Electromechanical energy conversion - Electrical Machines

Electromechanical energy conversion process

Electro-mechanical energy conversion process is a reversible process.

Electrical machines are classified into two types based on the coupling field used.

1. Electromagnetic machines in which the coupling field is magnetic field.

2. Electrostatic machines in which coupling field is electrostatic field.

All our convention machines are electromagnetic machines due to the following advantages.

1. High energy storage capacity.

2. Safety operating conditions.

Electrostatic field is only used in electrometers to measure very high voltages.

Input = Output + losses + storage

Wim = Woe + Wlm + Wl fld+ Wle + Wsm + Ws fld 

Wl'm - Wlm - Wsm = Woe + Wle + Wl fld + Ws fld

Wmech = Welec + W fld

Above equation is the energy balance equation for generator.

Where, 

Wmech represents the net mechanical energy supplied

Welec is total electrical energy produced

Wfld is total energy absorbed by coupling field.

Welec = Wmech + Wfld

Above equation is the energy balance equation for motor.

Where,

Welec is the net electrical energy input.

Wmech is the total mechanical energy produced

Wfld is the total energy absorbed by field

Role of coupling magnetic field:

• The coupling magnetic field in generators reacts with input mechanical energy source in terms of magnetic drag. So that the mechanical energy is absorbed and electrical energy is produced.
• In motors, the coupling field reacts with input electrical energy source in terms of back emf so that electrical energy is absorbed and mechanical energy is produced. Hence magnetic drag and back emf are called electromechanical coupling terms.
• In generators, as the electrical load increases magnetic drag increases.
• In motors as the mechanical load increases the back emf decreases.
• As long as the prime mover force is greater than magnetic drag, a machine behaves as a generator otherwise it becomes motor.
• As long as a supply voltage is greater than back emf, the machine behaves as motor otherwise it acts as generator.