DL 10280

EXPERIMENT N°34

LOAD TEST

Purposes:
 Record the voltage variation at the alternator terminals for different loads
 Analyse the effect of the armature reaction

Components:
 1 Ac machine stator with ring rotor and connected brushes
 1 Dc machine stator with commutator rotor and connected brushes
 1 DL 10281 Supply module
 1 DL 10282N Measurement module
 1 DL 10283 Loads and rheostats

Electrical diagram

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EXPERIMENT N°34: LOAD TEST

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Procedure

Assemble the group alternator-dc motor by using the stator of the alternating current machine
completed with ring rotor and connected brushes and the stator of the direct current machine
completed with commutator rotor and brushes.

Carry out the circuit shown in the previous topographical diagram.

Set the supply module DL 10281 for a fixed direct voltage 42V/10A (selector "a0b" to position "b"
and switch L+/L- to position “0”) and for a variable direct voltage 0÷8V/12A (selector "c0d" to
position "d" and control knob to 0%).

Use the measurement module DL 10282N and read the values of the voltmeter and the ammeter
connected to the alternator stator for alternating current measurements on first device, and the
values of the excitation ammeter of the alternator for direct current measurements on second device
(+ at red terminal).
Use the measurement module DL 10282N for speed measurements on third device.

Set on the module DL 10283 the starting rheostat RA with the maximum resistance (control knob to
position "b") and the excitation one RF with the minimum resistance (control knob to position "a");
set the selectors R and C of the three-phase resistive and capacitive load to position “0” (maximum
clockwise rotation).

Activate the supply module and make the group rotate by setting the switch L+/L- to position "1".
Gradually switch off the starting rheostat RA (control knob to position “a” and then short-circuit the
rheostat RA by a jumper) and adjust the excitation current of the dc motor by means of the rheostat
RF until the group speed is equal to the rated speed of the alternator.

Excite the alternator with the variable voltage 0÷8V so that the no-load voltage delivered at the
rated speed is equal to the value of the rated voltage UN = 42V.

Without modifying any longer the value of the alternator excitation current connect the three-phase
load, as it is shown in the following table, and record the values of voltage Us and current Is
delivered from the alternator kept at its rated speed.

Load n (min-1) Ie (A) Us (V) I (A)

∞ 3000 42
C123 3000
C123/R123 3000
R123 3000
Notes
(a) Eventual corrections of the group rotation speed can be carried out with the excitation rheostat
RF of the motor.
(b) If the indications of the instruments placed on the alternator stator result afflicted with
oscillations record the mean value.

Stop the group by setting the switch L+/L- to position "0" and deenergize the alternator by setting
the selector "c0d" to position "0" again.

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blank page

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EXPERIMENT N°35

CONVENTIONAL EFFICIENCY

Purposes:
 Determine the conventional efficiency of the alternator operating at different power factors.

Typical data recorded from the previous tests.

Experiment N°29
Resistance of the excitation windings
RE75 = 0.433  (t = 75 °C)

Experiment N°30
Mechanical and iron losses
PGo = 70 W

Experiment N°32
Total resistance equivalent to the copper and additional losses
R75 = 0.75  (t = 75 °C)

Experiment N°33
Regulation characteristics for the determination of the excitation current

Procedure

By illustrating the calculation indirect method of the alternator efficiency with numerical examples
the typical results obtained in the previous tests are used.
The calculation procedure of the efficiency is synthetized in the following tables, where the brushes
are considered of carbon metal while the power Pd represents the sum of all the losses.

Us = 42 V n= 3000 min-1

Load 0 0.625 1.25 1.875 2.5 3.125

cos 1 1 1 1 1 1
P = 3 Us I cos (W) 0 45 90 135 180 225
PGo (W) 70 70 70 70 70 70
PsCu75 = R75 I² (W) 0 0.29 1.17 2.64 4.69 7.32
IE (A) 7 7.1 7.2 7.5 8.3 9
PE = Re75 Ie2 (W) 21.2 21.82 22.45 24.32 29.83 35
Pb = 0,6 Ie (W)
4.2 4.3 4.32 4.5 5 5.4
Pd (W) 95.4 96.4 97.9 101.5 109.5 117.7
Pin = P + Pd (W) 95.4 141.4 187.9 236.5 289.5 342.7

100 P
%
0 31.8 47.9 57.1 62.2 65.3
Pin

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Repeat the procedure for another power factor.

Us = 42 V n= 3000 min-1

Load 0 0.625 1.25 1.875 2.5 3.125

cos 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
P = 3 Us I cos (W) 0 36 72 108 144 180
PGo (W) 70 70 70 70 70 70
PsCu75 = R75 I² (W) 0 0.29 1.17 2.64 4.69 7.32
IE (A) 7 7.7 8.8 9.9 11.5 13
PE = Re75 Ie2 (W) 21.2 25.7 33.5 42.4 57.3 73.2
Pb = 0,6 Ie (W)
4.2 4.6 5.3 5.9 6.9 7.8
Pd (W) 95.4 100.6 110 121 139 158
Pin = P + Pd (W) 95.4 136.6 182 229 283 338

100 P
%
0 26.4 39.6 47.2 50.9 53.2
Pin

It is now possible to draw on a single diagram how the efficiency  and the total losses Pd vary as a
function of the output power P, for the two values of the power factor.

