Observation Sheet

a. Armature current oscillogram.

Pre-Short circuit line voltage = 70.0 V
Steady state short circuit current = 4A
Generator Speed = 1500 rpm
Generator pole pair no. = 2

b. Field current oscillogram.

Steady state field current = 200 mA

c. Open circuit armature voltage waveform.

c. Supply voltage waveform of slip test

Minimum phase current = 5.1 A
Maximum phase current = 5.4 A
Minimum line voltage = 41.8 V
Maximum line voltage = 42 V
Generator speed = 1465 rpm

Calculations

Step 1

From Oscillogram (a),

Time (ms)

Armature current (A)

Log (current)

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180

27
22.5
14
12.5
10
8.5
8
7.5
7
7

1.4313
1.3522
1.1461
1.0969
1
0.9294
0.9031
0.8751
0.8451
0.8451

200
220
Vs = 79 /3 = 45.61 V
From Graph 1,
A = 27 A
B=7A
From theory,

X d 2VS / B 9.21
X ' ' d 2VS / A 2.39

Graph 1

7
7

0.8451
0.8451

Phase current vs Time

1.6

1.4

1.2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0

Step 2

From the Graph 1,

50

100

150

200

250

Time (ms)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140

Log (x)
0.5868
0.5071
0.301
0.2518
0.1549
0.0843
0.058
0.03

From Graph 2,
C = 0.19 = {antilog (0.19)} = 1.549
(C/e) = 0.14/e = 0.0699
D = 120 ms
From the theory,

Xd =

1
1
C
+
Xd 2 vs

Td = D = 120 ms

Graph 2

) (
=

1
1
1.549
+
9.21 2 x 45.61

= 7.54

Log (x) vs Time

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0

Step 3

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Time (ms)
0
20
40
60
80
100

Log ( y )
0.415
0.290
0.193
0.115
0.0569
0.02

From Graph 3,
E = 0.38 = {antilog (0.38)} = 2.399
E/e = 0.140
F = 61.5 ms
Td = F = 61.5 ms

Tdo = Td

Tdo = Td

Xd
X'd

= 120 X

9.21
7.54

X'd
=
61.5 X
X''d

= 146.58 ms

7.54
2.39

= 194.02 ms

Graph 3

Log ( y ) vs Time
0.45

0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Step 4
Time (ms)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220

From Graph 4,
G = 40 A
G/e = 40/e = 14.72 A
H= 165 ms
According to theory,
Ta= H = 165 ms

Graph 4

(Ia, + ve peak) + (Ia,

-ve peak)
54
45
28
25
20
17
16
15
14
14
14
14

(Ia, + ve peak) + (Ia, -ve peak) vs Time

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0

(i)

50

100

Plotting the field current waveform

150

200

250

e T ' d
X X ' d
I f =I f 0+ I f 0 d

X 'd
Assuming there is no damping

T kd=0

T kd
=0
T d
Then
T d}} right ]
t

t
T'd

e
X X ' d
I f =I f 0+ I f 0 d

X 'd
e

9.217.54 120 61.5

I f =230+ 230
e e
7.54

(i)

Plotting the open circuit voltage waveform

T } rsub {do}}} cos {left (t+ {} rsub {0} right )}

t
X
X
'
[ d
[ X d X ' ' d ] e
d] T '
( t +0 ) 2V s X ' ' e cos ( t +0 ) 2V s X ' '
d
d
V a= 2 V s cos
do

Assuming

0=0

( t ) 2 V s

[ X d X ' d ]
X ' 'd

t
T 'do

cos ( t ) 2 V s

[ X ' d X ' 'd ]

Xd

t
T ' 'do

cos ( t )

V a= 2 V s cos
t

( 314.16 t ) 45.61 2

V a=(64.545.07 e

[ 7.542.39 ] 194.02
9.217.54 146.58
e
cos ( 314.16 t ) 45.61 2
e
cos ( 314.16 t )
2.39
9.21
V a=45.61 2 cos

t
146.58

36.07 e

t
194.02

)cos ( 314.16t )

Discussion
1. Compare the parameter values computed using Short circuit current oscillogram, open circuit
voltage oscillogram and slip test.
There is a significant difference between the actual values and the theoretical values. This is due to
human errors as well as instrumental errors in taking readings. Also graphs were obtained using
interpolation methods (of different accuracy) and readings were taken from graph by simple observation
which my have led to further decrease in accuracy.
2. Compare the agreement of theoretical and observed oscillogram, of short circuit field current and
open circuit line voltage.
There are slight differences between the theoretical plot graph and practically observed ocillogram. First
off in the field current oscillogram the difference is due to the fact that we ignored the effects of
damping for plotting the theoretical graph. In reality this cannot be ignored and has an effect on the
waveform. Thus, we can observe a clear difference.
The open circuit line voltage oscillogram and the plotted graph has minute differences due to external
factors such as temperature, instrumental errors which are present in reality.
3. Discuss the features of short circuit oscillogram of phase and field current
When a sudden 3-phase short circuit occurs in a synchronous generator, the machine undergoes a
transient in all 3 phases. At the instant of the symmetrical short circuit, DC off-set currents appear in
all 3 phases of the stator winding with different magnitudes since the sinusoidal voltages are 120
degrees apart at the moment of short circuit. These dc offset current induce currents in the rotor

winding and damper winding. The increase in field current and damper winding current will set up
flux in a direction as to strengthen the main flux. The flux created by the damper and rotor winding
appear as reactance in parallel with the armature reactance (note: the synchronous reactance is the
sum of armature reactance and leakage reactance), this is known as the sub transient reactance. The
damper winding current is first to die out and the result is a higher transient reactance, and finally
followed by the rotor field winding dying out which results in a steady state synchronous reactance.
As a result the transient current also comes to steady state.

Symmetrical short circuit armature current

Armature and field currents following a sudden short circuit

4. Importance of short circuit study

Short circuit studies are important in determining transient stability of generators. It involves simulating
fault conditions such as Short circuit transients in order to determine the behavior of the system during
an actual fault. The results may be used to identify system weaknesses and thus we can take the
necessary actions to resolve them. Short circuits may damage the generator as well as equipment further
away from the system, so it is important to know how the transients (usually the armature phase current,
field phase current and open circuit armature voltage) behave as to apply protection schemes effectively.