AC Generator

Group 3 – CE-2109
Garcia, Carl Joshua Maberit, Edgar Allan
Generoso, Maurine Magbujos, Charmaine
Jimenez, Abigail Manalo, Krizelle Joyce
Lozano, Carlos Daniel Mañibo, JC
Introduction
History
The history of AC generators is intertwined with

Introduction
the history of dynamos and DC electricity. The
electric generator has its origins in the work of
Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry, who
discovered electromagnetic induction.
History

Introduction
The first AC generator was created accidentally by
Hippolyte Pixii while he was inventing the first
dynamo in 1832, which delivered pulses of DC
electricity.
After 1832, some important milestones in the development
of generators included:
• 1860:Antonio Pacinotti invented a dynamo that provided
continuous DC power.

Introduction
• 1867: Werner Von Siemens and Charles Wheatstone
invented a more powerful dynamo using a self-powered
electromagnet.
• 1871: Zenobe Gramme created the first commercially
feasible dynamo by placing an iron core in the magnetic
field, vastly increasing the power output.
• 1878:The Ganz company created the first AC generators to
be used in commercial operations in Budapest.
The AC Generator
• AC generator, also known as alternators, is a machine
that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Introduction
• AC generators work on the principle of Faraday’s law of
electromagnetic induction which states that electromotive
force – EMF or voltage – is generated in a current-
carrying conductor that cuts a uniform magnetic field.
The AC Generator
• The generated EMF depends on the number of armature
coil turns, magnetic field strength, and the speed of the

Introduction
rotating field.

•A Simple AC Generator consists of a coil of wire

rotating in a magnetic field.
AC Generator
Components
AC Generator Components
 AC Generator Components
Field
This is the device that
produces magnetic flux
when exposed to voltage. It
consists of multiple coils of
conductors that all work
together when the source
voltage is received – a
process referred to as
excitation.
 AC Generator Components
Armature
The armature is the ultimate
source of the generator’s
output voltage. The magnetic
flux in the field facilitates
this output. The armature
consists of a battery of wire
coils, each of which can carry
the generator’s full rated
voltage.
 AC Generator Components
Prime Mover
The prime mover is a type
of turbine used to drive the
AC generator. It could
consist of a gas, steam,
hydraulic, or wind turbine,
for example. Some systems
may even have redundant
backup turbines.
 AC Generator Components
Rotor
As the name suggests, the
rotor is the chief rotating
component of the generator.
It is driven into motion by the
prime mover. Depending on
the system’s overall design,
the rotor may be the armature
or the field. The latter is more
common in today’s systems.
 AC Generator Components
Stator
The stator is the stationary
design element of the
system. It works with the
rotor and, like the rotor
itself, it can be either the
field or the armature.
 AC Generator Components
Slip Rings
Slip rings are specialized
electrical connectors that
facilitate power
transference to and from the
rotor. An individual slip
ring is a circular conductor
bound to the rotor
windings, but insulated
from the shaft.
 AC Generator Components
Shaft Bearings
The shaft connects the
prime mover and the rest of
the generator. A series of
bearings are precisely
positioned to structure the
relative motion of the
system’s moving parts. This
helps cut down on friction
and reduce “wear and tear.”
AC Generator
Theory
 AC Generator Theory
Theory of Operation
A simple AC Generator
consists of:
a) Strong magnetic field
b) Conductors
c) Means by which a
continuous connection is
provided to the conductor
 AC Generator Theory
• Thestrong magnetic field is
produced by a current flow.
• The field coil receives excitation.
• Two brushes are spring-held in
contact with the slip rings.
• Thearmature is contained within
the windings of the stator and is
connected to the output.
• One
complete revolution = One
complete cycle of AC
• The
magnitude of AC voltage generated by an AC Generator is

AC Generator Theory
DEPENDENT on the field strength and speed of the rotor.
• The
frequency of the generated voltage is dependent on the
number of field poles and the speed.
 

Where f = frequency (Hz)

P = total number of poles
N = rotor speed (rpm)
120 = conversion from minutes to seconds and from poles to pole pairs (60 sec
/1 min) x 2 poles / pole pair)
Therefore, the units of frequency (hertz or cycle/sec) are derived.
 AC Generator Theory
Losses in an AC Generator
• The load current flows through the   +
armature in all AC generators.
• The armature has some amount of  
Where
resistance and inductive resistance.
= armature current
• The combination of these make up
what is known as the internal = armature resistance
resistance, which causes a loss in an
AC generator. = armature inductive
• Voltage drop – subtracts from the
reactance
output voltage; represents generated
voltage and power that is lost.
 AC Generator Theory
Hysteresis Losses
• Occurwhen iron cores in an AC generator are subject to effects
from a magnetic field.
• Magnetic domains of the cores are held in alignment with the
field in varying numbers.
• Magnetic domains rotate and cause friction and heat.
• The heat produced by this friction is called the magnetic
hysteresis loss.
 AC Generator Theory
Mechanical Losses
• Mechanical or rotational losses can be caused by bearing
friction, brush friction, and air friction (called windage).
• Careful maintenance can be instrumental in keeping bearing
friction to a minimum.
• Hydrogen is used within the generator for cooling; hydrogen
causes less windage losses than air.
 AC Generator Theory
Efficiency
•  Ratio
•
of the useful power output to the total power
input.
• No AC generators can be 100% efficient.
 AC Generator Theory
Efficiency: Example
• Given a 5 hp motor acting as the prime mover of the
generator that has a load demand of 2kW, determine the
efficiency of the generator.
Analysis: The input and output power must be
in the same units.
Therefore,
AC Generator
Operation
 AC Generator Operation
RATINGS Example:
• Typical nameplate data for an AC generator
includes:
• Manufacturer
• Serial No. and Type No.
• Speed (rpm), Number of Poles, Frequency of
Output, Number of Phases, Maximum supply
voltage.
• Capacity Rating in KVA and kW at a specified
power factor and maximum output voltage.
• Armature and Field Current per phase
• Maximum temperature rise
PARALELLING AC GENERATORS: Three

