Glossary of Terms

Science & Technology Glossary of Terms

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Electrical
Machines

Glossary of Terms

Active Power (P)

Accelerating
Torque
Adjustable Speed
Motor
Air-Gap
Alternating Current
(AC)
Alternator
Altitude
Amortisseur
Ampere
Ampere Turns
Ambient
Temperature
Apparent Power (S)
Armature

Asynchronous
Machine
Base Speed

Real power in an AC circuit measured in Watts. It is the product of the voltage across a
branch of an alternating-current circuit and the component of the electric current that is
in phase with the voltage.
Torque developed by the motor from standstill (zero Speed) to full speed at name plate
voltage
A motor whose speed can vary over a range, but a motor that is essentially constant
speed at any one set speed within that range.
Short gap space between the rotating and stationary elements of an electric motor. It is
the clearance between the magnetic stator and the magnetic rotor through which the
magnetic flux must pass.
A current which reverse in regular recurring interval of time and which has consecutively
positive and negative values, and occurring at the frequency defined by the generator
usually between 50 and 60 times per second and is expressed in Hertz.
An electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy into alternating current
electrical energy. It is also called Generator.
The height of the motor or generator in reference to sea level at which the motoring or
generating system is operating
See damper cage
The rate of flow of charge in a conductor of one Coulomb per second. It is the standard
unit of electrical current. One Ampere will flow when one Volt of potential difference is
applied across one Ohm resistance.
It is the unit of magnetizing force produced by a current of one Ampere in a coil of one
turn.
The temperature of the medium, usually air, in the immediate vicinity of the device such
as a motor or generator.
It is the product of current and voltage, expressed in Kilovolt Ampere (kVA). The
apparent power in kVA multiplied by the power factor (PF) is the real power in (kW)
The part of the machine which receives or delivers active power to the external electrical
system. In other terms, it is the coil wound laminated iron core in which electromotive
forces is produced by magnetic induction in a motor or generator: usually the rotor of a
brush-type DC motor or the stator of an AC motor.
Also called non-synchronous machine, is an AC motor or generator which does not run
at synchronous speed. Ordinary Induction motors/generators are also referred to as
asynchronous machines
It is the manufactures nameplate rating where the motor will develop rated output power
at rated load.

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Bearing

Supports, guides and reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving machine
parts. Sleeve bearings are usually preferred where low noise is essential as on fan and
blower motors. Ball bearings are used when high shaft load capacity is required or
where periodic lubrication is impractical.
Breaking Definition See: Dynamic Breaking (DC), Dynamic Breaking (AC) and Regenerative Breaking
Breakaway Current The momentary current drawn by an electric motor at the start of rotation
Breakaway Torque The torque required to start a machine from standstill.
Braking Torque The torque required to bring a motor down from running speed to a standstill. The same
term is used to describe the torque developed by a motor during dynamic braking
condition
Brush A rotating sliding electrical contact, usually rotating composed of some element of
carbon, aiding to maintain an electrical connection between stationary and moving parts
of a machine.
Brushless Motors Are class of motors that operate using electronic commutation of phase currents instead
of electromechanical commutation. Brushless motors typically have a permanent
magnet rotor and wound stator powered by a DC electric source via an integrated
inverter/switching power supply, which produces an AC electric signal to drive the motor.
Chord or Pitch The factor by which short pitching a coil reduces the back emf
Factor (Kp)
Cogging Torque A term used to describe the magnetic interaction between stator and rotor resulting in
undesired machine operation such as jerckiness. This effect is more noticeable at low
speeds.
Coil Is made of series connected turns.
Coil Pitch or Span The number of tooth pitches which separate the slots in which the two side of coil are
placed. When the angular distance between the sides of a coil is exactly equal to the
angular distance between the centers of adjacent field poles, the coil is termed to be a
full pitch coil.
Cooling System Group of interrelated components to effect the transfer of heat. It is employed to keep
the temperature of the motor or generator from exceeding limits imposed by needs of
safety and efficiency.
Commutation Change-over switching in a periodic and automatic manner without interruption of the
electric current.
Concentrated A winding is called concentrated winding when the number of slots per pole per phase is
Winding a fractional and strictly lower than 1. The coils of fractional-slot concentrated windings
are concentrated around the teeth in non-overlapping fashion.
Concentric A distributed winding in which the individual coils of each phase group per pole are
Winding concentric and have different coil spans.
Conductor A wire, cable or bus bar designed for the passage of the electric current. Material such
as copper or aluminum, which offer a little resistance to the flow of electric current.
Connector A coupling device used to connect conductors of one circuit element with those of
another circuit element.
Constant Voltage A relationship that exists in AC drives where the output voltage is varied directly
per Hertz(V/Hz) proportional to frequency. This type of operation is required to allow the motor to
produce constant rated torque as speed is varied.
Constant Horse A predetermined speed range in which the motor is capable of delivering constant
Power Range horsepower above rated speed. Torque will decrease with speed, but horsepower
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Constant Torque
Range
Continuous Power
Continuous Rating
Copper Loss
Current
Transformer (CT)
Damper Cage
DC Machine
Dielectric Strength
Delta Connection
Demagnetization
Direct-Axis
Subtransient
Reactance (Xd)
Direct-Axis Short
Circuit Time
Constant (Ta)
Direct-Axis
Synchronous
Reactance (Xd)
Direct-Axis
Transient Open
Circuit Time
Constant (Tdo)
Direct-Axis
Transient
Reactance (Xd)

