shoe gets distorted but not diminished (in case the field is not
saturated). The relative connections of armature, compole and compensating winding are
unaltered whether the machine is working as a generator or as a motor; whether the load
is on the machine or not. Hence all these are connected permanently inside the machine.
The terminals reflect only the additional ohmic drops due to the compole and compensating
windings. Thus commutating pole winding, and compensating winding add to the resistance
of the armature circuit and can be considered a part of the same. The armature circuit
can be simply modelled by a voltage source of internal resistance equal to the armature
resistance + compole resistance + compensating winding resistance. The brushes behave
like non-linear resistance; and their effect may be shown separately as an additional constant
voltage drop equal to the brush drop.
5.2.1 Excitation circuit
The excitation for establishing the required field can be of two types a) Permanent
magnet excitation(PM) b) Electro magnetic excitation. Permanent magnet excitation is
63

Yoke
ly
lg lt lt lg lp
lp
Pole
Field
coil la
Armature
da
Figure 28: Magnetization of a DC machine
64

employed only in extremely small machines where providing a field coil becomes infeasible.
Also, permanent magnet excited fields cannot be varied for control purposes. Permanent
magnets for large machines are either not available or expensive. However, an advantage
of permanent magnet is that there are no losses associated with the establishment of the field.
Electromagnetic excitation is universally used. Even though certain amount

of energy is lost in establishing the field it has the advantages like lesser cost, ease of control.
The required ampere turns for establishing the desired flux per pole may be
computed by doing the magnetic circuit calculations. MMF required for the poles, air gap,
armature teeth, armature core and stator yoke are computed and added. Fig. 28 shows two
poles of a 4-pole machine with the flux paths marked on it. Considering one complete flux
loop, the permeance of the different segments can be computed as,
P = A./l
Where P- permeance
A- Area of cross section of the part
mu- permeability of the medium
l- Length of the part
A flux loop traverses a stator yoke, armature yoke, and two numbers each
of poles, air gap, armature teeth in its path. For an assumed flux density Bg in the pole
region the flux crossing each of the above regions is calculated. The mmf requirement for
65

establishing this flux in that region is computed by the expressions
Flux = mmf . permeance
= B.A
From these expressions the mmf required for each and every part in the path of
the flux is computed and added. This value of mmf is required to establish two poles. It
is convenient to think of mmf per pole which is nothing but the ampere turns required to
be produced by a coil wound around one pole. In the case of small machines all this mmf
is produced by a coil wound around one pole. The second pole is obtained by induction.
This procedure saves cost as only one coil need be wound for getting a pair of poles. This
produces an unsymmetrical flux distribution in the machine and hence is not used in larger
machines. In large machines, half of total mmf is assigned to each pole as the mmf per pole.
The total mmf required can be produced by a coil having large number of turns but taking a
small current. Such winding has a high value of resistance and hence a large ohmic drop. It
can be connected across a voltage source and hence called a shunt winding. Such method of
excitation is termed as shunt excitation. On the other hand, one could have a few turns of
large cross section wire carrying heavy current to produce the required ampere turns. These
windings have extremely small resistance and can be connected in series with a large current
path such as an armature. Such a winding is called a series winding and the method of
excitation, series excitation. A d.c. machine can have either of these or both these types of
excitation.
These are shown in Fig. 29. When both shunt winding and series winding are
present, it is called compound excitation. The mmf of the two windings could be arranged to
aid each other or oppose each other. Accordingly they are called cumulative compounding
and differential compounding. If the shunt winding is excited by a separate voltage source
66

Shunt field Shunt field

A2
F2
A2
F2
F1
A1
A1
F1
(a)Separate excitation (b) Self excitation

S2
Long shunt
S2
Series
Diverter field
S1
Short shunt
S1
A2 F2 A2
A1 F1 A1
(c)Series excitation (d)Compound excitation
Figure 29: D.C generator connections
67

then it is called separate excitation. If the excitation power comes from the same machine,
then it is called self excitation. Series generators can also be separately excited or self excited.
The characteristics of these generators are discussed now in sequence.
5.2.2 Separately excited shunt generators
Ia=0
A2
Prime
mover E
n=const
Induced e.m.f
A1
Decreasing
Magnetisation
Increasing
magnetisation
+
F2 If
Vdc
e.m.f. due to Residual Magnetism
F1
- Exciting Current
(a) (b)
Figure 30: Magnetization characteristics
Fig. 30 shows a shunt generator with its field connected to a voltage

source Vf through a regulating resistor in potential divider form. The current drawn by
the field winding can be regulated from zero to the maximum value. If the change in the
excitation required is small, simple series connection of a field regulating resistance can be
used. In all these cases the presence of a prime mover rotating the armature is assumed. A
68

separate excitation is normally used for testing of d.c. generators to determine their open
circuit or magnetization characteristic. The excitation current is increased monotonically
to a maximum value and then decreased in the same manner, while noting the terminal
voltage of the armature. The load current is kept zero. The speed of the generator is held
at a constant value. The graph showing the nature of variation of the induced emf as a
function of the excitation current is called as open circuit characteristic (occ), or no-load
magnetization curve or no-load saturation characteristic. Fig. 30(b). shows an example. The
magnetization characteristic exhibits saturation at large values of excitation current. Due
to the hysteresis exhibited by the iron in the magnetic structure, the induced emf does not
become zero when the excitation current is reduced to zero. This is because of the remnant
field in the iron. This residual voltage is about 2 to 5 percent in modern machines. Separate
excitation is advantageous as the exciting current is independent of the terminal voltage
and load current and satisfactory operation is possible over the entire voltage range of the
machine starting from zero.
5.2.3 Self excitation
In a self excited machine, there is no external source for providing excitation current.
The shunt field is connected across the armature. For series machines there is no change in
connection. The series field continues to be in series with the armature.
Self excitation is now discussed with the help of Fig. 31.(a) The pro-
cess of self excitation in a shunt generator takes place in the following manner. When the
armature is rotated a feeble induced emf of 2 to 5 percent appears across the brushes de-
pending upon the speed of rotation and the residual magnetism that is present. This voltage
69

ms
210
oh
1500 rev/min
0
25
s
m
180
oh
0
17
1000 rev/min
s
ms
ohm
150 s
m
oh
Open circuit e.m.f,volts
oh
280
0
5
14
37
120
F2 A2 500 rev/min
90
Prime
mover 60
n
30
0 1.0
F1 A1
Exciting current,Amperes
(a)Physical connection (b) characteristics

200
210
Induced emf on open circuit
Critical Resistance
Open circuit e.m.f,volts
160 180
s
hm
s
5o
hm
150
12
0o
25
120
120
ms
oh
60
80 90
40 60
30
200 400
0 1500
Total field circuit resistance, ohms speed in rev/min
(c)Critical resistance (d) Critical speed
Figure 31: Self excitation
70

D C Open circuit
characteristic
Q
R
Voltage
Q QL
R RL
P
P PL Armature drop
P1 Q1 characteristic
O A
0 P" Q" A
Excitation current If
Armature current Ia
Figure 32: External characteristics of a self excited of a shunt generator
gets applied across the shunt field winding and produces a small mmf. If this mmf is such
as to aid the residual field then it gets strengthened and produces larger voltage across the
brushes. It is like a positive feed back. The induced emf gradually increases till the voltage
induced in the armature is just enough to meet the ohmic drop inside the field circuit. Under
such situation there is no further increase in the field mmf and the build up of emf also stops.
If the voltage build up is substantial, then the machine is said to have self excited.
Fig. 31(b) shows the magnetization curve of a shunt generator. The field resistance
line is also shown by a straight line OC. The point of intersection of the open circuit charac-
71

teristic (OCC) with the field resistance line, in this case C, represents the voltage build up
on self excitation. If the field resistance is increased, at one point the resistance line becomes
a tangent to the OCC. This value of the resistance is called the critical resistance. At this
value of the field circuit resistance the self excitation suddenly collapses. See Fig. 31(c). In-
stead of increasing the field resistance if the speed of the machine is reduced then the same
resistance line becomes a critical resistance at a new speed and the self excitation collapses
at that speed. In this case, as the speed is taken as the variable, the speed is called the
critical speed. In the linear portion of the OCC the ordinates are proportional to the speed
of operation, hence the critical resistance increases as a function of speed Fig. 31.(b) and (d).
The conditions for self excitation can be listed as below.
1. Residual field must be present.
2. The polarity of excitation must aid the residual magnetism.
3. The field circuit resistance must be below the critical value.
4. The speed of operation of the machine must be above the critical speed.
5. The load resistance must be very large.
Remedial measures to be taken if the machine fails to self excite are briefly
discussed below.
1. The residual field will be absent in a brand new, unexcited, machine. The field may
be connected to a battery in such cases for a few seconds to create a residual field.
72

2. The polarity of connections have to be set right. The polarity may become wrong
either by reversed connections or reversed direction of rotation. If the generator had
been working with armature rotating in clockwise direction before stopping and if one
tries to self excite the same with counter clockwise direction then the induced emf
opposes residual field, changing the polarity of connections of the field with respect to
armature is normally sufficient for this problem.
3. Field circuit resistance implies all the resistances coming in series with the field winding
like regulating resistance, contact resistance, drop at the brushes, and the armature
resistance. Brush contact resistance is normally high at small currents. The dirt on
the commutator due to dust or worn out mica insulator can increase the total circuit
resistance enormously. The speed itself might be too low so that the normal field
resistance itself is very much more than the critical value. So ensuring good speed,
clean commutator and good connections should normally be sufficient to overcome this
problem.
4. Speed must be increased sufficiently to a high value to be above the critical speed.
5. The load switch must be opened or the load resistance is made very high.
5.2.4 Self excitation of series generators
The conditions for self excitation of a series generator remain similar to that of
a shunt machine. In this case the field circuit resistance is the same as the load circuit
resistance and hence it must be made very low to help self excitation. To control the field
mmf a small resistance called diverter is normally connected across the series field. To help
in the creation of maximum mmf during self excitation any field diverter if present must be
73

Terminal voltage
Open circuit PS=PQ-PR
characteristic
Q
Armature
S characteristic
A R B
External
characteristic
P
0
Load Current
Figure 33: External characteristics of a Series Generator
open circuited.In a series generator load current being the field current of the machine the
self excitation characteristic or one and the same. This is shown in Fig. 33
5.2.5 Self excitation of compound generators
Most of the compound machines are basically shunt machines with the series wind-
ing doing the act of strengthening/weakening the field on load, depending up on the con-
nections. In cumulatively compounded machines the mmf of the two fields aid each other
and in a differentially compounded machine they oppose each other. Due to the presence of
the shunt winding, the self excitation can proceed as in a shunt machine. A small difference
exists however depending up on the way the shunt winding is connected to the armature. It
can be a short shunt connection or a long shunt connection. In long shunt connection the
shunt field current passes through the series winding also. But it does not affect the process
of self excitation as the mmf contribution from the series field is negligible.
74

Both series field winding and shunt field winding are wound around the main
poles. If there is any need, for some control purposes, to have more excitation windings
of one type or the other they will also find their place on the main poles. The designed
field windings must cater to the full range of operation of the machine at nominal armature
current. As the armature current is cross magnetizing the demagnetization mmf due to pole
tip saturation alone need be compensated by producing additional mmf by the field.
The d.c. machines give rise to a variety of external characteristics with consid-
erable ease. The external characteristics are of great importance in meeting the requirements
of different types of loads and in parallel operation. The external characteristics, also known
as load characteristics, of these machines are discussed next.
5.3 Load characteristics of d.c. generators
Load characteristics are also known as the external characteristics. External char-
acteristics expresses the manner in which the output voltage of the generator varies as a
function of the load current, when the speed and excitation current are held constant. If
they are not held constant then there is further change in the terminal voltage. The terminal
voltage V can be expressed in terms of the induced voltage E and armature circuit drop as
V = E Ia Ra Vb (36)
Vb - brush contact drop, V

Ia - armature current, A
Ra - armature resistance + inter pole winding resistance+ series winding resistance + com-
75

Open circuit e.m.f C

Induced e.m.f
Terminal voltage V B
Volts
Ohmic Drop IaRa
0 A
Load current,Ia
Figure 34: External characteristics of a separately excited shunt generator
pensating winding resistance.
As seen from the equation E being function of speed and flux per pole it will
also change when these are not held constant. Experimentally the external characteristics
can be determined by conducting a load test. If the external characteristic is obtained by
subtracting the armature drop from the no-load terminal voltage, it is found to depart from
the one obtained from the load test. This departure is due to the armature reaction which
causes a saturation at one tip of each pole. Modern machines are operated under certain
degree of saturation of the magnetic path. Hence the reduction in the flux per pole with
load is obvious. The armature drop is an electrical drop and can be found out even when
the machine is stationary and the field poles are unexcited. Thus there is some slight droop
in the external characteristics, which is good for parallel operation of the generators.
76

One could easily guess that the self excited machines have slightly higher droop
in the external characteristic as the induced emf E drops also due to the reduction in the
applied voltage to the field. If output voltage has to be held constant then the excitation
current or the speed can be increased. The former is preferred due to the ease with which it
can be implemented. As seen earlier, a brush lead gives rise to a load current dependent mmf
along the pole axis. The value of this mmf magnetizes/demagnetizes the field depending on
whether the lead is backward or forward.
5.4 External characteristics of a shunt generator
For a given no-load voltage a self excited machine will have more voltage drop at
the terminals than a separately excited machine, as the load is increased. This is due to
the dependence of the excitation current also on the terminal voltage. After certain load
current the terminal voltage decreases rapidly along with the terminal current, even when
load impedance is reduced. The terminal voltage reaches an unstable condition. Also, in a
self excited generator the no-load terminal voltage itself is very sensitive to the point of inter-
section of the magnetizing characteristics and field resistance line. The determination of the
external characteristics of a shunt generator forms an interesting study. If one determines
the load magnetization curves at different load currents then the external characteristics
can be easily determined. Load magnetization curve is a plot showing the variation of the
terminal voltage as a function of the excitation current keeping the speed and armature cur-
rent constant. If such curves are determined for different load currents then by determining
the intersection points of these curves with field resistance line one can get the external
characteristics of a shunt generator. Load saturation curve can be generated from no-load
saturation curve /OCC by subtracting the armature drop at each excitation point. Thus
77

it is seen that these family of curves are nothing but OCC shifted downwards by armature
drop. Determining their intercepts with the field resistance line gives us the requisite result.
Instead of shifting the OCC downwards, the x axis and the field resistance line is shifted up-
wards corresponding to the drops at the different currents, and their intercepts with OCC
are found. These ordinates are then plotted on the original plot. This is shown clearly in
Fig. 32. The same procedure can be repeated with different field circuit resistance to yield
external characteristics with different values of field resistance. The points of operation up to
the maximum current represent a stable region of operation. The second region is unstable.
The decrease in the load resistance decreases the terminal voltage in this region.
5.4.1 External characteristics of series generators
In the case of series generators also, the procedure for the determination of the
external characteristic is the same. From the occ obtained by running the machine as a sep-
arately excited one, the armature drops are deducted to yield external /load characteristics.
The armature drop characteristics can be obtained by a short circuit test as before.
Fig. 33 shows the load characteristics of a series generator. The first half of
the curve is unstable for constant resistance load. The second half is the region where series
generator connected to a constant resistance load could work stably. The load characteristics
in the first half however is useful for operating the series generator as a booster. In a booster
the current through the machine is decided by the external circuit and the voltage injected
into that circuit is decided by the series generator. This is shown in Fig. 35
78

- +
S1 S2
E2
A1 A2
F2 A2
Booster
Generator
E=E1 +- E2
E1
F1 A1
Main generator
Figure 35: Series generator used as Booster
5.4.2 Load characteristics of compound generators
In the case of compound generators the external characteristics resemble those of

shunt generators at low loads. The load current flowing through the series winding aids
or opposes the shunt field ampere turns depending upon whether cumulative or differential
compounding is used. This increases /decreases the flux per pole and the induced emf E.
Thus a load current dependant variation in the characteristic occurs. If this increased emf
cancels out the armature drop the terminal voltage remains practically same between no
load and full load. This is called as level compounding. Any cumulative compounding below
this value is called under compounding and those above are termed over- compounding.
These are shown in Fig. 36. The characteristics corresponding to all levels of differential
compounding lie below that of a pure shunt machine as the series field mmf opposes that of
the shunt field.
79

IL
S2
If
F2 S1
A2
Load
Prime
Vf # mover
A1
F1
(a)-Connection
Over compounded
Level compounded
Under compounded
Shunt machine
Terminal voltage
Differential
compounding
Load current
(b)-Characteristics
Figure 36: External characteristic of Compound Generator
80

External characteristics for other voltages of operation can be similarly derived

by changing the speed or the field excitation or both.
5.5 Parallel operation of generators
D.C. generators are required to operate in parallel supplying a common load when
the load is larger than the capacity of any one machine. In situations where the load is small
but becomes high occasionally, it may be a good idea to press a second machine into operation
only as the demand increases. This approach reduces the spare capacity requirement and its
cost. In cases where one machine is taken out for repair or maintenance, the other machine
can operate with reduced load. In all these cases two or more machines are connected to
operate in parallel.
5.5.1 Shunt Generators
Parallel operation of two shunt generators is similar to the operation of two storage
batteries in parallel. In the case of generators we can alter the external characteristics easily
while it is not possible with batteries. Before connecting the two machines the voltages of
the two machines are made equal and opposing inside the loop formed by the two machines.
This avoids a circulating current between the machines. The circulating current produces
power loss even when the load is not connected. In the case of the loaded machine the
difference in the induced emf makes the load sharing unequal.
Fig. 37 shows two generators connected in parallel. The no load emfs are made
equal to E1 = E2 = E on no load; the current delivered by each machine is zero. As the load
is gradually applied a total load current of I ampere is drawn by the load. The load voltage
81

s1
v s2
A2 A2
Prime
mover Load
G1 G2
A1 A1
F2 F2
Vf1 Vf2
F1 F1
Figure 37: Connection of two shunt generators in Parallel
E1
V2 k V0 j
Total char
E2 a cteristic
V A B C
Terminal
V2
Voltage
I1 V1
I2
I=I1+I2
O D
Load current
Figure 38: Characteristics of two shunt generators in Parallel
82

under these conditions is V volt. Each machines will share this total current by delivering
currents of I1 and I2 ampere such that I1 + I2 = I.
Also terminal voltage of the two machines must also be V volt. This is dictated
by the internal drop in each machine given by equations
V = E1 I1 Ra1 = E2 I2 Ra2 (37)
where Ra1 and Ra2 are the armature circuit resistances. If load resistance RL is known these
equations can be solved analytically to determine I1 and I2 and hence the manner in which
to total output power is shared. If RL is not known then an iterative procedure has to be
adopted. A graphical method can be used with advantage when only the total load current is
known and not the value of RL or V . This is based on the fact that the two machines have a
common terminal voltage when connected in parallel. In Fig. 38 the external characteristics
of the two machines are first drawn as I and II . For any common voltage the intercepts OA
and OB are measured and added and plotted as point at C. Here OC = OA + OB . Thus
a third characteristics where terminal voltage is function of the load current is obtained.
This can be called as the resultant or total external characteristics of the two machines put
together. With this, it is easy to determine the current shared by each machine at any total
load current I.
The above procedure can be used even when the two voltages of the machines
at no load are different. At no load the total current I is zero ie I1 + I2 = 0 or I1 = I2 .
Machine I gives out electrical power and machine II receives the same. Looking at the voltage
equations, the no load terminal equation Vo becomes
Vo = E1 I1nl Ra1 = E2 + I2nl Ra2 (38)
83

As can be seen larger the values of Ra1 and Ra2 larger is the tolerance for the error
between the voltages E1 and E2 . The converse is also true. When Ra1 and Ra2 are nearly zero
implying an almost flat external characteristic, the parallel operation is extremely difficult.
5.5.2 Series generators
Series generators are rarely used in industry for supplying loads. Some applications
like electric braking may employ them and operate two or more series generates in parallel.
Fig. 39 shows two series generators connected in parallel supplying load current of I1 and I2 .
If now due to some disturbance E1 becomes E1 + E1 then the excitation of the machine I
increases, increasing the load current delivered. As the total current is I the current supplied
by machine II reduces, so also its excitation and induced emf. Thus machine I takes greater
and greater fraction of the load current with machine II shedding its load. Ultimately the
current of machine II becomes negative and it also loads the first machine. Virtually there is
a short circuit of the two sources, the whole process is thus highly unstable. One remedy is
for a problem as this is to make the two fields immune to the circulating current between the
machines. This is done by connecting an equalizer between the fields as shown in Fig. 39-a
. With the equalizer present, a momentary disturbance does not put the two machines out
of action. A better solution for such problems is to cross connect the two fields as shown in
Fig. 39-b. A tendency to supply a larger current by a machine strengthens the field of the
next machine and increases its induced emf . This brings in stable conditions for operation
rapidly.
84

I1 I1+I2
A2 + A2 +
I1 I2
A1 -
I1+I2 V
A1 -
S2 Equaliser S2
F1 F2
S1 S1 I1+I2
(a)Equalizer connection
I1+I2
I1 I2
A2 + A2 +
G1 G2
A1 - A1 - Load V
I1
S2 S2
I2
S1 I2 - S1
- I1+I2
(b)Cross connection of fields
Figure 39: Series Generator working in parallel
85

F2 + A2 F2 + A2
Load V
A1 A1
- -
F1 F1
Equalizer
S2 S2
S1 S1
(a)Equalizer connection
F2 + A2 F2 + A2
Load V
A1 A1
- -
F1 F1
S2 S2
S1 S1
(b)Cross connection of series fields
Figure 40: Compound generators operating in parallel
86

5.5.3 Compound Generators
The parallel operation of compound machines is similar to shunt generators. Dif-

ferential compounding would produce a drooping external characteristics and satisfactory
parallel operation is made easy. But most of the generators are used in the cumulatively
compounded mode. In such cases the external characteristics will be nearly flat making the
parallel operation more difficult. By employing equalizer connection for the series windings
this problem can be mitigated. Fig. 40 shows the connection diagram for parallel operation
of two compound generators.
5.6 D.C. motors
D.C. motors have a place of pride as far as electrical drives are considered. The
simplicity, and linearity of the control method makes them highly preferred machines in
precision drives. In spite of the great advancements in a.c. drives these machines are still
sought after by the industries. Apart from high precision application they are preferred in
stand alone systems working on batteries and high speed drives off constant voltage mains.
After the field is excited if we pass a current through the armature the rotor experiences
a torque and starts rotating. The direction of the torque can be readily obtained from the
law of interaction. These moving conductors cut the field and induce emf, usually called the
back emf according to Lenzs law and act as a sink of electrical power from the electrical
source. This absorbed power appears as mechanical power. The converted mechanical power
should overcome the frictional and iron losses before useful work could be done by the same.
The connections to the supply of a d.c. shunt motor are given in Fig. 41.
87

+ +
F2
A2 F2 A2
A1 F1 A1
F1
- -
(a)Separate excitation (b) Shunt excitation
s1
F2 +
s2
A2
DC
Supply
A1
F1
-
(c)Practical arrangement
Figure 41: Shunt motor connections
88

Commonly used connection is where in both the field and the armature are
energized simultaneously Fig. 41(b). As the field has higher inductance and time constant
torque takes some time to reach the full value corresponding to a given armature current.
In Fig. 41.(c), the switch S1 is closed a few seconds prior to switch S2 . By then the field
current would have reached the steady value. So the torque per ampere is high in this case.
The only difference in the second connection Fig. 41.(a) is that the shunt field
winding is connected to a separate source. This connection is used when the armature and
field voltage are different as is common in high voltage d.c. machines. The field voltage is
kept low in such cases for the sake of control purposes. Here again the field circuit must
be energized prior to the armature. Suitable interlock should be provided to prevent the
armature switch being closed prior to / without closing of field circuit as the armature
currents reach very large values still not producing any torque or rotation. The relevant
equations for the motoring operation can be written as below
V E Ia Ra Vb = 0 or E = V Ia Ra Vb (39)
p..Z.n pZ
E= = Ke .n where Ke = (40)
b b
1 p..ZIa 1 pZ
TM = . = Kt Ia where Kt = . (41)
2 b 2 b
dw
and TM TL = J (42)
dt
where
TL - Load torque
TM - Motor torque
J - polar moment of inertia.
w - angular velocity = 2.n
89

The first one is an electrical equation, the second and the third are electro
mechanical in nature and the last equation is the mechanical equation of motion. Ke and
Kt are normally termed as back emf constant and torque constant respectively. Under
steady speed of operation the fourth equation is not required. Using these equations one
can determine the torque speed characteristics of the machine for a given applied voltage.
These characteristics are similar to the external characteristics for a generator. Here the
torque on the machine is assumed to be varying and the corresponding speed of operation
is determined. This is termed as the torque speed characteristic of the motor.
5.7 Torque speed characteristics of a shunt motor
A constant applied voltage V is assumed across the armature. As the armature

current Ia , varies the armature drop varies proportionally and one can plot the variation of
the induced emf E. The mmf of the field is assumed to be constant. The flux inside the
machine however slightly falls due to the effect of saturation and due to armature reaction.
The variation of these parameters are shown in Fig. 42.
Knowing the value of E and flux one can determine the value of the speed.
Also knowing the armature current and the flux, the value of the torque is found out. This
procedure is repeated for different values of the assumed armature currents and the values
are plotted as in Fig. 42-(a). From these graphs, a graph indicating speed as a function of
torque or the torque-speed characteristics is plotted Fig. 42-(b)(i).
As seen from the figure the fall in the flux due to load increases the speed due
to the fact that the induced emf depends on the product of speed and flux. Thus the speed
90

Line voltage
A No load speed B
Speed
Flux, Speed and Torque

C
Back emf
E
F
Torque Flux
G
0 Armature current
(a)Load characteristics
(ii)
(i)
Speed
0 Torque
(b)Torque speed curve
Figure 42: DC Shunt motor characteristics
91

of the machine remains more or less constant with load. With highly saturated machines
the on-load speed may even slightly increase at over load conditions. This effects gets more
pronounced if the machine is designed to have its normal field ampere turns much less
than the armature ampere turns. This type of external characteristics introduces instability
during operation Fig. 42(b)(ii) and hence must be avoided. This may be simply achieved by
providing a series stability winding which aids the shunt field mmf.
5.8 Load characteristics of a series motor
Following the procedure described earlier under shunt motor, the torque speed
characteristics of a series motor can also be determined. The armature current also happens
to be the excitation current of the series field and hence the flux variation resembles the
magnetization curve of the machine. At large value of the armature currents the useful flux
would be less than the no-load magnetization curve for the machine. Similarly for small
values of the load currents the torque varies as a square of the armature currents as the flux
is proportional to armature current in this region. As the magnetic circuit becomes more
and more saturated the torque becomes proportional to Ia as flux variation becomes small.
Fig. 43(a) shows the variation of E1 , flux , torque and speed following the above procedure
from which the torque-speed characteristics of the series motor for a given applied voltage
V can be plotted as shown in Fig. 43.(b) The initial portion of this torque-speed curve is
seen to be a rectangular hyperbola and the final portion is nearly a straight line. The speed
under light load conditions is many times more than the rated speed of the motor. Such
high speeds are unsafe, as the centrifugal forces acting on the armature and commutator
can destroy them giving rise to a catastrophic break down. Hence series motors are not
recommended for use where there is a possibility of the load becoming zero. In order to
92

