Alternator

ALTERNATOR
 An alternator is defined as a machine or generator which produces AC (Alternating Current)

supply and it converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, so it is also called an AC
generator or synchronous generator.
 There are different types of alternators based on
applications and design.
 Marine type alternator
 Automotive type alternator
 Diesel-electric locomotive types alternator
 Brushless type alternator
 Radio alternators
Construction of an Alternator:
The main components of an alternator or synchronous generator are
1. Stator (stationary part)

2. Rotor (rotating part)
1. Stator:-
The construction of the stator of an alternator is equal to the construction of the stator of an
induction motor. So induction motor construction and synchronous motor construction are both
are same. Thus the stator is the stationary part of the rotor and the rotor is the component that
rotates inside of the stator.
2. Rotor:-
 The rotor is located on the stator shaft and the series of the electromagnets arranged in a
cylinder causing the rotor to rotate and create a magnetic field.
 There are two types of rotors they are
A. Salient Pole Rotor
B. Cylindrical Pole Rotor
A. Salient Pole Rotor
 The meaning of the salient is outward, which means the poles of the rotor are projecting outward
from the center of the rotor.
 There is a field winding on the rotor and for this field winding will use DC supply. When we pass
the current through this field winding N and S poles are created.
 The salient rotors are unbalanced so the speeds are restricted.
 This type of rotor used in hydro stations and diesel power stations.
 The salient pole rotor used for low-speed machines approximately 120-400rpm.
B. Cylindrical Rotor
 This rotor is made up of a steel radial cylinder having the number of slots and in these slots, the
field winding is placed and these field windings are always connected in series.
 The cylindrical rotor is also known as a non-salient rotor or round rotor.
 This rotor is used for high-speed machines approximately 1500-3000 rpm and the example for
this is a thermal power plant.
 The advantages of this are mechanically robust, flux distribution is uniform, operates at high
speed and produces low noise.
An AC motor comes in many shapes and sizes, but we can’t have an AC without a rotor and stator. The
rotor is made up of a cast iron and the stator is made up of silicon steel.
Working Principle of Alternator
 All the alternators work on the principle of

electromagnetic induction. According to this law, for
producing the electricity we need a conductor,
magnetic field and mechanical energy.
 Consider two opposite magnetic poles north and

south, and the flux is traveling between these two
magnetic poles. In the figure (a) rectangular coil is
placed between the north and south magnetic poles.
The position of the coil is such that the coil is parallel
to the flux, so no flux is cutting and therefore no current is induced. So that the waveform
generated in that position is Zero degrees.
 If the rectangular coil rotates in a clockwise direction at an axis a and b, the conductor side A and
B comes in front of the south pole and C and D come in front of a north pole as shown in figure
(b). So, now we can say that the motion of the conductor is perpendicular to the flux lines from N
to S pole and the conductor cuts the magnetic flux. At this position, the rate of flux cutting by the
conductor is maximum because the conductor and flux are perpendicular to each other and
therefore the current is induced in the conductor and this current will be in maximum position.
 The conductor rotates one more time at 900 in a clockwise direction then the rectangular coil
comes in the vertical position. Now the position of the conductor and magnetic flux line is parallel
to each other as shown in figure (c). In this figure, no flux is cutting by the conductor and therefore
no current is induced. In this position, the waveform is reduced to zero degrees because the flux
is not cutting.
 In the second half cycle, the conductor is continued to rotate in a clockwise direction for another
900. So here the rectangular coil comes to a horizontal position in such a way that the conductor
A and B comes in front of the north pole, C and D come in front of the south pole as shown in the
figure (d). Again the current will flow through the conductor that is currently induced in the
conductor A and B is from point B to A and in conductor C and D
is from point D to C, so the waveform produced in opposite
direction, and reaches to the maximum value. Then the direction
of the current indicated as A, D, C and B as shown in figure (d). If
the rectangular coil again rotates in another 900 then the coil
reaches the same position from where the rotation is started.
Therefore, the current will again drop to zero.
 In the complete cycle, the current in the conductor reaches the

maximum and reduces to zero and in the opposite direction, the
conductor reaches the maximum and again reaches zero. This
cycle repeats again and again, due to this repetition of the cycle
the current will be induced in the conductor continuously.
 This is the process of producing the current and EMF of a single-phase. Now for producing 3
phases, the coils are placed at the displacement of 1200 each. So the process of producing the
current is the same as the single-phase but only the difference is the displacement between three
phases is 1200. This is the working principle of an alternator.
Characteristics
The characteristics of an alternator are
1. Output Current with Speed of Alternator: The output of the current reduced or decreased when the
alternator speed reduced or decreased.
2. The efficiency with Speed of Alternator: Efficiency of an alternator is reduced when the alternator
runs with low speed.
3. Current Drop with Increasing Alternator Temperature: When the temperature of an alternator
increased the output current will be reduced or decreased.
Applications:
The applications of an alternator are
 Automobiles
 Electrical power generator plants
 Marine applications
 Diesel electrical multiple units
 Radiofrequency transmission
Advantages:
The advantages of an alternator are
 Cheap
 Low weight
 Low maintenance
 Construction is simple
 Robust
 More compact
Disadvantages:
The disadvantages of an alternator are
 Alternators need transformers

 Alternators will overheat if the current is high

Alternator

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ALTERNATOR

 An alternator is defined as a machine or generator which produces AC (Alternating Current)

The main components of an alternator or synchronous generator are

1. Stator (stationary part)

A. Salient Pole Rotor

 The salient rotors are unbalanced so the speeds are restricted.

 The cylindrical rotor is also known as a non-salient rotor or round rotor.

Working Principle of Alternator

 All the alternators work on the principle of

 Consider two opposite magnetic poles north and

 In the complete cycle, the current in the conductor reaches the

The characteristics of an alternator are

 Alternators need transformers

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