remains constant
A predetermined speed range in which the motor is capable of delivering constant
horsepower above rated speed. Torque will decrease with speed, but horsepower
remains constant.
Power recommended by the manufacturer for satisfactory operation under the
manufacturers specified continuous duty conditions.
The maximum constant load that can be carried continuously without exceeding
established temperature rise limitations under prescribed convictions of load and within
the limitations of established standards.
A Portion of the losses involved with the flow of electric current through the resistance of
the conductors. These losses are proportional to the resistance and square of the
current and are referred as I2R loss.
Is an instrument transformer that produces a secondary current proportional to the
primary current
A permanently short circuited winding consisting of conductors embedded in the rotor
poles of synchronous machine and connected together at the end of the poles. It
provides stability on load changes and paralleling and improves machine efficiency.
A machine incorporating am armature winding connected via a commutator to a direct
current system
The ability of insulation to withstand voltage without breaking down. Dielectric strength is
usually expressed in volts per mil.
A three phase winding connection in which the phases are connected in series to form a
closed circuit.
Loss of magnetization of permanent magnets due to high temperatures or inappropriate
operating conditions.
The ratio of the fundamental component of reactive armature voltage (due to the initial
value of the fundamental direct-axis components of the alternating current component of
the armature current) to this component of current under suddenly applied load
conditions and at rated frequency. This allows the calculation of short circuit current of
an AC generator.
The time in seconds required for the rapidly decreasing component present during the
first few cycles in the direct-axis component of the alternating-current component of the
armature current under suddenly applied short-circuit conditions, with the machine
running at rated speed to decrease by 1/e or 0.368 of its initial value.
The ratio of the fundamental component of reactive armature voltage, due to the
fundamental direct-axis component of armature current, to this component of current
under balanced steady-state conditions and at rated frequency
The time in seconds required for the rms alternating-current value of the slowly
decreasing component present in the direct-axis component of symmetrical armature
voltage on open-circuit to decrease by 1/e or 0.368 of its initial value when the field
winding is suddenly short-circuited with the machine running at rated speed.
The ratio of the fundamental component of reactive armature voltage, due to the
fundamental direct-axis alternating-current component of the armature current, to this
component of current under suddenly applied load conditions and at rated frequency,
the value of current to be determined by the extrapolation of the envelope of the
alternating-current component of the current wave to the instant of the sudden

