Armature Reaction in Alternator or Synchronous Generator

2/4/2017 ArmatureReactioninAlternatororSynchronousGenerator|Electrical4u
ArmatureReactioninAlternatororSynchronousGenerator
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Every rotating electrical machine works based on Faraday's law. Every electrical machine
requires a magnetic field and a coil (Known as armature) with a relative motion between
them. In case of an alternator, we supply electricity to pole to produce magnetic field and
outputpoweristakenfromthearmature.Duetorelativemotionbetweenfieldandarmature,
theconductorofarmaturescutthefluxofmagneticfieldandhencetherewouldbechanging
flux linkage with these armature conductors. According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic
induction there would be an emf induced in the armature. Thus, as soon as the load is
connectedwitharmatureterminals,thereisacurrentflowinginthearmaturecoil.Assoonas
current starts flowing through the armature conductor there is one reverse effect of this
currentonthemainfieldfluxofthealternator(orsynchronousgenerator).Thisreverseeffect
is referred as armature reaction in alternator or synchronous generator. In other
words the effect of armature (stator) flux on the flux produced by the rotor field poles is
calledarmaturereaction.
Wealreadyknowthatacurrentcarryingconductorproducesitsownmagneticfield,andthis
magneticfieldaffectsthemainmagneticfieldofthealternator.Ithastwoundesirableeffects,
eitheritdistortsthemainfieldoritreducesthemainfieldfluxorboth.Theydeterioratethe
performanceofthemachine.Whenthefieldgetsdistorted,itisknownascrossmagnetizing
effect.andwhenthefieldfluxgetsreduced,itisknownasdemagnetizingeffect.
The electromechanical energy conversion takes place through magnetic field as a medium.
Duetorelativemotionbetweenarmatureconductorsandthemainfield,anemfisinducedin
thearmaturewindingswhosemagnitudedependsupontherelativespeedandaswellasthe
magneticflux.Duetoarmaturereaction,fluxisreducedordistorted,thenetemfinducedis
alsoaffectedandhencetheperformanceofthemachinedegrades.
ArmatureReactioninAlternator
Inanalternatorlikeallothersynchronousmachines,theeffectofarmaturereactiondepends
on the power factor i.e the phase relationship between the terminal voltage and armature
current.
Reactivepower(lagging)isthemagneticfieldenergy,soifthegeneratorsuppliesalagging
load, this implies that it is supplying magnetic energy to the load. Since this power comes
from excitation of synchronous machine, the net reactive power gets reduced in the
generator.Hence,thearmaturereactionisdemagnetizinginnature.Similarly,thearmature
reactionhasmagnetizingeffectwhenthegeneratorsuppliesaleadingload(asleadingload
takestheleadingVAR)andinreturngiveslaggingVAR(magneticenergy)tothegenerator.
Incaseofpurelyresistiveload,thearmaturereactioniscrossmagnetizingonly.
Let'sdiscussindetails
Thearmaturereactionofalternatororsynchronousgenerator,dependsuponthephaseangle
between, stator armature current and induced voltage across the armature winding of
http://www.electrical4u.com/armaturereactioninsynchronousmachinealternator/ 1/4
alternator.
The phase difference between these two quantities, i.e. Armature current and voltage may
varyfrom90to+90
Ifthisangleis,then,
Tounderstandactualeffectofthisangleonarmaturereactionofalternator,wewillconsider
threestandardcases,
1.When=0
2.When=90
3.When=90
ArmatureReactionofAlternatoratUnityPowerFactor

Atunitypowerfactor,theanglebetweenarmaturecurrentIandinducedemfE,iszero.That
means,armaturecurrentandinducedemfareinsamephase.Butweknowtheoreticallythat
emf induced in the armature is due to changing main field flux, linked with the armature
conductor.
As field is excited by DC, the main field flux is constant in respect to field magnets, but it
wouldbealternatinginrespectofarmatureasthereisarelativemotionbetweenfieldand
armature in alternator. If main field flux of the alternator in respect of armature can be
representedas
TheninducedemfEacrossthearmatureisproportionalto,df/dt.
Hence,fromthisaboveequations(1)and(2)itisclearthat,theanglebetween,&phif and
inducedemfEwillbe90.
Now, armature flux a is proportional to armature current I. Hence, armature flux a is in
phasewitharmaturecurrentI.
AgainatunityelectricalpowerfactorIandEareinsamephase.Soatunitypf,a isphase
withE.Soatthiscondition,armaturefluxisinphasewithinducedemfEandfieldfluxisin
quadraturewithE.Hence,armaturefluxa isinquadraturewithmainfieldfluxf.
Asthistwofluxesareperpendiculartoeachother,thearmaturereactionofalternatorat
unitypowerfactorispurelydistortingorcrossmagnetizingtype.
Asthearmaturefluxpushesthemainfieldfluxperpendicularly,distributionofmainfieldflux
under a pole face does not remain uniformly distributed. The flux density under the trailing
poletipsincreasessomewhatwhileundertheleadingpoletipsitdecreases.
ArmatureReactionofAlternatoratLaggingZeroPowerFactor
Atlaggingzeroelectricalpowerfactor,thearmaturecurrentlagsby90toinducedemfinthe
armature.
Astheemfinducedinthearmaturecoilduetomainfieldfluxthustheemfleadsthemain
fieldfluxby90.Fromequation(1)weget,thefieldflux,
Hence,att=0,Eismaximumandfiszero.
Att=90,Eiszeroandfhasmaximumvalue.
Att=180,Eismaximumandfzero.
Att=270,Eiszeroandfhasnegativemaximumvalue.
Here,fgotmaximumvalue90beforeE.HencefleadsEby90.
Now,armaturecurrentIisproportionaltoarmaturefluxa ,andIlagsEby90.Hence,a
lagsEby90.
So,itcanbeconcludedthat,fieldfluxfleadsEby90.

Therefore, armature flux and field flux act directly opposite to each other. Thus, armature
reactionofalternatoratlaggingzeropowerfactorispurelydemagnetizingtype.Thatmeans,
armaturefluxdirectlyweakensmainfieldflux.
ArmatureReactionofAlternatoratLeadingPowerFactor
At leading power factor condition, armature current I leads induced emf E by an angle 90.
Again,wehaveshownjust,fieldfluxfleads,inducedemfEby90.
Again,armaturefluxa isproportionaltoarmaturecurrentI.Hence,a is in phase with I.
Hence,armaturefluxa alsoleadsE,by90asIleadsEby90.
As in this case both armature flux and field flux lead induced emf E by 90, it can be said,
field flux and armature flux are in same direction. Hence, the resultant flux is simply
arithmetic sum of field flux and armature flux. Hence, at last it can be said that, armature
reaction of alternator due to a purely leading electrical power factor is totally magnetizing
type.
NatureofArmatureReaction
1.Thearmaturereactionfluxisconstantinmagnitudeandrotatesat
synchronousspeed.
2.The armature reaction is cross magnetizing when the generator

suppliesaloadatunitypowerfactor.
3.When the generator supplies a load at leading power factor the

armature reaction is partly de magnetizing & partly cross
magnetizing.
4.When the generator supplies a load at leading power factor the

armature reaction is partly magnetizing & partly cross
magnetizing.
5.Armaturefluxactsindependentlyofmainfieldflux.

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2/4/2017 ArmatureReactioninAlternatororSynchronousGenerator|Electrical4u

2.The armature reaction is cross magnetizing when the generator

3.When the generator supplies a load at leading power factor the

4.When the generator supplies a load at leading power factor the

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