Electrical Machines Lab-II

5. REGULATION OF THREE-PHASE ALTERNATOR BY

SYNCHRONOUS IMPEDANCE METHOD

AIM: To determine the regulation of a 3-phase alternator by using synchronous impedance

method.

NAME PLATE DETAILS:

Motor Alternator
Type Shunt Motor Salient Pole
Rated Voltage 220V 415V
Rated Current 19A 4.2A
Rated Power 5H.P. 3KVA
Rated Speed 1500rpm 1500rpm
Field Voltage 220V 220V(DC)
Field Current 1A 1.4A

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
S.No. Name of the apparatus Range Type Quantity
1. Voltmeter (0-300)V MI 1
2. Ammeter (0-5)A MI 1
3. Ammeter (0-2)A MC 1
4. Rheostat 300 /2A Wire wound 1
5. Tachometer (0-3000)rpm Digital 1
6 DC Excitation Unit 220/2A(d.c) 1
7 Connecting wires -- -- required

GENERAL THEORY:

Voltage regulation:
The voltage regulation of an alternator is defined as the raise in voltage from no load to
full load (field excitations and speed remaining the same) divided by the rated terminal
voltage.
Percentage regulation drop up is

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 Electrical Machines Lab-II

% =

Where E0 and V are respectively the no load voltage and full load voltage.
Regulation by Synchronous impedance Method:
This method gives inconsistent results for voltage regulation, because it introduces the
concept of synchronous reactance. This procedure can be applied to cylindrical rotor
synchronous machines only because the resultant air gap flux r is not affected by the
angular position of the rotor. The iron part of the magnetic circuit is assumed to have constant
permeability i.e .Saturation is neglected.
All these methods required
a. Armature/Stator Resistance Ra
b. Open circuit/No-Load Characteristics (O.C.C)
c. Short Circuit Characteristics (S.C.C)

(a) Armature/Stator Resistance Ra

Armature resistance for phase can be measure directly by voltmeter and ammeter
method or by using Wheatstone bridge. However under working conditions the
effective value of Ra is increased due to Skin Effect .the Value of Ra so obtained is
increased by 60% or so to allow for this effect. Generally a value 1.6 tine the Dc value
is taken
Effective Armature resistance=1.6Ra (DC)

(b) OCC (Open circuit characteristics):

OCC is plotted from the given data as shown in fig as in dc machines; this is plotted
by running the machine on no load and by noting the values of induced voltage and
field excitation current it is just like B- H curve.

(c) S.C.C (Short circuit characteristics)

S.C.C is drawn from the data given by the short ckt test as shown in the fig. it is
obtained by short circuiting the armature (stator) windings through a low resistance
ammeter. The excitation is so adjusted as to give the rated full load current.

Both these O.C.C & S.C.C curves are drawn on a common field current base. At rated field
current if of the alternator, draw a horizontal line which intersects the S.C.C at a point. Now

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 Electrical Machines Lab-II

draw a perpendicular on to the X- axis from this point which gives the necessary field current
for O.C voltage E1. It may be assumed that the whole of this voltage E1is being used to
circulate the armature short circuit current I1 against the synchronous impedance Zs
=
( )
=
( )

=
Since Ra can be found as discussed earlier, the synchronous reactance Xs is given by O.C and
S.C characteristic of alternator.
Knowing Ra and Xs, phasor diagram can be drawn for any load.
No load voltage Eo is given by

= ( + ) + ( )

+ for lagging p.f

- for leading p.f

When Vph is the rated terminal voltage per phase and IL is the rated load current per phase
cos is power factor.

FORMULAE:-

=


=

From O.C.C & S.C.C graph
=
(. )
=
(. )
=

=

= ( + ) + ( )

% =

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

OSERVATION:
O.C. Test
Field Current(If) No-Load Voltage (Vo)
S.NO
(Amps) (Volts)

S.C.Test
Field Current(If) Short Ckt current(Isc)
S.NO
(Amps) (amps)

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 Electrical Machines Lab-II

Circuit Diagram for finding armature resistance:

S.No. Voltage(V) Current(I) Ra = V/I *1.6

PROCEDURE:
1. Make the connections as per the circuit diagram.
2. Give the supply to the dc-motor by using the DPST switch.
3. Start the dc-motor with the help of starter.
4. By adjusting the field rheostat, bring the motor at rated speed of alternator.

O.C.-Test
1. Initially opening the Stator (Armature) of the alternator
2. Adjusting the excitation gradually upto rated voltage of alternator
3. Note down voltmeter & ammeter readings till the 125% of the rated voltage.

S.C.Test:
1. Short circuit the open terminals of the alternator by thick wire.
2. Gradually increase the excitation current and take both ammeters readings.
3. Repeat the above procedure till the 125% of the rated current.

OBSERVATIONS FOR REGULATION:

cos sin Eo (Lag) % Regulation Eo (Lead) % Regulation

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EXPECTED GRAPH:

RESULT:

VIVA QUESTIONS
1. What happens if excitation is changed.
2. When load is increased on a synchronous motor, does the speed fall like an induction
motor? If not, explain how the load torque is produced.
3. What is Potier triangle.
4. What are the different types of field constructions in a Synchronous machines.

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