ACKOR NOBLE

RENEWABLE ENERGY ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL MACHINES
YEAR 3
2ND JUNE, 2021.
Q1
a. An electrical machine is a device which converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy or vice versa. Device that doesn’t necessarily do energy conversions but alter
the characteristic of electrical energy (that is takes in electrical energy at certain
current and voltages and convert it to new current and voltage values different from
the input values) can also be referred to as electrical machines. An example of such is
a transformer.
b. There are two ways by which electrical machines can be classified
(i) By its mode of operation and
(ii) By the nature of the electrical energy it deals with (i.e. AC or DC )
Depending on mode of operation, an electric machine can be said to be a static
electric machine due to it having no moving part during its operation which mainly
refer to transformers and Rotating electrical machine referring to motors and
generators.
The most common form of classification is by the nature of the electrical energy it
deals with. With this classification, there are AC(Alternating Current) machines and
DC(Direct Current) machines.
AC machines are motors that convert ac electrical energy to mechanical energy and
generators that convert mechanical energy to ac electrical energy and DC
machines are motors that convert dc electrical energy to mechanical energy and
generators that convert mechanical energy to dc electrical energy.
Q2
A generator is an electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical
energy. A generator works on the principle of electromagnetic induction which states that
whenever a conductor moves in a magnetic field, an emf gets induced within the conductor.
A generator basically consists of a stator and a rotor. Mechanical energy is provided to the
rotor of a generator by means of a prime mover (i.e. a turbine) with the help of a shaft.
Turbines could be of different types like steam turbine, water turbine, wind turbine etc.
Mechanical energy can also be provided by IC engines or similar other sources. Generators
exist in both AC and DC forms.

Q3
A motor is an electrical machine which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
When a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, the conductor experiences a
mechanical force and this is the principle behind motoring action.
Just like generators, motors also consist of two basic parts, stator and rotor. In many types of
motors, electric supply needs to be provided for both stator and rotor winding. But in some
types, like fixed magnet motors and induction motors, supply may be necessary for only one
winding. Electromagnetic force between the two windings causes the rotor to rotate.
Q4
a. Transformers do not actually make conversion between mechanical and electrical
energy. Rather, they are responsible for altering the power characteristics of electrical
energy that is voltage and current. They can increase or decrease (step-up or step-
down) the voltage while transferring the power without changing the frequency, but
with the corresponding decrease or increase in the current. Input power and output
power of an electrical transformer should ideally be the same. Step up transformers
increases the voltage level from primary to secondary but with the corresponding
decrease in the current. Whereas, step-down transformer decreases the voltage level
with the corresponding increase in the current so as to keep the power constant.

Transformers are basically made up of three parts namely Primary Winding of Transformer,
Magnetic Core of Transformer and Secondary Winding of Transformer.

The primary windings of the transformer are responsible for producing magnetic flux when it
is connected to an electrical source the magnitude magnetic flux produced by the primary
windings is usually proportional to the magnitude of the electric energy flowing through.

The Magnetic core of the transformer is also responsible for channeling the magnetic flux
produce by the primary coils to the secondary coils. The magnetic flux produced by the
primary winding then passes through the low reluctance steel core path linked with secondary
winding and create a closed magnetic circuit.

The Secondary Windings then receives the flux produced by primary winding through the
core which is also linked with the secondary winding. This winding then gives the desired
output of the transformer depending on the number of coils making up the secondary
windings relative to the primary windings.

b. Classification of transformers can be done in modern days depending on several

factors. These may include the core used, windings used, place and type of usage,
voltage levels etc.
According to the supply used, the transformers are mainly classified as Single
phase and three phase transformers.
 • A normal transformer is a single-phase transformer. It has a primary and a secondary
winding and it is operated to either decrease or increase the secondary voltage.
• For a three-phase transformer, three primary windings are connected together and three
secondary windings are connected together.
A single three phase transformer is preferred to three single phase transformers so as to get
good efficiency, where it occupies less space at low cost. But due to the transportation problem
of heavy equipment, single phase transformers are used in most cases.
Another classification of these transformers is Core and Shell type.
• In Shell type, the windings are positioned on a single leg surrounded by the core.
• In Core type, they are wounded on different legs.
the figure below shows the afore mentioned classifications