Lecture 17 PDF
Lecture 17 PDF
Lecture 17 PDF
Generator Designs
A lot of jargon relates to different generator designs.
All designs have a moving part, the rotor, and a nonrotating part, the stator.
A permanent magnet, or a winding of coils provides the
magnetic field. This is called the field piece. The
windings could receive current from the generator itself!
The coils that see the change in magnetic flux form the
armature. The armature can be on the rotor and the field
piece on the stator, or vice-versa.
A commutator can be used to produce only one sign of
voltage, in which case we have a dynamo; or no
commutator can be used, and we have an alternator.
An alternator
A generator without a commutator.
In this version, the coils remain stationary
(the stator), with FB changing as the
magnets sweep across the face of the coil.
In this case, the stator serves as the
armature of the generator.
The outer ring on the stator is a piece of
iron to amplify B.
This alternator uses permanent magnets on
the rotor, which is attached to a wind
turbine.
The turbine could also be driven by water
(hydroelectricity), natural steam
(geothermal), or steam produced via boiling
water by burning coal, natural gas, or
uranium (nuclear).
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Mutual Inductance
Suppose we energize an N1 turn, cross sectional area A1
air core solenoid by attaching it to a current source that
supplies a current i1. We place this inside, but not in
electrical contact with a second N2 turn, cross sectional
area A2 solenoid. Both solenoids have length l.
Solenoid 1 will produce a field B1=N1m0i1/l.
This field will generate a flux FB2=B1A1N2 in solenoid 2
(note, A1, not A2). This is FB2=N1N2m0A1/li1.
M12=N1N2m0A1/l is called the mutual inductance:
FB2=M12i1.
A Transformer
Since FB1=L1i1, and FB2=M12i1, Faradays law tells us the
voltage differences across solenoids 1 and 2 are DV1=L1di1/dt, and DV2=-M12di1/dt.
As long as the inductances dominate, we have
DV2=(M12/L1)DV1=(N2/N1)DV1.
The second coil has a voltage output that is (N2/N1)
times the first. If N1>N2, this is a step-down
transformer. If N1<N2, it is step-up transformer.
Power in a transformer
Suppose we attach the secondary coil on a transformer
with a resistor R. The resistor will dissipate a power
Pout=DV2DV2/R=DV2i2. This power must be pulled from
the transformer.
However, any energy that is pulled out has to come in,
so we must have Pin=DV1i1=Pout=DV2i2.
This implies i2/i1=N1/N2. A transformer that steps up
current steps down voltage and vice-versa.
Power Transformer
A.
B.
C.
D.
Stepping it up
We step-up voltage to deliver high power at low current.
This minimizes fire hazards, but increases shock
hazards.
We step down voltages to reduce shock hazards. The
higher currents needed for the same power increase fire
hazards.
120 V allows typical appliances to draw around 1 A of
current. High power devices (dryer, electric stove) might
use 220V.
Europe prefers 220V for all household applications,
meaning you need a transformer to operate most
devices built for the USA.