what are different types of alternator and discuss about the

methods of cooling
Answer / Kabu
alternator is divided in two parts.
1-a.c alternator.
2-d.c alternator.
a.c alternator has divided into two parts.
1-self excited.
2-separate excited.
d.c alternator has divided into four parts.
1-series
2-shunt
3-shunt compound
4-compound shunt

Answer / M Paul Prasad

Alternators can be classified as below
Based on rotor
1. Salient pole type
2. Smooth cylindrical type
Based on output power
1. Single Phase
2. Three Phase
Based on the working principle
1. Revolving armature type
2. Revolving field type
Based on the speed on rotation
1. Turbo alternator
2. Low speed alternator
Based on coiling
1. Air cooling
2. Hydrogen cooling

How Does An AC Generator Work?

The working principle of an alternator or AC generator is similar to the basic working principle of a
DC generator.
Above figure helps you understanding how an alternator or AC generator works. According to
the Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, whenever a conductor moves in a magnetic field
EMF gets induced across the conductor. If the close path is provided to the conductor, induced emf
causes current to flow in the circuit.
Now, see the above figure. Let the conductor coil ABCD is placed in a magnetic field. The direction
of magnetic flux will be form N pole to S pole. The coil is connected to slip rings, and the load is
connected through brushes resting on the slip rings.
Now, consider the case 1 from above figure. The coil is rotating clockwise, in this case the direction
of induced current can be given by Fleming's right hand rule, and it will be along A-B-C-D.
As the coil is rotating clockwise, after half of the time period, the position of the coil will be as in
second case of above figure. In this case, the direction of the induced current according to Fleming's
right hand rule will be along D-C-B-A. It shows that, the direction of the current changes after half of
the time period, that means we get an alternating current.
Construction Of AC Generator (Alternator)
 Salient pole type alternator

Main parts of the alternator, obviously, consists of stator and rotor. But, the unlike other machines,
in most of the alternators, field exciters are rotating and the armature coil is stationary.

Stator: Unlike in DC machine stator of an alternator is not meant to serve path for magnetic
flux. Instead, the stator is used for holding armature winding. The stator core is made up of
lamination of steel alloys or magnetic iron, to minimize the eddy current losses.
Why Armature Winding Is Stationary In An Alternator?
At high voltages, it easier to insulate stationary armature winding, which may be as high as 30 kV or
more.
The high voltage output can be directly taken out from the stationary armature. Whereas, for a
rotary armature, there will be large brush contact drop at higher voltages, also the sparking at the
brush surface will occur.
Field exciter winding is placed in rotor, and the low dc voltage can be transferred safely.
The armature winding can be braced well, so as to prevent deformation caused by the high
centrifugal force.
Rotor: There are two types of rotor used in an AC generator / alternator:
(i) Salient and (ii) Cylindrical type
Salient pole type: Salient pole type rotor is used in low and medium speed alternators. Construction
of AC generator of salient pole type rotor is shown in the figure above. This type of rotor consists of
large number of projected poles (called salient poles), bolted on a magnetic wheel. These poles are
also laminated to minimize the eddy current losses. Alternators featuring this type of rotor are large
in diameters and short in axial length.
Cylindrical type: Cylindrical type rotors are used in high speed alternators, especially in turbo
alternators. This type of rotor consists of a smooth and solid steel cylinder havingg slots along its
outer periphery. Field windings are placed in these slots.
The DC suppy is given to the rotor winding through the slip rings and and brushes arrangement.

ALTERNATORS

An electrical generator is a machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical

energy by electromagnetic induction. A generator which produces alternating current
is referred to as an ac generator and, through combination of the words "alternating"
and "generator," the word "alternator" has come into widespread use. In some areas,
the word "alternator" is applied only to small ac generators. This text treats the two
terms synonymously and uses the term "alternator" to distinguish between ac and dc
generators.

