Generators: Working, types and advantages

Principle of generator:
Generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. It works based
on principle of faraday law of electromagnetic induction. The faradays law states that
whenever a conductor is placed in a varying magnetic field, EMF is induced and this induced
EMF is equal to the rate of change of flux linkages. This EMF can be generated when there is
either relative space or relative time variation between the conductor and magnetic field. So
the important elements of a generator are:
 Magnetic field
 Motion of conductor in magnetic field
Construction of generator:
In the fig., single-turn rectangular copper coil ABCD is rotating about its own axis in a magnetic
field provided by either permanent magnet or electromagnets. The two ends of the coil are
joined to two slip rings ‘a’ and ‘b’ which are insulated from each other and from the central
shaft. Two collecting brushes (made of either carbon or copper) are pressed against the slip
rings. Their function is to collect the current induced in the coil and convey to the external
load resistance R.
The rotating coil may be named as armature and the magnets are called as field magnets.
Working of Generators:
Parts of a practical generator:
1. Magnetic frame or yoke
2. Pole-Cores and Pole-shoes
3. Pole coils or field coils
4. Armature core
5. Armature windings or conductors
6. Commutators
7. Brushes and bearings
Generators are basically coils of electric conductors, normally copper wire, that are tightly
wound onto a metal core and are mounted to turn around inside an exhibit of large magnets.
An electric conductor moves through a magnetic field, the magnetism will interface with the
electrons in the conductor to induce a flow of electrical current inside it.

The conductor coil and its core are called the armature, connecting the armature to the shaft
of a mechanical power source, for example an motor, the copper conductor can turn at
exceptionally increased speed over the magnetic field.
The point when the generator armature first starts to turn, then there is a weak magnetic
field in the iron pole shoes. As the armature turns, it starts to raise voltage. Some of this
voltage is making on the field windings through the generator regulator. This impressed
voltage builds up stronger winding current, raises the strength of the magnetic field. The
expanded field produces more voltage in the armature. This, in turn, make more current in
the field windings, with a resultant higher armature voltage. At this time the signs of the shoes
depended on the direction of flow of current in the field winding. The opposite signs will give
current to flow in wrong direction.
Types of Generators:
The generators are classified into types.
 AC generators
 DC generators
AC Generators:
These are also called as alternators. It is the most important means of producing electrical
power in many of the places since now days all the consumers are using AC. It works based
on principle of the electromagnetic induction. These are of two types one is induction
generator and other one is synchronous generator. The induction generator requires no
separate DC excitation, regulator controls, frequency control or governor. This concept takes
place when conductor coils turn in a magnetic field actuating a current and a voltage. The
generators should run at a consistent speed to convey a stable AC voltage, even no load is
accessible.

Figure: Induction Generator

 Figure: 3 phase ac generator
Synchronous generators are large size generators mainly used in power plants. These may be
rotating field type or rotating armature type. In rotating armature type, armature is at rotor
and field is at stator. Rotor armature current is taken through slip rings and brushes. These
are limited due to high wind losses. These are used for low power output applications.
Rotating field type of alternator is widely used because of high power generation capability
and absence of slip rings and brushes.
It can be either 3 phase or two phase generators. A two-phase alternator produces two
completely separate voltages. Each voltage may be considered as a single-phase voltage. Each
is generated voltage completely independent of the other. The three-phase alternator
has three single-phase windings spaced such that the voltage induced in any one phase is
displaced by 120º from the other two. These can be connected either delta or wye
connections. In Delta Connection each coil end is connected together to form a closed loop.
A Delta Connection appears like the Greek Letter Delta (Δ). In Wye Connection one end of
each coil connected together and the other end of each coil left open for external
connections. A Wye Connection appears as the letter Y. These generators are packaged with an
engine or turbine to be used as a motor-generator set and used in applications like naval, oil and gas
extraction, mining machinery, wind power plants etc

Advantages of AC Generator:
 These Generators are generally maintenance free, because of absence of brushes.
 Easily step up and step down through transformers.
 Transmission link size might be thinner because of step up feature
 Size of the generator relatively smaller than DC machine
 Losses are relatively less than DC machine
 These Generator breakers are relatively smaller than DC breakers
DC Generators:
DC generator is typically found in off-grid applications. These generators give a seamless
power supply directly into electric storage devices and DC power grids without novel
equipment. The stored power is carries to loads through dc-ac converters. The DC generators
could be controlled back to an unmoving speed as batteries tend to be stimulating to recover
considerably more fuel.
Classification of DC Generators
D.C Generators are classified according to the way their magnetic field is developed in the
stator of the machine.

