Synchronous Generator and Alternator
Formulas & Equations
Electrical Technology
1 2 minutes read
Alternator and Synchronous Generator Formulas & Equations
The following synchronous generator & alternator formulas and equations can be used
to design, simplify, and analyze the basic AC generators circuits to determine the
generated voltage and EMF, speed & frequency, efficiency, voltage & current,
generated power and losses etc.
Table of Contents
EMF Equation of Synchronous Generator
Output Electrical Frequency & Speed:
Voltage Generated:
o Total Phase Voltage:
o Three Phase Terminal Voltage:
Power of Synchronous Generator:
Voltage Regulation:
Efficiency:
EMF Equation of Synchronous Generator
RMS value of generated EMF per phase
VRMS = 1.11 x 4fΦT
VRMS = 4.44fΦT Volts
Actual generated voltage per phase
VPH = 4.44 Kc Kd f ΦTPH
VPH = 4.44 Kf Kc Kd f ΦT Volts
Where:
V = Generated voltage per phase
KC = Pitch Factor or Coil Span Factor
KD = Distribution Factor
Kf = Form Factor
T = Number of turns per Phase
f = Frequency
Related Posts
EMF Equation of an Alternator & Synchronous Generator
Equation of a DC Motor
EMF Equation of a Transformer
Output Electrical Frequency & Speed:
Where
fe = Electrical frequency
Nr = speed of rotor in RPM
P = Number of poles
Voltage Generated:
Ea = KΦaNs
Where
K = constant representing the construction of machine
= magnetic Flux per pole of the rotor
Φa
Ns = synchronous speed of the rotor
Total Phase Voltage:
VΦ = Ea – jXsIa – RaIa
Where
Xs = Synchronous reactance of machine
Ia = Armature current
Ra = Armature resistance
Three Phase Terminal Voltage:
Power of Synchronous Generator:
Where
Tapp = Torque applied
Tind = Torque induced in rotor
ωr = mechanical speed of rotor
Voltage Regulation:
Where
Vnl = Voltage at no load
Vfl = Voltage at full load
Efficiency:
η = (POUT / PIN) * 100%
PIN = POUT + PCu + PIron + PMech + PStray
Where:
η = Generator effeminacy
PIN = Input power
POUT = Output power
Cu + Iron + Mech + Stray = copper, iron, mechanical & stray losses in a
generator.
EMF Equation of an Alternator and
Synchronous Generator
Electrical Technology
5 2 minutes read
EMF Equation of an Alternator and AC Generator
An alternator or AC generator (also known as synchronous generator or
dynamo) is a device which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
When we supply the magnetizing current by DC shunt generator through two slip rings
(in recent alternators, they use electronic starting system instead of slip rings and
commutators) because the field magnets are rotating. keep in mind that most
alternators use a rotating magnetic field with a stationary armature.
When the rotor rotates, the stator conductors which are static in case of alternator cut
by magnetic flux , they have induced EMF produced in them (according to Faraday’s
law of electromagnetic induction which states that if a conductor or coil links with any
changing flux, there must be an induced EMF in it.
Note: We will discuss the construction, working & operation, types of Alternators in
details in our next posts.
This induced EMF can be found by the EMF equation of the alternator which as
follow:
Lets,
P = No. of poles
Z = No. of conductors or Coil sides in series/phase i.e. Z = 2T…Where T is the number
of coils or turns per phase (Note that one turn or coil has two ends or sides)
f = frequency of induced EMF in Hz
Φ = Flux per pole (Weber)
N = rotor speed (RPM)
Kd= Distribution factor =
Where Distribution factor = Kd =
Kc or KP = Cos α/2
If induced EMF is assumed sinusoidal then,
Kf = Form factor = 1.11
In one revolution of the rotor i.e. in 60/N seconds, each conductor is cut by a flux
of ΦP Webers.
dΦ = ΦP and also dΦ = 60/N seconds
then induced E.M.F per conductor ( average) = ….. (i)
But we know that:
f = PN / 120 or N= 120f / P
Putting the value of N in Equation (i), we get,
Average value of EMF per conductor = ∴ (N= 120f/P)
If there are Z conductors in series per phase,
then synchronous generator average E.M.F per phase = 2 f Φ Z Volts = 4 f ΦT Volts ….. (Z =
2T)
Also we know that;
Form Factor = RMS Value / Average Value
= RMS value = Form Factor x Average Value,
VAV = 1.11 x 4fΦT = 4.44fΦT Volts.
(Note that is exactly the same equation as the EMF equation of the transformer)
And the actual available voltage of generator per phase
VPH = 4.44 KC KD f ΦTPH
V = 4.44 Kf KC KD f ΦT Volts.
Where:
V = Actual generated Voltage per phase
KC = Coil Span Factor or Pitch Factor
KD = Distribution Factor
Kf = Form Factor
f = frequency
T = Number of coils or number of turns per phase
Note: If alternator or AC generator is star connected as usually the case, then the Line
Voltage is √3 times the phase voltage as derived from the above equation.