Terminal voltage
Back emf
No load Useful
Magnetisation Flux
Torque, Flux and Speed curve
Developed Useful
Torque Torque
Speed
Load current
(a)Load characteristics
Speed
0 Torque
(b)-Torque speed curve
Figure 43: Load characteristics of a Series Motor
93

safeguard the motor and personnel, in the modern machines, a weak shunt field is provided
on series motors to ensure a definite, though small, value of flux even when the armature
current is nearly zero. This way the no-load speed is limited to a safe maximum speed. It is
needless to say, this field should be connected so as to aid the series field.
5.9 Load characteristics of a compound motor
Two situations arise in the case of compound motors. The mmf of the shunt field
and series field may oppose each other or they may aid each other. The first configuration
is called differential compounding and is rarely used. They lead to unstable operation of
the machine unless the armature mmf is small and there is no magnetic saturation. This
mode may sometimes result due to the motoring operation of a level-compounded generator,
say by the failure of the prime mover. Also, differential compounding may result in large
negative mmf under overload/starting condition and the machine may start in the reverse
direction. In motors intended for constant speed operation the level of compounding is very
low as not to cause any problem.
Cumulatively compounded motors are very widely used for industrial drives.
High degree of compounding will make the machine approach a series machine like charac-
teristics but with a safe no-load speed. The major benefit of the compounding is that the
field is strengthened on load. Thus the torque per ampere of the armature current is made
high. This feature makes a cumulatively compounded machine well suited for intermittent
peak loads. Due to the large speed variation between light load and peak load conditions, a
fly wheel can be used with such motors with advantage. Due to the reasons provided under
shunt and series motors for the provision of an additional series/shunt winding, it can be
94

seen that all modern machines are compound machines. The difference between them is only
in the level of compounding.
95

6 Parallel operation of d.c. motors
As in the case of generators motors may also be required to operate in parallel

driving a common load. The benefits as well as the problems in both the cases are similar.
As the two machines are coupled to a common load the speed of the load is the common
parameter in the torque speed plane. The torque shared by each machine depends on the
intersection of the torque speed curves. If the torque speed lines are drooping the point
of intersection remains reasonably unaltered for small changes in the characteristics due to
temperature and excitation effects. However if these curves are flat then great changes occur
in torque shared by each machine. The machine with flatter curve shares a larger portion
of the torque demand. Thus parallel operation of two shunt motors is considerably more
difficult compared to the operation of the same machines as generators. The operation of
level compounded generators is much more difficult compared to the same machines work-
ing as cumulative compounded motor. On a similar count parallel operation of cumulative
compounded motors is easier than shunt motors. Series motors are, with their highly falling
speed with the load torque, are ideal as far as the parallel operation is considered. Consid-
erable differences in their characteristics still do not affect adversely their parallel operation.
One application where several series motors operate in parallel is in electric locomotives.
Due to the uneven wear and tear of the wheels of the locomotive the speeds of the rotation
of these motors can be different to have the same common linear velocity of the locomotive.
The torque developed by each machine remains close to the other and there is no tendency
for derailment.The torque speed curves for parallel operation of series motors are given in
Fig. 44
96

Speed
A B C D
Motors I and II
I II in parallel
0 Torque
Figure 44: Parallel operation of Series motors
97

7 Series operation of motors
In the case of series operation the motors shafts of the two machines are connected
to the same load and also the two armatures are series connected. This forces a common
armature current through both the machines and the torques developed by the machines
are proportional to the flux in each machine. Series operation of series motors is adopted
during starting to improve the energy efficiency. This method is ideally suited for shunt
and compound machines with nearly flat torque speed characteristics. Such machines can go
through high amount of dynamics without the fear of becoming unstable. This configuration
is used in steel mills. Having two smaller machines connected to the shaft is preferred over
there in place of one large machine as the moment of inertia of the motors is much reduced,
thus improving the dynamics.
98

8 Application of d.c. motors
Some elementary principles of application alone are dealt with here. The focus is
on the mechanical equation of dynamics which is reproduced here once again.
dw
TM TL = J (43)
dt
Here TM and TL are the motor torque and the load torques respectively which are expressed
as functions of . Under steady state operation d/dt will be zero. The application of
motors mainly looks at three aspects of operation.
1. Starting
2. Speed control
3. Braking
The speed of the machine has to be increased from zero and brought to the op-
erating speed. This is called starting of the motor. The operating speed itself should be
varied as per the requirements of the load. This is called speed control. Finally, the running
machine has to be brought to rest, by decelerating the same. This is called braking. The
torque speed characteristics of the machine is modified to achieve these as it is assumed
that the variation in the characteristics of the load is either not feasible or desirable. Hence
the methods that are available for modifying the torque speed characteristics and the actual
variations in the performance that these methods bring about are of great importance. When
more than one method is available for achieving the same objective then other criteria like,
initial cost, running cost, efficiency and ease operation are also applied for the evaluation of
the methods. Due to the absence of equipment like transformer, d.c. machine operation in
99

general is assumed to be off a constant voltage d.c. supply.
The relevant expressions may be written as,

E V Ia Ra Vb
n = = (44)
Ke pZ/b
1 p.Z
TM = Kt ..Ia = . .Ia (45)
2 b
d
TM TL = J (46)
dt
As can be seen, speed is a function of E and and T is a function of and Ia . Using these
equations, the methods for starting , speed control and braking can be discussed.
8.1 Starting of d.c. machines
For the machine to start, the torque developed by the motor at zero speed must
exceed that demanded by the load. Then TM TL will be positive so also is d/dt, and the
machine accelerates. The induced emf at starting point is zero as the = 0 The armature
current with rated applied voltage is given by V /Ra where Ra is armature circuit resistance.
Normally the armature resistance of a d.c. machine is such as to cause 1 to 5 percent drop
at full load current. Hence the starting current tends to rise to several times the full load
current. The same can be told of the torque if full flux is already established. The machine
instantly picks up the speed. As the speed increases the induced emf appears across the
terminals opposing the applied voltage. The current drawn from the mains thus decreases,
so also the torque. This continues till the load torque and the motor torque are equal to
each other. Machine tends to run continuously at this speed as the acceleration is zero at
this point of operation.
The starting is now discussed with respect to specific machines.
100

8.1.1 DC shunt motor
If armature and field of d.c. shunt motor are energized together, large current is
drawn at start but the torque builds up gradually as the field flux increases gradually. To
improve the torque per ampere of line current drawn it is advisable to energize the field
first. The starting current is given by V /Ra and hence to reduce the starting current to a
safe value, the voltage V can be reduced or armature circuit resistance Ra can be increased.
Variable voltage V can be obtained from a motor generator set. This arrangement is called
Ward-Leonard arrangement. A schematic diagram of Ward-Leonard arrangement is shown
in Fig. 45. By controlling the field of the Ward-Leonard generator one can get a variable
voltage at its terminals which is used for starting the motor.
The second method of starting with increased armature circuit resistance can
be obtained by adding additional resistances in series with the armature, at start. The
current and the torque get reduced. The torque speed curve under these conditions is shown
in Fig. 46(a) . It can be readily seen from this graph that the unloaded machine reaches its
final speed but a loaded machine may crawl at a speed much below the normal speed. Also,
the starting resistance wastes large amount of power. Hence the starting resistance must
be reduced to zero at the end of the starting process. This has to be done progressively,
making sure that the current does not jump up to large values. Starting of series motor and
compound motors are similar to the shunt motor. Better starting torques are obtained for
compound motors as the torque per ampere is more. Characteristics for series motors are
given in fig. 47.
101

+ -
A2 A2 A2
Load variable
M G M
voltage
A1 A1 A1
+ + +
F2 F2 F2
constant
voltage
mains
F1
- F1
-
F1 -
(a)
+
A2
Variable Load
voltage
dc A1
Auto
Diode -
transformer
Constant bridge
voltage
ac mains
+
F2
Static Ward
Leonard system
F1
-
(b)
Figure 45: Ward-Leonard arrangement
102

+ - Rext = 0
Rext
F2 A2 Rext increasing
E1
Speed
F1 A1
Constant voltage
source 0 Torque
(a)
v + -
If
F2 > A2
Rext If2 < If rated If2
Vf E1 If rated
Speed
F1 A1
Constant voltage
source
0
Torque
(b)
+ -
F2 A2 V1
Vf E1 V
V2
Speed
F1 A1
V3
V3 < V2 < V1
Variable voltage
source 103
0 Torque
(c)

Figure 46: Shunt Motor characteristics
v
S2 + -
Rext
S1
A2
Speed
E1
A1
Rext = 0
Rext > 0
Constant voltage
0 Torque
sources
(a)
+ -
S2
v
Rd
S1
Speed
A2
Rd =
8
E1
A1 Constant Rd reducing
voltage
0 Torque
sources
(b)
S2 + -
S1
A2
Variable
Speed
V Vrated
voltage
M
A1
V reducing
104
0 Torque
(c)

Figure 47: Series motor control
A2 F2
ra
Rn+1
A1
n+1
rn
R3 n F1
n-1 rn-1
R2
R1 r2
3
2
r1
1
(a)Physical connection
graphical method
Rn+1
Rn
Starting current with time
Rn-1 Imax
R3
Volts
R2 Imin
0 Ia R1
0
Imin Imax Time
(b) Characteristics (c) Time-current plot
Figure 48: Calculation of starter resistance steps
105

8.1.2 Grading of starting resistance for a shunt motor
If the starting resistor is reduced in uniform steps then the current peaks reached
as we cut down the resistances progressively increase. To ascertain that at no step does
the current jump to a large value non-uniform reduction of resistances must be assorted to.
This use of a non-uniform resistance step is called grading of the resistors. The calculations
for a starter resistance of a shunt motor are shown below with the help of Fig. 48. In
the figure an n element or n+1 step starter is shown. The armature resistance when all
the external resistances are cut off is ra . The total armature circuit resistance at step 1 is
R1 = (r1 + r2 + ... + rn ) + ra . The field winding is connected across the supply. The starting
current reaches a maximum value Im ax when we move on to a step. One resistance element
is cut from the circuit when the current falls down to Im in . During the instant when the
element is cut the speed and hence the induced emf does not change but the current jumps
back to Im ax . Thus during the starting the current changes between two limits Im ax and
Im in. Writing the expression for the current before and after the resistance is changed on
step Ri and Ri+1 , we have
V E V E Im ax Ri
Im in = Im ax = or = (47)
Ri Ri+1 Im in Ri+1
Proceeding this way for all the steps
Im ax R1 R2 Rn1 Rn
= = = ... = = = k(say) (48)
Im in R2 R3 Rn Rn+1
r
n R1 R2 Rn R1 R1 R1
k = ... = = k= n (49)
R2 R3 Rn+1 Rn+1 ra ra
106

Sometimes the ratio k may be required to be fixed. Then the number of steps required can
be calculated as
R1 log Rra1
n log k = log ,n = (50)
ra log k
log R1 log Rn
log k
Also, r r r
n V n V n+1 V
R= = = (51)
I1 ra RI2 ra I2 ra
From these expressions it is seen that to have the ratio k to be unity, the number
of steps should be infinity. Smaller the number of steps larger is the ratio of maximum to
minimum current. Also, it is not possible to choose n and k independently. Im ax is set
by the maximum possible starting current from the point of view of commutation. Im in
is found from the minimum torque against which the starting is required to be performed.
Similar method exists in the case of series motors and compound motors. In these cases the
ratio of currents and the ratio of fluxes are needed. The equation becomes non-linear and a
graphical method is normally adopted for the design of the resistances in those cases.
Resistance method of starting is cheaper and simple and hence is used univer-
sally. But it wastes energy in the starting resistor. Hence this method is not advised when
frequent starting of the motor is required. Ward-Leonard method gives a energy efficient
method of starting. With the help of a auto transformer and rectifier set one can get variable
voltage d.c. supply from a constant voltage a.c power source. This is some times called a
static Ward-Leonard arrangement. This method is becoming more popular over the rotating
machine counter part.
107

8.2 Speed control of d.c. motors
In the case of speed control, armature voltage control and flux control methods
are available. The voltage control can be from a variable voltage source like Ward-Leonard
arrangement or by the use of series armature resistance. Unlike the starting conditions the
series resistance has to be in the circuit throughout in the case of speed control. That means
considerable energy is lost in these resistors. Further these resistors must be adequately
cooled for continuous operation. The variable voltage source on the other hand gives the
motor the voltage just needed by it and the losses in the control gear is a minimum. This
method is commonly used when the speed ratio required is large, as also the power rating.
Field control or flux control is also used for speed control purposes. Normally
field weakening is used. This causes operation at higher speeds than the nominal speed.
Strengthening the field has little scope for speed control as the machines are already in a
state of saturation and large field mmf is needed for small increase in the flux. Even though
flux weakening gives higher speeds of operation it reduces the torque produced by the ma-
chine for a given armature current and hence the power delivered does not increase at any
armature current. The machine is said to be in constant power mode under field weakening
mode of control. Above the nominal speed of operation, constant flux mode with increased
applied voltage can be used; but this is never done as the stress on the commutator insulation
increases.
Thus operation below nominal speed is done by voltage control. Above the
nominal speed field weakening is adopted. For weakening the field, series resistances are used
for shunt as well as compound motors. In the case of series motors however field weakening
108

is done by the use of diverters . Diverters are resistances that are connected in parallel to
the series winding to reduce the field current without affecting the armature current.
8.3 Braking the d.c. motors
When a motor is switched off it coasts to rest under the action of frictional forces.
Braking is employed when rapid stopping is required. In many cases mechanical braking
is adopted. The electric braking may be done for various reasons such as those mentioned
below:
1. To augment the brake power of the mechanical brakes.
2. To save the life of the mechanical brakes.
3. To regenerate the electrical power and improve the energy efficiency.
4. In the case of emergencies to step the machine instantly.
5. To improve the through put in many production process by reducing the stopping time.
In many cases electric braking makes more brake power available to the braking
process where mechanical brakes are applied. This reduces the wear and tear of the me-
chanical brakes and reduces the frequency of the replacement of these parts. By recovering
the mechanical energy stored in the rotating parts and pumping it into the supply lines
the overall energy efficiency is improved. This is called regeneration. Where the safety of
the personnel or the equipment is at stake the machine may be required to stop instantly.
Extremely large brake power is needed under those conditions. Electric braking can help
in these situations also. In processes where frequent starting and stopping is involved the
109

process time requirement can be reduced if braking time is reduced. The reduction of the
process time improves the throughput.
Basically the electric braking involved is fairly simple. The electric motor can
be made to work as a generator by suitable terminal conditions and absorb mechanical energy.
This converted mechanical power is dissipated/used on the electrical network suitably.
Braking can be broadly classified into:
1. Dynamic
2. Regenerative
3. Reverse voltage braking or plugging
These are now explained briefly with reference to shunt ,series and compound motors.
8.3.1 Dynamic braking
Shunt machine
In dynamic braking the motor is disconnected from the supply and connected to a
dynamic braking resistance RDB . In and Fig. 49 this is done by changing the switch
from position 1 to 2 . The supply to the field should not be removed. Due to the
rotation of the armature during motoring mode and due to the inertia, the armature
continues to rotate. An emf is induced due to the presence of the field and the rotation.
This voltage drives a current through the braking resistance. The direction of this
current is opposite to the one which was flowing before change in the connection.
Therefore, torque developed also gets reversed. The machine acts like a brake. The
110

torque speed characteristics separate by excited shunt of the machine under dynamic
braking mode is as shown in Fig. 49(b) for a particular value of RDB . The positive
torque corresponds to the motoring operation. Fig. 50 shows the dynamic braking of
a shunt excited motor and the corresponding torque-speed curve. Here the machine
behaves as a self excited generator.
Below a certain speed the self-excitation collapses and the braking action becomes
Zero.
Series machine
In the case of a series machine the excitation current becomes zero as soon as the
armature is disconnected from the mains and hence the induced emf also vanishes. In
order to achieve dynamic braking the series field must be isolated and connected to
a low voltage high current source to provide the field. Rather, the motor is made to
work like a separately excited machine. When several machines are available at any
spot, as in railway locomotives, dynamic braking is feasible. Series connection of all
the series fields with parallel connection of all the armatures connected across a single
dynamic braking resistor is used in that case.
Compound generators
In the case of compound machine, the situation is like in a shunt machine. A separately
excited shunt field and the armature connected across the braking resistance are used.
A cumulatively connected motor becomes differentially compounded generator and the
braking torque generated comes down. It is therefore necessary to reverse the series
field if large braking torques are desired.
111

1 +
F2 + A2 RDB
Vf E
F1
- A1 2
1
-
(a)Connections
RDB increasing Speed
Torque 0
(b)Characteristics
Figure 49: Dynamic Braking of a shunt motor
112

1 +
F2 + A2 RDB
Vf E
F1
- A1 2
1
-
(a)Connections
RDB increasing Speed
Torque 0
(b)Characteristics
Figure 50: Dynamic braking of shunt excited shunt machine
113

8.3.2 Regenerative braking
In regenerative braking as the name suggests the energy recovered from the rotating
masses is fed back into the d.c. power source. Thus this type of braking improves the energy
efficiency of the machine. The armature current can be made to reverse for a constant voltage
operation by increase in speed/excitation only. Increase in speed does not result in braking
and the increase in excitation is feasible only over a small range, which may be of the order of
10 to 15%. Hence the best method for obtaining the regenerative braking is to operate, the
machine on a variable voltage supply. As the voltage is continuously pulled below the value of
the induced emf the speed steadily comes down. The field current is held constant by means
of separate excitation. The variable d.c. supply voltage can be obtained by Ward-Leonard
arrangement, shown schematically in Fig. 51. Braking torque can be obtained right up to
zero speed. In modern times static Ward-Leonard scheme is used for getting the variable
d.c. voltage. This has many advantages over its rotating machine counter part. Static set
is compact, has higher efficiency, requires lesser space, and silent in operation; however it
suffers from drawbacks like large ripple at low voltage levels, unidirectional power flow and
low over load capacity. Bidirectional power flow capacity is a must if regenerative braking is
required. Series motors cannot be regeneratively braked as the characteristics do not extend
to the second quadrant.
8.3.3 Plugging
The third method for braking is by plugging.Fig. 52 shows the method of connection
for the plugging of a shunt motor. Initially the machine is connected to the supply with the
switch S in position number 1. If now the switch is moved to position 2, then a reverse
voltage is applied across the armature. The induced armature voltage E and supply voltage
114

+ -
If
F2 A2 Variable
votage
Vf E V source
F1 A1
Speed
A
B V1
C
V2
V1 > V2
0 Torque
(b)Characteristics
Figure 51: Regenerative braking of a shunt machine
115

2 RB
+ -
1
+
F2 A2
V
Vf
E
F1 2
- A1
1
A
B
Speed
C 0 Torque
(b)Characteristics
Figure 52: Plugging or reverse voltage braking of a shunt motor
116

V aid each other and a large reverse current flows through the armature. This produces a
large negative torque or braking torque. Hence plugging is also termed as reverse voltage
braking. The machine instantly comes to rest. If the motor is not switched off at this instant
the direction of rotation reverses and the motor starts rotating the reverse direction. This
type of braking therefore has two modes viz. 1) plug to reverse and 2) plug to stop. If we
need the plugging only for bringing the speed to zero, then we have to open the switch S
at zero speed. If nothing is done it is plug to reverse mode. Plugging is a convenient mode
for quick reversal of direction of rotation in reversible drives. Just as in starting, during
plugging also it is necessary to limit the current and thus the torque, to reduce the stress on
the mechanical system and the commutator. This is done by adding additional resistance in
series with the armature during plugging.
Series motors
In the case of series motors plugging cannot be employed as the field current too gets
reversed when reverse voltage is applied across the machine. This keeps the direction
of the torque produced unchanged. This fact is used with advantage, in operating a
d.c. series motor on d.c. or a.c. supply. Series motors thus qualify to be called as
Universal motors.
Compound motors
Plugging of compound motors proceeds on similar lines as the shunt motors. However
some precautions have to be observed due to the presence of series field winding. A
cumulatively compounded motor becomes differentially compounded on plugging. The
mmf due to the series field can over power the shunt field forcing the flux to low values
or even reverse the net field. This decreases the braking torque, and increases the
duration of the large braking current. To avoid this it may be advisable to deactivate
117

the series field at the time of braking by short circuiting the same. In such cases the
braking proceeds just as in a shunt motor. If plugging is done to operate the motor
in the negative direction of rotation as well, then the series field has to be reversed
and connected for getting the proper mmf. Unlike dynamic braking and regenerative
braking where the motor is made to work as a generator during braking period, plugging
makes the motor work on reverse motoring mode.
8.4 Application of d.c motors and generators
It is seen from the earlier sections that the d.c.machine is capable of having variety of
torque-speed characteristics depending on the circuit conditions. The need for generating
these characteristics will be clear only when they are seen along with the characteristics of
the loads that they operate with. Even though a detailed treatment of motor load systems is
outside the scope here, it may be useful to look into the typical torque-speed characteristics
of some of the common loads.
Loads are broadly divided into,
(a) Passive loads
(b) Active loads
They may be unidirectional in operation or work in either direction (Reversible loads).
Passive loads absorb the mechanical energy developed by the motors while
active loads are capable of working as both sinks and sources for mechanical energy. The
direction of rotation may be taken to be clockwise/counter clockwise rotation. Normally the
118

direction in which the load operates most of the time, is taken as the positive direction of
rotation. Any torque which accelerates the motor load system in the positive direction of
rotation is termed as a positive toque. With this rotation torques of motors, generators or
loads can be represented graphically on a four quadrantal diagram. The torque being taken
as an independent variable, is represented along the x-axis. Y-axis represents the speed.
Quadrants. I and III in Fig. 53(a) represent forward motoring and reverse motoring op-
eration respectively. Quadrants II and IV similarly represent generating/braking quadrants
as they absorb mechanical power and cause braking action.
Fig. 53(b) shows a few typical load characteristics on a four quadrantal dia-
gram.
The characteristics a, b,and c correspond to frictional torque, cutting torque and fan torque
respectively. While the frictional torque is not a function of speed, the cutting toque is pro-
portional to the speed and the fan torque varies as the square of the speed. These can only
absorb mechanical power and hence are represented in quadrantal II for positive direction
of rotation. Similar loads produce characteristics in quadrant IV for negative direction of
rotation.
Fig. 54 shows a typical behaviour of an active load. Here an elevator is taken as an example.
Here the counter weight is assumed to be heavier than the cage and similarly the loaded
cage in assumed to be heavier than the counter weight. As seen from the Fig. 54 the torque
is constant and depends on the difference in the weight of the case and the counter weight,
and the radius of the drum. The characteristics of the load exists in all the four quadrants
and is capable of delivering as well as absorbing mechanical power. Hence it is called as an
active load. The governing equation when the motor and a load are connected together is
dw
TM (w) TL (w) = J (52)
dt
119

Speed
II I
Torque
III IV
(a)
b a Speed
Torque
a b
(b)
Figure 53: Typical load characteristics on a four quadrantal diagram
120

W
T W T
speed
Hoisting an
empty cage Hoisting a
loaded cage
Torque
o
T
W
T W
Lowering a
Lowering an loaded cage
empty cage
Figure 54: Four quadrantal diagram
121

where TM (w) and TM (w) are motor and load torques respectively. J is the polar moment of
dw
inertia of the motor and load put together at the motor shaft. dt
is made positive when the
speed has to be increased in the positive direction and negative when reducing the speed.
Under steady operation TM (w) TL (W ) = 0. Both motor and load torques are expressed as
functions of the speed. The speed at which motor and load torques are equal and opposite is
the steady state operating speed. By varying the characteristics of the motor (or the load),
this speed can be changed to suit our requirements. Normally the torque speed characteris-
tics of a load cannot be changed easily. Thus most speed control methods adopt, varying the
motor characteristics to achieve speed control. Some typical loads and the motors commonly
used to drive the same are tabulated in Table.
d.c. shunt motor lathes,fans,pumps disc and band saw drive requiring moderate torques.
d.c. series motor Electric traction, high speed tools
d.c. compound motor Rolling mills and other loads requiring large momentary toques.
122

9 Testing of d.c. machines
A d.c. machine has to be tested for proper fabrication and trouble free operation.
From the tests one can determine the external characteristics needed for application of these
machines. Also, one can find the efficiency, rating and temperature rise of the machine.
Some of the tests are discussed in sequence now.
9.1 Measurement of armature resistance
Measurement of winding resistances of field windings and armature winding are

performed by v-i method. Field is not excited during this test.
Even though any value of applied voltage can be used, the highest permissible
voltage/current is chosen during the test to minimize the errors. The armature circuit
consists of two resistances in series. They are armature winding resistance and resistance
due to the brushes and the brush drop. The brush contact drop behaves like a non-linear
resistance. To separate this from the armature circuit resistance and brush resistance a
number of v-i readings are taken. An equation of V = Vb + IRa form is fitted through
these test points shown graphically in Fig. 55. For large values of I the equivalent armature
resistance is taken to be V /I ohm. If the value of brush drop Vb can be neglected then the
armature resistance Ra = V /I ohm.
9.2 Open Circuit Characteristic (OCC)
The OCC is of great value as it shows the mmf and hence the field current required
to generate a given voltage at any speed, on no load. It is a graph showing the variation
123

v
+
A
A2
DC Supply
A1 -
I.V. Characteristic
dv
Ra =
di
dv
V di
Vb
0 I
(b)Characteristics
Figure 55: Measurement of Armature resistance and Brush drop
124

of the induced emf as a function of excitation current, when the speed is held constant,
with the load current being zero. It is also called the no-load saturation curve or no load
magnetization characteristic. This is experimentally determined by running the machine
as a separately excited generator on no-load at a constant speed and noting the terminal
voltage as a function of the excitation current. This curve can be used to find the OCC at
other speeds and also the self excited voltage when the machine works as a shunt generator.
9.3 Short circuit characteristics:(SCC)
In the case of short circuit test the armature is kept short circuited through an
ammeter. The machine is demagnetized and an extremely small field current is passed
through the field. The variation of the short circuit current as a function of excitation
current is plotted as the SCC. The speed is to be held constant during this test also. The
short circuit test gives an idea of the armature drop at any load current.
9.4 Load test
To assess the rating of a machine a load test has to be conducted. When the
machine is loaded, certain fraction of the input is lost inside the machine and appears as
heat, increasing the temperature of the machine. If the temperature rise is excessive then
it affects the insulations, ultimately leading to the breakdown of the insulation and the
machine. The load test gives the information about the efficiency of a given machine at any
load condition. Also, it gives the temperature rise of the machine. If the temperature rise
is below the permissible value for the insulation then the machine can be safely operated
at that load, else the load has to be reduced. The maximum continuous load that can be
125

delivered by the machine without exceeding the temperature rise for the insulation used, is
termed as the continuous rating of the machine. Thus the load test alone can give us the
proper information of the rating and also can help in the direct measurement of the efficiency.
9.5 Measurement of rotor inertia
The moment of inertia value is very important for the selection of a proper motor
for drives involving many starts and stops or requiring very good speed control characteris-
tics. The inertia can be determined by a retardation test.
The test works on the principle that when a motor is switched off from the
mains it decelerates and comes to rest. The angular retardation at any speed is proportional
to the retarding torque and is inversely proportional to the inertia. The torque lost at
any speed is calculated by running the motor at that speed steadily on no load and noting
the power input.From this power the losses that takes place in the armature and field are
deducted to get the power converted into mechanical form. All this power is spent in over
coming the mechanical losses at that speed. This can be repeated at any defined speed to
get the lost power (PL ) and torque lost (Tlost ) due to mechanical losses. In a retardation
test the motor speed is taken to some high value and the power to the motor is switched off.
The torque required by the losses is supplied by the energy stored in the motor inertia. The
lost torque at any speed can be written as
PL = Tlost . (53)
dw
Tlost = PL /w = J
dt
dw
Here the dt
is the slope of the retardation curve and the (Tlost ) is the torque required to be
126

met at the given speed. From these values the moment of inertia can be computed as
Tlost PL
J= dw
= kgm2 (54)
dt
w. dw
dt
9.6 Efficiency of a d.c. machine
A machine when loaded yields an output. The input to the machine is measured
at that operating point. The the efficiency in per unit is given as the ratio of output power
to input power.
output power
= (55)
input power
Input power power lost inside the machine
=
input power
output power
=
output power + power lost inside the machine
The first definition is used in the direct estimation of the efficiency . The other
two definitions are known as determination of efficiency using the loss segregation. For the
segregation of losses one must know the losses that take place inside a d.c. machine. The
losses that take place inside a d.c. machine can be listed as below.
1. Armature copper loss.
2. Brush and brush contact loss.
3. Shunt field loss
4. Series field loss
5. Commutating pole loss
127

6. Compensating winding loss
7. Mechanical losses
8. Iron losses
9. Stray load losses
Out of these items 1,2,7,8 and 9 will be present in all the d.c. machines. Out of
the remaining one or more may be present depending on which winding is present. These
losses change with temperature of operation. Mechanical losses vary with variation in speed.
Iron losses change with the degree of saturation and distortion of the shape of the field flux
distribution under the poles.
When a d.c. machine is loaded using a suitable load the output delivered by
the machine increases. The input requirement also increases along with the output. The
difference between the input and output powers is the power lost inside the machine as loss.
The efficiency of power conversion is given by the ratio of output power to input power.
Putting in mathematical form for a motor,
V I losses
= (56)
VI
for constant speed operation, the speed dependant losses remain constant. The load depen-
dant losses form the variable losses. While the loss that takes place in the brush drop in the
brushes is proportional to the load current, the loss that takes place in the resistance of the
armature is proportional to the square of the load current. Even though the loss that takes
place in a field winding is proportional to the square of the current through that winding, it
is classified under constant losses as the excitation current is held constant during loading.
128

Thus the total losses in a d.c. motor can be expressed in the form
PL = a + bI + cI 2 (57)
V I PL A
= = 1 ( + B + CI) (58)
VI I
a b
When A = V
,B = V
and C = cV .
The term inside the brackets is sometimes referred to as the deficiency. For a
typical d.c.motor these are plotted in Fig. 56(a) as a function of the load current. The
curves a,b,c in the figure represent the efficiency curve taking one component of the loss
at a time. The curve d is the efficiency curve with all three components taken together.
The resultant curve exhibits a maximum. This can be easily seen from the graph that
this maximum occurs when constant losses equal the variable losses. AI = CI or A = CI 2 .
Fig. 56(b) depicts a typical output vs curve of a d.c.machine.
129

b
c
a
Efficiency
d
current
(a)Efficiency Vs Load current

Efficiency
Output
(b)Output Vs Efficiency
Figure 56: Efficiency of a D.C.machine
130

Electrical Machines II Prof. Krishna Vasudevan, Prof. G. Sridhara Rao, Prof. P. Sasidhara Rao
Induction Machines
1 Introduction
The induction machine was invented by NIKOLA TESLA in 1888. Right from its incep-
tion its ease of manufacture and its robustness have made it a very strong candidate for
electromechanical energy conversion. It is available from fractional horsepower ratings to
megawatt levels. It finds very wide usage in all various application areas. The induction
machine is an AC electromechanical energy conversion device. The machine interfaces with
the external world through two connections (ports) one mechanical and one electrical. The
mechanical port is in the form of a rotating shaft and the electrical port is in the form of
terminals where AC supply is connected. There are machines available to operate from three
phase or single phase electrical input. In this module we will be discussing the three phase
induction machine. Single phase machines are restricted to small power levels.

