INTRODUCTION TO AC MACHINE:

AC machines refer to electric machines that operate using alternating current (AC) as their
power source. They are widely used in various applications, including power generation,
industrial machinery, electric vehicles, and more.

Classification of AC machine
AC machines can be classified into different types based on various factors such as their
construction, operating principle, and application. Here are the common classifications of AC
machines:

1. Synchronous Machines:
a) Synchronous Generators: These machines convert mechanical energy into electrical
energy by generating a synchronized AC voltage. They are commonly used in
power plants for electricity generation.
b) Synchronous Motors: These machines operate as motors and convert electrical
energy into mechanical energy. They are used in applications requiring constant
speed and precise control, such as industrial machinery and synchronous motor-
driven loads.
2. Induction Machines:
a. Induction Motors: Also known as asynchronous motors, these machines are the
most common type of AC motors. They work on the principle of electromagnetic
induction and are widely used in various industrial, commercial, and residential
applications.
b. Single-Phase Induction Motors: These motors are designed for single-phase AC
power supply and are commonly used in household appliances, small tools, and
fans.
c. Three-Phase Induction Motors: These motors are designed for three-phase AC
power supply and are widely used in industrial applications, pumps, compressors,
and more.
d. Induction Generators: These machines can operate as generators when mechanically
driven. They are commonly used in renewable energy systems such as wind
turbines.
3. Wound Rotor Machines:
A. Wound Rotor Induction Motors: These motors have a rotor with three-phase
windings externally connected to resistors or an external circuit. They offer
improved starting torque and speed control capabilities and are used in applications
requiring high torque at startup or adjustable speed control.
4. Doubly Fed Induction Generators (DFIG):
A. DFIGs are special types of induction generators commonly used in wind power
systems. They have rotor windings connected to a power converter that allows
variable speed operation and improved control of power generation.
5. Permanent Magnet Machines:
 1. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSM): These motors use permanent
magnets embedded in the rotor for field excitation, offering high efficiency, high
torque density, and precise control. They are widely used in applications such as
electric vehicles, robotics, and high-performance industrial machinery.
2. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators (PMSG): These generators use
permanent magnets in the rotor to generate electrical energy. They are commonly
used in renewable energy systems, including wind turbines.
The Two significant types of AC machines are the synchronous machine and the
asynchronous (induction) machine.

1. Asynchronous (Induction) Machine: An asynchronous machine, commonly known

as an induction machine, operates at a speed lower than the rotating magnetic field in
the stator. Unlike synchronous machines, induction machines do not require a separate
DC power supply for rotor excitation. They are simpler in construction, more robust,
and widely used in various applications.

Key features of asynchronous machines:

a) Induction Principle: Induction machines work on the principle of

electromagnetic induction. The rotating magnetic field in the stator induces
currents in the rotor, creating a torque that drives the rotor in the opposite
direction.
b) Self-Starting: Asynchronous machines are self-starting since the rotating
magnetic field induces currents in the rotor even at a standstill.
c) Slip: The difference between the synchronous speed of the rotating magnetic
field and the rotor speed is known as slip. Slip determines the torque and speed
characteristics of the machine.
d) Variable Speed: Asynchronous machines can operate at different speeds by
varying the frequency or the number of stator poles.

Applications of asynchronous machines:

1. Motor Applications: Induction motors are widely used in industries, appliances,

and transportation systems due to their ruggedness, simplicity, and cost-
effectiveness.
2. Generators: Asynchronous generators are used in small-scale power generation,
such as wind turbines and hydroelectric plants.

2. Synchronous Machine: A synchronous machine is an AC machine in which the rotor

rotates at the same speed as the rotating magnetic field in the stator. The stator is the
stationary part, and the rotor is the rotating part of the machine. It operates in
synchronization with the frequency and phase of the AC power supply. Synchronous
machines are primarily used for power generation in large power plants and as
synchronous motors in certain industrial applications.
 Key features of synchronous machines:

a. Synchronization: The rotor speed of a synchronous machine is synchronized with the

frequency of the AC power supply.
b. Field Excitation: Synchronous machines require a separate DC power supply to
energize the rotor field windings, creating a magnetic field that interacts with the stator
magnetic field.
c. Power Factor Control: Synchronous machines can actively control the power factor by
adjusting the excitation field. They can operate at leading, unity, or lagging power
factors, making them useful for power factor correction and reactive power
compensation.
d. Constant Speed: Synchronous machines operate at a constant speed, making them
suitable for applications where precise speed control is required.

Applications of synchronous machines:

1) Power Generation: Synchronous generators are commonly used in power plants to
convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
2) Motor Applications: Synchronous motors are used in industrial machinery, such as
pumps, compressors, and high-precision equipment that requires constant speed
operation.

Principles of Operation of a Synchronous Machine

The principle of operation of a synchronous machine is based on the interaction between the
rotating magnetic field in the stator and the magnetic field produced by the direct current
(DC) excitation in the rotor. Here's a step-by-step explanation of the operating principle:
 a) Rotating Magnetic Field: The stator of a synchronous machine consists of a three-
phase winding that is supplied with an AC power source. As the AC voltage is
applied to the stator windings, a rotating magnetic field is generated. The direction
of this magnetic field rotates at the synchronous speed determined by the frequency
of the AC power supply and the number of poles in the machine.
b) Rotor Field Excitation: The rotor of a synchronous machine has field windings that
are connected to a DC power source. When the DC power is applied to the rotor
field windings, it creates a magnetic field. The polarity of the field depends on the
direction of the current flow in the rotor windings.
c) Magnetic Field Interaction: The rotor's magnetic field interacts with the rotating
magnetic field produced by the stator. The rotor's magnetic field attempts to align
with the rotating magnetic field of the stator.
d) Synchronization: If the rotor is initially at rest, it will start rotating in an effort to
align its magnetic field with the rotating magnetic field of the stator. The rotor
accelerates until its speed matches the synchronous speed of the stator's rotating
magnetic field. At synchronous speed, the rotor field is in perfect synchronization
with the stator field.
e) Torque Generation: Once the rotor is synchronized, the interaction between the
stator and rotor magnetic fields produces torque. The torque is developed due to the
magnetic attraction and repulsion forces between the stator and rotor fields. This
torque allows the synchronous machine to perform mechanical work, such as
driving a generator or rotating a load.
f) Power Factor Control: One of the unique features of synchronous machines is the
ability to control the power factor. By adjusting the DC excitation current in the
rotor field windings, the power factor of the machine can be varied. The power
factor control allows synchronous machines to operate at leading, unity, or lagging
power factors, making them useful for power factor correction and reactive power
compensation in electrical systems.

In summary, the principle of operation of a synchronous machine involves the interaction

between the rotating magnetic field produced by the stator and the magnetic field generated
by the DC-excited rotor. This interaction leads to torque generation and the ability to control
the power factor, making synchronous machines suitable for various applications in power
generation and industrial systems.