INTRODUCTION

 An electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy

to electrical energy.

 A generator forces electric current to flow through an external

circuit. The source of mechanical energy may be a reciproca ng or
turbine steam engine, water falling through a turbine or waterwheel,
an internal combus on engine, a wind turbine, a hand crank,
compressed air, or any other source of mechanical energy.

 Generators provide nearly all of the power for electric power grids.
 THEORY AND WORKING
1. Defini on:
 An AC generator is a device that converts mechanical energy
into electrical energy in the form of alterna ng current (AC)
based on Faraday’s Law of Electromagne c Induc on.
2. Principle:
 It works on Faraday’s Law of Electromagne c Induc on, which
states that an EMF is induced in a conductor when it
experiences a changing magne c field.
3. Main Components:
 Armature: A coil of wire that rotates within the magne c field.
 Magne c Field: Provided by permanent magnets or
electromagnets.
 Slip Rings: Metallic rings connected to the ends of the armature
coil to transfer the current.
 Brushes: Sta onary carbon blocks that maintain contact with
the slip rings to transfer current to the external circuit.
 Prime Mover: A mechanical device like a turbine that rotates
the armature.
4. Construc on:
 The armature is placed between the poles of a magne c field.
 The ends of the armature coil are connected to slip rings, which
rotate with the armature.
 Sta onary brushes are in contact with the slip rings to transfer
current to the external circuit.
5. Working:
 The prime mover rotates the armature in the magne c field.
  As the armature rotates:
Magne c flux linkage through the coil changes con nuously.
According to Faraday's Law, an EMF is induced in the coil.
 The direc on of the induced EMF changes every half rota on
due to the changing orienta on of the coil with respect to the
magne c field.
 This alterna ng EMF results in alterna ng current in the
external circuit.


6. Waveform of AC:
 The induced EMF follows a sine wave pa ern, as it depends on
the sinusoidal varia on of the magne c flux.
 The frequency of AC depends on the speed of rota on of the
armature.

Components of a AC generator

 Field

 Armature
  Prime mover

 Rotor

 Stator

 Slip rings

Field
 The field in an AC generator consists of coils of
conductors within the generator that receive a voltage
from a source (called excita on) and produce a magne c
flux.
  magne c flux in the field cuts the armature to produce a
voltage. This voltage is ul mately the output voltage of
the AC generator.

ARMATURE

 The armature is the part of an AC generator in which

voltage is produced.

 This component consists of many coils of wire that are

large enough.

PRIME MOVER

 The prime mover is the component that is used to drive

the AC generator.

 The prime mover may be any type of rota ng machine,

such as a diesel engine, a steam turbine, or a motor.

ROTOR
  The rotor of an AC generator is the rota ng component
of the generator, as shown in Figure 1.

 The rotor is driven by the generator’s prime mover,

which may be a steam turbine, gas turbine, or diesel
engine. Depending on the type of generator, this
component may be the armature or the field.

 The rotor will be the armature if the voltage output is

generated there; the rotor will be the field if the field
excita on is applied there

STATOR

 The stator of an AC generator is the part that is

sta onary.
 Like the rotor, this component may be the armature or
the field, depending on the type of generator
 The stator will be the armature if the voltage output is
generated there; the stator will be the field if the field
excita on is applied there.
SLIP RING

 Split rings are used in AC generators to facilitate the

transfer of electrical energy from the rota ng coil to the
external circuit.

 A split ring is a circular metallic ring divided into two

halves, insulated from each other. These two halves are
connected to the ends of the generator’s armature coil.

 As the armature rotates, the split rings make contact

with sta onary carbon brushes. These brushes are
connected to the external circuit, allowing the generated
alterna ng current (AC) to flow out of the generator.

 The alterna ng nature of the current is due to the

periodic change in the direc on of induced
electromo ve force (EMF) in the coil, achieved by the
split rings.
Figure – 1:
 EFFICIENCY
 Efficiency of an AC generator is the ra o of the useful power
output to the total power input.

 Because any mechanical process experiences some losses, no

AC generators can be 100 per cent efficient.

