AC Generator

By: Pilobello, Janine Ayla I.

An AC Generator is a device which converts mechanical
energy into alternating current (electrical energy).
Basic Components of an AC generator:
a. Field

b. Armature

c. Prime mover

d. Rotor

e. Stator

f. 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 excitation) and produce a
magnetic flux.
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 to carry the full-load current of the
generator.
Prime Mover

The prime mover is the component that is used to
drive the AC generator. The prime mover may be any
type of rotating machine, such as a diesel engine, a
steam turbine, or a motor.

Rotor
The rotor of an AC generator is the rotating
component of the generator. The rotor is driven by
the generators prime mover.

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 excitation is
applied there.
Stator
The stator of an AC generator is the part that is
stationary.
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 excitation is applied
there.
Slip Rings
Slip rings are electrical connections that are used to
transfer power to and from the rotor of an AC
generator .
In a DC generator, a commutator was used to
provide an output whose current always flowed
in the positive direction.
This is not necessary for an AC generator.
Therefore, an AC generator may use slip rings, which
will allow the output current and voltage to oscillate
through positive and negative values. (sine waves)
Comparison of DC and AC Generator
Outputs
Types of AC Generators
there are two types of AC generators:
1.) the stationary field, rotating armature;

2.) and the rotating field, stationary armature.


Stationary Field, Rotating Armature AC
Generator
Small AC generators usually
have a stationary
field and a rotating armature .
One important disadvantage
to this arrangement is that the
slip-ring and brush assembly is
in series with
the load circuits and, because
of worn or dirty components,
may interrupt the flow of
current.
Rotating Field, Stationary Armature
In this type of generator, a DC
source is supplied
to the rotating field coils, which
produces a magnetic field around the
rotating element.
As the rotor is turned by the prime
mover, the field will cut the conductors
of the
stationary armature, and an EMF will
be induced into the armature windings.

The rotating field, stationary
armature type AC generator is used
when large power generation
is involved.
This type of AC generator has several advantages
over the stationary field, rotating armature AC
generator:


(1) a load can be connected to the armature
without moving contacts in the circuit;
(2) it is much easier to insulate stator fields than
rotating fields; and
(3) much higher voltages and currents can be
generated.
Three-Phase AC Generators
The principles of a three-phase generator are basically
the same as that of a single-phase generator,
except that there are three equally-spaced windings
and three
output voltages that are all 120 out of phase w
ith one another.
The individual coils of each winding are combined
and represented as a single coil.
Stationary Armature 3 Phase Generator
Two means are available to connect the three
armature windings. (three phase)
Delta connection
Wye connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection
In a delta-connected generator, the voltage between
any two of the phases, called line voltage, is the same
as the voltage generated in any one phase.


The current in any line is 3 times the phase
current. You can see that a delta-connected
generator provides an increase in current, but no
increase in voltage.

Characteristics of a Delta-Connected
Generator
As shown in the figure , the three phase
voltages are equal, as are the three line
voltages.
An advantage of the delta-
connected AC generator is that if one
phase becomes damaged or Figure
9 Characteristics of a Delta-Connected
Generator open, the remaining two
phases can still deliver three-phase
power.
Wye Connection
Wye connection

In the other type of connection, one of the Connection
leads of each winding is connected, and the
remaining three leads are connected to
an external load.
The wye-connected AC generator provides an increase
in voltage, but no increase in current.
The voltage and current characteristics of
the wye-connected AC generator are
opposite to that of the delta connection.

Figure 11: Characteristics of a Wye-
Connected AC Generator

Voltage between any two lines in a wye-
connected AC generator is 1.73 (or ) 3
times any one phase voltage, while line currents are equal to
phase currents.
An advantage of a wye-connected AC generator is
that each phase only has to carry 57.7% of line
voltage and, therefore, can be used for high voltage
generation.