2 The Rotating Magnetic Field

The principle of operation of the induction machine is based on the generation of a rotating
magnetic field. Let us understand this idea better.
Click on the following steps in sequence to get a graphical picture. It is suggested that
the reader read the text before clicking the link.
Consider a cosine wave from 0 to 360. This sine wave is plotted with unit amplitude.
Now allow the amplitude of the sine wave to vary with respect to time in a simisoidal
fashion with a frequency of 50Hz.Let the maximum value of the amplitude is, say, 10
units. This waveform is a pulsating sine wave.
iapk = Im cos 2.50.t (1)
Now consider a second sine wave, which is displaced by 120 from the first (lagging). . .
and allow its amplitude to vary in a similar manner, but with a 120 time lag.
ibpk = Im cos(2.50.t 120 ) (2)
Similarly consider a third sine wave, which is at 240 lag. . .
and allow its amplitude to change as well with a 240 time lag. Now we have three
pulsating sine waves.
icpk = Im cos(2.50.t 240 ) (3)
Let us see what happens if we sum up the values of these three sine waves at every angle.
The result really speaks about Teslas genius. What we get is a constant amplitude travelling
sine wave!
In a three phase induction machine, there are three sets of windings phase A winding,
phase B and phase C windings. These are excited by a balanced three-phase voltage supply.
This would result in a balanced three phase current. Equations 1 3 represent the currents
that flow in the three phase windings. Note that they have a 120 time lag between them.
Further, in an induction machine, the windings are not all located in the same place.
They are distributed in the machine 120 away from each other (more about this in the
section on alternators). The correct terminology would be to say that the windings have

their axes separated in space by 120 . This is the reason for using the phase A, B and C
since waves separated in space as well by 120 .
When currents flow through the coils, they generate mmfs. Since mmf is proportional to
current, these waveforms also represent the mmf generated by the coils and the total mmf.
Further, due to magnetic material in the machine (iron), these mmfs generate magnetic flux,
which is proportional to the mmf (we may assume that iron is infinitely permeable and
non-linear effects such as hysterisis are neglected). Thus the waveforms seen above would
also represent the flux generated within the machine. The net result as we have seen is
a travelling flux wave. The x-axis would represent the space angle in the machine as one
travels around the air gap. The first pulsating waveform seen earlier would then represent
the a-phase flux, the second represents the b-phase flux and the third represents the c-phase.
This may be better visualized in a polar plot. The angles of the polar plot represent the
space angle in the machine, i.e., angle as one travels around the stator bore of the machine.
Click on the links below to see the development on a polar axes.
This plot shows the pulsating wave at the zero degree axes. The amplitude is maximum
at zero degree axes and is zero at 90 axis. Positive parts of the waveform are shown
in red while negative in blue. Note that the waveform is pulsating at the 0 180 axis
and red and blue alternate in any given side. This corresponds to the sinewave current
changing polarity. Note that the maximum amplitude of the sinewave is reached only
along the 0 180 axis. At all other angles, the amplitude does not reach a maximum
of this value. It however reaches a maximum value which is less than that of the peak
occuring at the 0 180 axis. More exactly, the maximum reached at any space angle
would be equal to cos times the peak at the 0 180 axis. Further, at any space
angle , the time variation is sinusoidal with the frequency and phase lag being that
of the excitation, and amplitude being that corresponding to the space angle.
This plot shows the pulsating waveforms of all three cosines. Note that the first is
pulsating about the 0 180 axis, the second about the120 300 axis and the third
at 240 360axis.
This plot shows the travelling wave in a circular trajectory. Note that while individual
pulsating waves have maximum amplitude of 10, the resultant has amplitude of 15.
If f1 is the amplitude of the flux waveform in each phase, the travelling wave can then

be represented as
2 2 4 4
f (t) = f1 cos t cos + f1 cos(t ) cos( ) + f1 cos(t ) cos( )
3 3 3 3
3
= f1 cos(t ) (4)
2
It is worthwhile pondering over the following points.
1. what is the interpretation of the pulsating plots of the animation? If one wants to
know the a phase flux at a particular angle for all instants of time, how can it be
obtained?
2. What will this time variation look like? It is obviously periodic. What will be the
amplitude and frequency?
3. Why does eqn. 4 represent a travelling wave?

3 Principles of Torque Production

In the earlier section, we saw how a rotating flux is produced. Now let us consider a rotor,
which is placed in this field. Let the rotor have a coil such that the coil sides are placed
diametrically opposite each other. This is shown in the fig. 1. Since the flux generated by
the stator rotates flux linked by this rotor coil also changes.
Figure 1: A Coil on the rotor
Since the flux pattern is varying sinusoidally in space, as the flux waveform rotates, the
flux linkage varies sinusoidally. The rate of variation of this flux linkage will then be equal
to the speed of rotation of the air gap flux produced. This sinusoidal variation of the flux
linkage produces a sinusoidal induced emf in the rotor coil. If the coil is short circuited, this
induced emf will cause a current flow in the coil as per Lenzs law.
Now imagine a second coil on the rotor whose axis is 120 away from the first. This is
shown in fig. 2. The flux linkage in this coil will also vary sinusoidally with respect to time
and therefore cause an induced voltage varying sinusoidally with time. However the flux
linkages in these two coils will have a phase difference of 120 (the rotating flux wave will
have to travel 120 in order to cause a similar flux linkage variation as in the first coil), and
hence the time varying voltages induced in the coils will also have a 120 phase difference.
A third coil placed a further 120 away is shown in fig. 3. This will have a time varying
induced emf lagging 240 in time with respect to the first.
When these three coils are shorted upon themselves currents flow in them as per Lenzs
law. The mechanism by which torque is produced may now be understood as follows. The
diagram in fig. 4 shows a view of the rotor seen from one end. Positive current is said to

Figure 2: A coil displaced 120 from the first

flow in these coils when current flows out of the page in a, b, c conductors and into a , b

and c respectively.
If we look at the voltage induced in these coils as phasors, the diagram looks as shown
in fig. 5. The main flux is taken as the reference phasor. Considering that the induced emf
is d/dt where is the flux linkage, the diagram is drawn as shown.
As usual, the horizontal component of these phasors gives the instantaneous values of
the induced emf in these coils.
Let these coils be purely resistive. Then these emf phasors also represent the currents
flowing in these coils. If we consider the instant t = 0, it can be seen that
1. The field flux is along 0 axis.

2. The current in a phase coil is zero.

3
3. The current in b phase coil is 2
units.

4. The current in c phase coil is + 23 units.
These currents act to produce mmf and flux along the axes of the respective coils. Let

us consider the space around b and c coil sides. The situation is shown in fig. 6.
The resulting flux pattern causes a tendency to move in the anticlockwise direction. This
is easy to see through the so called whiplash rule. Alternatively, since the force on a current

Figure 3: A coil displaced 240 from the first
c b
b c
Figure 4: Coils on the rotor
carrying conductor is F = q(v X B), it can be seen that the torque produced tends to rotate
the rotor counter-clockwise. The magnitude of the torque would increase with the current
magnitude in the coils. This current is in turn dependent on the magnitude of the main field
flux and its speed of rotation. Therefore one may say that motion of the main field tends to
drag the rotor along with it.
When the rotor is free to move and begins moving, the motion reduces the relative speed
between the main field and the rotor coils. Less emf would therefore be induced and the
torque would come down. Depending on the torque requirement for the load, the difference
in speed between the rotor and the main field settles down at some particular value.
From the foregoing, the following may be noted.
1. The torque produced depends on a non-zero relative speed between the field and the
rotor.

eb ec
V
1200
300
F
V
1200
900
V
ea
Figure 5: EMF induced in the coils : Resistive rotor

b
VV
Flux lines due to current in b
V
Flux lines of the main field

V
V
V
Flux lines due to current in c
Figure 6: Flux around conductors : Resistive rotor
2. It is therefore not possible for the rotor to run continuously at the same speed of the
field. This is so because in such a condition, no emf would be induced in the rotor and
hence no rotor current, no torque.
3. The frequency of currents induced in the rotor coils and their magnitude depends on
this difference in speed.
These are important conclusions. The speed of the main field is known as the synchronous
speed, ns . If the actual speed of the rotor is nr then the ratio
ns nr
s= (5)
ns
is known as slip and is frequently expressed as a percentage. Typically induction machines

are designed to operate at about less than 4 percent slip at full load.
It is instructive to see the situation if the rotor resistance is neglected and is considered
to be purely inductive. The phasor diagram of voltages and the currents would then look as
shown in fig. 7.
V
V
300
V
V
300
Figure 7: EMF induced in coils : Inductive rotor
At t = 0, one can see that current in a phase coil is at negative maximum, while b and
c phases have positive current of 0.5 units. Now if we consider the current flux profiles at

coil sides a, b , c, the picture that emerges is shown in fig. 8.
Since main flux at the a coil side is close to zero, there is very little torque produced

from there. There is a tendency to move due to the b and c coil sides, but they are in
opposite directions however. Hence there is no net torque on the rotor. This brings up
another important conclusion the resistance of the rotor is an important part of torque
production in the induction machine. While a high resistance rotor is better suited for torque
production, it would also be lossy.

X a
V
V
V
Figure 8: Flux around conductors : Inductive rotor
10

4 Construction
In actual practice, the three coils form three windings distributed over several slots. These
windings may be connected in star or delta and three terminations are brought out. These
are conventional three phase windings which are discussed in greater detail in the chapters
on alternators. Such windings are present n the stator as well as rotor. A photograph of
Figure 9: stator of an induction machine
the stator of an induction machine is shown in fig. 9. A close up of the windings is shown in
fig. 10.the several turns that makeup a coil are seen in this picture. The three terminations
are connected to rings on which three brushes make a sliding contact. As the rotor rotates
the brushes slip over the rings and provide means of connecting stationary external circuit
elements to the rotating windings. A schematic of these arrangements is shown in fig. 13. A
photograph of a wound rotor for an induction machine is shown in fig. 11. Fig. 12 shows a
close up of the slip ring portion. Brushes are not shown in this picture.
Induction machines, which have these kinds of windings and terminals that are brought
out, are called slip ring machines. The reader may note that in order that torque is produced
current must flow in the rotor. To achieve that, the stationary brush terminals must either
be shorted, or connected to a circuit allowing current flow. Sometimes a star connected
resistor bank is connected so that the developed starting torque is higher. There are also
other forms of power electronic circuitry that may be connected to the rotor terminals to
achieve various functions.
The popularity of the induction machine however, stems from another variety of rotor
11

Figure 10: Coils in the stator
Figure 11: A wound rotor with slip rings
12

Figure 12: slip rings
Slip rings(fixed to shaft)
Rotor shaft
v
Winding Brushes(stationary)
on rotor
Sliding
Contact Stationary terminals
Figure 13: Slip rings and brushes in induction machines a schematic
13

that is used. This rotor has slots into which copper or aluminium bars are inserted. These
bars are then shorted by rings that are brazed on to each of the rotor ends. Figure 14 shows
a simple schematic.
Figure 14: Squirrel cage rotor a schematic
Such a rotor is called squirrel cage rotor. This rotor behaves like a short-circuited winding
and hence the machine is able to perform electromechanical energy conversion. This type
of rotor is easy to manufacture, has no sliding contacts and is very robust. It is this feature
that makes induction machine suitable for use even in hazardous environments and reliable
operation is achieved. The disadvantage of this type of rotor is that the motor behavior
cannot be altered by connecting anything to the rotor there are no rotor terminals.
Fig. 15 shows a photograph of a squirrel cage rotor. The rotor also has a fan attached
to it. This is for cooling purposes. The bars ( white lines on the surface) are embedded in
the rotor iron which forms the magnetic circuit. The white lines correspond to the visible
portion of the rotor bar.
Sometimes two rotor bars are used per slot to achieve some degree of variability in the
starting and running performances. It is to make use of the fact that while high rotor
14

Figure 15: squirrel cage rotor
resistance is desirable from the point of view of starting torque, low rotor resistance is
desirable from efficiency considerations while the machine is running. Such rotors are called
double cage rotors or deep-bar rotors.
To summarize the salient features discussed so far,
1. The stator of the 3 - phase induction machine consists of normal distributed AC wind-
ings.
2. Balanced three phase voltages impressed on the stator, cause balanced three phase
currents to flow in the stator.
3. These stator currents cause a rotating flux pattern (the pattern is a flux distribution
which is sinusoidal with respect to the space angle) in the air gap.
4. The rotating flux pattern causes three phase induced e.m.f.s in rotor windings (again
normal ac windings). These windings, if shorted, carry three phase-balanced currents.
Torque is produced as a result of interaction of the currents and the air gap flux.
5. The rotor may also take the form of a squirrel cage arrangement, which behaves in a
manner similar to the short-circuited three phase windings.
15

5 Equivalent Circuit
It is often required to make quantitative predictions about the behavior of the induction
machine, under various operating conditions. For this purpose, it is convenient to represent
the machine as an equivalent circuit under sinusoidal steady state operating conditions. Since
the operation is balanced, a single-phase equivalent circuit is sufficient for most purposes.
In order to derive the equivalent circuit, let us consider a machine with an open circuited
rotor. Since no current can flow and as a consequence no torque can be produced, the
situation is like a transformer open-circuited on the secondary (rotor). The equivalent circuit
under this condition can be drawn as shown in fig. 16.
Rs Xls Rr Xlr
Rm Xm
Figure 16: Induction machine with the rotor open
This is just the normal transformer equivalent circuit (why? ). Measurements aregenerally
made on the stator side and the rotor, in most circumstances, is shorted (if required, through
some external circuitry). Since most of the electrical interaction is from the stator, it makes
sense to refer all parameters to the stator.
Let us consider the rotor to be shorted. Let the steady speed attained by the rotor be r
and the synchronous speed be s . The induced voltage on the rotor is now proportional to
the slip i.e., slip times the induced voltage under open circuit (why? ). Further, the voltage
induced and the current that flows in the rotor is at a frequency equal to slip times the
stator excitation frequency (why? ). The equivalent circuit can be made to represent this by
shorting the secondary side and is shown in fig. 17.

Rr and Xlr refer to the rotor resistance and leakage resistance referred to the stator side
(using the square of the turns ratio, as is done in transformer). The secondary side loop is
excited by a voltage sE1 , which is also at a frequency sf1 . This is the reason why the rotor
16


Rs Xls Rr sXlr
Rm Xm E1 sE1
Figure 17: Equivalent circuit : rotor at its own frequency

leakage is sXlr now . The current amplitude in the rotor side would therefore be
sE1
Ir = p
(6)
Rr + (sXlr2 )
2
This expression can be modified as follows (dividing numerator and denominator by s)
E1
Ir = q (7)
Rr2
s2
+ (Xlr2 )
Equation 7 tells us that the rotor current is the same as the current flowing in a circuit

with a load impedance consisting of a resistance Rr /s and inductive reactance Xlr . This
current would also now be at the frequency of E1 (stator frequency). Note that the slip no
longer multiplies the leakage reactance. Further this current is now caused by a voltage of
E1 itself (no multiplying factor of s). Hence the transformer in fig. 17 can also be removed.
Since, with this, the conversion to slip frequency is no longer there, the equivalent circuit
can be represented as in fig. 18.
This is then the per-phase equivalent circuit of the induction machine, also called as exact
equivalent circuit. Note that the voltage coming across the magnetizing branch is the applied
stator voltage, reduced by the stator impedance drop. Generally the stator impedance drop
is only a small fraction of the applied voltage. This fact is taken to advantage and the
magnetizing branch is shifted to be directly across the input terminals and is shown in
fig. 19.
17


Rr
Rs Xls s
Xlr
Rm Xm
Figure 18: The Exact equivalent circuit

Rr
Rs Xls s
Xlr
Rm Xm
Figure 19: The approximate equivalent circuit
This circuit, called the approximate equivalent circuit, is simple to use for quick calcula-
tions.

Rr
The resistance term s
could be split into two parts.

Rr R (1 s)
= Rr + r (8)
s s
With this equation the equivalent circuit can be modified as shown in fig. 20.
Dividing the equation for the rotor current by s and merging the two sides of the trans-
former is not just a mathematical jugglery. The power dissipated in the rotor resistance (per

phase) is obviously I22 Rr . From the equivalent circuit of fig. 20 one can see that the rotor

current (referred to stator of course) flows through a resistance Rr /s which has a component

Rr (1 s)/s in addition to Rr , which also dissipates power. What does this represent?
18


Rs Xls R Xlr

Rm Xm Rr (1s)
s
Figure 20: The exact equivalent circuit - separation of rotor resistance
From the equivalent circuit, one can see that the dissipation in Rs represents the stator
loss, and dissipation in Rm represents the iron loss. Therefore, the power absorption indicated
by the rotor part of the circuit must represent all other means of power consumption -
the actual mechanical output, friction and windage loss components and the rotor copper

loss components. Since the dissipation in Rr is rotor copper loss, the power dissipation in

Rr (1 s)/s is the sum total of the remaining. In standard terminology, dissipation in

Rr /s is called the air gap power.

Rr is the rotor copper loss.

Rr (1 s)/s is the mechanical output.
In an ideal case where there are no mechanical losses, the last term would represent the
actual output available at the shaft. Out of the power Pg Transferred at the air gap, a
fraction s is dissipated in the rotor and (1 s) is delivered as output at the shaft. If there
are no mechanical losses like friction and windage, this represents the power available to the
load.
19

6 Determination of Circuit Parameters

In order to find values for the various elements of the equivalent circuit, tests must be
conducted on a particular machine, which is to be represented by the equivalent circuit. In
order to do this, we note the following.
1. When the machine is run on no-load, there is very little torque developed by it. In an
ideal case where there is no mechanical losses, there is no mechanical power deveoped
at no-load. Recalling the explanations in the section on torque production, the flow
of current in the rotor is indicative of the torque that is produced. If no torque is
produced, one may conclude that no current would be flowing in the rotor either.
The rotor branch acts like an open circuit. This conclusion may also be reached by
reasoning that when there is no load, an ideal machine will run up to its synchronous
speed where the slip is zero resulting in an infinite impedance in the rotor branch.
2. When the machine is prevented from rotation, and supply is given, the slip remains at
unity. The elements representing the magnetizing branch Rm &Xm are high impedances

much larger than Rr & Xlr in series. Thus, in the exact equivalent circuit of the
induction machine, the magnetizing branch may be neglected.
From these considerations, we may reduce the induction machine exact equivalent circuit
of fig.18 to those shown in fig. 21.

Rs Xls Rs Xls R Xlr

Rm Xm Rr (1s)
s
(a) No-load equivalent (b) Blocked rotor equivalent
Figure 21: Reduced equivalent circuits
These two observations and the reduced equivalent circuits are used as the basis for the
two most commonly used tests to find out the equivalent circuit parameters the blocked
rotor test and no load test. They are also referred to as the short circuit test and open
circuit test respectively in conceptual analogy to the transformer.
20

6.1 The no-load test
The behaviour of the machine may be judged from the equivalent circuit of fig. 21(a). The
current drawn by the machine causes a stator-impedance drop and the balance voltage is
applied across the magnetizing branch. However, since the magnetizing branch impedance is
large, the current drawn is small and hence the stator impedance drop is small compared to
the applied voltage (rated value). This drop and the power dissipated in the stator resistance
are therefore neglected and the total power drawn is assumed to be consumed entirely as
core loss. This can also be seen from the approximate equivalent circuit, the use of which is
justified by the foregoing arguments. This test therefore enables us to compute the resistance
and inductance of the magnetizing branch in the following manner.
Let applied voltage = Vs . Then current drawn is given by
Vs Vs
Is = + (9)
Rm jXm
The power drawn is given by

Vs2 V2
Ps = Rm = s (10)
Rm Ps
Vs , Is and Ps are measured with appropriate meters. With Rm known from eqn. 10, Xm
can be found from eqn. 9. The current drawn is at low power factor and hence a suitable
wattmeter should be used.
6.2 Blocked-rotor Test
In this test the rotor is prevented from rotation by mechanical means and hence the name.
Since there is no rotation, slip of operation is unity, s = 1. The equivalent circuit valid under
these conditions is shown in fig. 21(b). Since the current drawn is decided by the resistance
and leakage impedances alone, the magnitude can be very high when rated voltage is applied.
Therefore in this test, only small voltages are applied just enough to cause rated current
to flow. While the current magnitude depends on the resistance and the reactance, the power
drawn depends on the resistances.
The parameters may then be determined as follows. The source current and power drawn
may be written as
Vs
Is = (11)
(Rs + Rr ) + j(Xs + Xr )

Ps = |Is |2 (Rs + Rr ) (12)
21

In the test Vs , Is and Ps are measured with appropriate meters. Equation 12 enables us

to compute(Rs + Rr ). Once this is known, (Xs + Xr ) may be computed from the eqn. 11.
Note that this test only enables us to determine the series combination of the resistance
and the reactance only and not the individual values. Generally, the individual values are

assumed to be equal; the assumption Rs = Rr , andXs = Xr suffices for most purposes. In
practice, there are differences. If more accurate estimates are required IEEE guidelines may
be followed which depend on the size of the machine.
Note that these two tests determine the equivalent circuit parameters in a Stator-referred
sense, i.e., the rotor resistance and leakage inductance are not the actual values but what
they appear to be when looked at from the stator. This is sufficient for most purposes as
interconnections to the external world are generally done at the stator terminals.
22

7 Deducing the machine performance.

From the equivalent circuit, many aspects of the steady state behavior of the machine can be
deduced. We will begin by looking at the speed-torque characteristic of the machine. We will
consider the approximate equivalent circuit of the machine. We have reasoned earlier that
the power consumed by the rotor-portion of the equivalent circuit is the power transferred

across the air-gap. Out of that quantity the amount dissipated in Rr is the rotor copper loss

and the quantity consumed by Rr (1 s)/s is the mechanical power developed. Neglecting
mechanical losses, this is the power available at the shaft. The torque available can be
obtained by dividing this number by the shaft speed.
7.1 The complete torque-speed characteristic
In order to estimate the speed torque characteristic let us suppose that a sinusoidal voltage
is impressed on the machine. Recalling that the equivalent circuit is the per-phase represen-
tation of the machine, the current drawn by the circuit is given by
Vs
Is = (14)
Rr
(Rs + s
) + j(Xls + Xlr )
where Vs is the phase voltage phasor and Is is the current phasor. The magnetizing

current is neglected. Since this current is flowing through Rsr , the air-gap power is given by

2 Rr
Pg = |Is |
s

Vs Rr
= (15)
(Rs + Rsr )2 + (Xls + Xlr )2 s

The mechanical power output was shown to be (1 s)Pg (power dissipated in Rr /s). The
torque is obtained by dividing this by the shaft speed m .Thus we have,

Pg (1 s) Pg (1 s) R
= = |Is |2 r (16)
m s (1 s) ss
where s is the synchronous speed in radians per second and s is the slip. Further, this
is the torque produced per phase. Hence the overall torque is given by
23


3 Vs2 R
Te = . . r (17)
s (Rs + Rr 2
) + (Xls + Xlr ) s

s
The torque may be plotted as a function of s and is called the torque-slip (or torque-
speed, since slip indicates speed) characteristic a very important characteristic of the
induction machine. Eqn. 17 is valid for a two-pole (one pole pair) machine. In general,
this expression should be multiplied by p, the number of pole-pairs. A typical torque-speed
characteristic is shown in fig. 22. This plot corresponds to a 3 kW, 4 pole, 60 Hz machine.
The rated operating speed is 1780 rpm.
80
70
60
50
Torque, Nm
40
30
20
10
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
speed, rpm
Figure 22: Induction machine speed-torque characteristic
We must note that the approximate equivalent circuit was used in deriving this relation.
Readers with access to MATLAB or suitable equivalents (octave, scilab available free under
GNU at the time of this writing) may find out the difference caused by using the exact
equivalent circuit by using the script found here. A comparison between the two is found
in the plot of fig. 23. The plots correspond to a 3 kW, 4 pole, 50 Hz machine, with a
rated speed of 1440 rpm. It can be seen that the approximate equivalent circuit is a good
approximation in the operating speed range of the machine. Comparing fig. 22 with fig. 23,
we can see that the slope and shape of the characteristics are dependent intimately on the
machine parameters.
Further, this curve is obtained by varying slip with the applied voltage being held con-
stant. Coupled with the fact that this is an equivalent circuit valid under steady state, it
implies that if this characteristic is to be measured experimentally, we need to look at the
torque for a given speed after all transients have died down. One cannot, for example, try
to obtain this curve by directly starting the motor with full voltage applied to the terminals
24

70
60 approximate
exact
50
Torque, Nm
40
30
20
10
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Speed,rpm
Figure 23: Comparison of exact and approximate circuit predictions
and measuring the torque and speed dynamically as it runs up to steady speed.
Another point to note is that the equivalent circuit and the values of torque predicted
is valid when the applied voltage waveform is sinusoidal. With non-sinusoidal voltage wave-
forms, the procedure is not as straightforward.
With respect to the direction of rotation of the air-gap flux, the rotor maybe driven
to higher speeds by a prime mover or may also be rotated in the reverse direction. The
torque-speed relation for the machine under the entire speed range is called the complete
speed-torque characteristic. A typical curve is shown in fig. 7.1 for a four-pole machine,
the synchronous speed being 1500 rpm. Note that negative speeds correspond to slip values
greater than 1, and speeds greater than 1500 rpm correspond to negative slip. The plot also
shows the operating modes of the induction machine in various regions. The slip axis is also
shown for convenience.
Restricting ourselves to positive values of slip, we see that the curve has a peak point.
This is the maximum torque that the machine can produce, and is called as stalling torque.
If the load torque is more than this value, the machine stops rotating or stalls. It occurs at
a slip s, which for the machine of fig. 7.1 is 0.38. At values of slip lower than s, the curve
falls steeply down to zero at s = 0. The torque at synchronous speed is therefore zero. At
values of slip higher than s = s, the curve falls slowly to a minimum value at s = 1. The
torque at s = 1 (speed = 0) is called the starting torque.
The value of the stalling torque may be obtained by differentiating the expression for
torque with respect to zero and setting it to zero to find the value of s. Using this method,
25