 Permanent-magnet DC generators
 Separately-excite DC generators and
 Self-excited DC generators.

Figure: Permanent magnet DC generator

Self-excited- Shunt and series wound DC generator.

Permanent magnet DC generators do not require external field excitation because it has
permanent magnets to produce the flux. These are used for low power applications like
dynamos. Separately-excite DC generators requires external field excitation to produce the
magnetic flux. We can also vary the excitation to get variable output power. These are used
in electro plating and electro refining applications. Due to residual magnetism present in the
poles of the stator self-excited DC generators can able to produce their own magnetic field
ones it is started.
The self-excited DC Generators are further classified as Shunt wound DC generators; Series
wound DC generators and Compound wound DC generators. The Compound Wound DC
generators are further divided as long shunt wound DC generators, and short shunt wound
DC generators.
The field pole of the DC generator are stationary, and the armature conductor rotates. The
voltage generated in the armature conductor is of alternating nature, and this voltage is
converted into the direct voltage at the brushes with the help of the commutator.
These are simple in design and no need to have the external circuit to vary the field excitation.
Again these self-excited DC generators are classified into shunt, series, and compound
generators.
These are used in applications like battery charging, welding, ordinary lightening applications
etc.
Advantages of DC Generator:
 Mainly DC machines have the wide variety of operating characteristics which can be
obtained by selection of the method of excitation of the field windings.
 The output voltage can be smoothed by regularly arranging the coils around the
armature .This leads to less fluctuations which is desirable for some steady state
applications.
 No shielding need for radiation, so cable cost will be less as compared to AC.

What are the differences between AC and DC Generator?

Differentiating AC Generator DC Generator
Sl. Property
No.

1 Definition AC generator is a DC generator is a mechanical device

mechanical device which which converts mechanical energy
converts mechanical into DC electrical power.
energy into AC electrical
power.

2 Direction of Current In an AC generator, the In a DC generator, the electrical

electrical current reverses current flows only in one direction.
direction periodically.
3 Basic Design In an AC generator, the In a DC generator, the coil through
coil through which the which the current flows rotates in a
current flows is fixed while fixed field. The overall design is very
the magnet moves. The simple but construction is complex
construction is simple and due to commutators and slip rings.
costs are less.

4 Commutators (an AC generator does not DC generators have commutators to

electrical switch have commutators. make the current flow in one direction
changing the direction only.
of field current).

5 Rings (electrical AC generators have slip- DC generators have split-ring

connections used to rings. commutators.
transfer to and from
the generator)

6 Efficiency of Brushes Since slip-rings have a Both brushes and commutators of a

(conducts current smooth and uninterrupted DC generator wear out quickly and
between stationary surface, they do not wear thus are less efficient.
wires and moving quickly and are highly
parts in the generator) efficient.

7 Short Circuit As the brushes have high Since the brushes and commutators
Possibility efficiency, a short circuit is wear out quickly, sparking and short
very unlikely. circuit possibility is high.

8 Armature (generates In the case of AC In the case of DC generators, the

flow of electricity generators, the armature is armature may be either rotor or stator.
when induced in the always the rotor.
magnetic field)

9 Rotating Parts The rotating part in an AC The rotating part in a DC generator is

Generator is low current generally heavy.
high resistivity rotor.

10 Current Induction In an AC generator, the In a DC generator, the output current

output current can be either can only be induced in the rotor.
induced in the stator or in
the rotor.

11 Output Voltage AC generators produce a DC generators produce a low voltage

high voltage which varies when compared to AC generator
in amplitude and time. The which is constant in amplitude and
output frequency varies time i.e. output frequency is zero.
(mostly 50Hz to 60Hz).

12 Maintenance AC generators require very DC generators require frequent

less maintenance and are maintenance and are less reliable.
highly reliable.
13 Types AC generators can of DC generators are mainly two types
varying types like 3 Phase which are Separately excited DC
generators, Single phase generator and Self-excited DC
generators, synchronous generator. According to field and
generator, induction armature connection, they can be
generator, etc. further classified as DC series, shunt
or compound generators respectively.

14 Cost The initial cost of an AC The initial cost of a DC generator is

generator is high. less when compared to AC generators.

15 Distribution and The output from AC The output from DC generators is

Transmission generators is easy to difficult to distribute as transformers
distribute using a cannot be used.
transformer.

16 Efficiency AC generators are very DC generators are less efficient due to

efficient as the energy sparking and other losses like copper,
losses are less. eddy current, mechanical and
hysteresis losses.

17 Applications It is used to power for DC generators power very large

smaller motors and electric motors like those needed for
electrical appliances at subway systems.
homes (mixers, vacuum
cleaners, etc.)