The major difference between an alternator and a dc generator is the method of

connection to the external circuit; that is, the alternator is connected to the external
circuit by slip rings, but the dc generator is connected by a commutator.

Types of Alternators

Alternators are classified in several ways in order to distinguish properly the various
types. One means of classification is by the type of excitation system used. In
alternators used on aircraft, excitation can be affected by one of the following
methods:

1. A direct connected, direct current generator. This system consists of a dc generator

fixed on the same shaft with the ac generator. A variation of this system is a type of
alternator which uses dc from the battery for excitation, after which the alternator is
self excited.

2. By transformation and rectification from the ac system. This method depends on

residual magnetism for initial ac voltage buildup, after which the field is supplied with
rectified voltage from the ac generator.

3. Integrated brushless type. This arrangement has a direct current generator on the
same shaft with an alternating current generator. The excitation circuit is completed
through silicon rectifiers rather than a commutator and brushes. The rectifiers are
mounted on the generator shaft and their output is fed directly to the alternating
current generator's main rotating field.

Another method of classification is by the number of phases of output voltage.

Alternating current generators may be single phase, two phase, three phase, or even
six phase and more. In the electrical systems of aircraft, the three phase alternator is
by far the most common.

Still another means of classification is by the type of stator and rotor used. From this
standpoint, there are two types of alternators: the revolving armature type and the
revolving field type. The revolving armature alternator is similar in construction to the
dc generator, in that the armature rotates through a stationary magnetic field. The
revolving armature alternator is found only in alternators of low power rating and
generally is not used. In the dc generator, the e.m.f. generated in the armature
windings is converted into a unidirectional voltage (dc) by means of the commutator.
In the revolving armature type of alternator, the generated ac voltage is applied
unchanged to the load by means of slip rings and brushes.

The revolving field type of alternator (figure 9-34) has a stationary armature winding
(stator) and a rotating field winding (rotor). The advantage of having a stationary
armature winding is that the armature can be connected directly to the load without
having sliding contacts in the load circuit. A rotating armature would require slip rings
and brushes to conduct the load current from the armature to the external circuit. Slip
rings have a relatively short service life and arc over is a continual hazard; therefore,
high voltage alternators are usually of the stationary armature, rotating field type. The
voltage and current supplied to the rotating field are relatively small, and slip rings
and brushes for this circuit are adequate. The direct connection to the armature circuit
makes possible the use of large cross-section conductors, adequately insulated for
high voltage.

Since the rotating field alternator is used almost universally in aircraft systems, this
type will be explained in detail, as a single phase, two phase, and three phase
alternator.

Single Phase Alternator

Since the e.m.f. induced in the armature of a generator is alternating, the same sort of
winding can be used on an alternator as on a dc generator. This type of alternator is
known as a single phase alternator, but since the power delivered by a single phase
circuit is pulsating, this type of circuit is objectionable in many applications.
A single phase alternator has a stator made up of a number of windings in series,
forming a single circuit in which an output voltage is generated. Figure 9-35 illustrates
a schematic diagram of a single phase alternator having four poles. The stator has four
polar groups evenly spaced around the stator frame. The rotor has four poles, with
adjacent poles of opposite polarity. As the rotor revolves, ac voltages are induced in
the stator windings. Since one rotor pole is in the same position relative to a stator
winding as any other rotor pole, all stator polar groups are cut by equal numbers of
magnetic lines of force at any time.

As a result, the voltages induced in all the windings have the same amplitude, or
value, at any given instant. The four stator windings are connected to each other so
that the ac voltages are in phase, or "series adding." Assume that rotor pole 1, a south
pole, induces a voltage in the direction indicated by the arrow in stator winding 1.
Since rotor pole 2 is a north pole, it will induce a voltage in the opposite direction in
stator coil 2 with respect to that in coil 1.