80
60
40
20
Torque, Nm
0
20
40 Braking Motoring Generating
60
80
100
120
1500 1000 500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
speed, rpm
2 1.66 1.33 1 0.66 0.33 0 0.33 0.66 1

slip
Figure 24: Complete speed-torque characteristic

Rr
s = p
(18)
Rr 2 + (Xls + Xlr )2
Substituting s into the expression for torque gives us the value of the stalling torque Te .
3V 2 1
Te = s . p (19)
2s Rs Rs2 + (Xls + Xlr )2
the negative sign being valid for negative slip.
The expression shows that Te is the independent of Rr , while s is directly proportional to

Rr . This fact can be made use of conveniently to alter s. If it is possible to change Rr , then
we can get a whole series of torque-speed characteristics, the maximum torque remaining
constant all the while. But this is a subject to be discussed later.

p
We may note that if Rr is chosen equal to Rs2 + (Xls + Xlr )2 , s, becomes unity, which

means that the maximum torque occurs at starting. Thus changing of Rr , wherever possible
can serve as a means to control the starting torque.
While considering the negative slip range, (generator mode) we note that the maximum
torque is higher than in the positive slip region (motoring mode).
26

7.2 Operating Point
Consider a speed torque characteristic shown in fig. 25 for an induction machine, having
the load characteristic also superimposed on it. The load is a constant torque load i.e.,the
torque required for operation is fixed irrespective of speed.
120
motor
100
80
torque, Nm
load
1
60
2
40
20
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
speed, rpm
Figure 25: Machine and load characteristics
The system consisting of the motor and load will operate at a point where the two
characteristics meet. From the above plot, we note that there are two such points. We
therefore need to find out which of these is the actual operating point.
To answer this we must note that, in practice, the characteristics are never fixed; they
change slightly with time. It would be appropriate to consider a small band around the
curve drawn where the actual points of the characteristic will lie. This being the case let
us considers that the system is operating at point 1, and the load torque demand increases
slightly. This is shown in fig. 26, where the change is exaggerated for clarity. This would
shift the point of operation to a point 1 at which the slip would be less and the developed
torque higher.
27

120
100
1
2
80
Te
torque, Nm
60
1 2
40
20
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
speed, rpm
Figure 26: Stability of operating point
The difference in torque developed Te , being positive will accelerate the machine. Any
overshoot in speed as it approaches the point 1 will cause it to further accelerate since
the developed torque is increasing. Similar arguments may be used to show that if for
some reason the developed torque becomes smaller the speed would drop and the effect is
cumulative. Therefore we may conclude that 1 is not a stable operating point.
Let us consider the point 2. If this point shifts to 2 , the slip is now higher (speed is
lower) and the positive difference in torque will accelerate the machine. This behavior will
tend to bring the operating point towards 2 once again. In other words, disturbances at
point 2 will not cause a runaway effect. Similar arguments may be given for the case where
the load characteristic shifts down. Therefore we conclude that point 2 is a stable operating
point.
From the foregoing discussions, we can say that the entire region of the speed-torque
characteristic from s = 0 to s = s is an unstable region, while the region from s = s to s = 0
is a stable region. Therefore the machine will always operate between s = 0 and s = s.
28

7.3 Modes of Operation
The reader is referred to fig. 7.1 which shows the complete speed-torque characteristic of the
induction machine along with the various regions of operation.
Let us consider a situation where the machine has just been excited with three phase
supply and the rotor has not yet started moving. A little reflection on the definition of the
slip indicates that we are at the point s = 1. When the rotating magnetic field is set up due
to stator currents, it is the induced emf that causes current in the rotor, and the interaction
between the two causes torque. It has already been pointed out that it is the presence of the
non-zero slip that causes a torque to be developed. Thus the region of the curve between
s = 0 and s = 1 is the region where the machine produces torque to rotate a passive load
and hence is called the motoring region. Note further that the direction of rotation of the
rotor is the same as that of the air gap flux.
Suppose when the rotor is rotating, we change the phase sequence of excitation to the
machine. This would cause the rotating stator field to reverse its direction the rotating
stator mmf and the rotor are now moving in opposite directions. If we adopt the convention
that positive direction is the direction of the air gap flux, the rotor speed would then be a
negative quantity. The slip would be a number greater than unity. Further, the rotor as
we know should be dragged along by the stator field. Since the rotor is rotating in the
opposite direction to that of the field, it would now tend to slow down, and reach zero speed.
Therefore this region (s > 1) is called the braking region. (What would happen if the supply
is not cut-off when the speed reaches zero?)
There is yet another situation. Consider a situation where the induction machine is
operating from mains and is driving an active load (a load capable of producing rotation by
itself). A typical example is that of a windmill, where the fan like blades of the wind mill
are connected to the shaft of the induction machine. Rotation of the blades may be caused
by the motoring action of the machine, or by wind blowing. Further suppose that both
acting independently cause rotation in the same direction. Now when both grid and wind
act, a strong wind may cause the rotor to rotate faster than the mmf produced by the stator
excitation. A little reflection shows that slip is then negative. Further, the wind is rotating
the rotor to a speed higher than what the electrical supply alone would cause. In order to
do this it has to contend with an opposing torque generated by the machine preventing the
speed build up. The torque generated is therefore negative. It is this action of the wind
against the torque of the machine that enables wind-energy generation. The region of slip
s > 1 is the generating mode of operation. Indeed this is at present the most commonly used
approach in wind-energy generation. It may be noted from the torque expression of eqn. 17
that torque is negative for negative values of slip.
29

8 Speed control of Induction Machines

We have seen the speed torque characteristic of the machine. In the stable region of operation
in the motoring mode, the curve is rather steep and goes from zero torque at synchronous
speed to the stall torque at a value of slip s = s. Normally s may be such that stall torque
is about three times that of the rated operating torque of the machine, and hence may be
about 0.3 or less. This means that in the entire loading range of the machine, the speed
change is quite small. The machine speed is quite stiff with respect to load changes. The
entire speed variation is only in the range ns to (1 s)ns , ns being dependent on supply
frequency and number of poles.
The foregoing discussion shows that the induction machine, when operating from mains
is essentially a constant speed machine. Many industrial drives, typically for fan or pump
applications, have typically constant speed requirements and hence the induction machine
is ideally suited for these. However,the induction machine, especially the squirrel cage type,
is quite rugged and has a simple construction. Therefore it is good candidate for variable
speed applications if it can be achieved.
8.1 Speed control by changing applied voltage
From the torque equation of the induction machine given in eqn.17, we can see that the
torque depends on the square of the applied voltage. The variation of speed torque curves
with respect to the applied voltage is shown in fig. 27. These curves show that the slip at
maximum torque s remains same, while the value of stall torque comes down with decrease
in applied voltage. The speed range for stable operation remains the same.
Further, we also note that the starting torque is also lower at lower voltages. Thus, even
if a given voltage level is sufficient for achieving the running torque, the machine may not
start. This method of trying to control the speed is best suited for loads that require very
little starting torque, but their torque requirement may increase with speed.
Figure 27 also shows a load torque characteristic one that is typical of a fan type of
load. In a fan (blower) type of load,the variation of torque with speed is such that T 2 .
Here one can see that it may be possible to run the motor to lower speeds within the range
ns to (1 s)ns . Further, since the load torque at zero speed is zero, the machine can start
even at reduced voltages. This will not be possible with constant torque type of loads.
One may note that if the applied voltage is reduced, the voltage across the magnetising
branch also comes down. This in turn means that the magnetizing current and hence flux
level are reduced. Reduction in the flux level in the machine impairs torque production
30

Stator voltage variation

70
60
V1
50
40
torque, Nm
V2
30
20 V3 o1
o2
10 o3
load
V1 > V2 > V3
0
0 500 1000 1500
speed, rpm
Figure 27: Speed-torque curves: voltage variation
(recall explantions on torque production), which is primarily the explanation for fig. 27. If,
however, the machine is running under lightly loaded conditions, then operating under rated
flux levels is not required. Under such conditions, reduction in magnetizing current improves
the power factor of operation. Some amount of energy saving may also be achieved.
Voltage control may be achieved by adding series resistors (a lossy, inefficient proposition),
or a series inductor / autotransformer (a bulky solution) or a more modern solution using
semiconductor devices. A typical solid state circuit used for this purpose is the AC voltage
controller or AC chopper. Another use of voltage control is in the so-called soft-start of the
machine. This is discussed in the section on starting methods.
31

8.2 Rotor resistance control
The reader may recall from eqn.17 the expression for the torque of the induction machine.
Clearly, it is dependent on the rotor resistance. Further, eqn.19 shows that the maximum
value is independent of the rotor resistance. The slip at maximum torque eqn.18 is dependent
on the rotor resistance. Therefore, we may expect that if the rotor resistance is changed, the
maximum torque point shifts to higher slip values, while retaining a constant torque. Figure
28 shows a family of torque-speed characteristic obtained by changing the rotor resistance.
Rotor resistance variation

70
60
50
40 r2 r1
torque, Nm
r3
30
20
o1
o2
10 o3
r3 > r2 > r1
0
0 500 1000 1500
speed, rpm
Figure 28: Speed-torque curves : rotor resistance variation
Note that while the maximum torque and synchronous speed remain constant, the slip
at which maximum torque occurs increases with increase in rotor resistance, and so does the
starting torque. whether the load is of constant torque type or fan-type, it is evident that
the speed control range is more with this method. Further, rotor resistance control could
also be used as a means of generating high starting torque.
For all its advantages, the scheme has two serious drawbacks. Firstly, in order to vary
32

the rotor resistance, it is necessary to connect external variable resistors (winding resistance
itself cannot be changed). This, therefore necessitates a slip-ring machine, since only in
that case rotor terminals are available outside. For cage rotor machines, there are no rotor
terminals. Secondly, the method is not very efficient since the additional resistance and
operation at high slips entails dissipation.
The resistors connected to the slip-ring brushes should have good power dissipation ca-
pability. Water based rheostats may be used for this. A solid-state alternative to a rheostat
is a chopper controlled resistance where the duty ratio control of of the chopper presents a
variable resistance load to the rotor of the induction machine.
8.3 Cascade control
The power drawn from the rotor terminals could be spent more usefully. Apart from using
the heat generated in meaning full ways, the slip ring output could be connected to another
induction machine. The stator of the second machine would carry slip frequency currents of
the first machine which would generate some useful mechanical power. A still better option
would be to mechanically couple the shafts of the two machines together. This sort of a
connection is called cascade connection and it gives some measure of speed control as shown
below.
Let the frequency of supply given to the first machine be f1 , its number poles be p1 , and
its slip of operation be s1 . Let f2 , p2 and s2 be the corresponding quantities for the second
machine. The frequency of currents flowing in the rotor of the first machine and hence in the
stator of the second machine is s1 f1 . Therefore f2 = s1 f1 . Since the machines are coupled
at the shaft, the speed of the rotor is common for both. Hence, if n is the speed of the rotor
in radians,
f1 s1 f1
n = (1 s1 ) = (1 s2 ). (20)
p1 p2
Note that while giving the rotor output of the first machine to the stator of the second,
the resultant stator mmf of the second machine may set up an air-gap flux which rotates in
the same direction as that of the rotor, or opposes it. this results in values for speed as
f1 f1
n= or n= (s2 negligible) (21)
p1 + p2 p1 p2
The latter expression is for the case where the second machine is connected in opposite
phase sequence to the first. The cascade connected system can therefore run at two possible
33


Rs Xls Rr sXlr
+
Rm Xm E1 sE1 Er
Figure 29: Generalized rotor control
speeds.
Speed control through rotor terminals can be considered in a much more general way.
Consider the induction machine equivalent circuit of fig. 29, where the rotor circuit has been
terminated with a voltage source Er .
If the rotor terminals are shorted, it behaves like a normal induction machine. This is
equivalent to saying that across the rotor terminals a voltage source of zero magnitude is
connected. Different situations could then be considered if this voltage source Er had a
non-zero magnitude. Let the power consumed by that source be Pr . Then considering the
rotor side circuit power dissipation per phase

sE1 I2 cos 2 = I2 R2 + Pr . (22)
Clearly now, the value of s can be changed by the value of Pr . For Pr = 0, the machine
is like a normal machine with a short circuited rotor. As Pr becomes positive, for all other
circuit conditions remaining constant, s increases or in the other words, speed reduces. As
Pr becomes negative,the right hand side of the equation and hence the slip decreases. The
physical interpretation is that we now have an active source connected on the rotor side

which is able to supply part of the rotor copper losses. When Pr = I22 R2 the entire copper
loss is supplied by the external source. The RHS and hence the slip is zero. This corresponds
to operation at synchronous speed. In general the circuitry connected to the rotor may not
be a simple resistor or a machine but a power electronic circuit which can process this power
requirement. This circuit may drive a machine or recover power back to the mains. Such
circuits are called static kramer drives.
34

8.4 Pole changing schemes
Sometimes induction machines have a special stator winding capable of being externally
connected to form two different number of pole numbers. Since the synchronous speed of the
induction machine is given by ns = fs /p (in rev./s) where p is the number of pole pairs, this
would correspond to changing the synchronous speed. With the slip now corresponding to
the new synchronous speed, the operating speed is changed. This method of speed control
is a stepped variation and generally restricted to two steps.
If the changes in stator winding connections are made so that the air gap flux remains
constant, then at any winding connection, the same maximum torque is achievable. Such
winding arrangements are therefore referred to as constant-torque connections. If however
such connection changes result in air gap flux changes that are inversely proportional to the
synchronous speeds, then such connections are called constant-horsepower type.
The following figure serves to illustrate the basic principle. Consider a magnetic pole
structure consisting of four pole faces A, B, C, D as shown in fig. 30.
A1
A A2
D B
C1
C
C2
Figure 30: Pole arrangement
Coils are wound on A & C in the directions shown. The two coils on A & C may be
connected in series in two different ways A2 may be connected to C1 or C2. A1 with the
other terminal at C then form the terminals of the overall combination. Thus two connections
result as shown in fig. 31 (a) & (b).
Now, for a given direction of current flow at terminal A1, say into terminal A1, the flux
directions within the poles are shown in the figures. In case (a), the flux lines are out of the
pole A (seen from the rotor) for and into pole C, thus establishing a two-pole structure. In
case (b) however, the flux lines are out of the poles in A & C. The flux lines will be then have
to complete the circuit by flowing into the pole structures on the sides. If, when seen from
the rotor, the pole emanating flux lines is considered as north pole and the pole into which
35

i i
T1 T1
A A
D B D B
T2
C T2 C
(a) (b)
A1
i A2
A
T1
T2
C1
C
C2
(c)
Figure 31: Pole Changing: Various connections
they enter is termed as south, then the pole configurations produced by these connections is
a two-pole arrangement in fig. 31(a) and a four-pole arrangement in fig. 31(b).
Thus by changing the terminal connections we get either a two pole air-gap field or a four-
pole field. In an induction machine this would correspond to a synchronous speed reduction
in half from case (a) to case (b). Further note that irrespective of the connection, the applied
voltage is balanced by the series addition of induced emfs in two coils. Therefore the air-gap
flux in both cases is the same. Cases (a) and (b) therefore form a pair of constant torque
connections.
Consider, on the other hand a connection as shown in the fig. 31(c). The terminals T1
and T2 are where the input excitation is given. Note that current direction in the coils now
resembles that of case (b), and hence this would result in a four-pole structure. However,
in fig. 31(c), there is only one coil induced emf to balance the applied voltage. Therefore
flux in case (c) would therefore be halved compared to that of case (b) (or case (a), for that
36

matter). Cases (a) and (c) therefore form a pair of constant horse-power connections.
It is important to note that in generating a different pole numbers, the current through
one coil (out of two, coil C in this case) is reversed. In the case of a three phase machine,
the following example serves to explain this. Let the machine have coils connected as shown
[C1 C6 ] as shown in fig. 32.
T1
C1 C2
Ta Tb
C3 C5
T1
T2
C4
C6
Tc
Figure 32: Pole change example: three phase
The current directions shown in C1 & C2 correspond to the case where T1 , T2 , T3 are
supplied with three phase excitation and Ta , Tb & Tc are shorted to each other (STAR
point). The applied voltage must be balanced by induced emf in one coil only (C1 & C2 are
parallel). If however the excitation is given to Ta , Tb & Tc with T1 , T2 , T3 open, then current
through one of the coils (C1 & C2 ) would reverse. Thus the effective number of poles would
increase, thereby bringing down the speed. The other coils also face similar conditions.
37

8.5 Stator frequency control
The expression for the synchronous speed indicates that by changing the stator frequency also
it can be changed. This can be achieved by using power electronic circuits called inverters
which convert dc to ac of desired frequency. Depending on the type of control scheme of the
inverter, the ac generated may be variable-frequency-fixed-amplitude or variable-frequency-
variable-amplitude type. Power electronic control achieves smooth variation of voltage and
frequency of the ac output. This when fed to the machine is capable of running at a controlled
speed. However, consider the equation for the induced emf in the induction machine.
V = 4.44Nm f (23)
where N is the number of the turns per phase, m is the peak flux in the air gap and f is
the frequency. Note that in order to reduce the speed, frequency has to be reduced. If the
frequency is reduced while the voltage is kept constant, thereby requiring the amplitude of
induced emf to remain the same, flux has to increase. This is not advisable since the machine
likely to enter deep saturation. If this is to be avoided, then flux level must be maintained
constant which implies that voltage must be reduced along with frequency. The ratio is held
constant in order to maintain the flux level for maximum torque capability.
Actually, it is the voltage across the magnetizing branch of the exact equivalent circuit
that must be maintained constant, for it is that which determines the induced emf. Under
conditions where the stator voltage drop is negligible compared the applied voltage, eqn. 23
is valid.
In this mode of operation, the voltage across the magnetizing inductance in the exact
equivalent circuit reduces in amplitude with reduction in frequency and so does the inductive
reactance. This implies that the current through the inductance and the flux in the machine
remains constant. The speed torque characteristics at any frequency may be estimated as
before. There is one curve for every excitation frequency considered corresponding to every
value of synchronous speed. The curves are shown below. It may be seen that the maximum
torque remains constant.
This may be seen mathematically as follows. If E is the voltage across the magnetizing
branch and f is the frequency of excitation, then E = kf , where k is the constant of
proportionality. If = 2f , the developed torque is given by

k2 f 2 Rr
TE/f = 2 (24)
Rr s
s
+ (Llr )2
38

E/f constant
90
80
70
60 60 Hz
54 Hz
Torque, Nm
50
48 Hz
40
30 Hz
30
15 Hz
20
10
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
speed, rpm
Figure 33: Torque-speed curves with E/f held constant
If this equation is differentiated with repsect to s and equated to zero to find the slip at

maximum torque s, we get s = Rr /(Llr ). The maximum torque is obtained by substitut-
ing this value into eqn. 24.
k2
TE/f = (25)
8 2 Llr
Equation 25 shows that this maximum value is indepedent of the frequency. Further s
is independent of frequency. This means that the maximum torque always occurs at a speed
lower than synchronous speed by a fixed difference, independent of frequency. The overall
effect is an apparent shift of the torque-speed characteristic as shown in fig. 33.
Though this is the aim, E is an internal voltage which is not accessible. It is only the
terminal voltage V which we have access to and can control. For a fixed V , E changes with
operating slip (rotor branch impedance changes) and further due to the stator impedance
drop. Thus if we approximate E/f as V /f , the resulting torque-speed characteristic shown
in fig. 34 is far from desirable.
At low frequencies and hence low voltages the curves show a considerable reduction in
peak torque. At low frequencies ( and hence at low voltages) the drop across the stator
impedance prevents sufficient voltage availability. Therefore, in order to maintain sufficient
torque at low frequencies, a voltage more than proportional needs to be given at low speeds.
39

v/f constant
80
70
60
50
Torque, Nm
48 Hz 54 Hz
40
30
20 30 Hz
15 Hz
60 Hz
10
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
speed, rpm
Figure 34: Torque-speed curves with V /f constant
Another component of compensation that needs to be given is due to operating slip. With
these two components, therefore, the ratio of applied voltage to frequency is not a constant
but is a curve such as that shown in fig. 35
With this kind of control, it is possible to get a good starting torque and steady state
performance. However, under dynamic conditions, this control is insufficient. Advanced
control techniques such as field- oriented control (vector control) or direct torque control
(DTC) are necessary.
40

0.9
0.8
0.7
voltage boost
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
fraction of rated speed
Figure 35: Voltage boost required for V /f control
41

9 Harmonics in Induction Machines

In attempting to understand the performance of an induction machine, we consider that the
air-gap flux wave is purely sinusoidal. It is from that assumption the analysis of induced emf,
sinusoidal currents, the expressions for generated torque etc. proceed. In practice, there are
deviations from this idealistic picture.
9.1 Time Harmonics
The first non-ideality is the presence of harmonics in the input supply given to the three
phase machine. The source may contain 3rd , 5th , 7th . . . harmonics. Note that due to the
symmetry of the waveform (f (t) = f (t + T /2), where T is the period of the supply sine
waveform, even ordered harmonics cannot exist. Let the R phase supply voltage be given by
the expression
vR = V1m sin(1 t + 1 ) + V3m sin(31 t + 3 )
+V5m sin(51 t + 5 ) + V7m sin(71 t + 7 ) + (25)
Being a balanced three phase supply, we know that the waveforms of vY and vB are 120
and 240 shifted from vR respectively. It is further well known that if a waveform is shifted
by degrees, its harmonics are shifted by n degrees, where n is the order of the harmonic.
Thus the expressions for vY and vB would be
2 2
vY = V1m sin(1 t + 1 ) + V3m sin(31 t + 3 3. )
3 3
2 2
+V5m sin(51 t + 5 5. ) + V7m sin(71t + 7 7. ) + (26)
3 3
4 4
vB = V1m sin(1 t + 1 ) + V3m sin(31 t + 3 3. )
3 3
4 4
V5m sin(51 t + 5 5. ) + V7m sin(71 t + 7 7. ) + (27)
3 3
If we consider the third harmonic components of the three phase waveforms, and if vx3 (t)
is the third harmonic of phase x, we can see that
vR3 = V3m sin(31 t + 3 )

vY 3 = V3m sin(31 t + 3 )
vB3 = V3m sin(31 t + 3 ) (28)
42

Therefore, all the three third harmonics are in phase. In a STAR connected system with
isolated neutral, these voltages cannot cause any current flow since all three terminals are
equal in potential. If the neutral point is connected to some point, then then current can flow
through the neutral connection. Such a connection is however rare in induction machines.
The machine is therefore an open circuit to third harmonics. In fact, one can see that any
harmonic whose order is a multiple of three, i.e., the triplen harmonics, as they are called,
will face an identical situation. Since the machine is an open circuit to triplen harmonics in
the excitation voltage, these do not have effect on the machine.
Let us now consider the fifth harmonic. From the equations above, one can see that
vRS = V5m sin(51 t + 5 )

2
vY S = V5m sin(51 t + 5 5. )
3
4
= V5m sin(51 t + 5 )
3
4
vBS = V5m sin(51 t + 5 5. )
3
2
= V5m sin(51 t + 5 ) (29)
3
From eqns. 29 we see that the fifth harmonic of the excitation forms a negative sequence
system B phase lags R by 120 and Y phase lags R by 120.
The MMF caused by a negative sequence excitation causes backward revolving flux pat-
tern (compared to the direction of the fundamental). The torque which it generates will act
as an opposing torque to that generated by the fundamental.
Looking at the seventh harmonic, we can see that
vR7 = V7m sin(71 t + 7 )

2
vY 7 = V7m sin(71 t + 7 7. )
3
2
= V7m sin(71 t + 7 )
3
4
vB7 = V7m sin(71 t + 7 7. )
3
4
= V7m sin(71 t + 7 ) (30)
3
43

From eqns. 30, it is evident that the seventh harmonic components of the excitation form
a positive sequence system. The torque produced by these currents will therefore be additive
with respect to the fundamental components torque.
The actual effect of these harmonics on the induction machine would depend on the reac-
tance of the machine since at high frequencies, it is the reactance component that dominates
the inductance. Excitation voltage waveforms with considerable harmonic content may re-
sult when induction machines are controlled through inverters. Apart from the effects on
torque, these harmonics cause considerable heating in the machine and are hence a cause for
concern. These harmonics are called time harmonics since they are generated by a source
that varies non-sinusoidally in time.
9.2 Space Harmonics
Apart from this, there is another kind of harmonic generated in machines called space har-
monic. To understand that this behaviour, it is necessary to consider MMF/flux production
in the machine. It may not be out of place to recall once again that in all our foregoing
analysis we have assumed that both air-gap mmf and flux are sinusoidally distributed in
space.
Let us consider a single full-pitched coil excited by a sinusoidal voltage. The current
flowing through it is sinusoidal and hence the time variation of the mmf produced by it is
sinusoidal. But if we travel around the span of the coil, the MMF variation that we would
encounter is square. It is the amplitude of this square wave that varies sinusoidally in time.
The behaviour is depicted diagrammatically in fig. 36.
Let one more coil be connected in series to this, which is spatially displaced by the slot
angle. This is shown in fig. 37. The same current passes through both and hence the mmf
pattern generated by both would vary in tandem. However, they will be displaced by a
slot angle as far as spatial distribution is concerned. The resulting situation is also shown
in fig. 37 at a particular time instant. It can be seen that the resultant mmf waveform a
non-sinusoidal function of the space angle . The harmonics are functions of the space angle.
These are called space harmonics. Let us consider the effects of these.
Let the net flux waveform as a function of angle at an instant of time when unit current
flows in the coils be described by f (). Clearly f () is a periodic function of with a period
equal to 2. Therefore one may express this as a fourier series. If fA () is the distribution
function for phase A,
fA () = A1 sin( + 1 ) + A3 sin(3 + 3 ) + A5 sin(5 + 5 ) + (31)
44

1.5
0.5
current, A
MMF
0
90o 180o 270o 360o
0.5
1.5
0 0.0025 0.005 0.01 0.0125 0.015 0.0175 0.02
time, s
(a) (b)
=90

=0
(c)
Figure 36: Coil MMF with sinusoidal excitation
The distribution functions for phases B & C will be displaced from that of A phase by
120 and 240 respectively and hence are given by
2 4
fB () = A1 sin( + 1 ) + A3 sin(3 + 3 ) + A5 sin(5 + 5 ) + (32)
3 3
4 2
fC () = A1 sin( + 1 ) + A3 sin(3 + 3 ) + A5 sin(5 + 5 ) + (33)
3 3
Note that we have written these at a given instant of time when unit current flows. We
know that this current variation is sinusoidal in time. Considering the fifth harmonic, let
the resultant fifth harmonic variation is given by,
f5 (t, ) = A5m sin t sin(5 + 5 ) +

2 4
A5m sin(t ) sin(5 + 5 +
3 3
4 2
A5m sin(t ) sin(5 + 5 )+ (34)
3 3
45

Figure 37: MMF in a distributed winding in two slots
Upon simplification, we get

3
f5 (t, ) = A5m cos(t + 5) (35)
2
Consider the behaviour of this function. At t=0, the function a value of 32 A5m at
=0. Now let t = 3 . At this instant, we find that the function reaches a value 32 A5m at

