Ampere Turn or MMF
Method
By : Dr. Atul R. Phadke
Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering
COEP Technological University, Pune
OBJECTIVES:
After watching this video, you will be able to understand:
▪ What is Ampere-Turn (or MMF) method for determining
voltage regulation of a synchronous generator?
▪ The procedure for calculating voltage regulation of a
synchronous generator by AT method.
2
AMPERE-TURN OR MMF METHOD:
This method is based on the concept of replacing the effect of armature leakage
reactance by an equivalent additional armature reaction reactance.
Thus leakage reactance drop IaXL is treated as the additional drop due to
armature reaction.
Therefore, the voltage equation in this case is 𝐸 = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑎
If IaRa is neglected, 𝐸 = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑎
In AT method every voltage and voltage drops are substituted in terms of field
ampere-turns.
Field AT to produce E = Field AT to produce V + Field AT required to overcome
the voltage drop IaXa.
In many cases the number of turns is not known, thus the voltages are substituted
by the field current only.
∴ 𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼𝑓1 + 𝐼𝑓2
Where,
𝐼𝑓 = field current required to generate a voltage E,
𝐼𝑓1 = field current corresponding to the terminal voltage V and
𝐼𝑓2 = field current required to overcome the voltage drop IaXs.
MMF OR AT METHOD (RESISTIVE LOAD):
E
E
IaXs 𝐼𝑓
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
𝐼𝑓2 V
900 900
C
V 𝐼𝑓1 OC
Ia
IFL
Resistive load C
SC
𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1 𝐼𝑓
Field current If in A
OCC and SCC both must be plotted on per phase basis.
𝐼𝑓1 = field current corresponding to the terminal voltage V from OCC
𝐼𝑓2 = field current corresponding to the rated armature current from SCC
𝐼𝑓 is the vector sum of 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2
As the load is resistive, the angle between 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2 is 900.
𝐼𝑓 = field current required to generate the open circuit voltage E
MMF OR AT METHOD (INDUCTIVE LOAD):
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
E 𝐼𝑓 V
IaXs 𝐼𝑓2
C
OC
V 𝐼𝑓1
IFL
Ia Inductive load C
SC
𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1 𝐼𝑓
Field current If in A
OCC and SCC both must be plotted on per phase basis.
𝐼𝑓1 = field current corresponding to the terminal voltage V from OCC
𝐼𝑓2 = field current corresponding to the rated armature current from SCC
𝐼𝑓 is the vector sum of 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2
The angle between If1 and If2 is (90+)0 as the load is inductive.
𝐼𝑓 = field current required to generate the open circuit voltage E
MMF OR AT METHOD (CAPACITIVE LOAD):
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
Ia IaXs 𝐼𝑓2 V
𝐼𝑓
E E
C
V 𝐼𝑓1 OC
IFL
Capacitive load C
SC
𝐼𝑓 𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1
Field current If in A
OCC and SCC both must be plotted on per phase basis.
𝐼𝑓1 = field current corresponding to the terminal voltage V from OCC
𝐼𝑓2 = field current corresponding to the rated armature current from SCC
𝐼𝑓 is the vector sum of 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2
The angle between If1 and If2 is (90-)0 as the load is capacitive.
𝐼𝑓 = field current required to generate the open circuit voltage E
AMPERE-TURN OR MMF METHOD:
If IaRa is not neglected, the voltage equation in this case is 𝐸 = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑠
Let 𝐸 ′ = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎
𝐸 = 𝐸 ′ + 𝐼𝑎 𝑋𝑠
Field AT to produce E = Field AT to produce E’ + Field AT required to overcome
the voltage drop IaXs.
∴ 𝐼𝑓 = 𝐼𝑓1 + 𝐼𝑓2
Where,
𝐼𝑓 = field current required to generate the open circuit voltage E,
𝐼𝑓1 = field current corresponding to E’ and
𝐼𝑓2 = field current required to overcome the voltage drop IaXs.
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF REGULATION :
𝐼𝑓
Draw OCC and SCC.
Terminal voltage per phase (V) is taken as reference phasor. 𝐼𝑓1
Draw current phasor Ia for which the regulation is desired.
Draw the phasor of armature resistance drop IaRa in phase with 𝐼𝑓2
900 V
current Ia.
IaRa
Draw the phasor of E’.
Ia E’
From OCC, find out the field current 𝐼𝑓1 corresponding to E’.
E
Draw the field current 𝐼𝑓1 leading the voltage E’ by 900.
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
E’
From SCC, find out the field current 𝐼𝑓2 required to produce the
rated current on short circuit.
C
Draw the current 𝐼𝑓2 opposite to the armature current Ia. OC
IFL
𝐼𝑓 is the phasor sum of 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2 .