For the two induced voltages to be in series addition, the two coils are connected as
shown in the diagram. Applying the same reasoning, the voltage induced in stator coil
3 (clockwise rotation of the field) is the same direction (counterclockwise) as the
voltage induced in coil 1. Similarly, the direction of the voltage induced in winding 4
is opposite to the direction of the voltage induced in coil 1. All four stator coil groups
are connected in series so that the voltages induced in each winding add to give a total
voltage that is four times the voltage in any one winding.

Two Phase Alternator

Two phase alternators have two or more single phase windings spaced symmetrically
around the stator. In a two phase alternator there are two single phase windings spaced
physically so that the ac voltage induced in one is 90° out of phase with the voltage
induced in the other. The windings are electrically separate from each other. When
one winding is being cut by maximum flux, the other is being cut by no flux. This
condition establishes a 90° relation between the two phases.

Three Phase Alternator

A three phase, or polyphase circuit, is used in most aircraft alternators, instead of a
single or two phase alternator. The three phase alternator has three single phase
windings spaced so that the voltage induced in each winding is 120° out of phase with

the voltages in the

other two windings. A

schematic diagram of
a three phase stator
showing all the coils
becomes complex and
difficult to see what is
actually happening.

A simplified
schematic diagram,
showing each of three
phases, is illustrated in
figure 9-36. The rotor
is omitted for
simplicity. The
waveforms of voltage
are shown to the right
of the schematic. The
three voltages are
120° apart and are
similar to the voltages
which would be
generated by three
single phase
alternators whose
voltages are out of
phase by angles of
120°. The three phases
are independent of
each other.

Rather than have six leads from the three phase alternator, one of the leads from each
phase may be connected to form a common junction. The stator is then called wye or
star connected. The common lead may or may not be brought out of the alternator. If
it is brought out, it is called the neutral lead. The simplified schematic (A of figure 9-
37) shows a wye connected stator with the common lead not brought out. Each load is
connected across two phases in series. Thus, RAB is connected across phases A and B
in series; RAC is connected across phases A and C in series; and RBC is connected
across phases B and C in series. Therefore, the voltage across each load is larger than
the voltage across a single phase. The total voltage, or line voltage, across any two
phases is the vector sum of the individual phase voltages. For balanced conditions, the
line voltage is 1.73 times the phase voltage. Since there is only one path for current in
a line wire and the phase to which it is connected, the line current is equal to the phase
current.

A three phase stator can also be connected so that the phases are connected end to end
as shown in B of figure 9-37. This arrangement is called a delta connection. In a delta
connection, the voltages are equal to the phase voltages; the line currents are equal to
the vector sum of the phase currents; and the line current is equal to 1.73 times the
phase current, when the loads are balanced.

For equal loads (equal kw. output), the delta connection supplies increased line
current at a value of line voltage equal to phase voltage, and the wye connection
supplies increased line voltage at a value of line current equal to phase current.

Alternator Rectifier Unit

A type of alternator used in the electrical system of many aircraft weighing less than
12,500 pounds is shown in figure 9-38. This type of power source is sometimes called
a dc generator, since it is used in dc systems. Although its output is a dc voltage, it is
an alternator rectifier unit.

This type of alternator rectifier is a self excited unit but does not contain a permanent
magnet. The excitation for starting is obtained from the battery, and immediately after
starting, the unit is self exciting. Cooling air for the alternator is conducted into the
unit by a blast air tube on the air inlet cover (figure 9-38).

The alternator is directly coupled to the aircraft engine by means of a flexible drive
coupling. The dc output voltage may be regulated by a carbon pile voltage regulator.
The output of the alternator portion of the unit is three phase alternating current,
derived from a three phase, delta connected system incorporating a three phase, full
wave bridge rectifier (figure 9-39).