= 35 . In other words the function f5 (t, ) has shifted by an angle which is a fifth of the
value of t, in the negative direction. The fifth harmonic therefore rotates opposite to the
direction of the fundamental at a speed which is one-fifth of the fundamental.
Similarly, if we consider the seventh harmonic, it can be shown that the resultant distri-
bution is
3
f7 (t, ) = A7m cos(t 7) (36)
2
By similar arguments as above we conclude that the seventh space harmonic rotates in the
same direction as that of the fundamental at one seventh the speed. In general , we may have
harmonics of the order h = 6n1, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Harmonics
orders generated by the addition operation move in the same direction as the fundamental
and those generated by the subtraction operation move in the opposite direction. The speed
of rotation is 1 /h, where 1 , is the synchronous speed of the fundamental.
46

The space harmonics, it may be noticed are a result of non-sinusoidal distribution of the
coils in the machine and slotting. These have their effects on the speed torque current of
the machine. An example speed-torque characteristic of an induction machine is compared
with its ideal characteristic in fig. 38. The effect of 5th , 7th , 11th and 13th harmonics have
been considered. It can be seen that these harmonics result in kinks in the speed-torque
characteristic near starting region.
80
without harmonic
60 11th with harmonic
40 5th
20
Torque, Nm
20 7 th
13th
40
60
80
100
120
2000 1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000
speed, rpm
Figure 38: Ideal and actual speed-torque curves
To understand the effect of these kinks, consider fig. 39, which shows the same speed
torque characteristic in the motoring region. A load characteristic is also shown, which
intersects the machine characteristic at various points. Note that point 1 is stable and hence
the machine would have a tendency to operate there, though the intended operating point
might be point 5. This tendency is referred to as crawling. A momentary reduction in load
torque conditions might accelerate the machine to print 2, which is unstable. The operating
point would then settle down at 3. The intended operating point may be reached if favourable
torque variations are there.
47

80
line 1
70
60
50 5
Torque, Nm
40
30
20
3
1 2 4
10
10
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
speed, rpm
Figure 39: Effect of harmonics on loaded machine
48

Synchronous Machines
1 Introduction
With the development of the technology and the way in which human labour is get-
ting minimized and the comforts increasing tremendously the use of electrical energy is ever
increasing. Basically electric power is the main source of energy for carrying out many func-
tions, as it is a clean and efficient energy source, which can be easily transmitted over long
distances. With the availability of Transformer for changing the voltage levels to a very high
value (of say 132kV to 400kV) the use of AC power has increased rapidly and the DC power
is used only at remote places where AC power cannot be supplied through power lines or
cables or for a few social purposes.
A synchronous generator is an electrical machine producing alternating emf (Elec-

tromotive force or voltage) of constant frequency. In our country the standard commercial
frequency of AC supply is 50 Hz. In U.S.A. and a few other countries the frequency is 60
Hz. The AC voltages generated may be single phase or 3-phase depending on the power
supplied. For low power applications single phase generators are preferable. The basic prin-
ciples involved in the production of emf and the constructional details of the generators are
discussed below.
1.1 Generation of emf
In 1831 Faraday discovered that an emf can be induced (or generated) due to relative
motion between a magnetic field and a conductor of electricity. This voltage was termed
as the induced emf since the emf is produced only due to motion between the conductor
and the magnetic field without actual physical contact between them. The principle of
electromagnetic induction is best understood by referring to Fig. 1. The magnetic field is
produced by the two fixed poles one being the north pole from which the magnetic flux
lines emerge and enter into the other pole known as the south pole. It was found that the
magnitude of the voltage induced in the conductor is proportional to the rate of change of
flux lines linking the conductor.
Mathematically it is given as
d
e= volts (1)
dt t

Force on conductor
l producing V
- Conductor
B
Induced N
EMF e
+
Figure 1: Conductor of length l moving through a magnetic field B generate an EMF

where
= flux in Webers
t = time in seconds
e = average induced emf in volts.
The above Eqn. 1 holds good only when the magnetic circuit is physically the same at
the end as at the beginning and also during the period of change of flux linkages as well. In
practical rotating machinery, however the change of flux linking each individual conductor
during rotation (of either the conductors or the poles) is not clearly defined or cannot be
easily measured. It is therefore more convenient to express this rate of change of flux in terms
of an average flux density (assumed constant) and the relative velocity between this field
and a single conductor moving through it. For the conductor of active length l moving with
a velocity of v in a magnetic field of flux density B, as shown in Fig. 1, the instantaneous
induced emf is expressed as,
e = Blv V olts (2)
where
B= flux density in Tesla (Wb/m2 )
l = active conductor length (m)
v = relative linear velocity between the conductor and the field (m/s).
This animation would help to understand the concept for a coil rotating in a magnetic field.
Thus the instantaneous voltage e and the average value E of the induced emf are
e = Emsint = Emsin
e
Em
= t 2
Figure 2: Sinusoidal voltage waveform

the same if the flux density B and the relative velocity v are both uniform and constant. In
an alternator we want the instantaneous emf to be varying in a sinusoidal manner as shown
in Fig. 2. Hence we should have a field system which will produce a sinusoidal distribution
of flux density in the plane perpendicular to the plane of motion of the conductor.Then,
e = Em sin t = Em sin (3)
We have assumed that the conductor is moved in a direction perpendicular to the

V
B
V V
B
V V V V
V
S N N
V V
V
(a) Conductor moving at right angles (b) Conductor moving parallel to mag-
to magnetic field netic field
B B
V VVVV V V

S N S 1800- N
(c) Conductor moving at any angle (d) Conductor moving at any angle
across magnetic field across magnetic field
Figure 3: Effect of change of flux linkages on induced EMF in a conductor
magnetic field as shown in Fig. 1. Eqn. 1 or Eqn. 2 are valid only for this mutually orthogonal
condition for B and v. The other possible cases of motion of conductor with respect to B
are shown in Fig.3 in addition to the mutually orthogonal condition of Fig. 1. When the
conductor moves parallel to B, the induced emf will be zero because the rate of change of
flux linkage is zero as the conductor does not link any new flux line/lines. To account for this
condition of operation, Eqn. 2 must be multiplied by some factor, that takes into account
the direction of motion of conductor so as to make e zero for this condition of operation
although B, l and v are finite quantities. Intuitively we may infer that this factor must be
a sine function as it has a zero value at 0 and also at 180 and a maximum value at 90 .

Indeed the emf equation for the general case of a conductor moving in any direction with
respect to the field as shown in Fig. 3 is given by
e = Blv sin (4)
where is the angle formed between B and v always taking B as the reference. All other
quantities are the same as in Eqn. 2.
1.2 Direction of induced e.m.f
Motion
S
Field
Induced EMF
(a) Right-hand rule
Motion
B
V V V V
S Induced EMF N
V
(b) orthogonal relations
Figure 4: Flemings right hand rule for direction of induced EMF

The direction of the induced emf is given by Flemings Right Hand Rule which
states: If the thuMb, First finger and the seCond finger of the right hand are stretched out
and held in three mutually perpendicular directions such that the First finger is held pointing
in the direction of the magnetic field and the thuMb pointing in the direction of motion,
then the seCond finger will be pointing in the direction of the induced emf such that the
current flows in that direction. As shown in Fig. 4 the induced emf is in a direction so as to
circulate current in the direction shown by the middle finger. Schematically we indicate the
direction of the emf by a dot as shown in Fig. 5(a) to represent an emf so as to send current
in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper and out of it. A cross will indicate the
emf of opposite polarity, see Fig. 5(b). Although the Right Hand Rule assumes the magnetic
filed to be stationary, we can also apply this rule to the case of a stationary conductor and
moving magnetic field, by assuming that the conductor is moving in the opposite direction.
For example, as shown in Fig. 4 the direction of the induced emf will be the same if the poles
producing the field had been moved upwards.
1.3 Electromagnetic Force
The motion of the conductor in a magnetic field can be imparted by the applica-
tion of an external mechanical force to the conductor. In such a case the mechanical work
done in moving the conductor is converted to an electric energy in agreement with the law
of conservation of energy. The electric energy is not produced by the magnetic field since
the field is not changed or destroyed in the process. The name electro mechanical energy
conversion is given to the process of converting energy from mechanical form obtained from
a prime mover, such as an IC engine, water/steam turbine etc, into electric energy.
The emf induced in the conductor will circulate a current through it if a closed circuit
is formed by an external connection. The direction of the current flowing in the conductor
will be such as to oppose the cause of it as stated by Lenzs Law. A current carrying
conductor located in a magnetic field will experience a force given by Biot-savarts law:
f = Bli (5)
In other words, whenever a change in flux linkages occur, an emf is induced that
tends to set up a current in such a direction as to produce a magnetic flux that opposes the
cause of it. Thus if a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field as shown in
Fig. 5 the current tends to produce a magnetic field in the direction shown by the dotted
circles.

Generator
Direction
of force
Motor
(a)Current, coming out of the plane of paper
Motor
Direction
of force
Generator
(b)Current entering the plane of paper
Figure 5: Force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field

The direction of the flux lines around the current carrying conductor can be easily
determined by Corkscrew Rule - which states that the flux lines will be in the same direction
as the rotation of a right threaded screw so as to advance in the direction of flow of current.
As a result the magnetic field, for the case shown in Fig. 5(a), is strengthened at the top and
weakened at the bottom of the conductor, thereby setting up a force to move the conductor
downwards. For the case of a Generator, the conductor must be moved up against this
counter force or the opposing force. Similarly the current is to be supplied to the conductor
against the emf generated (known as the counter emf or back emf) in the conductor as it
moves due to the motor action. Thus, the same machine can be operated as a generator
or a motor, depending on whether we supply mechanical power or electrical power to it,
respectively.
1.4 Elementary AC. Generators
Fiel
dw
in d
in g
V
Rotor
V
-a
a N -t
ur
V
arm n
at
w in u re
din
g
V
S tator
V
Flux paths
Figure 6: Elementary synchronous generator
The generators shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 and discussed in the earlier sections
are clearly impractical for a number of reasons. The main reason is that such generators
require a prime mover that imparts linear or reciprocating motion to the conductor. Most
of the commercial prime movers provide rotary motion in the commercial generators. The
conductors of most commercial generators are rotated about a central axis of a shaft. The
conductors are housed in slots cut in a cylindrical structure (made of magnetic material)

known as the armature. The armature is supported at both ends by means of bearings
attached to the shaft that goes through the center of the armature. The armature is rotated
inside the field structure by providing a small gap between these two members. This gap is
known as the air gap and is usually of the order of 1 to 1.5 cms. If the air gap is maintained
constant throughout the spread of the pole arc, we have a fairly constant flux density under
it in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the conductors motion. i.e. in a radial direction
with respect to the field and armature structure. Since the emf is also proportional to B,
the flux density in the air gap of AC generators is arranged to be distributed as closely to
a sine wave as possible by suitable shaping (chamfering as it is technically known) of the
pole shoe. Since the relative motion between the conductors and the magnetic flux lines is
responsible for the production of emf, it is immaterial whether the conductors are rotated
or the magnetic flux producing poles are rotated. In most of the alternators it is the field
that is rotated rather than the conductors. In an alternator the external connection to the
load can be taken directly from the conductors since there is no need for any rectification
as in a DC generator. In a DC generator the rectification of the emf is achieved through a
mechanical rectifier- the commutator and brush arrangement. Moreover the load current
supplied by the alternator can be easily supplied from stationary coils without any difficulty
as there will be no sparking and wear and tear of the brushes and slip rings. Where as the
low values of D.C excitation current to the field coils can be easily sent through the slip
rings and brush arrangement. Thus the usual arrangement in an elementary synchronous
generator is as shown in Fig. 6. The conductors are housed in slots cut in the armature
structure. Only a single coil of N turns, indicated in its cross-section by the two coil sides
a and -a placed in diametrically opposite slots on the inner periphery of the stator (i.e. the
armature, as it is a stationary member here) is shown in Fig. 6.
The conductors forming these coil sides are parallel to the shaft of the machine and
are connected in series by end connections (not shown in the figure ). The coils are actually
formed by taking a continuous copper wire of suitable cross section round a diamond shaped
bobbin. The completed coil is shown in Fig. 7. The copper wire is usually of fine linen
covered, cotton covered or enamel covered so as to have sufficient insulation between the
conductors of the same coil. The actual layout and interconnection of various coils so as to
obtain the required voltage from the synchronous machine (alternator) is presented in the
following section.

(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 7: The completed coil
10

2 Synchronous Machine Armature Windings
2.1 Winding Types
b b
_ + _
+
SB
S N S N
V
+ _ + _ FB
FA FC
SB
SB SC SA FB FC FA SA SC
(a) (b)
Figure 8: Concentrated three-phase,half-coil wave winding with one slot per phase(one coil
side per slot and instantaneous polarity and phase relation of coils)
A three phase winding, in extremely simplified form, is shown in Fig. 8. The

start and finish of all the coils in phase A are designated, respectively, as SA and FA . Phase
A is shown as a solid line in the figure, phase B as a dashed line, and phase C as a dotted
line. Note that each winding does not start and finish under the same pole. Further, note
that the two coil sides of a given coil lie in identical magnetic conditions of opposite polarity.
This implies that when seen from the coil terminals, the emfs produced in the two coil sides
add up. If we assume that the poles on the rotor are moving to the left as shown, then
the relative motion of the armature conductors is to the right. This implies that identical
magnetic conditions will be seen by conductors of phase A, followed by phase C, followed by
phase B. The induced emfs in phases A,C and B may be said to produce a phase sequence of
ACBACBA.The time interval between two phases to achieve identical magnetic conditions
would depend on the relative speed of motion, and on the spatial seperation of the phases. In
Fig 8, the phases are so laid out that each phase is seperated from another by 120 electrical
degrees (360 being defined by the distance to achieve identical magnetic conditions).
11

As the distance between two adjacent corresponding points on the poles is 180 elec-
trical degrees, we can see that the distance between the coil side at the start of A and that
at the start of C must be 120 electrical degrees. Thus, the leading pole tip of a unit north
pole moving to the left in Fig. 8 will induce identical voltages in corresponding coil sides
A, C, and B, respectively, 120 electrical degrees apart. Note that phase B lags phase A by
240 electrical degrees or leads phase A by 120 electrical degrees.Fig. 8(b) is a representation
that is frequently used to depict the windings of the three phases and the phase relationship
between them.
The winding depicted in Fig. 8 is an open winding since both ends of the windings
have been brought out for suitable connections. It is a wave winding since it progresses from
pole to pole. It is a concentrated winding because all the coils of one phase are concentrated
in the same slot under one pole. It is a half-coil winding because there is only one-half of
a coil (one coil side) in each slot. It is a full-pitch winding because the coil sides of one
coil are 180 electrical degrees apart i.e., they lie under identical magnetic conditions, but of
opposite polarity under adjacent poles.
Fig. 9, on the other hand shows the coils of a single phase,(A, in this case) distributed
winding distributed over two slots under each pole.
2.1.1 Half-coil and whole-coil windings
Half-coil (also called single-layer) windings are sometimes used in small induction
motor stators and in the rotors of small wound-rotor induction motors. A cross section
of a half-coil, single-layer winding is shown in Fig. 9(c)(i). Like the dc dynamo armature
windings, most commercial armatures for ac synchronous generators are of the full or whole-
coil two-layer type, shown in cross section at the right in Fig. 9(c)(ii). The whole-coil,
two-layer winding gets its name from the fact that there are two coil sides (one coil) per slot.
Fig. 9(a) shows a single-layer, half-coil lap windings;Fig. 9(b) shows a double-layer, full-coil
lap winding. A cross section of a single layer (half-coil) winding is shown in Fig. 9(c)(i).
2.1.2 Chorded or fractional -pitch windings
Whereas most single-layer windings are full-pitch windings, the two-layer, whole-coil
windings are generally designed on an armature as a chorded or fractional-pitch windings.
This common practice stems from the fact that the primary advantage of the whole-coil
windings is that it permits the use of fractional-pitch coils in order to save copper. As will
12

N S N S
SA FA
(a)
S N S N S
SA FA
(b)
N N
(i) Single layer (ii) Double layer

(c)
Figure 9: Distributed and concentrated half-coil and whole-coil windings

13

be shown later, fractional-pitch windings, when used in ac synchronous and asynchronous

generator armatures, in addition to saving copper, (1) reduce the MMF harmonics pro-
duced by the armature winding and (2) reduce the EMF harmonics induced in the windings,
without reducing the magnitude of the fundamental EMF wave to a great extent. For the
three reasons cited, fractional-pitch windings are almost universally used in ac synchronous
generator armatures.
2.1.3 EMF of Fractional Pitch Windings
Coil side emf E1 E2
Coil em f Ec
Figure 10: Full pitch coil
1

m f
id ee
il s
co
/2 coil emf 2
c
1cos/2 1cos/2
Figure 11: Fractional-pitch coil - Coil EMF in terms of coil side EMFs for fractional-pitch
coil
In the case of an ac generator using a full-pitch coil, such as that shown in

Fig. 8, the two coil sides span a distance exactly equal to the pole pitch of 180 electrical
degrees. As a result, the EMFs induced in a full-pitch coil are such that the coil side EMFs
are in phase, as shown in Fig. 10. The total coil voltage Ec is 2E1 , if E1 is the emf induced
in a coil-side.
In the case of the two-layer winding shown in Fig. 9(b), note that the coil span of
single coil is less than the pole span of 180 electrical degrees. The EMF induced in each coil
side is not in phase, and the resultant coil voltage Ec would be less than the arithmetic sum
14

of the EMF of each coil side, or less than 2E1 . It is obvious that 2E1 must be multiplied by a
factor,kp , that is less than unity, to get the proper value for coil voltage Ec (or Ec = 2E1 kp ).
The pitch factor kp is given by
Ec phasor sum of the EMF of the two coil sides
kp = = (6)
2E1 arithmetic sum of the EMF s of the two coil sides
The pitch factor may be quantified in terms of angles as follows. If we assume that
the induced EMFs of two coils, E1 and E2 , are out of phase with respect to each other by
some angle as shown in Fig. 11, then the angle between E1 and the resultant coil voltage
Ec is 2 .The resultant coil voltage Ec is from Eqn. 6 and Fig. 11.

Ec = 2E1 cos = 2E1 kp . (7)
2
and, therefore,

kp = cos (8)
2
The angle is 1800 minus the number of electrical degrees spanned by the coil, for a short-
pitched coil. For a full pitched coil, therefore, kp = 1 as = 0.
Since is the supplementary of the coil span, the pitch factor kp may also be expressed
as
p0
kp = sin (9)
2
where p0 is the span of the coil in electrical degrees.
It is sometimes convenient to speak of an armature coil span as having a

fractional pitch expressed as a fraction e.g., a 65 pitch, or an 11
12
pitch, etc. This fraction is
infact the ratio of the number of slots spanned by a coil to the number of slots in a full pitch.
In such a case, the electrical degrees spanned, p0 is 65 1800, or 1500 ; or 11
12
1800 or 1650 ;
etc. The pitch factor kp is still computed as in Eqn. 9. Over pitched coils are not normaly
used in practice as there is an increased requirement of copper wire without any additional
advantage.
2.1.4 Relation between Electrical and Mechanical Degrees of Rotation
As stated earlier there are 180 electrical degrees between the centres of two adjacent
north and south poles. Since 360 electrical degrees represents a full cycle of sinusoidal EMF,
15

we are interested in determining how many sinusoidal cycles are generated in one complete
mechanical rotation, i.e., 360 mechanical degrees for a machine having P poles. The number
of electrical degrees as a function of degrees of mechanical rotation is
P
= = p. (10)
2
where P is the number of poles (always an even integer), p is the number of pole-pairs, and
is the number of mechanical degrees of rotation.
Thus, a two-pole machine generates one cycle of sinusoid; a four-pole machine gener-
ates two cycles and so on, in one full revolution of the armature.
2.1.5 Distributed windings and distribution (or Belt) factor
The windings shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9(b) are called concentrated windings because
all the coil sides of a given phase are concentrated in a single slot under a given pole. For
Fig. 8., in determining the induced ac voltage per phase, it would be necessary only to mul-
tiply the voltage induced in any given coil by the number of series-connected coils in each
phase. This is true for the winding shown in Fig. 8 because the conductors of each coil,
respectively, lie in the same position with respect to the N and S poles as other series coils
in the same phase. Since these individual coil voltages are induced in phase with each other,
they may be added arithmetically. In otherwords, the induced emf per phase is the product
of the emf in one coil and the number of series connected coils in that phase.
Concentrated windings in which all conductors of a given phase per pole are concen-
trated in a single slot, are not commercially used because they have the following disadvan-
tages,
1. They fail to use the entire inner periphery of the stator iron efficiently.
2. They make it necessary to use extremely deep slots where the windings are concen-
trated. This causes an increase in the mmf required to setup the airgap flux.
3. The effect of the second disadvantage is to also increase the armature leakage flux and
the armature reactance.
4. They result in low copper-to-iron ratios by not using the armature iron completely.
5. They fail to reduce harmonics as effectively as distributed windings.
16

For the five reasons just given, it is more advantageous to distribute the ar-
mature winding, using more slots and a uniform spacing between slots, than to concentrate
the windings in a few deep slots.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
V
V
AS AF
Figure 12: Lap winding
When the slots are distributed around the armature uniformly, the winding
that is inserted is called a distributed winding. A distributed lap winding is shown in Fig. 12.
Note that two coils in phase belt A are displaced by one slot angle (the angular displacement
between two successive slots) with respect to each other. The induced voltages of each of
these coils will be displaced by the same degree to which the slots have been distributed, and
the total voltage induced in any phase will be the phasor sum of the individual coil voltages.
For an armature winding having four coils distributed over say, 2/3 rd of a pole-pitch, in
four slots, the four individual coil side voltages are represented by phasors in Fig. 13 as
displaced by some angle , the number of electrical degrees between adjacent slots, known
as slot angle. It is 300 for the case of 4 slots per phase belt. Voltages Ec1 , Ec2 , etc., are the
individual coil voltages, and n is the number of coils in a given phase belt, in general.
For a machine using n slots for a phase belt, the belt or distribution factor kd by
which the arithmetic sum of the individual coil voltages must be multiplied in order to yield
the phasor sum is determined by the following method,
E
kd = (11)
nEc
where all terms are previously defined
17

As in the case of Eqn. 12., the computation of kd in terms of voltages (either theo-

D E
C
B
M
A N

O
n
Figure 13: Determination of distribution factor
retical or actual) is impractical. The construction of Fig. 13 in which perpendiculars have

been drawn to the center of each of the individual coil voltage phasors to a common center of
radius r (using dashed lines) serves to indicate that /2 is the angle BOA. Coil side voltage
AB equals OA sin /2, and coil voltage represented by chord AC equals 2OA sin /2. For n
coils in series per phase, chord AN, is also 2OA sin n/2, and the distribution or belt factor
kd is
E 2OA sin(n/2) AN 2AM
kd = = = =
nEc n.2OA(sin(/2)) nEc n AC
2AM 2AM 2OA sin(n/2) sin n/2
= = = =
n 2AB n 2OA sin 2 n.2OA(sin(/2)) n sin /2
where
n is the number of slots per pole per phase (s.p.p)
is the number of electrical degrees between adjacent slots i.e. slot angle
It should be noted from Eqn. 12. that the distribution factor kd for any fixed or given
number of phases is a sole function of the number of distributed slots under a given pole.
As the distribution of coils (slots/pole) increases, the distribution factor kd decreases. It is
not affected by the type of winding, lap or wave, or by the number of turns per coil, etc.
18

2.2 Generated EMF in a Synchronous Generator
It is now possible to derive the computed or expected EMF per phase generated
in a synchronous generator. Let us assume that this generator has an armature winding
consisting of a total number of full pitched concentrated coils C, each coil having a given
number of turns Nc . Then the total number of turns in any given phase of an m-phase
generator armature is
CNc
Np = (12)
m
But Faradays law Sec. ?? states that the average voltage induced in a single turn of
two coil sides is

Eav = (13)
t
The voltage induced in one conductor is 2/(1/s) = 2s, where s=speed of rotation
in r.p.s, for a 2 pole generator. Furthermore, when a coil consisting of Nc turns rotates in a
uniform magnetic field, at a uniform speed, the average voltage induced in an armature coil
is
av = 4N s
E coil c V olts (14)
where is the number of lines of flux (in Webers) per pole, Nc is number of turns per coil, s is
the relative speed in revolutions/second (rps) between the coil of Nc turns and the magnetic
field .
A speed s of 1 rps will produce a frequency f of 1 Hz. Since f is directly proportional

and equivalent to s, (for a 2-pole generator) replacing the latter in Eqn. 14, for all the series
turns in any phase,
E phase
av = 4Np f V olts (15)
However, in the preceding section we discovered that the voltage per phase is made
more completely sinusoidal by intentional distribution of the armature winding. The effective
rms value of a sinusoidal ac voltage is 1.11 times the average value. The effective ac voltage
per phase is
Eef f = 4.44Np f V olts (16)
But Eqn. 16 is still not representative of the effective value of the phase voltage gener-
ated in an armature in which fractional-pitch coils and a distributed winding are employed.
Taking the pitch factor kp and the distribution factor kd into account, we may now write the
equation for the effective value of the voltage generated in each phase of an AC synchronous
generator as
Egp = 4.44Np f kp kd V olts (17)
19

2.3 Frequency of an A.C. Synchronous Generator
Commercial ac synchronous generators have many poles and may rotate at various
speeds, either as alternators or as synchronous or induction motors.Eqn. 13 was derived for
a two-pole device in which the generated EMF in the stationary armature winding changes
direction every half-revolution of the two-pole rotor. One complete revolution will produce
one complete positive and negative pulse each cycle. The frequency in cycles per second
(Hz) will, as stated previously, depend directly on the speed or number of revolutions per
second (rpm/60) of the rotating field.
If the ac synchronous generator has multiple poles (having, say, two, four, six, or
eight poles...), then for a speed of one revolution per second (1 rpm/60), the frequency
per revolution will be one, two, three, or four ..., cycles per revolution, respectively. The
frequency per revolution, is therefore, equal to the number of pairs of poles. Since the
frequency depends directly on the speed (rpm/60) and also on the number of pairs of poles
(P/2), we may combine these into a single equation in which
P rpm PN P m 60 P m e
f= = = = = (18)
2 60 120 120 2 2 2 2
where
P is the number of poles
N is the speed in rpm (rev/min)
f is. the frequency in hertz
m is the speed in radians per second (rad/s)
e is the speed electrical radians per second.
2.4 Constructional Details of Rotor
As stated earlier the field windings are provided in the rotor or the rotating member
of the synchronous machine. Basically there are two general classifications for large 3 phase
synchronous generators cylindrical rotor and salient-pole rotor - .
The cylindrical-rotor construction is peculiar to synchronous generators driven by

steam turbines and which are also known as turbo alternators or turbine generators. Steam
turbines operate at relatively high speeds, 1500 and 3000 rpm being common for 50 Hz,
accounting for the cylindrical-rotor construction, which because of its compactness readily
withstands the centrifugal forces developed in the large sizes at those speeds. In addition,
20

the smoothness of the rotor contour makes for reduced windage losses and for quiet operation.
Salient-pole rotors are used in low-speed synchronous generators such as those driven
by water wheels. They are also used in synchronous motors. Because of their low speeds
salient-pole generators require a large number of poles as, for example, 60 poles for a 100-rpm
50 Hz generator.
Fig. 14 illustrates two and four pole cylindrical rotors along with a developed
view of the field winding for one pair of poles. One pole and its associated field coil of
a salient-pole rotor is shown in fig. 14.The stator slots in which the armature winding is
embedded are not shown for reasons of simplicity. The approximate path taken by the field
flux, not including leakage flux, is indicated by the dashed lines in Fig. 14. The field coils in
Fig. 14 are represented by filaments but actually (except for the insulation between turns and
between the coil sides and the slot) practically fill the slot more nearly in keeping with fig. 15.
The stepped curve in fig. 15. represents the waveform of the mmf produced by the
distributed field winding if the slots are assumed to be completely filled by the copper in the
coil sides instead of containing current filaments. The sinusoid indicated by the dashed line
in fig. 15 represents approximately the fundamental component of the mmf wave.
The air gap in cylindrical-rotor machines is practically of uniform length except for
the slots in the rotor and in the stator, and when the effect of the slots and the tangential
component of H, which is quite small for the low ratio of air-gap length to the arc subtended
by one pole in conventional machines, are neglected, the stepped mmf wave in fig. 15 produces
a flux-density space wave in which the corners of the steps are rounded due to fringing. The
flux density wave form is therefore more nearly sinusoidal than the mmf waveform when the
effect of the slots is neglected. However, saturation of the iron in the region of maximum
mmf tends to flatten the top of the flux-density wave.
2.5 Excitation Systems for Synchronous Machines
A number of arrangements for supplying direct current to the fields of synchronous

machines have come into use. Adjustments in the field current may be automatic or man-
ual depending upon the complexity and the requirements of the power system to which the
generator is connected.
Excitation systems are usually 125 V up to ratings of 50kW with higher voltages for
the larger ratings. The usual source of power is a direct-connected exciter, motor- generator
21

d ax is
v v
v
v V
V
v N
i1 V V
q ax is
v
v
V
f f
v v
V
v
V
S S
V
V
S
V V
V
V
N
(a)
(a) (b)
V
d-axis
V
V
q-axis
V
(c) (d)
Figure 14: Synchronous machines with stator slots and armature windings omitted (a)Two-
pole cylindrical rotor, (b) Four-pole cylindrical rotor, (c) Developed view of two pole cylin-
drical rotor field structure, (d) Salient pole and field coil
22

d axis
mmf wave
fundamental
q axis component
Airgap
Stator iron
Rotor
iron
Figure 15: Cylindrical rotor mmf wave and its fundamental of a synchronous machine
set, rectifier, or battery. A common excitation system in which a conventional dc shunt

generator mounted on the shaft of the synchronous machine furnishes the field excitation
is shown in Fig. 16. The output of the exciter (i.e., the field current of the synchronous
machine) is varied by adjusting the exciter field rheostat. A somewhat more complex sys-
tem that makes use of a pilot exciter- a compound dc generator- also mounted on the
generator shaft, which in turn excites the field of the main exciter, is shown in Fig. 16. This
arrangement makes for greater rapidity of response, a feature that is important in the case
of synchronous generators when there are disturbances on the system to which the generator
is connected. In some installations a separate motor-driven exciter furnishes the excitation.
An induction motor is used instead of a synchronous motor because in a severe system dis-
turbance a synchronous motor may pullout of synchronism with the system. In addition, a
large flywheel is used to carry the exciter through short periods of severely reduced system
voltage.
2.5.1 Brushless Excitation System
The brushless excitation system eliminates the usual commutator, collector rings, and
brushes. One arrangement in which a permanent magnet pilot exciter, an ac main exciter,
and a rotating rectifier are mounted on the same shaft as the field of the ac turbogenerator is
shown in Fig. 17. The permanent magnet pilot excitor has a stationary armature and a ro-
tating permanent magnetic field. It feeds 400 Hz, three-phase power to a regulator, which in
turn supplies regulated dc power to the stationary field of a rotating-armature ac exciter, The
23

