Lesson 30:

AC Generators I

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 Learning Objectives
• Understand the operation of a single phase two pole AC generator.
• Describe the operation of a simple AC generator.
• Identify and define the components of a three phase two pole AC
generator to include rotor, stator, armature. field windings, slip rings
and brushes.
• Understand the effects of applying a DC voltage power supply to a
two pole rotor's field windings via brushes and slip rings.
• Understand the induced effects that result from rotating the rotor's
electromagnetic field past the armatures (Faraday's Law).
• Given the armature coil sequence and their physical location, plot the
induced AC voltages for a three phase two pole AC generator as a
function of time and as phasors.
• Understand the relationship between the number of poles and rpm of
the rotor to the induced AC current's frequency.

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 Producing Electricity
• A generator is a machine that converts mechanical
energy into electrical energy.
− Motors and generators perform exactly the opposite
function.
− However, motors and generator are essentially the same
device.

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 Advantages of AC Power

• Motors:
− AC is ‘natural’ for rotary motors.
• Voltage Transformation:
− AC transformers allow efficient changing of voltage to
enable better power transmission.
• Power Transmission:
− AC power can be transmitted hundreds of miles.
− DC transmission limited to ~1 mile.

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 Motor to Generator: Rotating DC
• Armature current (Ia) produces
force (Fd) in the armature causing
rotation.
• What if we remove the voltage
source (VT) and we provided the
torque?

Equivalent circuit representation

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 Basic Single-Phase AC Generator
• Turning the armature results in
induced emf (eAA ) across the load
(Faraday’s Law).
• The voltage eAA will be single
phase AC given as:
eAA = Vm sin t [V, volts]
• What determines ?  Rotor

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 Three-Phase AC Generator
• What if we added two additional armature coils?

Single Phase
Three Phase

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 Three-Phase AC Generator

• The three-phase generator has voltages as a function of time:

eAA  Vm sin t
eBB  Vm sin(t  120 )
eCC   Vm sin(t  120 )

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 Three-Phase AC Generator

• Phasor representation of the three-phase generator:

Vm
E AA   0
2
Vm
E BB    120
2
Vm
ECC     120
2

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 Phase Sequence
• The phase sequence is the time order in which the
voltages pass through their respective maximum
values.
• Phase sequence is important because it determines the
direction of rotation of a connected motor.

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 Positive Phase Sequence (ABC)
• The ABC sequence or positive sequence, is produced when the
generator rotates counter-clockwise.

Vm
E AA  0
eAA  Vm sin  t 2
Vm
eBB  Vm sin(t  120 ) E BB '    120
2

eCC   Vm sin(t  120 ) Vm
ECC '    120
2
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 Negative Phase Sequence (ACB)
• The ACB or negative sequence, is produced when the generator rotates
clockwise.

Vm
E AA  0
eAA  Vm sin t 2
Vm
eCC   Vm sin(t  120 ) ECC     120
2

eBB  Vm sin(t  120 ) Vm
E BB    120
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 Large AC Generator
• Unlike the generator model with a fixed magnetic field and rotating
armature, it is more practical to fix the armature windings and rotate
the magnetic field on large generators.
• Rotating armatures require brushes and slip rings to conduct current from the
armature to the load.
• The fixed armature advantage is that the generated voltage can be
connected directly to the load with no slip rings or brushes.
• The voltage applied to generate the rotating field is a small DC
voltage called the field excitation voltage.

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 Generator Stator
• The stator is the stationary part of induction motor. A stator
winding is placed in the stator of induction motor and the
three phase supply is given to it.
• Stator is slotted with integer multiple of 6 slots.
• Three pairs of slots contain identical coils of wire, each with
NS turns.
• These windings are called the armature.

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 Generator Rotor
• Rotor contains rotating electromagnet called the field
winding and is connected to the mechanical load through a
shaft.
• The electromagnet is powered by a DC current via slip rings
and brushes.
• Unlike in the DC motor application, brushes are not
commutating and are not as subject to wear (less friction).

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 Slip Rings
• Allow DC current to flow to the field windings on the rotor
to produce the magnetic field.

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 Generator Output

• The amplitude of voltage output is a function of the

http://people.ece.umn.edu/users/riaz/animations/alternator.html

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 Generator Frequency

• The frequency f (in Hz) of the AC voltage is a function of

 2 
rotor    2 f (rad/sec)
 Poles 
120 f
NP  (RPM)
Poles

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 Synchronous Speed

• Synchronous Speed (speed of rotation of B) versus

P
2 4 6 8 10
(poles)

N
3600 1800 1200 900 720
(RPM)

120 f
N [RPM]
P
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 Example Problem 1
a) For a 4 pole, 60 HZ generator, what is the speed in rpm of the rotor?
b) What would be the frequency of a 6 pole machine spinning at the
same rpm? 90 Hz

120 f
a) N P  (RPM)
Poles
120(60 Hz )
NP  =1800 RPM
4

120 f
b) N P  (RPM)
Poles
N P ( Poles ) (1800RPM)(6)
f  = =90 Hz
120 120
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QUESTIONS?

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