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application of load, neglecting the high-decrement currents during the first few cycles.
Direct Current (DC) A non-varying, unidirectional electric current. The electrons flow through the circuit in
one direction. Hence, in DC system, only real (or active) power is transmitted. It is a type
of power supply available from batteries, DC generators or a rectified source used for
special-purpose applications.
Distribution Factor Ratio of the actual voltage of a phase band to the arithmetic sum of individual coil
(kd) voltages.
Drip Cover or Drip A metal piece shaped like a pizza pan attached to the top of an electrical machine
Proof mounted vertically shaft down to protect liquid from entering into the electrical machine
by gravity.
Duty Cycle The ratio of operating time versus total cycle time of a motor. A motor has a continuous
duty rating if it continues to operate for an indefinite amount of time and its normal
operating temperature remains within the temperature limits of its insulation system. A
motor has an intermittent duty rating if it never reaches a steady temperature, but is
allowed to cool between operations.
Dynamic Braking A way of quickly stopping a motor by disconnecting the power source. The rotating
motor then becomes a generator. When connected to a resistor, the energy of rotation is
then dissipated as heat in the resistor, and regenerative if the power is returned to the
supply line.
Eddy Currents Circulating currents in magnetic field conductive materials caused by alternating
magnetic fields. They represent power losses (heat) in generators and transformers.
Hence their minimization is an important factor in lamination design.
Efficiency The ratio between useful work performed and the energy expended in producing it. It is
the ratio of output power divided by the input power. Efficiency is usually expressed in
percentage.
Electrical Degree

A unit of measurement of time as applied to alternating current. One complete cycle =

360 electrical degrees. One cycle in a rotating electric machine is accomplished when
the rotating field moves from one pole to the next pole of the same polarity. There are
360 electrical degrees in this time period. Therefore, in a two pole machine there are
360 degrees in one revolution, and the electrical and mechanical degrees are equal. In a
machine with more than two poles, the number of electrical degrees per revolution is
obtained by multiplying the number of pairs of poles by 360.

Electrical Time The ratio of the motor electrical inductance to armature resistance. It is the time taken by
Constant the current in the motor to go from rest to 63% of the final steady-state current.
Electrical It is the fundamental frequency of the current and voltage at the machine terminals. It is
Frequency the rate at which alternating current reverses its direction of flow. It is measured in Hertz
(Hz), where 1 cycle/second equals 1 Hz.
Electromagnetic
Fields
Electromotive
Force (EMF), also
Known as BackEMF
Enclosure

An induced magnetic field generated by the passage of an electric current through a

conductor (Commonly used in conjunction with a pole structure.)
The force induced in a conductor when it is moved across a magnetic field.

Refers to the housing of the motor. Enclosures are available in designs for various

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environmental conditions.
End-Windings
Excitation
Excitation Current
Fan
Ferromagnetic
Field
Field Coil
Field Pole Field
Weakening
Flow Rate, Coolant
Flux Density
Form Wound Coil
Fractional Slot
Windings
Frame
Frame Size
Friction
Full Load Current
Full Pitch
Generator
Ground
Ground Neutral
Hall Effect Sensor
Harmonics
Harmonic Contents
Heat Loss
Hertz
Hot Spot Allowance
Horse Power
Housing See Frame and Enclosure
Hysteresis Loss
Impedance
Induced Voltage
Inductance
Induction
Generator
Induction Motor
Inertia
Inrush CVurrent
Insulation
Insulation
Resistance
Insulation Class
Iron Loss
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Integer Slot
Winding
Intermittent Duty
Jogging
KilloWatt
Lagging Power The power factor caused by inductive loads, such as motors and transformers, in which
Factor the current lags behind the voltage in an alternating current networks
Leads
Leakage
Line to Line
Voltage
Load
Load Factor
Locked Current
Locked Torque
Magnet Pole
Magnet Radius
Magnet Width
Magnetic Flux
Density
Magnetomotive
Force (MMF)
Mechanical Speed
Meghom
Megawatt
Motor constant
Mush Wound Coil See Random Wound Coil
Negative Sequence
Reactance
NEMA
Neutral
Newton-meter
No-Load
Nominal Value
Number of
Conductor per Slot
Number of Slots
per Pole per Phase
Oil Mist Lubrication
Ohm
Open-Circuit
Voltage
Out of Phase
Output Torque
Overhang Load
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Overload Power
Over Speed
Parallel Connection
Paralleling
Parasitic Load
Peak Shaving
Permanent Magnet
(PM)
Permanent Magnet
Generator
Permeabiliy
Phase
Phase Balance
Pilot Exciter
Polarization Index
Poles
Pole Pitch
Portable Generator
Set
Poitier Reactance
(Xp)