Prime mover for generator

Main Synchronousmachine
or
exciter Mechanical load for motor
(a)
Synchronous machine
Exciter-field
rheostat
Rotor
v slip
rings
v
v
v
v
Exciter Three-phase
field armature
Stator
Rotor
Brushes
Exciter(dc generator
(b)
Pilot Synchronous
Main
exciter Prime mover
exciter generator
(c)
Synchronous generator
Pilot exciter Main exciter
v v
Sh.f Ser.f
24
(d)

Figure 16: Conventional excitation systems for synchronous machines
Pilot exciter ac exciter

armature Rectifier
permanent magnet
Rotating field ac
components turbine
generator
field
ac exciter
field ac turbine
Pilot exciter generator stator
armature
Stationary
components
Regulator
Figure 17: Brushless excitation system
output of the ac exciter is rectified by diodes and delivered to the field of the turbo generator.
Brush less excitation systems have been also used extensively in the much smaller
generators employed in aircraft applications where reduced atmospheric pressure intensifies
problems of brush deterioration. Because of their mechanical simplicity, such systems lend
themselves to military and other applications that involve moderate amounts of power.
2.6 The Action of the Synchronous Machine
Just like the DC generator, the behaviour of a Synchronous generator connected to

an external load is not the same as at no-load. In order to understand the action of the
Synchronous machine when it is loaded, let us take a look at the flux distributions in the
machine when the armature also carries a current. Unlike in the DC machine here the current
peak and the emf peak will not occur in the same coil due to the effect of the power factor
(pf) of the load. In other words the current and the induced emf will be at their peaks in the
same coil only for upf loads. For zero power factor (zpf)(lagging) loads, the current reaches
its peak in a coil which falls behind that coil wherein the induced emf is at its peak by
nearly 90 electrical degrees or half a pole-pitch. Likewise for zero power factor (zpf)(leading)
loads, the current reaches its peak in a coil which is ahead of that coil wherein the induced
emf is at its peak by nearly 90 electrical degrees or half a pole-pitch. For simplicity, let us
assume the resistance and leakage reactance of the stator windings to be negligible. Let us
also assume the magnetic circuit to be linear i.e. the flux in the magnetic circuit is deemed
25

to be proportional to the resultant ampere-turns - in other words we assume that there is

no saturation of the magnetic core. Thus the e.m.f. induced is the same as the terminal
voltage, and the phase-angle between current and e.m.f. is determined only by the power
factor (pf) of the external load connected to the synchronous generator.
2.6.1 Armature Reaction
Flux produced by
armature current
Flux
produced Direction
by of rotation
main field
N S
(a)The effect of armature current while supplying a pure resistance load

E
Eo
(b)Phasor diagram
Figure 18: Stretched out synchronous generator
In order to understand more clearly let us consider a sketch of a stretched-out

synchronous machine shown in Fig. 18(a) which shows the development of a fixed stator car-
26

Flux produced by
armature current
Flux
produced
by Direction
main field of rotation
N S
(a)The effect of armature current when the machine operates as a motor at u.p.f
Eo
E
(b)Phasor diagram
Figure 19: Stretched out synchronous motor
27

Flux produced by
armature current
Flux
produced
by
main field
Direction
of rotation
N S N
(a)The effect of armature current when it supplies a zpf(lagging) load
Eo
I
(b)Phasor diagram
28

Flux produced by
armature current
Flux
produced
by
main field
S S Direction
N of rotation
(a)The effect of armature current when it supplies a zpf(leading) load

E
Eo
(b)Phasor diagram
29

rying armature windings, and a rotor carrying field windings and capable of rotation within
it. The directions of the currents and the flux distribution are as shown in Fig. 18(a), when
the emf induced in the stator coils is the maximum. The coil links no resultant flux but is
in the position of greatest rate of change of flux. The coil position shown is also that for
maximum current when the current is in phase with the voltage: i.e for a pure resistive load.
The current in the coil has no effect on the total flux per pole, but causes a strengthening
on one side and a weakening on the other side of the pole shoes. Thus the armature con-
ductors find themselves in the circumstances illustrated in Fig. 19, and a torque is produced
by the interaction of the main flux m with the current in the conductors. The torque thus
produced is seen to be opposed to the direction of motion of the rotor - the force on the
conductors is such as to push them to the left and by reaction to push the rotor to the right
(as the armature coils are stationary). The rotor is rotated by a prime mover against this
reaction, so that the electrical power, the product EI, is produced by virtue of the supply
of a corresponding mechanical power. Thus it is evident from the distortion of the main
flux distribution that electrical energy is converted from mechanical energy and the machine
operates as a generator. An unidirectional torque is maintained as the stator conductors
cut N-Pole and S-Pole fluxes alternately resulting in alternating emfs at a frequency equal
to the number of pole-pairs passed per second and the currents also alternate with the emf.
The assumption that the conditions shown in Fig. 18(a) represent co-phasal emf and current
is not quite true. The strengthening of the resultant flux on the right of the poles and an
equivalent amount of weakening on the left effectively shift the main field flux axis against
the direction of rotation, so that the actual e.m.f. E induced in the armature winding is an
angle behind the position E0 that it would occupy if the flux were undistorted as shown
in the adjacent phasor diagram Fig. 18(b) pertaining to this condition of operation. Thus
the effect of a resistive (unit power factor (upf)) load connected to a synchronous generator
is to shift the main field flux axis due to what is known as cross-magnetization.
The action of a synchronous machine operating as a motor at unit power factor

(upf) is shown in Fig. 19(a). Just like a DC motor, a synchronous motor also requires an
externally-applied voltage V in order to circulate in it a current in opposition to the induced
e.m.f. E. The coil is shown in the position of maximum induced emf and current, but the
current is oppositely directed to that shown in Fig. 18(a). Again the m.m.f. of the coil
does not affect the total flux in the common magnetic circuit, but distorts the distribution
in such a way as to produce a torque in the same direction as the motion. The machine
is a motor by virtue of the electrical input VI causing a torque in the direction of motion.
The flux distortion causes a shift of the flux axis across the poles, so that the actual e.m.f.
E is an angle ahead of the position E0 that it would occupy if the flux were undistorted
as shown in the adjacent phasor diagram Fig. 19(b), pertaining to this condition of operation.
30

Next let us consider this generator to be connected to a purely inductive load so that
the current I in the coils lags behind the e.m.f. E by 90 electrical degrees i.e. corresponding
to a quarter-period, in time scale. Since the coil-position in Fig. 18(a) or Fig. 19(a) represents
that for maximum e.m.f., the poles would have moved through half a pole-pitch before the
current in the coil has reached a maximum as shown in Fig. 20(a). As seen from this figure it
is obvious that the ampere-turns of the stator coils are now in direct opposition to those on
the pole, thereby reducing the total flux and e.m.f. Since the stator and rotor ampere-turns
act in the same direction, there is no flux-distortion, no torque, and hence no additional
mechanical power. This circumstance is in accordance with the fact that there is also no
electrical power output as E and I are in phase quadrature, as shown in Fig. 20(b). The
phasor Eo represents the e,m.f. with no demagnetizing armature current, emphasizing the
reduction in e.m.f. due to the reduced flux.
Likewise, when this generator is connected to a purely capacitive load i.e the current I
in the coil leads the emf E by 90 electrical degrees, the conditions are such that the armature
AT and the field AT will be assisting each other as shown in Fig. 21.
When the generator supplies a load at any other power factor intermediate between
unity and zero, a combination of cross- and direct-magnetization is produced on the magnetic
circuit by the armature current. The cross-magnetization is distorting and torque-producing
as in Fig. 18; the direct-magnetization decreases (for lagging currents) or increases (for lead-
ing currents) the ampere-turns acting on the magnetic circuit as in Fig. 20 and Fig. 21,
affecting the main flux and the e.m.f. accordingly.
For a motor the torque is reversed on account of the current reversal, and the direct-
magnetizing effect is assisting the field ampere-turns for lagging currents. The action of
the armature ampere-turns as described above is called armature-reaction. The effect of
the armature reaction has a far-reaching influence on the performance of the synchronous
motor, particularly as regards the power factor at which it operates and the amount of field
excitation that it requires.
2.6.2 Behaviour of a loaded synchronous generator
The simple working of the synchronous machine can be summed up as follows:

A synchronous machine driven as a generator produces e.m.f.s in its armature windings at
a frequency f = np. These e.m.f.s when applied to normal circuits produce currents of the
same frequency. Depending on the p.f of the load, field distortion is produced, generating
a mechanical torque and demanding an input of mechanical energy to satisfy the electrical
31

output. As the stator currents change direction in the same time as they come from one
magnetic polarity to the next, the torque is unidirectional. The torque of individual phases
is pulsating just like in a single-phase induction machine - but the torque of a three-phase
machine is constant for balanced loads.
For the cylindrical rotor machine the fundamental armature reaction can be more
Ft
C A
po
B B
le
ax
is
Fa
A C
Figure 22: Synchronous generator supplying a lagging pf load
convincingly divided into cross-magnetizing and direct-magnetizing components, since the

uniform air-gap permits sinusoidal m.m.f s to produce more or less sinusoidal fluxes. Fig. 22
shows a machine with two poles and the currents in the three-phase armature winding pro-
duce a reaction field having a sinusoidally-distributed fundamental component and an axis

coincident, for the instant considered, with that of one phase such as A A . The rotor
windings, energized by direct current, give also an approximately sinusoidal rotor m.m.f.
distribution. The machine is shown in operation as a generator supplying a lagging current.
The relation of the armature reaction m.m.f. Fa to the field m.m.f. Ft is shown in Fig. 23.
The Fa sine wave is resolved into the components Faq corresponding to the cross-component
and Fad corresponding to the direct-component, which in this case demagnetizes in accor-
dance with Fig. 20. Fad acts in direct opposition to Ft and reduces the effective m.m.f. acting
round the normal magnetic circuit. Faq shifts the axis of the resultant m.m.f. (and flux)
backward against the direction of rotation of the field system.
32

mmf of
main field Fa
Pole axis
Fad
Faq
Pole axis
mmf of A-A
Figure 23: Sinusoidal distribution of the components of armature reaction in a synchronous

generator
Figure 24: Elementary synchronous motor action - Attraction of the unlike poles keep the
rotor locked to the rotating field produced in the stator
33

2.6.3 Behaviour of a loaded synchronous motor
Likewise when a synchronous machine operates as a motor with a mechanical load

on its shaft, it draws an alternating current which interacts with the main flux to produce a
driving torque. The torque remains unidirectional only if the rotor moves one pole-pitch per
half-cycle; i.e. it can run only at the synchronous speed. In a balanced three-phase machine,
the armature reaction due to the fundamental component of the current is a steady mmf
revolving synchronously with the rotor - its constant cross-component producing a constant
torque by interaction with the main flux, while its direct-component affects the amount of the
main flux. A very simple way of regarding a synchronous motor is illustrated in Fig. 24. The
stator, like that of the induction motor produces a magnetic field rotating at synchronous
speed. The poles on the rotor (salient-pole is shown in Fig. 24 only for clarity), excited by
direct current in their field windings, undergo magnetic attraction by the stator poles, and
are dragged round to align themselves and locked up with with the stator poles (of opposite
polarity- obviously). On no load the axes of the stator and rotor poles are practically coin-
cident. When a retarding torque is applied to the shaft, the rotor tends to fall behind. In
doing so the attraction of the stator on the rotor becomes tangential to an extent sufficient to
develop a counter torque - however the rotor continues to rotate only at synchronous speed.
The angular shift between the stator and rotor magnetic axes represents the torque (or load)
angle (as shown later, in the phasor diagram). This angle naturally increases with the me-
chanical load on the shaft. The maximum possible load is that which retards the rotor so
that the tangential attraction is a maximum. (It will be shown later that the maximum pos-
sible value for the torque angle is 90 electrical degrees - corresponding to a retardation of the
rotor pole by one half of a pole pitch). If the load be increased above this amount, the rotor
poles come under the influence of a like pole and the attraction between the stator and rotor
poles ceases and the rotor comes to a stop. At this point we say that the synchronous motor
pulled out of step. This situation arises much above the rated loads in any practical machine.
It is to be noted that the magnetic field shown in Fig. 24 is only diagrammatic and
for better understanding of the action of the synchronous machine - the flux lines may be
considered as elastic bands which will be stretched by application of the mechanical load
on the shaft. Actually the flux lines will enter or leave the stator and rotor surfaces nearly
normally, on account of the high permeability of these members. In a salient-pole machine
the torque is developed chiefly on the sides of the poles and on the sides of the teeth in a
non-salient-pole machine.
34

2.7 Concept of Synchronous Reactance
The operation of the synchronous machine can be reduced to comparatively simple

expression by the convenient concept of synchronous reactance. The resultant linkage of flux
with any phase of the armature of a synchronous machine is due, as has been seen, to the
combined action of the field and armature currents. For a simple treatment it is convenient
to separate the resultant flux into components: (a) the field flux due to the field current
alone; and (b) the armature flux due to the armature current alone. This separation does
not affect qualitative matters, but its quantitative validity rests on the assumption that the
magnetic circuit has a constant permeability. In brief the simplifying assumptions are:
1. The permeability of all parts of the magnetic circuit of the synchronous machine is
constant - in other words the field and armature fluxes can be treated separately as
proportional to their respective currents so that their effects can be superposed.
2. The air gap is uniform, so that the armature flux is not affected by its position relative
to the poles - in other words we assume the rotor to be cylindrical
3. The distribution of the field flux in the air gap is sinusoidal.
4. The armature winding is uniformly distributed and carries balanced sinusoidal currents.
In other words, the harmonics are neglected so that the armature flux is directly
proportional to the fundamental component of the armature reaction mmf implying
that the armature reaction mmf is distributed sinusoidally and rotates at synchronous
speed with constant magnitude.
Assumption (1) is roughly fulfilled when the machine works at low saturation; (2)
and (3) are obviously inaccurate with salient-pole machines and assumption (4) is com-
monly made and introduces negligible error in most cases. The behaviour of an ideal
synchronous machine can be indicated qualitatively when the above assumptions (1) to (4)
are made.
The phasor diagrams Fig. 25 for the several conditions contain the phasors of two
emfs viz. Eo and E . The latter is the e.m.f actually existing, while the former is that which
would be induced under no-load conditions, i.e. with no armature current (or armature
reaction).
35

Thus Eo is the e.m.f. corresponding to the flux produced by the field winding only,
while E is that actually produced by the resultant flux due to the combined effect of stator
and rotor ampere-turns. The actual e.m.f. E can be considered as Eo plus a fictitious e.m.f.
proportional to the armature current.
Fig. 25 is drawn in this manner with Er such that the following phasor rela-
tionship is satisfied:
E = Eo + Er (19)
It can be seen from Fig. 25, that Er , is always in phase-quadrature with armature current
and proportional to it (as per the four assumptions (1) to (4) above). The emf Er is thus
similar to an emf induced in an inductive reactance, so that the effect of armature reaction
is exactly the same as if the armature windings had a reactance xa = Er /Ia . This fictitious
reactance xa can added to the armature leakage reactance xl and the combined reactance
( xa +xl ) is known as the synchronous reactance xs . The armature winding apart from these
reactance effects, presents a resistive behaviour also. Synchronous impedance is a tern used
to denote the net impedance presented by each phase of the alternator winding, consisting
of both resistive and reactive components. The behavior of a synchronous machine can be
easily predicted from the equivalent circuit developed using this synchronous reactance xs ,
as explained in the following section.
2.8 Approximation of the Saturated Synchronous Reactance
Economical size requires the magnetic circuit to be somewhat saturated under normal
operating conditions. However, the machine is unsaturated in the short-circuit test, and
the synchronous reactance based on short-circuits and open-circuit test data is only an
approximation at best. Nevertheless, there are many studies in which a value based on
rated open-circuit voltage and the short circuit current suffices. Hence, in Fig. 29, if oc is
rated voltage, ob is the required no-load field current, which also produces the armature
current o e on short circuit. The synchronous impedance assuming the armature winding is
star-connected is, accordingly,
oc
Zs = (20)
3 o e
Except in very small machines, the synchronous reactance is much greater than the
resistance (ra ) of the armature and the saturated value as well as the unsaturated value of the
synchronous reactance and therefore is considered equal to the magnitude of the synchronous
impedance
1
Xd = (Zs2 ra2 ) 2 Zs (21)
36

Er
E Eo
Er
Eo E
I Er
Er
V
(a)Generator (b)Motor unity power factor
Eo Er Er E
E Eo
I Er
Eo
I
Er
(c) Generator (d)Generator zero power factor
Figure 25: Phasor diagrams for different operating conditions
37

The line of in Fig. 29 is more nearly representative of the saturated machine than is
the air-gap line. On the basis of this line, an estimate of the field current can be obtained
for a given terminal voltage, load current, and power factor. This is done by calculating Eaf
and making use of the saturated synchronous reactance as follows.
Eaf = V + Zs I (22)
The field current is that required to produce Eaf on the line of.
2.8.1 Open-circuit and Short-circuit Tests
The effect of saturation on the performance of synchronous machines is taken into

account by means of the magnetization curve and other data obtained by tests on an exist-
ing machine. Only some basic test methods are considered. The unsaturated synchronous
impedance and approximate value of the saturated synchronous impedance can be obtained
form the open-circuit and short-circuit tests.
In the case of a constant voltage source having constant impedance, the impedance
can be found by dividing the open-circuit terminal voltage by the short circuit current.
However, when the impedance is a function of the open-circuit voltage, as it is when the
machine is saturated, the open-circuit characteristic or magnetization curve in addition to
the short-circuit characteristic is required.
Zs Zs
+ + +
Eaf ~ ~ Isc
Eoc=Eaf Eaf
Figure 26: Synchronous generator(a) Open circuit (b) Short circuit
The unsaturated synchronous reactance is constant because the reluctance
38

of the unsaturated iron is negligible. The equivalent circuit of one phase of a polyphase
synchronous machine is shown in Fig. 26 for the open-circuit condition and for the short
circuit condition. Now Eaf is the same in both cases when the impedance Zs . Where Eaf is
the open-circuit volts per phase and Isc is the short-circuit current per phase.
2.8.2 Open-circuit Characteristic
Per unit field current

1.0
Per unit field current

OCC 1.0
Per unit open-circuit voltage

Air- gap line
Open-circuit voltage,line to line
1.0 1.0
Short-circuit current.A
Per unit short-circuit current

Rated voltage
Field current A
Field current,A (b)
(a) (b)
Figure 27: (a) Open circuit characteristic and (b) Short-circuit characteristic
To obtain the open-circuit characteristic the machine is driven at its rated

speed without load. Readings of line-to-line voltage are taken for various values of field
current. The voltage except in very low-voltage machines is stepped down by means of
instrument potential transformers. Fig. 27 shows the open-circuit characteristic or no-load
saturation curve. Two sets of scales are shown; one, line to-line volts versus field current
in amperes and the other per-unit open-circuit voltage versus per-unit field current. If it
were not for the magnetic saturation of the iron, the open-circuit characteristic would be
linear as represented by the air-gap line in Fig. 27. It is important to note that 1.0 per unit
field current corresponds to the value of the field current that would produce rated voltage
39

if there were no saturation. On the basis of this convention, the per-unit representation is
such as to make the air-gap lines of all synchronous machines identical.
2.8.3 Short circuit Test
Ia
dc source Ib
If Ic
(a)Field circuit (b)Armature circuit
Figure 28: Connections for short-circuit test
The three terminals of the armature are short -circuited each through a current-
measuring circuit, which except for small machines is an instrument current transformer with
an ammeter in its secondary. A diagram of connections in which the current transformers
are omitted is shown in Fig. 28.
The machine is driven at approximately synchronous (rated) speed and measure-
ments of armature short-circuit current are made for various values of field current, usually
up to and somewhat above rated armature current. The short-circuit characteristic (i.e.
armature short circuit current versus field current) is shown in Fig. 27. In conventional
synchronous machines the short-circuit characteristic is practically linear because the iron
is unsaturated up to rated armature current and somewhat beyond, because the magnetic
axes of the armature and the field practically coincide (if the armature had zero resistance
the magnetic axes would be in exact alignment), and the field and armature mmfs oppose
each other.
2.8.4 Unsaturated Synchronous Impedance
The open circuit and short-circuit characteristics are represented on the same graph
in Fig. 29. The field current oa produces a line-to line voltage oc on the air- gap line, which
40

Figure 29: Open-circuit and short circuit characteristic
41

would be the open-circuit voltage if there were no saturation. The same value of field current
produces the armature current od and the unsaturated synchronous reactance is given by:
oc
Xd = phase, for a star connected armature (23)
3 o d
When the open-circuit characteristic, air-gap line, and the short-circuit characteristic
are plotted in per-unit, then the per unit value of unsaturated synchronous reactance equals
the per-unit voltage on the air-gap line which results from the same value of field current
as that which produces rated short-circuit (one-per unit) armature current. In Fig. 29 this
would be the per-unit value on the air gap line corresponding to the field current og.
42

3 Synchronous Generator Operation
3.1 Cylindrical Rotor Machine
Ixa
xa xl ra Ixl
I Et E
Ira
V
V Load A
Et E
I

(a) (b)phasor diagram for R load
xs ra I Et
IZs IXs
Zs V
Et V Load
(c) (d)phasor diagram for R-L load
Figure 30: Equivalent circuits
The synchronous generator, under the assumption of constant synchronous

reactance, may be considered as representable by an equivalent circuit comprising an ideal
winding in which an e.m.f. Et proportional to the field excitation is developed, the winding
being connected to the terminals of the machine through a resistance ra and reactance
43

(Xl + Xa ) = Xs all per phase. This is shown in Fig. 30. The principal characteristics of the
synchronous generator will be obtained qualitatively from this circuit.
3.1.1 Generator Load Characteristics
Consider a synchronous generator driven at constant speed and with constant exci-
tation. On open circuit the terminal voltage V is the same as the open circuit e.m.f. Et .
Suppose a unity-power-factor load be connected to the machine. The flow of load current
produces a voltage drop IZs in the synchronous impedance, and terminal voltage V is re-
duced. Fig. 31 shows the complexor diagram for three types of load. It will be seen that
the angle between Et and V increases with load, indicating a shift of the flux across the
pole faces due to cross- magnetization. The terminal voltage is obtained from the complex
summation
V + Zs = Et
or V = Et IZs (24)
Algebraically this can be written

q
V = (Et2 I 2 Xs2 ) Ir (25)
for non-reactive loads. Since normally r is small compared with Xs
V 2 + I 2 Xs2 Et2 = constant (26)
so that the V/I curve, Fig. 32, is nearly an ellipse with semi-axes Et and Isc . The
current Isc is that which flows when the load resistance is reduced to zero. The voltage V
falls to zero also and the machine is on short-circuit with V = 0 and
I = Isc = Et /Zs Et /Xs (27)
For a lagging load of zero power-factor, diagram is given in Fig. 31 The voltage
is given as before and since the resistance in normal machines is small compared with the
synchronous reactance, the voltage is given approximately by
V Et IXs (28)
44

IXs
Ixs
Et
Ir Ir v
Et V
Et V
I
V1
(a)phasor diagram for different R loads (b)
Ir
Ixs v
Et
Et
Ea
v
Ea
I I
(c) (d)
Figure 31: Variation of voltage with load at constant Excitation
45

in g
ad
Le ing
0.0 Lead
0.8
0.9 Leading
100 1.0
0.9
0. Lagg
Perfect of no-load voltage

0 in g
La
gg
in
g
Isc
0
100
Perfect of full -load current
Figure 32: Generator Load characteristics
which is the straight line marked for cos = 0 lagging in Fig. 32. A leading load of
zero power factor Fig. 31. will have the voltage
V Et + IXs (29)
another straight line for which, by reason of the direct magnetizing effect of leading
currents, the voltage increases with load.
Intermediate load power factors produce voltage/current characteristics resembling

those in Fig. 32. The voltage-drop with load (i.e. the regulation) is clearly dependent upon
the power factor of the load. The short-circuit current Isc at which the load terminal voltage
falls to zero may be about 150 per cent (1.5 per unit) of normal current in large modern
machines.
3.1.2 Generator Voltage-Regulation
The voltage-regulation of a synchronous generator is the voltage rise at the terminals

when a given load is thrown off, the excitation and speed remaining constant. The voltage-
rise is clearly the numerical difference between Et and V, where V is the terminal voltage
for a given load and Et is the open-circuit voltage for the same field excitation. Expressed
46

as a fraction, the regulation is
= (Et V )/V perunit (30)
Comparing the voltages on full load (1.0 per unit normal current) in Fig. 32, it will
be seen that much depends on the power factor of the load. For unity and lagging power
factors there is always a voltage drop with increase of load, but for a certain leading power
factor the full-load regulation is zero, i.e. the terminal voltage is the same for both full and
no-load conditions. At lower leading power factors the voltage rises with increase of load,
and the regulation is negative. From Fig. 30, the regulation for a load current I at power
factor cos is obtained from the equality
Et2 = (V cos + Ir)2 + (V sin + IXs )2 (31)
from which the regulation is calculated, when both Et and V are known or found.
3.1.3 Generator excitation for constant voltage
200
g
in
gg g
La i n
0 g
0. La
g
0.8 ing
gg
Percent of no -load field excitation
La f
0. 9 up
in g
ad
100 Le
0.9
0.8 Leading
0.0
Le
ad
in g
0
0 100
Percent of full -load current per phase
Figure 33: Generator Excitation for constant Voltage
Since the e.m.f. Et is proportional to the excitation when the synchronous

reactance is constant, the Eqn. 31 can be applied directly to obtain the excitation necessary
to maintain constant output voltage for all loads. All unity-and lagging power-factor loads
will require an increase of excitation with increase of load current, as a corollary of Fig. 32.
47

