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A ut omat i c V ol t age R egul at or

A gradual change of alternator load over the range from NO LOAD to FULL LOAD would allow the automatic
voltage regulator (AVR) and excitation systems described to maintain terminal voltage within the specified range.
But the imposition of load is not gradual e.g. during starting of heavy motors starting current may be very large
and their power factor very low. Sudden load current surges (e.g. due to motor starting) on a generator cause a
corresponding change in its output voltage. This is due to an internal voltage drop in the generator windings and
the effect is usually called voltage dip. Similarly, load shedding will produce an over voltage at the bus bars.
Automatic voltage regulation (AVR) equipment is necessary to rapidly correct such voltage changes.

An AVR will control the generator’ s voltage to 2.5% (or better) of its set value over the full load range. This is its
steady-state voltage regulation. Transient voltage dip is usually limited to 15% for a specified sudden load change
with recovery back to rated voltage within 1.5 seconds.
The AVR senses the generator output voltage and acts to alter the field current to maintain the voltage at its set
value. A manual trimmer regulator is fitted on the generator control panel to set the voltage level e.g. 440 V. The
voltage trimmer potentiometer is on the control card of the AVR so is not accessible to an operator.
The control circuit for a modern AVR consists of transformers, rectifiers, zener diodes, transistors and thyristors.
These are mounted on one or more circuit cards fitted either within the switchboard or local to the generator.
Although the AVR control circuit design varies with the manufacturer the basic scheme contains the following
elements.
 Voltage sensing unit

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 Comparator
 Amplifier
The generator voltage is stepped down, rectified and then applied to a reference circuit. Any difference between
the generator voltage and the desired voltage produces an error voltage. This error is amplified and fed to a
blocking oscillator, which controls the firing angle of the thyristor. The magnitude of the excitation current
depends upon the time during each cycle for which the thyristor is conducting. If the generator voltage falls, the
increased error voltage increases the conduction time. This results in increased excitation current and rotor flux,
which brings the generator voltage back to the desired value. Short – circuit excitation current transformers (CTs)
are used to prevent a complete collapse of the generator excitation under short-circuit conditions.
These CTs provide all the excitation currents under short-circuit conditions and enable a sufficiently large
generator current to be maintained in order to ensure circuit breaker tripping.

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