Power
Power Factor

Power Factor
Correction
Capacitor

A ferromagnetic body that maintains a magnetic field without the aid of external
electric current. The most practical material types are alnico, ceramic and rare earth.
A generator that has a permanent magnet field, usually rotating. The generator is
usually synchronous.
Is the measurement of the ease with which a material can be magnetized and how
much better than air it is as a path for magnetic fields (permeability of 1).
The winding of a generator that determines the number of complete voltage and/or
current sine waves generated per 360 electrical degrees, as in three phase.
The amount of voltage difference between phase voltages under balanced load
conditions.
A small generator, usually permanent magnet field, used to power the field of the main
exciter.
A term used to indicate the insulation value to ground of a winding.
The magnetic poles in an electric motor that result from connection and placement of
the windings in the motor. Besides poles created by electricity, permanent magnets
mounted in specific areas are poles with a constant orientation.
The distance between two consecutive poles
Any wheel, skid, truck or railroad car mounted, but not self-propelled, equipment
designed to supply electric power
A synchronous machine quantity determined from a no-load saturation curve, and a
zero power factor excitation. It is useful for the calculation of excitation of the
machine at other loads and power factors. The height of a Potier reactance triangle
determines the reactance drop, and the reactance Xp is equal to the reactance drop
divided by the current.
Work done per unit of time. Measured in horsepower or watts (1 HP = 33,000 ft.
lb./min. = 746 watts).
Ratio of the absolute value of the active power P (Watts) to the apparent power S
(Volts/Amperes). It is a measurement of the time difference between the voltage and
current in an alternating current circuit. It is represented by the cosine of the angle of
this phase difference.
A device used to raise the power factor on motors to avoid penalties from utilities for
low power factors. This is because induction electrical equipment takes more power
from the electrical supply system than is necessary to produce the work required. A
properly sized capacitor will offset most of the lagging current of a motor and raise its
power factor to about 95%.

Pull-Out Torque
The pull-out torque of a synchronous motor is the maximum sustained torque which
the motor will develop at synchronous speed with rated voltage applied at rated
frequency and with normal excitation.

Pull-Up Torque
The minimum torque developed during the period of acceleration from locked-rotor to
the speed at which breakdown torque occurs. It is usually expressed as a percentage of
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full-load torque.

Random Wound Also called mush wound coils, where the turns are wound without definite placement.
Coil
Rated Current The rated nameplate current of a machine or apparatus is the value of current which it
Rated Power
Rated Speed
Rated Voltage
Reactance
Reactive Current
Reactive Load

can carry without exceeding the allowable temperature rises.

The stated or nameplate net electric output which is obtainable from a generator set
when it is functioning at rated conditions.
Speed in revolutions per minute (RPM) at which the machine is designed to operate.
The voltage of electrical apparatus at which it is designed to operated.
The opposition to the flow of current made by an induction coil or a capacitor.

The component of a current in quadrature with the voltage.

A load which is carried by an alternating current generating station or system in which
the current and voltage are out of phase and which is measured in volt-amperes.
The imaginary (non-real) power from inductive loads like motor or capacitive loads.
The technique of slowing or stopping a drive by regeneration.

Reactive Power
Regenerative
Breaking
Reluctance The characteristic of a magnetic material which resists the flow of magnetic lines of
Resistance
Rotor
Salient Pole
Secondary Winding
Shaft
Shaft Current

force through it
The degree of obstacle presented by a material to the flow of electric current measured
in ohms.
The rotating member of a motor with a shaft.
A field pole which projects from the yoke or hub towards the air-gap.
A winding in an electrical machine which is not connected to the external electrical
system.
A rotating or oscillating round, straight bar for transmitting motion and torque, usually
supported on bearings
Induced circulating currents due to machine asymmetries or supply voltage effects.