Low-leading-power-factor loads, on the other hand, will require the excitation to be reduced
on account of the direct magnetizing effect of the zero- power-factor component. Fig. 33
shows typical e.m.f./current curves for a constant output voltage. The ordinates of Fig. 33
are marked in percentage of no-load field excitation, to which the e.m.f Et exactly corresponds
when saturation is neglected.
3.1.4 Generator input and output
For any load conditions as represented by Fig. 30, the output per phase is
P = V I cos . The electrical power converted from mechanical power input is per phase
P1 = Et I cos( + ) (32)
Resolving Et along I
P1 = Et I cos( + ) = (V cos + Ir).I = V I cos + I 2 R (33)
The electrical input is thus the output plus the I 2 R loss, as might be expected. The
prime mover must naturally supply also the friction, windage and core losses, which do not
appear in the phasor diagram.
In large machines the resistance is small compared with the synchronous reactance
so that = arc tan(xs /r) 90 , it can be shown that
V Zs
= (34)
sin(90 + )2 sin
and hence,
P = P1 = Et I cos( + ) (Et /Xs ).V sin (35)
Thus the power developed by a synchronous machine with given values of Et

V and Zs is proportional to sin: or, for small angles, to , and the displacement angle
representing the change in relative position between the rotor and resultant pole- axes is
proportional to the load power. The term load-, power- or torque-angle may be applied to
.
An obvious deduction from the above Eqn. 35is that the greater the field excitation
(corresponding to Et ) the greater is the output per unit angle : that is, the more stable
will be the operation.
48

3.2 Salient Pole Rotor Machine
As discussed earlier in Sec. 3.1 the behaviour of a synchronous machine on load can
be determined by the use of synchronous reactance xs which is nothing but the sum of xa
and xl , where xa is a fictitious reactance representing the effect of armature reaction while
xl is the leakage reactance. It was also mentioned that this method of representing the
effect of armature reaction by a fictitious reactance xa was applicable more aptly only for a
cylindrical rotor (non-salient pole) machine. This was so as the procedure followed therein
was valid only when both the armature and main field m.m.f.s act upon the same magnetic
circuit and saturation effects are absent.
3.2.1 Theory of Salient-pole machines (Blondels Two-reaction Theory)
It was shown in Sec. ?? that the effect of armature reaction in the case of a salient
pole synchronous machine can be taken as two components - one acting along the direct
axis (coinciding with the main field pole axis) and the other acting along the quadrature
axis (inter-polar region or magnetic neutral axis) - and as such the mmf components of
armature-reaction in a salient-pole machine cannot be considered as acting on the same
magnetic circuit. Hence the effect of the armature reaction cannot be taken into account by
considering only the synchronous reactance, in the case of a salient pole synchronous machine.
In fact, the direct-axis component Fad acts over a magnetic circuit identical with
that of the main field system and produces a comparable effect while the quadrature-axis
component Faq acts along the interpolar space, resulting in an altogether smaller effect and,
in addition, a flux distribution totally different from that of Fad or the main field m.m.f.
This explains why the application of cylindrical-rotor theory to salient-pole machines for
predicting the performance gives results not conforming to the performance obtained from
an actual test.
Blondels two-reaction theory considers the effects of the quadrature and direct-axis
components of the armature reaction separately. Neglecting saturation, their different effects
are considered by assigning to each an appropriate value of armature-reaction reactance,
respectively xad and xaq . The effects of armature resistance and true leakage reactance
( xl ) may be treated separately, or may be added to the armature reaction coefficients on the
assumption that they are the same, for either the direct-axis or quadrature-axis components
of the armature current (which is almost true). Thus the combined reactance values can be
expressed as :
49

xsd = xad + xl and xsq = xaq + xl (36)

for the direct- and cross-reaction axes respectively. These values can be determined experi-
mentally as described in Sec. 3.2.3
In a salient-pole machine, xaq , the cross- or quadrature-axis reactance is smaller than

xad , the direct-axis reactance, since the flux produced by a given current component in that
axis is smaller as the reluctance of the magnetic path consists mostly of the interpolar spaces.
It is essential to clearly note the difference between the quadrature- and direct-axis
components Iaq , and Iad of the armature current Ia , and the reactive and active components
Iaa and Iar . Although both pairs are represented by phasors in phase quadrature, the former
are related to the induced emf Et while the latter are referred to the terminal voltage V .
These phasors are clearly indicated with reference to the phasor diagram of a (salient pole)
synchronous generator supplying a lagging power factor (pf) load, shown in Fig. ??(a). We
have
q
Iaq = Ia cos( + ); Iad = Ia sin( + ); and Ia = (Iaq2 + I2 ) (37)
ad
p
Iaa = Ia cos(); Iar = Ia sin(); and Ia = (Iaa 2 + I2 )
ar (38)
where = torque or power angle and = the p.f. angle of the load.
The phasor diagram Fig. 34 shows the two reactance voltage components Iaq xsq and
Iad xsd which are in quadrature with their respective components of the armature current.
The resistance drop Ia Ra is added in phase with Ia although we could take it as Iaq Ra
and Iad Ra separately, which is unnecessary as
Ia = Iad + jIaq
Actually it is not possible to straight-away draw this phasor diagram as the power angle is
unknown until the two reactance voltage components Iaq xsq and Iad xsd are known. How-
ever this difficulty can be easily overcome by following the simple geometrical construction
shown in Fig. 34(d), assuming that the values for terminal voltage V , the load power factor
(pf) angle and the two synchronous reactances xsd and xsq are known to us.
The resistance drop Ia Ra (length AB) is added to the tip of the voltage phasor
(OA) in phase with the current phasor (i.e. in a direction parallel to OQ ). Then we draw
50

line BC ( of length equal to Ia xsq ) and extend it to D such that BD will be (of length
equal to Ia xsd ) at the extremity B of Ia Ra and at right-angles to Ia . Draw OC and
extend it (to F ). From D draw the perpendicular DF on OC extended. Then OF represents
the induced voltage Et . The proof for this can be given as follows:. If DF is extended to G
such that this line is perpendicular to BG drawn parallel to OF, we have :
BG = BD cos(90 ( + )) = Ia xsd sin( + ) = Iad xsd and (39)

GF = CH = BC sin(90 ( + )) = Ia xsq cos( + ) = Iaq xsq (40)
3.2.2 Power relations in a Salient Pole Synchronous Machine:
Neglecting the armature winding resistance, the power output of the generator is
given by:
P = V Ia cos (41)
This can be expressed in terms of , by noting from Fig. 34 that :
Ia cos = Iaq cos + Iad sin (42)

V cos = Eo Iad xsd
and V sin = Iaq xsd
Substituting these in the expression for power, we have.
P = V [(V sin /xsd ) cos + (Eo V cos )/xsd sin ] (43)

= (V Eo /xsd ) sin + V 2 (xsd xsq )/(2 xsq xsq ) sin 2
It is clear from the above expression that the power is a little more than that for
a cylindrical rotor synchronous machine, as the first term alone represents the power for a
cylindrical rotor synchronous machine. A term in (sin 2) is added into the power - angle
characteristic of a non-salient pole synchronous machine. This also shows that it is possible
to generate an emf even if the excitation E0 is zero. However this magnitude is quite less
compared with that obtained with a finite E0 . Likewise we can show that the machine
develops a torque - called the reluctance torque - as this torque is developed due to the
variation of the reluctance in the magnetic circuit even if the excitation E0 is zero.
3.2.3 Experimental Determination of xd and xq
The unsaturated values of xd and xq of a 3-Phase synchronous machine can be easily

determined experimentally by conducting the following test known as slip test. The rotor of
51

(a) Components of Ia
Eo
Iaq
Iaa
Iad V Eo
Iaqxsq
Ia Iar
(b) Phasor addition of
component drops
Iaq Iadxsd
Iara

Iad V
Ia
Iaxsd Iaqxsq
(c) Phasor addition using Ia
Iaxsq
Iadxsd
Iara
D
V
Ia
C F
(d) Geometric construction E
of (c)
+ ) G
(9 0-
A
V
o B
I
Q
Figure 34: Phasor diagram of a generator-Two reaction theory
52

the synchronous machine is driven by means of a prime mover (usually a DC motor in the
laboratory) at a speed close to the synchronous speed in the proper direction but not equal
to it. The armature is supplied with a low voltage 3-Phase balanced supply through a variac,
while the field circuit is kept open. The armature current varies between two limits since
it moves through, since the synchronously rotating armature mmf acts through the varying
magnetic reluctance paths as it goes from inter-polar axis to pole axis region. The values of
xsd and xsq are determined based on the applied voltage and the armature current values.
The ratio of applied voltage to the minimum value of the armature current gives the direct
axis synchronous reactance xsd which is usually the same as the synchronous reactance
xs that we usually determine from normal no-load and short-circuit tests as explained in
Sec. ?? The ratio of applied voltage to the maximum value of the armature current gives
the the quadrature-axis reactance xsq . For more accurate determination of these values the
oscillogram of the armature current and voltage can be recorded.
3.3 Losses and Efficiency
To calculate the efficiency of a synchronous generator, a procedure is to be followed

for establishing the total losses when operating under load. For generators these losses are,
1. Rotational losses such as friction and windage.
2. Eddy current and hysteresis losses in the magnetic circuit
3. Copper losses in the armature winding and in the field coils
4. Load loss due to armature leakage flux causing eddy current and hysteresis losses in
the armature-surrounding iron.
With regard to the losses, the following comments may be made,
1. The rotational losses, which include friction and windage losses, are constant, since the
speed of a synchronous generator is constant. It may be determined from a no-load
test.
2. The core loss includes eddy current and hysteresis losses as a result of normal flux
density changes. It can be determined by measuring the power input to an auxiliary
motor used to drive the generator at no load, with and without the field excited. The
difference in power measured constitutes this loss.
53

3. The armature and field copper losses are obtained as Ia2 Ra and Vf If Since per phase
quantities are dealt with, the armature copper loss for the generator must be multiplied
by the number of phases. The field winding loss is as a result of the excitation current
flowing through the resistance of the field winding.
4. Load loss or stray losses result from eddy currents in the armature conductors and
increased core losses due to distorted magnetic fields. Although it is possible to separate
this loss by tests, in calculating the efficiency, it may be accounted for by taking the
effective armature resistance rather than the dc resistance.
After all the foregoing losses have been determined, the efficiency is calculated as,
kV A P F
= 100% (44)
kV A P F + (total losses)
where = efficiency,
kvA = load on the generator (output)
PF = power factor of the load
The quantity (kVA*PF) is, of course, the real power delivered to the load (in kW) by
the synchronous generator. Thus, it could in general be stated as
Pout Pout
= 100 = 100 (45)
Pin Pout + Plosses
The input power Pin = Pout + Plosses is the power required from the prime mover to
drive the loaded generator.
54

4 Parallel Operation of two Generators

When two synchronous generators are connected in parallel, they have an inherent
tendency to remain in step, on account of the changes produced in their armature currents
by a divergence of phase. Consider identical machines 1 and 2, Fig. 35 in parallel and work-
ing on to the same load. With respect to the load, their e.m.fs are normally in phase: with
respect to the local circuit formed by the two armature windings, however, their e.m.fs are
in phase-opposition.
Suppose there to be no external load. If machine 1 for some reason accelerates, its
e.m.f. will draw ahead of that of machine 2. The resulting phase difference 2 causes e.m.fs
to lose phase-opposition in the local circuit so that there is in effect a local e.m.f Es which will
circulate a current Is in the local circuit of the two armatures. The current Is flows in the syn-
chronous impedance of the two machines together, so that it lags by = arc tan(xs /r) 90
on Es on account of the preponderance of reactance inZs Is therefore flows out of machine
1 nearly in phase with the e.m.f., and enters 2 in opposition to the e.m.f. Consequently
machine 1 produces a power Ps E1 Is as a generator, and supplies it (I 2 R losses excepted)
to 2 as a synchronous motor. The synchronizing power Ps tends to retard the faster machine
1 and accelerate the slower, 2, pulling the two back into step. Within the limits of maximum
power, therefore, it is not possible to destroy the synchronous running of two synchronous
generators in parallel, for a divergence of their angular positions results in the production
of synchronizing power, which loads the forward machine and accelerates the backward ma-
chine to return the two to synchronous running.
The development of synchronizing power depends on the fact that the armature
impedance is preponderating reactive. If it were not, the machines could not operate stably
in parallel: for the circulating current Is would be almost in phase- quandrature with the
generated e.m.f.s, and would not contribute any power to slow the faster or speed up the
slower machine.
When both machines are equally loaded pn to an external circuit, the synchronizing
power is developed in the same way as on no load, the effect being to reduce the load of the
slower machine at the same time as that of the faster machine is increased. The conditions
are shown in Fig. 35, where I1 , I2 are the equal load currents of the two machines before the

occurrence of phase displacement, and I1 , I2 are the currents as changed by the circulation
of the synchronizing current Is .
The argument above has been applied to identical machines. Actually, it is

not essential for them to be identical, nor to have equal excitations nor power supplies. In
55

Load
V
v I vI
E1
2
Is
v
Zs1 Zs2 ls
v v
I1
I2
Es
1 E1 E2 2
E2
Local circuit
(a) (b)
Es Es
I1
E1
E2
E2 Is
2 E1
I1.I2
Is
Is
Is
I2
(c) (d)
Figure 35: Parallel operation
56

104
percent of full-load speed

102
2
100
98
0 25 50 75 100 125
Percent of full-load output power
Figure 36: Governer Characteristic
general, the machines will have different synchronous impedance Zs1 , Zs2 ; different e.m.f.s E1
and E2 and different speed regulations. The governors of prime movers are usually arranged
so that a reduction of the speed of the prime mover is necessary for the increase of the power
developed. Unless the governor speed/load characteristics are identical the machines can
never share the total load in accordance with their ratings. The governor characteristics
take the form shown in Fig. 36. If the two are not the same, the load will be shared in
accordance with the relative load values at the running speed, for synchronous machines
must necessarily run at identical speeds.
57

5 Interconnected Synchronous Generators

The study of interconnection of several synchronous generators is important because
of the following main reasons:
1. Since the demand of electricity varies during a day, also during the various seasons in a
year, a modern power station employs two or more units so that one or more alternators
can supply power efficiently according to the need. Installation of a single generator
of capacity equal to the installed capacity of a station will be uneconomic, as such a
generator will have to be run at a reduced load for certain periods of the day, and
also building of such a generator is difficult proposition. Further, routine maintenance
requires a unit to be shut down for a certain period of time and as such the capacity
requirement of the stand by unit in a power station with several alternators is less.
2. Connections of several stations by a grid is economic and advantageous. This reduces
the installed capacity of the stand by unit considerably, and enables economic distribu-
tions of load between several stations. Also, in a country like India, where considerable
amount of power is generated by harnessing waterpower,parallel operation of steam
and hydro-stations is essential to maintain continuity of supply throughout the year
and also to ensure the maximum utilization of water power resources.
5.1 Load Sharing
For alternators in parallel, change in field excitation will mainly change the operating
power factor of the generator and has primarily no effect on the active power delivered by
the generators (change in power factor will change the total current of an alternator thereby
changing copper loss. The output active power will alter through a very small amount). The
control of active power shared between alternators is affected by changing the input power
to the prime mover. For example, in a thermal power station: having alternators driven
by steam turbines, an increase of throttle opening and thus allowing more steam into the
turbine will increase the power input; in a hydro station, the power input is controlled by
water inlet into the turbine. The prime-mover, speed-load characteristics thus determine the
load sharing between the alternators.
Consider for simplicity, a two machine case, consisting of two non-salient pole syn-
chronous machines (generators) 1 and 2 respectively coupled to prime-movers 1 and 2
Fig. 37 shows the speed-load characteristics of the prime- movers. Assume that initially the
two generators share equal active power and it is now required to transfer a certain amount
of power from unit 1 to unit 2, the total power remaining constant.
58

SPEED
c a b
2
INPUT
INCREASED
d 1
BUS 2 PL2 PL1 INPUT
REDUCED
1
ALTERNATOR PL2 PL1
~ ~ 0
PRIME MOVER
1 2
TOTAL ACTIVE POWER
LOAD ON LOAD ON
UNIT 1 UNIT 2 MACHINE 2 2PL MACHINE 1
(a) (b)
Figure 37: Interconnection and load sharing
The initial operating points are indicated on the characteristic by points b and c, the
busbar speed (or frequency) being given by the point a. The load on each machine is PL .
the total load being 2PL . To reduce the load on unit 1, its input is decreased (by reducing

the throttle opening) so that the prime-mover characteristic is now given by 1 . The total
load being constant, the loads shared by the machines are
machine 1 PL1 ,
machine 2 PL2 ,
the total load being PL1 + PL2 = 2PL , and the bus frequency given by the point d is reduced.
To maintain the bus frequency constant at its original value (given by point a) the input to

unit 2 must be suitably increased so that its speed-load characteristic is given by 2 . The
final load sharing is thus given by

machine 1 PL1 , machine 2 PL2
and

PL1 + PL2 = 2PL (46)
59

5.2 Generator input and output
For any load conditions represented e.g. by Fig. 38 the output per phase is P = V I cos .
The electrical power converted from mechanical power input is per phase
P1 = EI cos( + ) (47)
Resolving E along I,
P1 = EI cos( + ) = V I cos + Ir.I = V I cos + I 2 r (48)
The electrical input is thus the output plus the I 2 R loss, as might be expected. The prime
mover must naturally supply also the friction, windage and core losses, which do not appear
in the complexor diagram.
For a given load current I at external phase-angle to V , the magnitude and phase of E
are determined by Zs The impedance angle is arc tan(x3 /r), and using Fig. 38.
I = (E V )zs = (E V /0)/zs / (49)
= (E/zs )( ) (V /zs )
when referred to the datum direction V = V Converting to the rectangular form:
I = (E/zs )[cos( ) j sin( )] (V /Zs )[cos j sin ] (50)

E V E V
= [ cos( ) cos ] + j[ sin( ) sin ].
Zs Zs Zs Zs
These components represent I cos and I sin . The power converted internally is the sum
of the corresponding components of the current with E cos and E sin , to give P1 =
E cos( + ):
P1 = E cos [(E/Zs ) cos( ) (V /Zs) cos ] (51)
+ E sin [(E/Zs ) sin( )(V /Zs ) sin ]
= E[(E/Zs ) cos ] E[(V /Zs ) cos( + )]
= (E/Zs )[E cos V cos( + )] perphase
The output power is V I cos , which is given similarly by
P = (V /Zs)[E cos( ) V cos ] perphase (52)
In large machines the resistance is small compared with the synchronous reactance
so that = arc tan(xs /r) 90 .Eqn. 50 and Eqn. 52 the simplify to P1 = P , where
P = P1 = E cos( + ) (E/Xs )V sin (53)
60

v
Izs v
Ixs
V
v
v
Datum
Ir
I
Figure 38: Power conditions
Thus the power developed by a synchronous machine with given values of E, V and
Zs , is proportional to sin or, for small angles, to itself. The displacement angle rep-
resents the change in relative position between the rotor and resultant pole-axes and sis
proportional to the load power. The term load-, power- or torque-angle may be applied to
.
An obvious deduction from Eqn. 53 is that the greater the field excitation (corresponding
to E), the greater is the output per unit angle ; that is, the more stable will be the operation.
5.3 Synchronous Machine on Infinite Bus-bars.
So far we have discussed the behavior of a synchronous generator or a pair of synchronous

generator supplying a single concentrated load. In view of the tremendous increase in the
size of interconnected transmission and distribution systems in the last few decades, and
the power generation is contracted at a few large power stations. The generating plant ca-
pacity is of a few hundred or thousand MVAs. In such a plant several generators (of say
a few hundred 100 kvAs each) will be operated in parallel. Not all of them will be oper-
ating simultaneously as we may not have the demand for the total cdapacity of the plant
all the time. Assume the behaviour of a single machine connected to this type of a large
generating plant is not likely to disturb the voltage and frequency provided the rating of
the machine is only a fraction of the total capacity of the generating plant. In the limit,
61

we may presume that the generating plant maintains an invariable voltage and frequency
at all points.In other words a network has zero impedance and infinite rotational inertia. A
synchronous machine connected to such a network is said to be operating on infinite bus-bars.
As such, we can expect that, characteristics of a synchronous generator on infinite

bus-bars are going to be quite different from those when it operates on its own concentrated
load. As already described, a change in the excitation changes the terminal voltage, while
the power factor is determined by the load, supplied by the stand alone synchronous gen-
erator. On the other hand, no alteration of the excitation can change the terminal voltage,
(which is fixed by the network) when it is connected to bus bars, the power factor, however,
is affected. In both cases the power developed by a generator depends on the mechanical
power supplied. Likewise the electrical power received by a motor depends on the mechanical
load applied at its shaft.
Practically all synchronous motors and generators in normal industrial use on large
power supply systems can be considered as connected to infinite bus-bars, the former because
they are relatively small, the latter on account of the modern automatic voltage regulators
for keeping the voltage practical, constant at all loads. The behaviour of the synchronous
machine connected to infinite bus bars can be easily described from the electrical load dia-
gram of a synchronous generator.
5.3.1 Basis for drawing the general load diagram.
Consider a synchronous machine connected to infinite bus bars (of constant-voltage, constant-
frequency) of phase voltage V, Fig. 39. Let the machine run on no load with mechanical and
core losses only supplied. If the e.m.f. E be adjusted to equality with V , no current will flow
into or out of the armature on account of the exact balance between the e.m.f. and the bus-
bar voltage. This will be the case when a synchronous generator is just parallel to infinite
bus bar. If the excitation,If is reduced, machine E will tend to be less than V , so that a
leading current Ir will flow which will add to the field ampere-turns due to direct magnetiz-
ing effect of armature reaction. Under the assumption of constant synchronous impedance,
this is taken into account by Ir Zs as the difference between E and V . The current Ir must
be completely reactive because the machine is on no-load and no electrical power is being
supplied to or by the machine, as it is on no-load. If now the excitation be increased, E will
tend to be greater than V . A current will therefore be circulated in the armature circuit,
this time a lagging current which will reduce the net excitation due to the demagnetizing
effect of armature reaction so that the machine will again generates a voltage equal to that
62

of the constant bus-bar voltage. The synchronous impedance drop Ir Zs is, as before, the
difference between E and V , and there should be only a zero-power-factor lagging current,
as the machine is running on no-load.
s of E
Irzs
L o cu
E
E V V V
Irzs
E
Ir Ir
Under Over
Normal excited
excited
Figure 39: Generator on infinite Bus-Bar -(No load)
Suppose the machine to be supplied with full-load mechanical power. Then as a gen-
erator it must produce the equivalent in electrical power: i.e. the output current must have
an active component Iaa corresponding to full-load electrical power. For an output at exactly
unity power factor, the excitation must be adjusted so that the voltage triangle E, V, Ia Zs ,
satisfies the conditions required, Fig. 40. If the excitation be reduced, a magnetizing reactive
component is supplied in addition, i.e. a leading current Iar , which assists the field winding
to produce the necessary flux. If the machine is over excited, a lagging reactive demagnetiz-
ing current component is supplied, in addition to the constant power component.
In Fig. 40 the IZs drop has been added in components corresponding to the current
components Iaa and Iar . For all three diagrams of Fig. 40, Iaa and Iaa Zs are constant, since
the electrical power supplied is constant. Only the component Iaa Zs (and therefore Iar )
varies with the excitation. Thus the excitation controls only the power factor of the current
63

t
s of E
Et
Locu
Irzs
V Iazs V I a zs V
Iazs
Et Irzs
Et Ir Ir
Ia Ia Ia
I I
Unity power factor Under excited Over excited
Figure 40: Generator on infinite Bus-Bar - (Full load power)
64

supplied by the generator to the infinite bus-bars and not the active power.
From this diagram for different excitations, we can see that the extremities of the
phasor of E (indicated by dots) are seen to lie on the straight line shown dashed. Since
all three diagrams refer to full-load power, the dotted line becomes the locus of E and of
the excitation, to scale for constant power output. This is the basis of the electrical load
diagram, Fig. 42.
Ir Izs Izs
v
Et
v
Ixs Ixs
v
V1
v v
V V
v v -Et
v
V
V
Ixs
V
Ir
V Izs
Et v
V

(a) (b) (c)
v
Generator
leading current v V1 Motor leading current
Figure 41: Generator and motor on infinite Bus-bars
A generator working-on infinite bus-bars will become a motor if its excitation is main-
tained and the prime mover replaced by a mechanical load. The change in the phasor of Ia
is shown in the phasor diagrams Fig. 41(a and b). V is the output voltage of the machine,
furnished by the e.m.f generated. For the motor, the current is in phase-opposition to V ,
since it is forced into the machine against the output voltage. For convenience, the supply
voltage V1 (equal and opposite to V ) may be used when the motor is considered, and the
diagram then becomes that of Fig. 41(c). The retarded angle of E or E is descriptive of
the fact that when the shaft of the machine is loaded, it falls slightly relative to the stator
rotating field in order to develop the torque, required by the load.
Thus, the power-angle , Fig. 41, plays an important role in the operation of a syn-
chronous machine. Changes in load or excitation change its magnitude. When a machine
alters from generator to motor action, reverses; and when is caused to increase exces-
65

sively, the machine becomes unstable.
5.3.2 Electrical load diagram.
The electrical load diagram is shown in Fig. 42. The phasor V represents the constant volt-
age of the infinite bus-bars. At the extremity of V is drawn an axis showing the direction
of the Ia Zs dropsi.e. the voltage drops for unity-power-factor output currents. This axis
must be drawn at the angle = arc tan(Xs /r) to V , to scale along the axis is a distance
corresponding to, say, full load at unity power factor. At this point a line is drawn at right
angles to the axis. It is the locus of the E values for constant power, or constant-electrical-
power line. Other parallel lines are drawn for other loads, one through the extremity of V
itself corresponding to zero power output, others on the right-hand side of V corresponding
to negative power output, i.e. input to the machine as a motor.
Electrical load
per unit
2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
>
m p n Generator Motor >
VI c
V2/zs
t
E
V = Et / zs a
u.
m
p.
unity p.f
>
0
>
> >
2.
1.5
V
1.0
900 -
0.5
xs/r
pemax v = arctan pemax
Limit of stability 0
Figure 42: Electrical load diagram
The diagram solves Eqn. 52. Consider the full-load unity-power- factor case in
Fig. 40, and multiply each complex voltage by the constant (V /Zs ). This gives the inset
in Fig. 42, from which V I = P = mp = mn np. Now mn = (EV /Zs ) sin(90 + ) and
np = (V 2 /Zs ) cos , so that P is given directly by Eqn. 52.
If the excitation be fixed, the extremity of the e.m.f. vector E, will have a circular
66

locus as indicated by the circular arcs struck with O as centre. Taking 1.0 per unit E as
that for which E = V on no load and no current, the per-unit excitation for any other
loading condition can be found from the diagram. Thus with 1.5 per unit excitation, the
machine will work on full-load power as a generator with a power factor of cos 8 lagging; on
half-fun-load power with a power factor of cos 42 lagging; and on zero power output with
a power-factor of zero lagging, as shown by the lines pa, pb and pc. The variation of the
power output (controlled by the input from the prime mover in the case of a generator and
by the load applied to the shaft for a motor) with constant excitation is thl1S accompanied
by changes in the load power factor.
If the generator be provided with greater mechanical power with say, 150 per cent (or
1.5 per unit) excitation, then the output power increases with reducing power factor from
lagging values until, with an output (for this case) of 1.2 per unit power (see Fig. 42), the
power factor becomes unity. Thereafter the power increases with a reducing power factor-
now leading. Finally the excitation will not include any more constant-power lines, for the
circle of its locus becomes tangential to these. If more power is supplied by the prime
mover, the generator will be forced to rise out of step, and synchronous running will be lost.
The maximum power that can be generated is indicated by intercepts on the limit of stabil-
ity. The typical point Pemax on the left of the load diagram is for an excitation of 1.5 per unit.
Similarly, if a motor is mechanically overloaded it will fall out of step, because of

its limited electrical power intake. The point Pemax in the motor region again corresponds
to 1.5 per unit excitation, and all such points again lie on the limiting-stability line. This
maximum power input includes I 2 R loss, and the remainder-the mechanical power output-in
fact becomes itself limited before maximum electrical input can be attained.
5.3.3 Mechanical load diagram
The mechanical load, or electromagnetically-converted power P1 of Eqn. 52, is for a gen-

erator the net mechanical input. For a motor it is the gross mechanical output including
core friction and windage loss. A diagram resembling that of Fig. 42 could be devised* by.
resolving the current along E to give P1 = EI cos( + ). But as the terminal voltage V is
taken to be constant, a new circle with another centre is needed for each value of E selected.
The following method obtains the mechanical loading from the difference I 2 r between P and
P1 .
67