C
SC
From OCC, find the value of open circuit voltage E 𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1 𝐼𝑓
corresponding to the field current If. Field current If in A
𝐸 −𝑉
Calculate percentage regulation = × 100
𝑉
SIMPLIFIED PHASOR DIAGRAM FOR DETERMINATION OF REGULATION :
𝐼𝑓
Draw OCC and SCC.
Terminal voltage per phase (V) is taken as reference phasor. 𝐼𝑓1
90+
Draw current phasor Ia for which the regulation is desired.
Draw the phasor of armature resistance drop IaRa in phase with 𝐼𝑓2
current Ia. 900 V A
O
Draw the phasor of E’. IaRa
Ia E’
E’ OA = V + IaRacos
From OCC, find out the field current 𝐼𝑓1 corresponding to E’= OA. E
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
Draw the field current 𝐼𝑓1 leading the voltage OA by 900. E’
From SCC, find out the field current 𝐼𝑓2 required to produce the
rated current on short circuit. C
OC
Draw the current 𝐼𝑓2 opposite to the armature current Ia. IFL
𝐼𝑓 is the phasor sum of 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2 . C
SC
𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1 𝐼𝑓
From OCC, find the value of open circuit voltage E
Field current If in A
corresponding to the field current If.
𝐸 −𝑉
Calculate percentage regulation = × 100
𝑉
EXAMPLE:
A 3-phase, 1000 kVA, 2000 V, star connected alternator gave following results. The effective armature
resistance per phase is 0.25 . Find the regulation of alternator at full load 0.8 lagging and 0.8 leading
power factor.
Field current in A 10 20 25 30 40 50
Open circuit voltage per phase in V 462 866 1016 1155 1357 1501
Short circuit current in A --- 200 250 300
Solution:
1500
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
Given data – kVA = 1000, VL = 2000 V, Ra = 0.25 E’
1200
Draw OCC and SCC C
SC
1000×103 900 300
Full load current 𝐼𝑎 = = 288.67 A IFL
3×2000
600 200
2000
Voltage per phase 𝑉𝑝ℎ = = 1154.7 𝑉
3
300 100
𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1
𝐸 ′ ≅ 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅
∴ 𝐸 ′ = 1154.7 + 288.67 × 0.25 × 0.8 = 1212 𝑉 0 10 20 30 40 50
Field current If in A
Field current required to produce 1212 V, from OCC, 𝐼𝑓1 = 32 A
Field current required to overcome the voltage drop IaXs at full load, 𝐼𝑓2 = 29 A
EXAMPLE:
A 3-phase, 1000 kVA, 2000 V, star connected alternator gave following results. The effective armature
resistance per phase is 0.25 . Find the regulation of alternator at full load 0.8 lagging and 0.8 leading
power factor.
Field current in A 10 20 25 30 40 50
Open circuit voltage per phase in V 462 866 1016 1155 1357 1501
Short circuit current in A --- 200 250 300
Solution: E
1500
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
𝐼𝑓1 = 32 A, 𝐼𝑓2 = 29 A 𝐼𝑓 E’
𝐼𝑓2 1200
1) 0.8 lagging power factor C
SC
900 300
∅ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.8 = 36.86 90+ IFL
Angle between 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2 600 200
𝐼𝑓1
= 180 – (90 + 36.86) = 53.14 300 100
𝐼𝑓2 𝐼𝑓1 𝐼𝑓
∴ 𝐼𝑓 = 322 + 292 + 2 × 32 × 29 × cos(53.14) = 54.57 𝐴
0 10 20 30 40 50
Open circuit voltage corresponding to this If = 1550 V Field current If in A
1550 − 1154.7
∴ 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 100 = 34.23%
1154.7
EXAMPLE:
A 3-phase, 1000 kVA, 2000 V, star connected alternator gave following results. The effective armature
resistance per phase is 0.25 . Find the regulation of alternator at full load 0.8 lagging and 0.8 leading
power factor.
Field current in A 10 20 25 30 40 50
Open circuit voltage per phase in V 462 866 1016 1155 1357 1501
Short circuit current in A --- 200 250 300
Solution:
1500
Short Circuit Current Isc in A
Generated emf Eph in V
𝐼𝑓1 = 32 A, 𝐼𝑓2 = 29 A E’
𝐼𝑓 𝐼𝑓2 1200
2) 0.8 leading power factor C
SC
900 E 300
∅ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.8 = 36.86 IFL
90-
Angle between 𝐼𝑓1 and 𝐼𝑓2 600 200
𝐼𝑓1
= 180 – (90 - 36.86) = 126.86 300 100
𝐼𝑓 𝐼𝑓1
∴ 𝐼𝑓 = 322 + 292 + 2 × 32 × 29 × cos(126.86) = 27.41 𝐴 𝐼𝑓2
0 10 20 30 40 50
Open circuit voltage corresponding to this If = 1000 V Field current If in A
1000 − 1154.7
∴ 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 100 = −13.4%
1154.7
