SIGMA INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING

AC MACHINES
SUBJECT CODE: 2140906
B.E. 4TH Semester Electrical

CONSTRUCTION &WORKING OF ALTERNATOR

Prepared by : Guided By:

1. MEHUL .Y. PATEL (120500109021) MR. DEEP THANKI

2. VIRAL .L. KHAT (120500109029) (Assistant professor)
Electrical
3. VEDANT .N. RAVAL (120500109042)
SIE,BAKROL,VADODARA.
4. JIGAR .J. PATELIYA (120500109033)
5. ANKIT .J. PATEL (120500109063)
6. MAHAVIR .P. CHAUHAN (120500109010)
 OUTLINE 0F PRESENTATION

• Introduction
• Construction

a) Stator

b) Rotor

c) Exciter

• Working
 INTRODUCTION

• Electrical Energy is almost generated , transmitted and

distributed in the form of AC . The AC system is preferred over
dc system due to the following:
a) In ac system ,the power can be generated at high
voltages by using three phase alternator.
b) The AC voltages ca be stepped-up or down by using
transformer . This permit to transmit power at high
voltages and high efficiency
c) The maintenance of AC substation is easy and cheaper.
3 –phase alternator are used for the generation of
Electrical Energy.
• Synchronous machines
include synchronous
generator or alternator and
synchronous motor.
a) Alternator:
An electric machine which
generates Electrical Energy
in the form of AC is known
as Alternator
b) Synchronous motor:
A Synchronous motor is
convert electrical power in
to mechanical power while
rotating at a constant equal
to synchronous speed.
CONSTRUCTION

• Figure shows the construction of a 3

phase alternator
• An Alternator consists of two main
parts :
1. Stator and ,
2. Rotor
1. Stator :
The stator is the stationary part of
the alternator. It consists of stator
core and 3 phase AC distributed
winding in which emf is generated.
• The stator core is made of
laminated stampings with slots on
its circumference to receive the
armature winding.
• This stampings are made of silicone
steel , insulated from each other
with varnish and housed in the
yoke consisting of magnetic
material ,such as cast iron or
silicone steel.
• In order to reduce eddy current
losses , the stator core is laminated.
2. Rotor:

• The rotor is rotating part of the

alternator .It produce the main
magnetic field .
• The rotor carries the field winding . A
direct current is passed to the field
winding through two slip rings from
the dc source(exciter).
• The rotor is like a flywheel having
alternate N and S poles fixed to its
outer rim.
• It has rotating magnetic poles which are separately excited
from a dc source known as exciter.
• Because of field magnets are rotating , a dc current is supplied
through two slip rings.

3. Exciter:

• An alternator has a field winding on rotor , this needs dc

excitation current.
• The change in excitation current results in the change in
terminal voltage.
• The function of the exciter is to supply and regulate the field
current and thereby control the power factor and the terminal
voltage of alternator
• The exciter is small dc shunt or compound dynamo which is
fixed at one end of the alternator shaft .

• A dc current from the exciter is supplied to the field winding

of rotor through two slip rings fixed on the shaft of the
alternator.

• The voltage rating of the exciter usually 110V to 600V.

• At present large alternators are using brushless excitation

systems.
• The 3 phase AC output of the exciter generator is rectified to
dc by rectifier circuit mounted on the shaft of the generator.

• The output of the rectifier is connected to the dc field winding

of the rotor.

• Due to the absence of slip rings and brushes , this excitation

system requires very less maintenance.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE

• The basic principle of alternator is to convert mechanical

power from a prime mover to ac electric power at specified
voltage and frequency.

• An alternator operates on the same fundamental principle of

Electromagnetic induction as dc generator.

• It is also consists of armature winding mounted on the stator

and a megnatic field.
• But there is one important difference between a dc generator
and alternator is that , in dc generator , the armature is
rotating and the field system is stationary.

• In the alternators ,the armature is stationary and the field

system is rotating.

• An alternator has a 3 phase AC distributed winding on stator

and dc field winding on rotor .
• When the rotor is rotated by a prime mover , the stator
conductor are cut by the magnetic flux of rotating field
system, hence an emf of alternating nature is induce in the
stator conductors.

• The frequency of the induced emf depends upon the number

of rotor poles and rotor speed

• The direction of the induced emf is given by Flemings right

hand rule.
THANKS