This unit operates in a speed range from 2,100 to 9,000 rpm, with a dc output voltage
of 26 - 29 volts and 125 amperes.
E.M.F. EQUATION OF AN ALTERNATOR OR AC GENERATOR.
et Φ = Flux per pole, in Wb
P = Number of poles
Ns = Synchronous speed in r.p.m.
f = Frequency of induced e.m.f. in Hz
Z = Total number of conductors
Zph = Conductors per phase connected in series
... Zph = Z/3 as number of phases = 3.
Consider a single conductor placed in a slot.
The average value of e.m.f. induced in a conductor
= dΦ/dt
For one revolution of a conductor,
eavg per conductor = (Flux cut in one revolution)/(time taken for one revolution)
Total flux cut in one revolution is Φ x P
Time taken for one revolution is 60/Ns seconds.
... eavg per conductor = ΦP / (60/Ns)
= Φ (PNs/60) ............. (1)
But f = PNs/6120
... PNs/60= 2f
Substation in (1),
eavg per conductor = 2 f Φ volts
Assume full pitch winding for simplicity i.e. this conductor is connected to a conductor which is
180o electrical apart. So there two e.m.f.s will try to set up a current in the same direction i.e. the two
e.m.f. are helping each other and hence resultant e.m.f. per turn will be twice the e.m.f. induced in a
conductor.
... e.m.f. per turn = 2 x (e.m.f. per conductor)
= 2 x (2 f Φ)
= 4 f Φ volts

Let Tph be the total number of turn per phase connected in series. Assuming concentrated
winding, we can say that all are placed in single slot per pole per phase. So induced e.m.f.s in all
turns will be in phase as placed in single slot. Hence net e.m.f. per phase will be algebraic sum of
the e.m.f.s per turn.
... Average Eph = Tph x (Average e.m.f. per turn)
... Average Eph = Tph x 4 f Φ
But in a.c. circuits R.M.S. value of an alternating quantity is used for the analysis. The form
factor is 1.11 of sinusoidal e.m.f.
 Kf = (R.M.S.)/Average = 1.11 ......... for sinusoidal
... R.M.S. value of Eph = K x Average value
E = 4.44 x f Φ Tph volts ........... (2)
Note : This is the basic e.m.f. equation for an induced e.m.f. per phase for full pitch, concentrated
type of winding.

Where Tph = Number of turns per phase

Tph = Zph /2 ....... as 2 conductors constitute 1 turn

]
EMF Equation Of Alternator / 3 Phase AC Generator
EMF Equation
onsider following
Φ= flux per pole in wb
P = Number of poles
Ns = Synchronous speed in rpm
f = frequency of induced emf in Hz
Z = total number of stator conductors
Zph = conductors per phase connected in series
Tph = Number of turns per phase
Assuming concentrated winding, considering one conductor placed in a slot
According to Faraday's Law electromagnetic induction,
The average value of emf induced per conductor in one revolution
eavg = dΦ /dt
eavg = Change of Flux in one revolution/ Time taken for one revolution

Change of Flux in one revolution = p x Φ

Time taken for one revolution = 60/Ns seconds.
Hence eavg = (p x Φ ) / ( 60/Ns) = p x Φ x Ns / 60
We know f = PNs /120
hence PNs /60 = 2f
Hence eavg = 2 Φ f volts
Hence average emf per turn = 2 x 2 Φ f volts = 4Φf volts
If there are Tph, number of turns per phase connected in series, then average emf induced in Tph
turns is
Eph,avg = Tph x eavg = 4 f Φ Tph volts

Hence RMS value of emf induced E = 1.11 x Eph, avg

= 1.11 x 4 Φ f Tph volts
= 4.44 f Φ Tph volts

Eph,avg= 4.44 f Φ Tph volts

This is the general emf equation for the machine having concentrated and full pitched winding.In
practice, alternators will have short pitched winding and hence coil span will not be 180o(degrees),
but on or two slots short than the full pitch.

***If we assume effect of

Kd= Distribution factor
Kc or KP = Cos α/2 . This is pitch factor.

Eph,avg= 4.44Kc Kd f Φ Tph volts

This is the actual available voltage equation of an alternator per phase.If alternator or AC Generator
is Star Connected as usually the case, then the Line Voltage is √3 times the phase voltage.

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