EE-4012 (Marine Electrical Engineering)
Chapter 6
Alternators
1. What is the basic principle on which alternator functions? Explain with a
suitable diagram. Write short notes on the various components of a basic
alternator. How are they classified according to their construction?
Basic Principle of alternator
The operation of a generator is that it relies on the principle that whenever
there is mutual cutting between a conductor and a magnetic field, a resulting
electromotive force will be induced in the conductor. The flow of induced EMF is not
at random; it is governed by the direction of motion of the conductor(s) with respect
to the field and can be found from Fleming’s Right Hand Rule.
Basic Components of Alternator
Field Winding- is supplied with DC to create magnetic field
Armature Winding- at which emf is induced.
Stator- Stationary part
Rotor- Rotating part
Exciter- the device used to excite the field of alternator
Prime mover- mechanical energy is provided from the prime mover
Slip rings- slip rings are electrical connections that are used to transfer power to and
from the rotor of the alternator
There are two types of alternators depending on construction:
(1) Rotating field type and
(2) Rotating armature type
2. Why is AC generator constructed with a stationary armature and revolving
field?
A rotating armature alternator requires slip rings and brushes to connect the
high output voltage and current from the armature to the load. The armature, brushes,
and slip rings are difficult to insulate. Arc-over and short circuits can result at high
voltages and maintenance is costly in the long run for these types.
The rotating field alternator has a stationary armature winding and a rotating
field winding. This is the most common type of small generator in use today. The
advantage of having a stationary armature is that the generated EMF can be connected
directly and permanently to the load. There are no sliding connections (slip rings and
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brushes) to carry the heavy output current and hence maintenance is reduced to a great
extent.
3. What is the relationship between speed, frequency and poles?
Let p= total no. of poles
N= rotating speed of a rotor in rpm
f= frequency of generated e.m.f in Hz
Since one cycle of e.m.f is produced when a pair of poles passes a conductor.
The number of cycles of e.m.f produced in one revolution of the rotor is equal to the
number of pole pairs.
No. of cycles per revolution = P/2
No. of revolution per second = N/60
no . of cycles no . of revolution
No. of cycles/second = x
revolution second
p N
f= x
2 160
Np
f= Hz
120
120 f
N=
p
4. List the factors of speed that will determine the output frequency.
For producing a frequency of 50Hz, the alternators have to run at the following
speeds.
No. of poles 2 4 6 12 24
Speed(rpm) 3000 1500 1000 500 250
For producing a frequency of 60Hz, the alternators have to run at the following
speeds.
No. of poles 2 4 6 12 24
Speed(rpm) 3600 1800 1200 600 300
5. Differentiate between salient pole type rotor and cylindrical type.
Salient Pole type Rotor Cylindrical Rotor
1) Larger diameter 1) Smaller diameter
2) Shorter axial length 2) larger axial length
3) Poles are projected 3) No projections, smooth
cylindrical poles
4) Need damper winding 4) No need damper winding
5) Suitable for low-speed hydro 5) suitable for high-speed turbo
generator generator
6) Windage loss is higher 6) windage loss is lesser
6. Draw and explain a conventional shaft-generator system.
In this system the output from the shaft generator is directly coupled to the
main busbars which means that the output frequency is directly influenced by the
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main engine speed. For controllable-pitch-propellers (CPP) the main engine speed and
thus the frequency are almost constant.
Typically, the frequency range would be 59 to 61 Hz with a rough sea
tolerance of ±2 Hz. This frequency range is wider for the fixed pitch propeller - from
about 55 to 61 Hz. The frequency variation prevents parallel operation with auxiliary
generators and changeover during a blackout situation is necessary. The range of
engine speeds within which the shaft generator can be operated is generally 90% to
100% of the normal value. It is positioned directly in the shaft line, between the main
engine and propeller.
Fig: Conventional Shaft generator system
7. What is the significance of shaft generators? How are they classified?
Shaft-driven alternators on board ships are alternators driven by the main engine to
supply power to the mains. They are also known as ‘Shaft Alternators’ or just ‘Shaft
Generators’. The mains must be supplied with constant voltage and frequency by the
shaft alternator even at changing speeds of the main engine. Shaft alternators on board
ships as system for especially economic power generation are provided for decades on
modem ships due to their many advantages.