Short Circuit A defect in a winding which causes part of the normal electrical circuit to be bypassed.
Skew
Slip

Slip Ring

Slot
Slot Fill

This frequently results in reducing the resistance of impedance to such an extent as to

cause overheating of the winding, and subsequent burnout .
Non parallel stator and rotor slot alignment.
The difference between the speed of the rotating magnetic field (which is always
synchronous) and the rotor in a non-synchronous induction motor is known as slip and
is expressed as a percentage of a synchronous speed. Slip generally increases with an
increase in load.

A conductor band mounted on an armature and insulated from it. A brush slides on the
band as the armature rotates. The function of the slip ring system is essentially the
same as a commutator and brushes. Slip rings are also used to transmit current from the
armature in a generator application.
A recess in a core in which the conductors of a winding may be placed.
Ratio between the cross-sectional area of all conductors in one slot and the entire slot

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area.

Squirrel Cage

Rotor winding consisting of a number of conducting bars with their ends connected by
conducting rings.

Stalling Torque The torque at which the load causes the motor to stall (or stop).
Steady State The operating conditions under constant load.
Surge A sudden temporary variation in current, voltage or frequency.
Synchronous
An AC machine in which the frequency of the generated voltages and the speed of the
Machine
machine are in a constant ratio.

Synchronous
The speed of magnetic field rotation determined by the supply frequency and the
Speed
number of poles.

Synchronism
Stator
Temperature Rise
Torque
Totally Enclosed
machine

The state where connected alternating current systems, machines or a combination

operate at the same frequency and where the phase angle displacements between
voltages in them are constant.
The stationary part of the motor. Specifically, it is the iron core with the wire winding
in it that is pressed into the shell of the frame.
The measurable rise above the ambient temperature at which the fully loaded motor
operates. This temperature rise is the result of the heat losses in the stator winding,
core, and rotor.
A turning force applied to a shaft, tending to cause rotation.
A totally enclosed machine is one so enclosed as to prevent the free exchange of air
between the inside and the outside of the case, but not sufficiently enclosed to be
termed airtight.
Totally enclosed machine equipped for exterior cooling by means of a fan or fans
integral with the machine, but external to the enclosing parts.

Totally Enclosed
Fan Cooled
Totally Enclosed
Water Cooled Totally enclosed machine which is cooled by circulating water, the water or water
conductors coming in direct contact with the machine parts.

Transient A momentary deviation in an electrical or mechanical system.

Turn A complete encirclement of the slots into which the coil is placed.
UL
A classification by Underwriters Laboratories which recognizes the components of a
given product meet standards

Unbalanced
Magnetic Pull
(UMP)
Unity Power Factor
Volt
Voltage
Voltage Dip

Unequal radial pull on a rotor due to magnetic eccentricities in the air gap.

A power factor of 1.0, characteristic of a resistive load

Derived SI unit for electromotive force (e.m.f.)
The difference of electrical potential between any two conductors.
The reduction in voltage resulting from a sudden application of load, usually expressed

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Voltage Droop
Voltage Operating
Range
Voltage Recovery
Time
Voltage Transient
Watt
Winding
Winding Factor
Wiring Harness
WYE or Star
Connection
Yoke
Zero-Sequence
Reactance

as a percentage.
The difference between steady state no load and steady state full load output voltage
expressed as a percentage of the full load voltage.
The range of voltage through which the generator can be adjusted and operated.
Example: 227/480 + 5%.
The time required for the voltage to return to and remain within a predetermined band
after a transient.
The maximum change in voltage when a specified load is suddenly applied or
removed.
The electrical power required to do work at the rate of 1 joule per second.
An assembly of coils that acts to produce a magnetic flux field or to link a flux field.
The product of the Pitch Factor and the Distribution Factor.
A pre-assembled group of wires arranged to facilitate interconnection of electrical
circuits.
A method of interconnecting the phases of a three phase system to form a configuration
resembling the letter Y, such that one end of each of the windings is connected to a
common point (the neutral point) and the other end to its appropriate line terminal.
Part of a device, composed of magnetic material and intended to complete a magnetic
circuit
The ratio of the fundamental component of reactive armature voltage, due to the
fundamental zero-sequence component of armature current, to the component at rated
frequency.

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