Askiitians Tutor Team
Last Activity: 5 Months ago
To calculate the efficiency of a 3-phase alternator at both full load and half load, we need to consider several factors, including the input power, output power, and losses in the system. Let's break down the calculations step by step.
Understanding the Parameters
We have the following parameters for the alternator:
- Rated Power (S): 500 kVA
- Primary Voltage (V1): 100 V
- Secondary Voltage (V2): 500 V
- Power Factor (PF): 0.5
- Core Loss: 3.5 kW
- Resistance (R1): 0.3 ohm
- Leakage Resistance (R2): 0.01 ohm
- Leakage Resistance (R3): 0.7 ohm
- Leakage Resistance (R4): 0.05 ohm
Calculating Output Power
The output power (P_out) can be calculated using the formula:
P_out = S × PF
For full load:
P_out_full = 500 kVA × 0.5 = 250 kW
For half load:
P_out_half = (500 kVA / 2) × 0.5 = 125 kW
Calculating Total Losses
Total losses in the alternator consist of core losses and copper losses. The core loss is given as 3.5 kW. We need to calculate the copper losses at full load and half load.
Copper Loss Calculation
Copper losses can be calculated using the formula:
P_copper = I² × R
Where I is the current and R is the total resistance. First, we need to find the current:
For full load:
I_full = S / (√3 × V2) = 500,000 VA / (√3 × 500 V) ≈ 577.35 A
Now, let's calculate the total resistance:
Total Resistance (R_total) = R1 + R2 + R3 + R4 = 0.3 + 0.01 + 0.7 + 0.05 = 1.06 ohm
Now, we can calculate the copper losses at full load:
P_copper_full = I_full² × R_total = (577.35)² × 1.06 ≈ 348.54 kW
For half load:
I_half = (500 kVA / 2) / (√3 × 500 V) ≈ 288.68 A
P_copper_half = I_half² × R_total = (288.68)² × 1.06 ≈ 86.78 kW
Calculating Total Power Losses
Now, we can find the total losses for both full load and half load:
Total Losses_full = Core Loss + Copper Loss_full = 3.5 kW + 348.54 kW ≈ 352.04 kW
Total Losses_half = Core Loss + Copper Loss_half = 3.5 kW + 86.78 kW ≈ 90.28 kW
Efficiency Calculation
Efficiency (η) can be calculated using the formula:
η = (Output Power) / (Output Power + Total Losses)
For full load:
η_full = P_out_full / (P_out_full + Total Losses_full) = 250 kW / (250 kW + 352.04 kW) ≈ 41.52%
For half load:
η_half = P_out_half / (P_out_half + Total Losses_half) = 125 kW / (125 kW + 90.28 kW) ≈ 58.05%
Final Results
In summary, the efficiency of the 3-phase alternator is:
- Full Load Efficiency: Approximately 41.52%
- Half Load Efficiency: Approximately 58.05%
This analysis shows how the efficiency of an alternator can vary significantly between full load and half load conditions, primarily due to the impact of copper losses. Understanding these concepts is crucial for optimizing the performance of electrical machines.