Even in ships with controllable pitch propellers, it is more economical to use a shaft
alternator system with a frequency converter to compensate for variable speed.
Auxiliary diesel-driven generators, which run continuously for twenty-four hours a
day both at sea and in a port, can be expensive in terms of the fuel cost and
maintenance requirements.
A generator drive taken from the main propulsion system reduces maintenance by
avoiding the use of an auxiliary diesel at sea.
The shaft-driven machine can be of a large enough capacity to take the full at-sea
electrical load. While manoeuvring, power for the bow thruster is provided by the
main engine-driven alternator on some ships, with power for auxiliaries being
provided at that time by two diesel sets. At sea, when the bow thruster is shut down
and auxiliary load is transferred to the main-engine-driven alternator, the diesel
engines are stopped. They are classified into the conventional type and the constant
frequency type:
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8. With a suitable diagram explain the role of a static frequency converter in a
shaft generator system.
Output from the alternator is delivered to the electrical system through a static
converter. The converter accepts a range of generated frequencies but delivers a
supply at the frequency required by the system. Static frequency converters have been
developed for use with shaft alternators where the speed range extends from 40% to
100% of the rated speed of the main engine.
The a.c. shaft generator itself is a synchronous machine, which produces
alternating current with a frequency that is dictated by variations in engine speed. At
maximum r.p.m., the frequency may match that of the electrical system. The output is
delivered to the static converter, which has two main parts. The first part is a 3-phase
rectifier bridge to change the shaft generator output from alternating to direct current.
The second part is an inverter to change the d.c. back to alternating current, at the
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correct frequency.
Fig: Shaft Generator with a static Frequency Converter
9. In terms of excitation, how is a brushless alternator different from other
alternators? Explain with suitable sketches.
The brushless alternator is an alternator, in which, slip rings and brushes are
eliminated and excitation is provided not by a conventional direct current exciter but
by a small alternator within the set itself. There are no direct electrical connections
between the rotating and stationary windings of the generator.
The exciter has the unusual arrangement of three-phase output windings on the
rotor and magnetic poles fixed in the casing. The casing pole-coils are supplied with
direct current from a static automatic voltage regulator. Three-phase current generated
in the windings on the exciter rotor passes through a rectifier assembly on the shaft
and then to the main alternator poles. No slip rings are needed.
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Fig: A brushless alternator’s circuit diagram
10. What is the meaning of residual magnetism? State reasons for residual
magnetism loss.
The quantity of magnetism retained by a magnetic material after withdraw of
the magnetizing force is called residual magnetism. Residual magnetism exists in all
ferrous metals that have had a current carried around it.
Reasons for residual magnetism loss are:
1) Reverse power
2) Long time no use
3) Serious vibration
4) Overheating/ Overcooling
5) Renew winding
6) Influence by other strong magnetic field
11. What is a synchronous condenser? Where and why is it used?
A synchronous motor running without mechanical load and supplying or
absorbing leading reactive power. It is used for the purpose of power factor
improvement. The use of induction motor onboard a ship is mainly responsible for
reducing the system’s power factor. A synchronous motor when over-excited operates
at a leading power factor. Because of the unique property, it can be used to improve
the power factor of a system that is working at low (lagging) power factor.
12. What is the main reason for power factor reduction onboard a ship? How
important is this to the ship’s electrical system?
The use of induction motor onboard a ship is mainly responsible for reducing the
system’s power factor. More current is required for supplying a given power at a low
power factor than a high power factor. An increase in the system current caused by
low power factor leads to increase power losses thus reducing the efficiency of the
system as a whole and a large voltage drop makes the voltage regulation of generator
transformers and transmission lines poor.
13. What is likely to happen if one of the rotating diodes of a brushless generator’s
excitation system fails?
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1) If an open circuit occurs in any diodes, the remaining healthy diodes would
continue to supply the main field. In the manual control mode, the total field
current and hence the generator voltage will be slightly reduced. But when the
AVR controls the exciter field, the current would be automatically boosted to
maintain the generator output voltage when the diode failure may probably go
undetected but this will gradually overheat the exciter.
2) If the diode has short circuits, it is far more serious as it leads to a short-circuited
exciter. Rapid overheating of the exciter will occur.
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