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EXPERIMENT N°36

PARALLEL CONNECTION OF THE ALTERNATOR WITH THE MAINS

Purposes:
 Meet the conditions allowing to carry out the parallel connection of the alternator with the mains
 Analyse the exchange of the active and reactive power between the alternator and the mains

Components:
 1 Ac machine stator with ring rotor and connected brushes
 1 Dc machine stator with commutator rotor and connected brushes
 1 DL 10281 Supply module
 1 DL 10282N Measurement module
 1 DL 10283 Loads and rheostats
 1 DL 10310 Rotating light synchronoscope
 1 MY60 Digital multimeter

Electrical diagram

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EXPERIMENT N°36:
PARALLEL CONNECTION OF THE ALTERNATOR WITH THE MAINS

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Procedure

Assemble the group alternator-dc motor by using the stator of the alternating current machine
completed with ring rotor and connected brushes and the stator of the direct current machine
completed with commutator rotor and brushes.

Carry out the circuit shown in the previous topographical diagram.

Set the supply module DL 10281 for a fixed direct voltage 42 V/10 A and fixed alternating voltage
42V/10A (selector "a0b" to position "b" and switches L+/L- and L1/L2/L3 to position “0”) and for a
variable direct voltage 0÷8V/12A (selector "c0d" to position "d" and control knob to 0%).

Use the measurement module DL 10282N and read the values of the voltmeter and the ammeter
connected to the alternator stator for alternating current measurements on first and second devices.
For the active power press the “Function” button on the right of the appropriate measuring device.
Use the measurement module DL 10282N for speed measurements on third device.
Use the MY60 Digital multimeter to measure the value of the excitation ammeter of the alternator
for direct current measurements on second device (+ at red terminal).

Set on the module DL 10283 the starting rheostat RA with the maximum resistance (control knob to
position "b") and the excitation one RF with the minimum resistance (control knob to position "a").
Set the module DL 10310 with the parallel switch to position off and the voltmetric selector L1-
L2/U-V to position L1-L2.

Activate the supply module: set the switch L1/L2/L3 to position "1" and measure the mains voltage:

U = ........ (V)

The mains frequency is supposed to be known and equal to 50 Hz.

Make the group rotate by setting the switch L+/L- to position "1": gradually switch off the starting
rheostat RA (control knob to position "a" and then short-circuit the rheostat RA by a jumper) and
adjust the excitation current of the dc motor by means of the rheostat RF until the group speed is
such to generate the mains frequency (rotation speed 3000 min-1).

Set the voltmetric selector L1-L2/U-V to position U-V and excite the alternator with the variable
direct voltage 0÷8 V in such a way that the voltage delivered by the alternator has about the value
of the mains voltage.

Until there is the exact equality between the mains frequency and the one generated by the
alternator the synchronoscope luminous indication can result:
(a) The lamps reach the maximum brightness in the FAST H1-H2-H3 sequence (fast alternator) or
SLOW H1-H3-H2 (slow alternator).
The order of the cyclical succession of the phases IS RIGHT and the alternator can be parallel
connected to the mains.
(b) The three lamps light on and off in the same time at the rhythm of the beat frequency.
The order of the cyclical succession of the phases IS NOT RIGHT: before carrying out the
parallel connection the two alternator phases have to be exchanged between them.

After having verified the correctness of the phase succession order, adjust with caution the dc motor
excitation in such a way that the alternator is slightly fast while the luminous wave produced by the
lamps turns slowly in the FAST direction.

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When the lamp H1 is dark and the lamps H2 and H3 are equally luminous switch on the parallel
switch (position "on"): the alternator is in this way connected to the mains and it turns at the speed
imposed by the mains frequency and it is subject to the mains voltage.
After having performed the parallel connection adjust with caution the speed of the dc driving
motor in such a way that the power exchanged between the alternator and the mains is null (the two
wattmeters must provide the same indication but with opposite sign).
In these conditions record the indications of the excitation current Ie, of the armature current Is and
of the two wattmeters W1 and W2:

Ie = ......... (A) Is = ......... (A)

P21 = .......... (W) P31 = ........... (W)

The active power exchanged between the alternator and the mains is equal to

P = P23 + P31 = ......... (W)

while the reactive one is equal to:

Q= 3 (P23 - P31) = ........... (VAR)

Without varying the speed of the driving motor record the instrument indications previously shown
in correspondence of the excitation currents Ie shown in the following table and obtained by varying
the direct voltage 0÷8V.

Ie (A) Is (A) P21 (W) P23 (W) P (W) Q (VAR)

6
9

Verify in this way that the variation of the excitation current modifies only the reactive power
without substantially varying the active power exchange between the mains and the alternator.
Adjust the excitation current Ie of the alternator again to the value determined in the parallel
connection conditions with null active power and try now to increase the group speed by reducing
with caution the resistance of the excitation rheostat RF of the motor. The rotation speed is imposed
by the mains frequency and it does not change: then reduce the excitation resistance RF in such a
way that the stator current results Is = 1.5A.
Record the indications of the previously shown instruments and write the values in the table.

Ie (A) Is (A) P21 (W) P31 (W) P (W)

1.5

Verify in this way that by increasing the driving torque the alternator delivers active power.

Finally disconnect the alternator from the parallel coupling by performing the following handlings:
(a) Reduce the power delivered from the alternator by adjusting the dc motor speed in such a way
that the current Is results minimum.
(b) Switch off the parallel switch and therefore set the switch L1/L2/L3 to position "0".
(c) Stop the group by setting the switch L+/L- to position "0" and deenergize the alternator by
setting the selector "c0d" to position "0" again.

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