AC GENERATOR

PHYSICS PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY – ASHAKIRAN PRADHAN

CLASS – XII (A)
ROLL NO –
SCHOOL – ST.XAVIER INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL

Guided By: Dr. Sushant Kumar Das

 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Ashakiran Pradhan, a

student of class XII (A) has successfully
completed the research on their Physics
project and has given a satisfactory account
of it in the project file containing a record of
the project work under the guidance of Dr.
Sushant Kumar Das (subject teacher) during
the year 2024-25.
This project has been completed under
CBSE guidelines.

_________________________
_________________________
Signature Of Internal Signature Of
Examiner Principal

____________________________
_____________________________
School Stamp Signature Of External
Examiner
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This is to acknowledge the fact that I,
Ashakiran Pradhan of XII ‘A’, have
successfully completed my project on “AC
Generator” with the guidance of my Physics
teacher Dr. Sushant Kumar Das.
I’m highly indebted to my Physics teacher
for his guidance and supervision as well as
for providing necessary information
regarding the given project. His constant
guidance made me understand this project
and its manifestations in great depths. I’m
deeply grateful to him for his time and
efforts towards this topic.
CONTENTS
1.INTRODUCTION……………………………….
…………………………….....1

2.THEORY……………..….……………………….
………………………………….2

3.CONSTRUCTION…….……………………….
……………………….………..3

4.CIRCUIT DIAGRAM……………………….
……………………………………4

5.WORKING PRINCIPLE.……….………….
……………………………………5

6.INSTANTANEOUS EMF…………….
…………………………………………6

7.EFFICIENCY………………………………………….
…………………………….6

8.USES………………………………………………………
………………………….7

9.ADVANTAGES &
DISADVANTAGES………………………………..……8
10. CONCLUSION.
………………………………………………………………
10

11. BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………
…………………….11

12. TEACHER’S
ASSESSMENT…………………………………………….
.12

INTRODUCTION
An electric machine that converts mechanical
energy into electrical energy in the form of
voltage and current is known as a generator. It is
based on the principle of electromagnetic
induction. It was known as the Faraday Disk.
Generators are of two kinds: AC generator
and DC generator.
A generator that converts mechanical energy into
alternating electrical energy i.e. alternating
current and alternating EMF is known as an AC
generator. The EMF generated is dependent on
the number of armature coil turns, magnetic field
strength and the speed of the rotating field. AC
generators are based on the principle
of Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.

THEORY
1.The strong magnetic field is produced by a
current flow through the field coil of the rotor.
2.The field coil in the rotor receives excitation
through the use of slip rings and brushes.
3.Two brushes are spring-held in contact with the
slip rings to provide the continuous connection
between the field coil and the external
excitation circuit.
4.The armature is contained within the windings
of the stator and is connected to the output.
5.Each time the rotor makes one complete
revolution, one complete cycle of AC
is developed.
6.A generator has many turns of wire wound into
the slots of the rotor.
7.The magnitude of AC voltage generated by
an AC generator is dependent on the field
strength and speed of the rotor.
8.Most generators are operated at a constant
speed; therefore, the generated voltage
depends on field excitation, or strength.

CONSTRUCTION
1.Field- The field is composed of coils of
conductors that receive voltage from the
source and produce magnetic flux. This
magnetic flux in the magnetic field cuts the
armature to produce a voltage.
2.Armature- Armature consists of wire coils,
large enough to carry full load current for the
generator.
3.Prime Mover- Prime mover is a component
used to drive the AC generator. It is a diesel
engine, a motor or a steam turbine.
4.Rotor- The rotating machine in the generator
is known as a rotor. It is driven by the
generator’s prime mover.
5.Stator- The stator, a stationary part, the
core comprises a lamination of steel alloys or
magnetic iron to minimise losses due to eddy
currents.
6.Slip Rings- The slip rings are electrical
connections used to transfer power to and fro
from the rotor of the generator. Slip rings are
designed to conduct the flow of current from
a stationary device to a rotating device.

