Exp. No.

: INDIRECT AND DIRECT METHODS OF FINDING VOLTAGE

Date: REGULATION OF AN ALTERNATOR

OBJECTIVE:
1. To obtain open circuit, short circuit and zero power factor characteristic
2. To predetermine the voltage regulation of the given alternator by EMF, MMF & ZPF
methods
3. To determine its voltage regulation for resistive, inductive and capacitive loads.
4. To compare the voltage regulation obtained using various methods.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:

S.No APPARATUS SPECIFICATIONS QUANTITY

MI voltmeter
MI ammeter
MC ammeter
Rheostat
SPSTS
TPSTS

FORMULAE:

1. Percentage of Regulation = (Eo – Vr)/ Vr × 100 %

Where,
Eo – No load voltage
2. Synchronous impedance Z s = Eo Ω
I SC
3. Armature resistance Rac = 1.2 Rdc Ω
Rdc= Armature resistance obtained by passing dc supply.
4. Synchronous Reactance, X S = Z S2 − Rac2 Ω

EMF Method:

EO = ((V CosΦ + IR
r ac )2 + (Vr SinΦ ± IX s )2 ) (V ) ….Note:- [Lagging (+); Leading (-)]
Where,

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 Eo – No Load Voltage (V)

Vr – Rated Phase Voltage (V)

Isc- short Circuit Current (A)

I – Rated Current (A)

MMF Method:

I fo = ((I ) + (I )
f1
2
f2
2
+ 2 I f 1 I f 2 Cos (180 − (90 ± Φ )) ) ( A)

Where,

If1 – Field Current corresponding to rated voltage (OC Test) (A)

If2 – Field Current corresponding to rated current (SC Test) (A)

Ifo – Field Current for which Eo should be obtained from graph. (A)

φ - Power Factor angle.

Name Plate details of Alternator:

Rated Current – Rated Voltage –

Rated Power – Rated Speed –

Excitation Current -

Name Plate details of D.C. Motor:

Rated Current – Rated Voltage –

Rated Power – Rated Speed –

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

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CIRCUIT DIAGRAM: (Armature Resistance Measurement)

+ A
+ - R
D
+
P
36 V LTDC V
_
Supply S
N
T

B
-

PROCEDURE:
Precautions:
All the Switches must be kept open.
All Loads should be kept minimum positions.
Prime mover armature rheostat should be kept in maximum resistance position.
Prime mover field rheostat should be kept in minimum resistance position.
Alternator field rheostat should be kept in maximum resistance position.
Open Circuit Test:
1. Circuit connections are given as shown in the circuit diagram.
2. Supply is given to the prime mover by closing the DPSTS.
3. Start the prime mover, by bringing its armature rheostat resistance to its minimum and
the close the SPSTS.
4. Alternator is made to run its rated speed by adjusting the prime mover’s field rheostat.
5. Now start adjusting the Pilot generator’s field rheostat in order to adjust the alternator’s
field current.
6. Increase the alternator excitation current in step by step manner and note down the
generated voltage and its respective field current.
7. Continue the same till the open circuit generated voltage reaches 125% of its rated value.
8. Finally bring back the alternator field current to its minimum level.
Short Circuit Test:
9. After the Open Circuit test, confirm that the excitation voltage is brought back to zero.
10. Then close the TPSTS, so that alternator armature terminals are short circuited via an
ammeter.
11. Now, increase the Alternator field current slowly, till armature current reaches its rated
value on the alternator’s armature short circuited terminal.
12. Note down the armature short circuit current and its respective alternator field current.
13. This reading may be taken in a short time, in order to avoid armature overheating.

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 14. Finally bring back the alternator field current to its minimum level. And open the DPSTS
to shutdown the setup.
ZPF Test:
15. Circuit connections are given as shown in the circuit diagram. (Along with the inductive
load arrangements on the alternator armature side)
16. Supply is given to the prime mover by closing the DPSTS.
17. Start the prime mover, by bringing its armature rheostat resistance to its minimum and
the close the SPSTS.
18. Alternator is made to run its rated speed by adjusting the prime mover’s field rheostat.
19. Close the TPSTS on the three phase inductive load side.
20. Now start adjusting the Pilot generator’s field rheostat in order to attain the alternator’s
rated field current.
21. Increase the inductive load in steps and adjust the alternator field current at each step to
maintain rated armature current.
22. Note down the alternator field current in each steps and corresponding armature terminal
voltage.
23. Finally minimize the alternator field current and the inductive load to its minimum and
open DPSTS to shutdown the setup.
Load Test:
24. Circuit connections are given as shown in the circuit diagram. (Along with the any one
type of load arrangements on the alternator armature side)
25. Supply is given to the prime mover by closing the DPSTS.
26. Start the prime mover, by bringing its armature rheostat resistance to its minimum and
the close the SPSTS.
27. Alternator is made to run its rated speed by adjusting the prime mover’s field rheostat.
28. Now start adjusting the Pilot generator’s field rheostat in order to attain the alternator’s
rated armature voltage.
29. Note down the armature terminal voltage and current.
30. Close the TPSTS on the three phase Resistive/Inductive/Capacitive load side.
31. Increase the load in steps till the line current reaches its rated value, and in each step
record the Line Voltage & line current.
32. Reduce the load to the minimum and open the TPSTS, and replace the Resistive Load
with Inductive and repeat the same procedure. Finally, repeat the same for capacitive
load.

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TABULATION:

Open circuit test:

Generated EMF Generated EMF

Field current
S.No Line Voltage Phase Voltage
(A)
(V) (V)

Short circuit test:

Armature Short
Sl. Field current
circuit Current
No (A)
(A)

ZPF Test:

Sl. Field current ZPF Line Voltage ZPF Phase Voltage

No (A) (V) (V)

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Load Test:

No load armature terminal voltage:

Resistive load Inductive load Capacitive load
S.No VL IL % of VL IL % of VL IL % of
(V) (A) regulation (V) (A) regulation (V) (A) regulation

Measurement of Ra:

Rac Resistance
S.No Voltage (V) Current (A)
(Ω)

Average Rac

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CALCULATION TABULATION:

Regulation (%)
S.No Cos φ Sin φ EMF Method MMF Method ZPF Method
lag lead lag lead lag lead

MODEL GRAPH:

Eg
Eg

IL
IL

If

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Model Calculation:

For P.F. =

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FINDINGS:

At P.F. = ____

Regulation calculated using EMF Method =

Regulation calculated using MMF Method =

Regulation calculated using ZPF Method =

Voltage Regulation at full load for

Resistive Load =

Inductive Load =

Capacitive Load =

INFERENCE:

RESULT:

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