AC Generator Operation
Conditions in paralleling a two AC Generator
1. Terminal voltages must
be equal. If the voltages
of the two AC generators
are not equal, one of the
AC generators could be
picked up as a reactive
load to the other AC
generator.
PARALELLING AC GENERATORS: Three

AC Generator Operation
Conditions in paralleling a two AC Generator
2. Their frequencies must be
equal. A mismatch in
frequencies of the two AC
generators will cause the
generator with the lower
frequency to be picked up
as a load on the other
generator (a condition
referred to as “motoring”).
PARALELLING AC GENERATORS: Three

AC Generator Operation
Conditions in paralleling a two AC Generator

3. Output voltages must be

in phase. A mismatch in
the phases will cause
large opposing voltages
to be developed.
 AC Generator Operation
TYPES OF AC GENERATOR
• The stationary field, rotating armature
 AC Generator Operation
TYPES OF AC GENERATOR
• The rotating field, stationary armature.
 AC Generator Operation
TYPES OF AC GENERATOR
Advantages of the rotating field, stationary
armature:
•Aload can be connected to the armature without
moving contacts in the circuit;
• Itis much easier to insulate stator fields than
rotating fields; and
• Much higher voltages and currents can be
generated.
 AC Generator Operation
TYPES OF AC GENERATOR
THREE-PHASE OF AC GENERATOR
The principles of a three-phase generator are
basically the same as that of a single-phase
generator, except:
• There are three equally-spaced windings
and three output voltages that are all
120° out of phase with one another.
• Physically adjacent loops that are
separated by 60° of rotation; however, the
loops are connected to the slip rings in
such a manner.
• There are 120 electrical degrees between
phases.
AC Generator Operation
AC Generator vs.
DC Generator
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
AC generator is a mechanical DC generator is a mechanical
Definition device that converts device that converts
mechanical energy into AC mechanical energy into DC
electrical power. electrical power.
In an AC generator, the In a DC generator, the
Direction of Current electrical current reverses electrical current flows only
direction periodically. in one direction.

In a DC generator, the coil

In an AC generator, the coil
through which the current
through which the current
flows rotate in a fixed field.
flows are fixed while the
Basic Design The overall design is very
magnet moves. The
simple but construction is
construction is simple and
complex due to commutators
costs are less.
and slip rings.
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
DC generators have
Commutators AC generator does not have commutators to make the
commutators. current flow in one direction
only.

Rings AC generators have slip- DC generators have

rings. commutators.

Since slip-rings have a

Both brushes and
smooth and uninterrupted
commutators of a DC
Efficiency of Brushes surface, they do not wear
generator wear out quickly
quickly and are highly
and thus are less efficient.
efficient.
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
Since the brushes and
As the brushes have high
commutators wear out
Short Circuit Possibility efficiency, a short circuit is
quickly, sparking and short
very unlikely.
circuit possibility is high.
The rotating part in an AC
The rotating part in a DC
Rotating Parts Generator is a low current
generator is generally heavy.
high resistivity rotor.

In an AC generator, the
In a DC generator, the output
output current can be either
Current Induction current can only be induced
induced in the stator or in the
in the rotor.
rotor.
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
DC generators produce a low
AC generators produce a
voltage when compared to
high voltage which varies in
AC generator which is
Output Voltage amplitude and time. The
constant in amplitude and
output frequency varies
time i.e. output frequency is
(mostly 50Hz to 60Hz).
zero.
AC generators require very DC generators require
Maintenance little maintenance and are frequent maintenance and are
highly reliable. less reliable.
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
DC generators are mainly
two types which are
Separately excited DC
AC generators can of varying
generator and Self-excited
types like 3 Phase generators,
DC generator. According to
Types single-phase generators,
field and armature
synchronous generator,
connection, they can be
induction generator, etc.
further classified as DC
series, shunt, or compound
generators respectively.
The initial cost of a DC
The initial cost of an AC
Cost generator is less when
generator is high.
compared to AC generators.
 AC Generator vs. DC Generator
Differentiating Property AC Generator DC Generator
The output from AC The output from DC
Distribution and generators is easy to generators is difficult to
Transmission distribute using a distribute as transformers
transformer. cannot be used.
DC generators are less
AC generators are very efficient due to sparking and
Efficiency efficient as the energy losses other losses like copper, eddy
are less. current, mechanical, and
hysteresis losses.

It is used to power for DC generators power very

Applications smaller motors and electrical large electric motors like
appliances at homes (mixers, those needed for subway
vacuum cleaners, etc.) systems.
AC Generator
Applications
 AC Generator Applications
Alternator
Alternators are typically
found near the front of the
engine and are driven by the
crankshaft, which converts
the pistons' up-and-down
movement into circular
movement. The alternator
works by turning mechanical
energy into electrical energy.
 AC Generator Applications
Hydropower Generator
A hydraulic turbine
converts the energy of
flowing water into
mechanical energy. A
hydroelectric generator
converts this mechanical
energy into electricity.
 AC Generator Applications
Wind Turbine Generator

The translation of
aerodynamic force to
rotation of a generator that
creates electricity.
 AC Generator Applications
Steam Turbine Generator
A steam turbine works by using a heat
source (gas, coal, nuclear) to heat
water to extremely high temperatures
until it is converted into steam. It uses
steam as the prime mover to convert
mechanical energy into electrical
energy.