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF AC GENERATOR

 WORKING PRINCIPLE OF AC GENERATOR
o The AC generator works on the principle of
Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction.
o The armature in the AC generator rotates
between the poles of the magnet upon the axis
perpendicular to the magnetic field. The flux
linkage of the armature changes continuously.
o This results in a magnetic effect of electric
current flowing through the galvanometer.
o There is movement in the galvanometer’s
needle.
o This indicates the flow of an alternating current
through the galvanometer.
o By using Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule, we can
find the direction of the induced current.

INSTANTANEOUS EMF PRODUCED

Let position of the coil at any time t. It makes an
angle q with vertical. If w is uniform angular
speed of the coil,
then q = wt
B be the strength of magnetic field n be the
number of turns in the coil and A area of the coil.
Then magnetic flux with the coil in this position is
given by:
f = nBA cos q = nBA cos wt.
Differentiate w.r.t. time
= nBA(-sin wt)w
= -nBAw sin wt
e = - (-nBAw sin wt)
Maximum value of EMF, say E₀,
e = E₀ sin wt

EFFICIENCY
1) Efficiency of an AC generator is the ratio of the
useful power output to the total power input.
2) Because any mechanical process experiences
some losses, no AC generators can be 100
percent efficient.
Efficiency = (Output /Input) x 100
 USES
AC generators are widely used and have various
applications. The applications of AC generators
are listed below:
o Diesel-electric locomotive alternators:
Locomotives need electric and mechanical
power simultaneously, and this power is
provided by AC generators
o Marine alternators: These alternators are used
for generating power in marine equipment.
o Brushless alternators: These alternators are the
main source of power in electrical power
plants.
o Automotive alternators: Automobiles use
generators for electric power. This electric
power in the vehicles and charging battery is
generated in AC generators.
o Radio alternators: These are used for
transmission of radio frequency in low bands.
 ADVANTAGES OF AC GENERATOR
AC generators have a number of advantages
over DC generators, including:
o Efficiency: AC generators are more efficient
than DC generators, meaning that they can
convert more mechanical energy into
electrical energy.
o Transmission: AC can be transmitted over
long distances with low losses using
transformers. This is because AC can be
easily stepped up to high voltages and then
stepped down to lower voltages at the point
of use.
o Cost: AC generators are generally less
expensive than DC generators of the same
capacity.
o Simplicity: AC generators are simpler to
design and build than DC generators. This is
because they do not require a commutator,
which is a complex and moving part.
o Reliability: AC generators are more reliable
than DC generators because they have fewer
moving parts.
 DISADVANTAGES OF AC GENERATOR
The disadvantages of AC generators include:
o Susceptibility to sparks and heating: AC
generators are susceptible to sparks and
heating issues, which may lead to electric
shocks and even fires. It is, therefore,
important to increase the safety levels while
using AC generators.
o Voltage fluctuations: AC generators produce
a voltage that fluctuates over time. This can
cause problems for some electronic devices.
o Need for transformers: AC generators often
require transformers to step up or step down
the voltage to a level that is safe and
efficient for use. This can add to the cost and
complexity of an AC generator system.
 CONCLUSION
AC generators do not generate electricity; rather,
it is responsible for converting mechanical
energy into alternating electrical energy. The
structure of an AC generator includes a field
magnet, armature, slip rings, brushes and a
source of energy. The basic working of an AC
generator can be studied using the concept of
electromagnetic induction. It was designed in
1888 by Nikola Tesla and has been in use ever
since in many ways, such as the production of
hydroelectricity.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
1.https://unacademy.com/content/neet-ug/
study-material/physics/ac-generator/
2.https://testbook.com/physics/ac-generator
3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Electric_generator
4.www.vedantu.com
5.www.byjus.com
6.www.meritnation.com
7.www.phy12.com
8.www.toppr.com
9.www.jagranjosh.com
TEACHER’S ASSESSMENT