UW-11-EE-BSc-069,081

Experiment No. 04
Title:To investigate basic concepts of alternator, exciter, brushless exciter & pilot
exciter.

Objective:Following are some objectives of this experiment

To study basics of alternator
What is exciter and purpose of exciter
Types of exciter like brushless exciter & pilot exciter

Theory:Alternator
An alternator is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to
electrical energy in the form of alternating current. For reasons of cost and simplicity,
most alternators use a rotating magnetic field with a stationary armature. In principle,
any AC electrical generator can be called an alternator, but usually the term refers to small
rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal combustion engines. An alternator
that uses a permanent magnet for its magnetic field is called a magneto. Alternators in power
stations driven by steam turbines are called turbo-alternators.
Principle of Operation
A conductor moving relative to a magnetic field develops an electromotive force
(EMF) in it, (Faraday's Law). This emf reverses its polarity when it moves under magnetic
poles of opposite polarity. Typically, a rotating magnet, called the rotor turns within a
stationary set of conductors wound in coils on an iron core, called the stator. The field cuts
across the conductors, generating an induced EMF (electromotive force), as the mechanical
input causes the rotor to turn. The rotating magnetic field induces an AC voltage in the stator
windings.

UW-11-EE-BSc-069,081

Exciter
An electric generator or electric motor consists of a rotor spinning in a magnetic field.
The magnetic field may be produced by permanent magnets or by field coils. In the case of a
machine with field coils, a current must flow in the coils to generate the field; otherwise no
power is transferred to or from the rotor. The process of generating a magnetic field by means
of an electric current is called excitation and device or circuit used is called exciter.

Brushless Exciter
Brushless Exciters Rectifiers mount directly on the exciters shaft and rotate at the
machine speed. The field exciter for a brushless synchronous motor typically consists of an
AC generator with the field windings on its stator, armature windings on its rotor, and with its
rotor mounted on the motor shaft. The output of the generator is rectified by solid-state
rectifier elements also mounted on the rotor shaft and fed directly to the motor field windings
without the need for brushes or slip rings. Because of the proliferation of solid-state power
electronic technology, and because the brushless-type motors require less maintenance almost
all new synchronous motors are brushless-type. It is possible to adjust the field current on the
main machine by controlling the small DC field current of the exciter generator (located on
the stator).

UW-11-EE-BSc-069,081

Pilot Exciter
A pilot exciter is a small ac generator with permanent magnets mounted on the rotor
shaft and a 3-phase winding on the stator. It produces the power for the field circuit of the
exciter, which in turn controls the field circuit of the main machine. If a pilot exciter is
included on the generator shaft, then no external electric power is required. The pilot exciter
is an 8 pole, 8,000 rpm, ac generator. The pilot exciter field is mounted on the main generator
rotor shaft and is connected in series with the main generator field. The pilot exciter armature
is mounted on the main generator stator. The ac output of the pilot exciter is supplied to the
voltage regulator, where it is rectified and controlled, and is then impressed on the exciter
field winding to furnish excitation for the generator

Conclusion:In this lab we study basic concepts of alternator, exciter, brushless exciter & pilot
exciter and concluded that exciters are necessary for alternators and exciters can be internal
and external.