What is the Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Generator

Hi friends, I hope all of you are fine. In today’s tutorial, we are gonna have a look at the Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Generator and how it describes the different parameters of synchronous generator. As we know that there are 2 fields exists in the synchronous generator first one is the rotor field and the other one is stator. The field at the rotor produces the rotating magnetic field at the stator or armature windings. The voltage induced at the stator is also called internal generated voltage (E_A).

Similarly, the current moving in stator windings (armature) also produces a voltage in the stator. In today’s post, we will relates these two voltages and study the effect on the generator and construct the equivalent circuitry of the synchronous generator. So, let’s get started with the what is the equivalent circuit of synchronous generator.

What is the Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Generator

• The voltage (E_A) is the voltage produced at a single phase of the synchronous generator.
• But this is not the voltage that we get normally at output points of the generator.
• The internal generated voltage (E_A) can be equal to the phase voltage (V_ø) when there is no armature current is moving through the generator.

• There are some factors that explain why the internally generated voltage is not like the phase voltage (V_ø).
  • The structure (shape) of the salient poles rotor.
  • The self-inductance of the stator (armature) windings.
  • The armature reaction.
  • The resistance offered by the armature windings.

What is Armature Reaction

• We study that there are 4 main facts that affect the internally generated voltage of the synchronous generator. The armature reaction is the main factor that largely effect the voltage we discuss it with the detailed.
• When the rotor of the generator rotates, the field of the dc voltage at the rotor produced the voltage (E_A) in the armature winding of the stator.
• If there is load connected with the output terminals of the generator, then the current will flow through the armature windings of the stator.
• This current will have its separate field, this field will interact with the field of the rotor and effect the internal generated voltage (E_A). This phenomenon is called armature reaction.
• To study the armature reaction, you can see in the given diagram there is a rotor that has 2 poles and rotating in the 3-phase stator.
• At the stator, there is no load connected. The field of the rotor B_R generates the E_A internal voltage at the stator.
• As there is no load connected to generator there will be no armature current and the E_A will equal to the V_ø.
• The given diagram shows the assembly of no-load rotor.

• If we connect the inductive load with the generator, the maximum current lags the maximum voltage. You can observe this fact from the figure.
• The current passing through the stator windings will generate a field in the stator. It is denoted as B_S and its direction can be fined by the right-hand rule and is shown in a given diagram

• The field of the stator (B_S) will generate a voltage in the stator and this voltage is represented in the figure as E_stat.
• As there are two voltages at the stator first is the internal generated voltage E_A and other voltage due to armature reaction E_stat.
• So, the total phase voltage at the terminals of the generator will the sum of these two voltages.

Vø = E_A + E_stat

• The total field at B_net is the sum of the stator and the rotor fields.

B_net =B_R +B_s

• As the angles of the E_A and B_R are identical and the angles of the Ea and Bs are also similar. So, the resultant field (B_net) will overlap with the total voltage at generator Vø.
• You can see the resultant voltages and currents in a given figure.

Equivalent Circuit of Synchronous Generator

• To understand the construction of circuit, first, we should keep in mind that stator voltage is E_stat ninety-degree lag behind the peak current I_A.
• 2^nd thing is to keep in mind that the stator voltage E_stat is directly proportionate to the armature current I_A.
• Let’s suppose that ‘X’ is constant, then the voltage produced due to the armature reaction will be written as.

E_stat = -jXI_A

• The voltage at output terminal of the generator will be.

Vø = E_A – jXI_A

• See the given circuitry.
• If we apply kvl at this circuitry the value of voltage will be.

V_ø = E_A – jXI_A

• This equation is like the equation that describes phase voltage of the generator.
• So, the voltage of the armature reaction can be displayed like an inductor in series with E_A.
• The windings of the stator have some value of their self-resistance and reactance. If the resistance is denoted as R_A and reactance X_A then the difference between the internal generated voltage E_A and phase voltage is given as.

V_ø = E_A – jXI_A – JX_AI_A– R_AI_A

• The armature reaction and self-inductance of the generator are denoted as reactance’s, so these are written as single reactance and named as the synchronous reactance of the generator.

X_S= X + X_A

• So, the final equation for the phase voltage will be given as.

V_ø= E_A – jX_sI_A– R_AI_A

• The equivalent circuitry of the 3-phase synchronous generator is given here.
• You can see from the figure that the direct current power supply is connected with the field circuitry of the rotor.
• The field circuitry of the rotor is shown by an inductance of the winding and resistance in series.

• In field circuitry there is an R_adj is a variable resistor it governs the field current.
• The other part of the circuitry has the circuits for the 3 phases of the stator.
• Every phase circuitry consists of the internal produced voltage E_A and the synchronous reactance and armature resistance R_A.
• All three phases have same magnitude but there current and voltage are one twenty degrees out of phase from each other.
• The 3 phases of stator can be connected in the wye or delta form. That are shown in given circuitry.
• pic
• If the connections are wye then the output voltage of the generator will be.

V_T = √3Vø

• If the connection is delta then the output voltage will be.

V_T = Vø

• As the 3 phases have same magnitude but different phase angle so the per-phase equivalent circuitry for a synchronous generator is shown below.

You can also read some related topics to synchronous generator that are listed here.

Introduction to Synchronous Generator

Synchronous Generator Phasor Diagram

Synchronous Generator Power and Torque

Synchronous Generator Parameters

Synchronous Generator Operating Alone

Synchronous Generator Parallel Operation

Synchronous Generator parallel with Large Power system

Synchronous Generator Parallel with same Size Generator

Synchronous Generator Ratings

Synchronous Generator Capability Curves

Synchronous Generator Transients

That’s all about the equivalent circuit of a synchronous generator if you have a query ask in comments thanks for reading. See you in the next tutorial Phasor Diagram of a Synchronous Generator