 Efficiency of an AC generator can be calculated using Equa on.

 Efficiency = (Output /Input) X 100

OR

Efficiency = (POWER OUT/POWER IN) X 100

EFFICIENCY OF ELECTRIC GENERATOR

POWER = VOLTAGE X CURRENT

EFFICIENCY = (POWER OUTPUT X 100)/POWER INPUT

 RESULT

 WHEN THE AXLE OF GENERATING MOTOR IS ROTATED, E.M.F. IS

PRODUCED BY IT.
REASON: CHANGE IN FLUX THROUGH THE WINDING OF MOTOR.

 THIS E.M.F. REMAINS IN THE CIRCUIT AS LONG AS AXLE IS ROTATED.

HENCE, FARADAY’S LAW OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION IS VERIFIED.

 AS THE SPEED OF ROTOR IS INCREASED, THE VOLTAGE AND CURRENT

PRODUCED BY GENERATOR ALSO GET INCREASED.

REASON: RATE OF CHANGE OF FLUX INCREASE

 USES
1.) Electric Power Genera on:
o Used in power plants (hydroelectric, thermal,
nuclear, wind) to generate electricity for homes,
industries, and commercial use.
2. Backup Power Supply:
o Employed in backup generators to provide power
during outages.
3. Renewable Energy Systems:
o Integral in wind turbines and hydropower systems
for conver ng renewable energy into electricity.
4. Industrial Applica ons:
o Used in industries to power machinery and
equipment requiring alterna ng current.
5. Transporta on:
o U lized in aircra , ships, and trains to supply power
to electrical systems and ligh ng.
6. Medical Equipment:
o Provides power for medical devices in hospitals and
clinics, especially in remote areas.
7. Agricultural Use:
o Powers irriga on pumps, milking machines, and
other farm equipment in rural areas.
8. Portable Generators:
o Used in outdoor ac vi es like camping and
construc on sites for temporary electricity supply.
9. Laboratory Equipment:
o Provides AC power for experimental setups and
research in laboratories.
10. Charging Systems:
o Alternators in vehicles are a type of AC generator,
used to charge the ba ery and power electrical
systems.
 LOSSES IN AN AC GENERATOR
1.) Internal Voltage Drop
  The load current flows through the armature in all AC
generators. The armature has some amount of
resistance and induc ve reactance.
 The combina on of these makes up what is known as
the internal resistance, which causes a loss in a n AC
generator.
 When the load current flows, a voltage drop is
developed across the internal resistance.
 This voltage drop subtracts from the output voltage and,
therefore, represents generated voltage and power that
is lost and not available to the load.

2.) HYSTERESIS LOSSES

 Hysteresis losses occur when iron cores in an AC
generator are subject to effects from a magne c field.
 The magne c domains of the cores are held in
alignment with the field in varying numbers, dependent
upon field strength.
 The magne c domains rotate, with respect to the
domains not held in alignment, one complete turn
during each rota on of the rotor. This rota on of
magne c domains in the iron causes fric on and heat.
 The heat produced by this fric on is called magne c
hysteresis loss.
  A er the heat-treated silicon steel is formed to the
desired shape, the lamina ons are heated to a dull red
and then allowed to cool.
 This process, known as annealing, reduces hysteresis
losses to a very low value.
 To reduce hysteresis losses, most AC armatures are
constructed of hea reated silicon steel, which has an
inherently low hysteresis loss

3.) MECHANICAL LOSSES

 Rota onal or mechanical losses can be caused by
bearing fric on, brush fric on on the commutator, and
air fric on (called windage), which is caused by the air
turbulence due to armature rota on.
 Careful maintenance can be instrumental in keeping
bearing fric on to a minimum.
 Clean bearings and proper lubrica on are essen al to
the reduc on of bearing fric on.
 Brush fric on is reduced by ensuring: proper brush
sea ng, proper brush use, and maintenance of proper
brush tension.
 A smooth and clean commutator also aids in the
reduc on of brush fric on.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Wikipedia.com

 Google search engine

 Physics NCERT book

 www.youtube.com/c/knowledgecycle