The input to a motor is P = V1 I cos . The electro-magnetic or converted or devel-

oped power, which includes the losses due to rotation, is P1 = V1 I cos . From the latter,
I 2 V1 I cos /r + P1 /r = 0 (54)
giving r
V1 cos V1 cos 2 P1
I= [( ) ] (55)
2r 2r r
For each power factor cos , and given voltage V1 and electro-magnetic power P1 ,
there are two values of current, one leading and one lagging. The complexor diagrams,
Fig. 43 and Fig. 45, show that there will be two corresponding values of excitation E one
large and one small, associated respectively with leading and lagging reactive current com-
ponents Ir = I sin . At the same time the increased I 2 R loss for power factors less than
unity requires the active component Ia = I cos to be larger. The locus of I then forms an
O-curve, while the plot of the current magnitude to a base of excitation E gives a V -curve,
Fig. 46.
Izs V
-Et
V
V
Ixs
V
V1
Ir O-curve
V
I Ia

Figure 43: Synchronous motor with constant output and variable excitation -Leading current
The O-curves are circular arcs, because Eqn. 55 represents the equation to a circle.
Writing
(I cos )2 + (I sin )2 (V1 /r)(I cos ) + P1 /r = 0 (56)
68

Izs
V V
V1 Ixs V
-Et
O-curve
Figure 44: Synchronous motor with constant output and variable excitation- Unity p.f
Ir V
Izs
V
Ixs
V1 -Et
V
Ia I
Figure 45: Synchronous motor with constant output and variable excitation-Lagging current
69

f .
u.p
=0
1
P
st
on
=c
1
Armature current I
c a
E.M.F Et
Figure 46: Synchronous motor with constant output and variable excitation-V-curves
70

it is seen that I must lie on a circle centred at a point distant V1 /2r

p
from the origin the axis of I cos , the radius of the circle being [(V12 /4r 2)(P1 /r)].
The construction of the mechanical load diagram is given in Fig. 47. Let OM = V1 /2r
to scale: draw with M as centre a circle of radius OM. This circle, from Eqn. 55, corresponds
to P I = 0, a condition for M which the circle radius is V1 /2r. The circle thus represents
the current locus for zero mechanical power. Any smaller circle on centre M represents the
current locus for some constant , mechanical power output P1 .
Qm current locus
for
V12 P1 P1=const
/
4r2
- r
M
Qn
V1/2r
Mech.power P1
P1=0
Figure 47: Pertaining to O-curves
For unity power factor

p
I = (V1 /2r) [(V1 /2r)2 (P1 /r)] (57)
Again there are in general two values O-CURVES of current for each power output
P1 , the smaller OQn in the working range, the greater OQm above the limit of stability.
If P1 /r = V12 /4r 2 , there is a single value of current I = V1 /2r corresponding to the max-
imum power P1m = V12 /4r. The power circle has shrunk to zero radius and becomes in
fact the point M. The efficiency is 50 per cent, the I 2 R loss being equal to the mechanical
output. Such a condition is well outside the normal working range, not only because of
heating but also because the stability is critical. The case corresponds to the requirement of
71

the maximum-power-transfer theorem, commonly employed to determine maximum-power-

output conditions in telecommunication circuits.
The completed mechanical load diagram is shown in Fig. 48, with the addition of
OR = V /Zs drawn at angle arc cos(r/Zs ) to OM. Circles drawn with R as centre represent
constant values of E1 /Zs , or E, or the field excitation.
200
150
per
150
cal power
cen
100
t of
100
nor
rmal mechani
=0
ma
Moto
50
50
l ex

45
=
cita
0 45 R

ti

on
percent of no
50 0
Gen
50
=

=0
45
45
100
=

100
150 150
Figure 48: Load diagram-O-curves
5.3.4 O-Curves and V -Curves.
The current loci in Fig. 48 are continued below the base line for generator operation. The
horizontal lines of constant mechanical power are now constant input (from the prime mover)
and a departure from unity-power-factor working, giving increased currents, increases the
I 2 R loss and lowers the available electrical output. The whole system of lines depends, of
course, on constant bus-bar voltage. The circular current loci are called the O - curves for
72

Maximum power
er
w
po
50 00% 0%
1 15
ad
%
y
bilit
lo
of sta
it
o
Lim
N
Generator Armature current Motor
=0
Motor
percent of normal excitation

0 50 150 200 150
ad
r Generator
lo
we
po
o
N
%
50
0%
10
Lim
0%
it o
fs
15
tab
=
ility
0

Figure 49: Load diagram-V-curves
73

constant mechanical power. Any point P on the diagram, fixed by the percentage excitation
and load, gives by the line OP the current to scale in magnitude and phase. Directly from
the O-curves, Fig. 48, the V -curves, relating armature current and excitation for various
constant mechanical loads can be derived. These are shown in Fig. 49.
74

6 Synchronous motor
6.1 Principle of operation
In order to understand the principle of operation of a synchronous motor, let us examine

what happens if we connect the armature winding (laid out in the stator) of a 3-phase
synchronous machine to a suitable balanced 3-phase source and the field winding to a D.C
source of appropriate voltage. The current flowing through the field coils will set up sta-
tionary magnetic poles of alternate North and South. ( for convenience let us assume a
salient pole rotor, as shown in Fig. 50). On the other hand, the 3-phase currents flowing in
the armature winding produce a rotating magnetic field rotating at synchronous speed. In
other words there will be moving North and South poles established in the stator due to the
3-phase currents i.e at any location in the stator there will be a North pole at some instant of
time and it will become a South pole after a time period corresponding to half a cycle. (after
a time = 2f1 , where f = frequency of the supply). Let us assume that the stationary South
pole in the rotor is aligned with the North pole in the stator moving in clockwise direction
at a particular instant of time, as shown in Fig. 50. These two poles get attracted and
Direction of rotation of stator poles
S N
N
T
N S
S Stationary
rotor poles
Figure 50: Force of attraction between stator poles and rotor poles - resulting in production
of torque in clockwise direction
try to maintain this alignment ( as per lenzs law) and hence the rotor pole tries to follow
the stator pole as the conditions are suitable for the production of torque in the clockwise
direction. However the rotor cannot move instantaneously due to its mechanical inertia, and
so it needs sometime to move. In the mean time, the stator pole would quickly (a time
duration corresponding to half a cycle) change its polarity and becomes a South pole. So
the force of attraction will no longer be present and instead the like poles experience a force
75

of repulsion as shown in Fig. 51. In other words, the conditions are now suitable for the
Direction of rotation of stator poles
S N
N
T
N S
S Stationary
rotor poles
Figure 51: Force of repulsion between stator poles and rotor poles - resulting in production
of torque in anticlockwise direction
production of torque in the anticlockwise direction. Even this condition will not last longer
as the stator pole would again change to North pole after a time of 2f1 . Thus the rotor will
experience an alternating force which tries to move it clockwise and anticlockwise at twice
the frequency of the supply, i.e. at intervals corresponding to 2f1 seconds. As this duration is
quite small compared to the mechanical time constant of the rotor, the rotor cannot respond
and move in any direction. The rotor continues to be stationary only.
On the contrary if the rotor is brought to near synchronous speed by some

external means say a small motor (known as pony motor-which could be a D.C or AC in-
duction rotor) mounted on the same shaft as that of the rotor, the rotor poles get locked to
the unlike poles in the stator and the rotor continues to run at the synchronous speed even
if the supply to the pony motor is disconnected.
Thus the synchronous rotor cannot start rotating on its own or usually we say
that the synchronous rotor has no starting torque. So, some special provision has to be
made either inside the machine or outside of the machine so that the rotor is brought to near
about its synchronous speed. At that time, if the armature is supplied with electrical power,
the rotor can pull into step and continue to operate at its synchronous speed. Some of the
commonly used methods for starting synchronous rotor are described in the following section.
76

6.2 Methods of starting synchronous motor
Basically there are three methods that are used to start a synchronous motor:
To reduce the speed of the rotating magnetic field of the stator to a low enough value
that the rotor can easily accelerate and lock in with it during one half-cycle of the
rotating magnetic fields rotation. This is done by reducing the frequency of the applied
electric power. This method is usually followed in the case of inverter-fed synchronous
motor operating under variable speed drive applications.
To use an external prime mover to accelerate the rotor of synchronous motor near to its
synchronous speed and then supply the rotor as well as stator. Ofcourse care should
be taken to ensure that the direction of rotation of the rotor as well as that of the
rotating magnetic field of the stator are the same. This method is usually followed in
the laboratory- the synchronous machine is started as a generator and is then connected
to the supply mains by following the synchronization or paralleling procedure. Then
the power supply to the prime mover is disconnected so that the synchronous machine
will continue to operate as a motor.
To use damper windings or amortisseur windings if these are provided in the ma-
chine. The damper windings or amortisseur windings are provided in most of the
large synchronous motors in order to nullify the oscillations of the rotor whenever the
synchronous machine is subjected to a periodically varying load.
Each of these methods of starting a synchronous motor are described below in detail.
6.2.1 Motor Starting by Reducing the supply Frequency
If the rotating magnetic field of the stator in a synchronous motor rotates at a low enough
speed, there will be no problem for the rotor to accelerate and to lock in with the stators
magnetic field. The speed of the stator magnetic field can then be increased to its rated op-
erating speed by gradually increasing the supply frequency f up to its normal 50- or 60-Hz
value.
This approach to starting of synchronous motors makes a lot of sense, but there is a big
problem: Where from can we get the variable frequency supply? The usual power supply
systems generally regulate the frequency to be 50 or 60 Hz as the case may be. However,
variable-frequency voltage source can be obtained from a dedicated generator only in the
77

olden days and such a situation was obviously impractical except for very unusual or special
drive applications.
But the present day solid state power converters offer an easy solution to this. We now
have the rectifier- inverter and cycloconverters, which can be used to convert a constant fre-
quency AC supply to a variable frequency AC supply. With the development of such modern
solid-state variable-frequency drive packages, it is thus possible to continuously control the
frequency of the supply connected to the synchronous motor all the way from a fraction
of a hertz up to and even above the normal rated frequency. If such a variable-frequency
drive unit is included in a motor-control circuit to achieve speed control, then starting the
synchronous motor is very easy-simply adjust the frequency to a very low value for starting,
and then raise it up to the desired operating frequency for normal running.
When a synchronous motor is operated at a speed lower than the rated speed, its internal
generated voltage (usually called the counter EMF) EA = K will be smaller than normal.
As such the terminal voltage applied to the motor must be reduced proportionally with the
frequency in order to keep the stator current within the rated value. Generally, the voltage
in any variable-frequency power supply varies roughly linearly with the output frequency.
6.2.2 Motor Starting with an External Motor
The second method of starting a synchronous motor is to attach an external starting motor
(pony motor) to it and bring the synchronous machine to near about its rated speed (but not
exactly equal to it, as the synchronization process may fail to indicate the point of closure of
the main switch connecting the synchronous machine to the supply system) with the pony
motor. Then the output of the synchronous machine can be synchronised or paralleled with
its power supply system as a generator, and the pony motor can be detached from the shaft
of the machine or the supply to the pony motor can be disconnected. Once the pony motor
is turned OFF, the shaft of the machine slows down, the speed of the rotor magnetic field
BR falls behind Bnet , momentarily and the synchronous machine continues to operate as a
motor. As soon as it begins to operates as a motor the synchronous motor can be loaded in
the usual manner just like any motor.
This whole procedure is not as cumbersome as it sounds, since many synchronous mo-
tors are parts of motor-generator sets, and the synchronous machine in the motor-generator
set may be started with the other machine serving as the starting motor. More over, the
starting motor is required to overcome only the mechanical inertia of the synchronous ma-
chine without any mechanical load ( load is attached only after the synchronous machine is
78

paralleled to the power supply system). Since only the motors inertia must be overcome,
the starting motor can have a much smaller rating than the synchronous motor it is going
to start. Generally most of the large synchronous motors have brushless excitation systems
mounted on their shafts. It is then possible to use these exciters as the starting motors. For
many medium-size to large synchronous motors, an external starting motor or starting by
using the exciter may be the only possible solution, because the power systems they are tied
to may not be able to handle the starting currents needed to use the damper (amortisseur)
winding approach described next.
6.2.3 Motor Starting by Using damper (Amortisseur) Winding
As already mentioned earlier most of the large synchronous motors are provided with damper
windings, in order to nullify the oscillations of the rotor whenever the synchronous machine
is subjected to a periodically varying load. Damper windings are special bars laid into slots
cut in the pole face of a synchronous machine and then shorted out on each end by a large
shorting ring, similar to the squirrel cage rotor bars. A pole face with a set of damper wind-
ings is shown in Figure..
When the stator of such a synchronous machine is connected to the 3-Phase AC sup-
ply, the machine starts as a 3-Phase induction machine due to the presence of the damper
bars, just like a squirrel cage induction motor. Just as in the case of a 3-Phase squirrel cage
induction motor, the applied voltage must be suitably reduced so as to limit the starting cur-
rent to the safe rated value. Once the motor picks up to a speed near about its synchronous
speed, the DC supply to its field winding is connected and the synchronous motor pulls into
step i.e. it continues to operate as a Synchronous motor running at its synchronous speed.
6.3 Behavior of a synchronous motor
The behavior of a synchronous motor can be predicted by considering its equivalent circuit
on similar lines to that of a synchronous generator as described below.
79

6.3.1 Equivalent circuit model and phasor diagram of a synchronous motor
The equivalent-circuit model for one armature phase of a cylindrical rotor three phase syn-
chronous motor is shown in Fig. 52 exactly similar to that of a synchronous generator except
that the current flows in to the armature from the supply. All values are given per phase.
Applying Kirchhoffs voltage law to Fig. 52,
Ia Ra jXl jXas
If
jXs R
DC
VT Ef source
Field winding
Figure 52: Equivalent-circuit model for one phase of a synchronous motor armature
VT = Ia Ra + jIa Xl + jIa Xas + Ef (58)
Combining reactances, we have
Xs = Xl + Xas (59)
Substituting Eqn. 59 in Eqn. 58
VT = Ef + Ia (Ra + jXs ) (60)

or VT = Ef + Ia Zs (61)
where:
Ra = armature resistance (/phase)
Xl = armature leakage reactance (/phase)
Xs = synchronous reactance (/phase)
Zs = synchronous impedance (/phase)
VT = applied voltage/phase (V)
Ia = armature current/phase(A)
80

jIaxs
Iazs
) VT
- i
( 90
IaRa
IaZs
i
jIaxs
Ef
Ia
IaRa
Figure 53: Phasor diagram corresponding to the equivalent-circuit model
A phasor diagram shown in Fig. 53, illustrates the method of determining the counter
EMF which is obtained from the phasor equation;
Ef = VT Ia Zs
The phase angle between the terminal voltage VT and the excitation voltage Ef in
Fig. 53 is usually termed the torque angle. The torque angle is also called the load angle or
power angle.
6.3.2 Synchronous-motor power equation
Except for very small machines, the armature resistance of a synchronous motor is relatively
insignificant compared to its synchronous reactance, so that Eqn. 61 to be approximated to
VT = Ef + jIa Xs (62)
The equivalent-circuit and phasor diagram corresponding to this relation are shown
in Fig. 54 and Fig. 55. These are normally used for analyzing the behavior of a synchronous
81

motor, due to changes in load and/or changes in field excitation.

From this phasor diagram, we have,
Ia Xs cos i = Ef sin (63)

Multiplying through by VT and rearranging terms we have,
VT Ef
VT Ia cos i = sin (64)
Xs
Since the left side of Eqn. 64 is an expression for active power input and as the winding
resistance is assumed to be negligible this power input will also represent the electromagnetic
power developed, per phase, by the synchronous motor.
Thus,
Pin,ph = VT Ia cos i (65)

or
VT Ef
Pin,ph = sin (66)
Xs
Thus, for a three-phase synchronous motor,
Pin = 3 VT Ia cos i (67)

or
VT Ef
Pin = 3 sin (68)
Xs
Eqn. 66, called the synchronous-machine power equation, expresses the electro mag-
netic power developed per phase by a cylindrical-rotor motor, in terms of its excitation volt-
age and power angle. Assuming a constant source voltage and constant supply frequency,
Eqn. 65 and Eqn. 66 may be expressed as proportionalities that are very useful for analyzing
the behavior of a synchronous-motor:
P Ia cos (69)
P Ef sin (70)
82

jXs
Ia
To AC
VT Ef
source
Figure 54: Equivalent-circuit of a synchronous-motor, assuming armature resistance is neg-

ligible
VT

Efsin i
i jIaXs
Ia
IaXscosi
Ef
Figure 55: Phasor diagram model for a synchronous-motor, assuming armature resistance is
negligible
83

6.3.3 Effect of changes in load on armature current, power angle, and power
factor of synchronous motor
The effects of changes in mechanical or shaft load on armature current, power angle, and
power factor can be seen from the phasor diagram shown in Fig. 56; As already stated, the
applied stator voltage, frequency, and field excitation are assumed, constant. The initial
load conditions, are represented by the thick lines. The effect of increasing the shaft load
to twice its initial value are represented by the light lines indicating the new steady state
conditions. These are drawn in accordance with Eqn. 69 and Eqn. 70, when the shaft load
is doubled both Ia cos i and Ef sin are doubled. While redrawing the phasor diagrams
to show new steady-state conditions, the line of action of the new jIa Xs phasor must be
perpendicular to the new Ia phasor. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 56, if the excitation is
not changed, increasing the shaft load causes the locus of the Ef phasor to follow a circular
arc, thereby increasing its phase angle with increasing shaft load. Note also that an increase
in shaft load is also accompanied by a decrease in i ; resulting in an increase in power factor.
As additional load is placed on the machine, the rotor continues to increase its angle
2(Ia1cosi1)
Ia1cosi1
VT
2 1
i1 Xs
jI a1 Ef1sin1
s
Ef1
2X
i2
jIa
Ia1 Ia2 2(Ef1sin1)

Ef 2
r
aso
ph
Ef
of
cus
Lo
Figure 56: Phasor diagram showing effect of changes in shaft load on armature current,
power angle and power factor of a synchronous motor
of lag relative to the rotating magnetic field, thereby increasing both the angle of lag of
the counter EMF phasor and the magnitude of the stator current. It is interesting to note
that during all this load variation, however, except for the duration of transient conditions
84

whereby the rotor assumes a new position in relation to the rotating magnetic field, the
average speed of the machine does not change. As the load is being increased, a final point
is reached at which a further increase in fails to cause a corresponding increase in motor
torque, and the rotor pulls out of synchronism. In fact as stated earlier, the rotor poles at
this point, will fall behind the stator poles such that they now come under the influence of
like poles and the force of attraction no longer exists. Thus, the point of maximum torque
occurs at a power angle of approximately 90 for a cylindrical-rotor machine, as is indicated
by Eqn. 68. This maximum value of torque that causes a synchronous motor to pull out
of synchronism is called the pull-out torque. In actual practice, the motor will never be
operated at power angles close to 90 as armature current will be many times its rated value
at this load.
6.3.4 Effect of changes in field excitation on synchronous motor performance
Intuitively we can expect that increasing the strength of the magnets will increase the mag-
netic attraction, and thereby cause the rotor magnets to have a closer alignment with the
corresponding opposite poles of the rotating magnetic poles of the stator. This will obvi-
ously result in a smaller power angle. This fact can also be seen in Eqn. 68. When the shaft
load is assumed to be constant, the steady-state value of Ef sin must also be constant. An
increase in Ef will cause a transient increase in Ef sin , and the rotor will accelerate. As
the rotor changes its angular position, decreases until Ef sin has the same steady-state
value as before, at which time the rotor is again operating at synchronous speed, as it should
run only at the synchronous speed. This change in angular position of the rotor magnets
relative to the poles of rotating magnetic field of the stator occurs in a fraction of a second.
The effect of changes in field excitation on armature current, power angle, and power
factor of a synchronous motor operating with a constant shaft load, from a constant voltage,
constant frequency supply, is illustrated in Fig. 57. From Eqn. 69, we have for a constant
shaft load,
Ef 1 sin 1 = Ef 2 sin 2 = Ef 3 sin 3 = Ef sin (71)

This is shown in Fig. 57, where the locus of the tip of the Ef phasor is a straight line parallel
to the VT phasor. Similarly, from Eqn. 69, for a constant shaft load,
Ia1 cos i1 = Ia2 cos i2 = Ia3 cos i3 = Ia cos i (72)
This is also shown in Fig. 57, where the locus of the tip of the Ia phasor is a line
85

Ia3
Locus of
Ia phasor
jIa2Xs
i3 i2 jIa3Xs
VT
Ia2 1 2 3 jIa1Xs
i1
Efsin
Ia1 Ef1 Ef2 Ef3
Locus of Ef phasor
IaCosi
Figure 57: Phasor diagram showing effect of changes in field excitation on armature current,
power angle and power factor of a synchronous motor
86

perpendicular to the VT phasor.
Note that increasing the excitation from Ef 1 to Ef 3 in Fig. 57 caused the phase angle
of the current phasor with respect to the terminal voltage VT (and hence the power factor)
to go from lagging to leading. The value of field excitation that results in unity power factor
is called normal excitation. Excitation greater than normal is called over excitation, and
excitation less than normal is called under excitation. Furthermore, as indicated in Fig. 57,
when operating in the overexcited mode, |Ef | > |VT |. In fact a synchronous motor operating
under over excitation condition is sometimes called a synchronous condenser.
6.3.5 V curves
Curves of armature current vs. field current (or excitation voltage to a different scale) are
called V curves, and are shown in Fig. 58 for typical values of synchronous motor loads. The
curves are related to the phasor diagram in Fig. 57, and illustrate the effect of the variation
of field excitation on armature current and power factor for typical shaft loads. It can be
easily noted from these curves that an increase in shaft loads require an increase in field
excitation in order to maintain the power factor at unity.
The locus of the left most point of the V curves in Fig. 58 represents the stability
limit ( = 90 ). Any reduction in excitation below the stability limit for a particular load
will cause the rotor to pullout of synchronism.
The V curves shown in Fig. 58 can be determined experimentally in the laboratory by

varying If at a constant shaft load and noting Ia as If is varied. Alternatively the V curves
shown in Fig. 58 can be determined graphically by plotting |Ia |vs.|Ef | from a family of phasor
diagrams as shown in Fig. 57, or from the following mathematical expression for the V curves
(Ia Xs )2 = VT2 + Ef2 2VT Ef cos (73)

p
= VT2 + Ef2 2VT Ef 1 sin2
q
= VT2 + Ef2 2 VT2 Ef2 VT2 Ef2 sin2
r
1 q
Ia = 2
. VT2 + Ef2 2 VT2 Ef2 Xs2 .Pin,ph (74)
Xs
87

Eqn. 74 is based on the phasor diagram and the assumption that Ra is negligible. It is to
be noted that instability will occur, if the developed torque is less than the shaft load plus
friction and windage losses, and the expression under the square root sign will be negative.
The family of V curves shown in Fig. 58 represent computer plots of Eqn. 74, by tak-
ing the data pertaining to a three-phase 10 hp synchronous motor i.e Vph = 230V and
Xs = 1.2/phase.
160
oad
PF
dl
ty
140 e
rat
ni
U
0%
Armature current Ia A/phase
15 oad
120 t e dl
ra
Stability limit 0%
10
100
80
oad
e dl
rat
60 %
50
lagging Leading
40
power power factor
ad
factor
lo
20
o
N
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
Excitation voltage Ef V/phase
Figure 58: Family of representative V curves for a synchronous motor
6.3.6 Synchronous-motor losses and efficiency
The flow of power through a synchronous motor, from stator to rotor and then to shaft
output, is shown in Fig. 59. As indicated in the power-flow diagram, the total power loss for
the motor is given by
Ploss = Pscl + Pcore + Pf cl + Pf,w + Pstray W (75)

where:
Pscl = stator-copper loss
Pf cl = fie1d-copper.loss
Pcore = core loss
88

Pf,w = friction and windage loss

Pstray = stray load loss
Except for the transient conditions that occur when the field current is increased or de-
creased (magnetic energy stored or released), the total energy supplied to the field coils is
constant and all of it is consumed as I 2 R losses in the field winding. Just as in the case of
the synchronous generator, the overall efficiency of a synchronous motor is given by
Pshaf t Pshaf t
= = (76)
Pin + Pf ield Pshaf t + Ploss
Generally, the nameplates of synchronous motors and manufacturers specification

sheets customarily provide the overall efficiency for rated load and few load conditions only.
Hence, only the total losses at these loads can be determined. The separation of losses into the
components listed in Eqn. 75 needs a very involved test procedure in the laboratory. However,
a closer approximation of the mechanical power developed can be calculated by subtracting
the copper losses of the armature and field winding if these losses can be calculated. The
shaft power can then be calculated subtracting the mechanical losses from the mechanical
power developed.
Pfield
Pshaft
N
or
Pin
ot
R
S
Pgap Pstray
Pscl Pfcl Pf,w
Pcore
Figure 59: Power flow diagram for a synchronous motor
89

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Electrical Machines I Prof. Krishna Vasudevan, Prof. G. Sridhara Rao, Prof. P.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

In spite of the apparent diversity in the characteristics, the underlying princi-

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1.1 Basic principles

1. Electric circuit laws - Kirchof f s Laws

2. Magnetic circuit law - Ampere s Law

3. Law of electromagnetic induction - F araday s Law

4. Law of electromagnetic interaction -BiotSavart s Law

1.1.1 Law of electro magnetic induction

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Figure 1: Faradays law of Induction

appears across the terminals. This is termed as a transformer emf.

d d(Bm .L.X.N. cos t) dX

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Application of Faradays law according to Case(iii) above for electro mechani-

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Figure 2: Law of induction-Generator action

In Case(i), the induced emf will be in such a direction as to cause a opposing

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Figure 3: Law of interaction- Motor action

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2 Principles of d.c. machines

These are discussed in sequence below.

2.1 Homopolar machines

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Figure 4: Homopolar Generator

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2.2 Hetero-polar d.c. generators

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Figure 5: Elementary hetro-polar machine

Figure 6: Two pole machine -With Gramme ring type armature

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Fig. 5 shows an elementary hetero-polar, 2-pole machine and one-coil arma-

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Another important observation from the working principle of a heterogeneous

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Substituting in equation Eqn. 9,

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will be discussed later under the section on the armature windings.

2.2.1 Torque production

which gives torque T as

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uniform field of flux density B carrying a current Ic is proportional to B,L and Ic .

Fc = B.L.Ic Newton (15)

Pconv = .2p.Z.Ic .n watts (17)

2.2.2 Motoring operation of a d.c. machine

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3 Constructional aspects of d.c. machines

Figure 7: Exploded view of D.C.Machine

machine is shown in Fig. 7.

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4. Commutator and brush gear

7. Other mechanical parts

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and the need of such windings will be discussed later on.

Figure 8: Cylindrical type commutator-a longitudinal section

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Brush holder box