PRINCIPLE OF GENERATOR ACTION

In was previously stated that an electric generator

is a machine that converts mechanical energy into
into electrical energy. This implies, of course, that
mechanical motion is imparted to one part of a
machine that is made to move with respect to
another. In the electric generator, this is done by
placing a large number of properly connected
copper wires on a cylindrical, laminated steel core
and mechanically rotating this structure inside a
set of carefully shaped electomagnets. The
rotating element is called the armature, while the
Stationary set of eleltromagnets is called the field.
if it is assumed that the magnetic lines of force
leave the cylindrically shaped pole-core faces and
Pass across the air space(called the air gap) and
hence into the rotating armature core, it is clear
that the moving copper conductor cut the lines of
force as they are rotated mechanically. This flux-
cutting action on the part of the copper conductor
is responsible for the generated voltage in the
latter.
Figure 35. Sketch illustrating the arrangement
of the various elements of a DC generator
Faraday’s Law states that the magnitude
of the generated voltage is directly
proportional to the rate at which a conductor
cuts magnetic lines of force.
Note: This implies simply that the higher
voltages may be generated by moving
conductors more rapidly across lines of
flux, by increasing the number of flux
lines across which the conductors move, or
yy increasing both the speed of the
Conductors and flux across which they
move.
AVERAGE VALUE OF GENERATED
VOLTAGE
It was found that when a conductor moves at
a constant speed across a uniformly dense
magnetic field, that is, a field in which the
flux density in lines of force per square inch
is constant, 1 volt is generated for every
8
100 000 000 (10 ) lines cut per second. If the
flux density is not constant, the generated
voltage will be an average value determined
by the total number of lines of force that are
cut and the length of time it takes to do so.
This leads to the formula

E AVE = 8
volts
t x 10
where
E AVE = average generated voltage in a conductor
 = total flux cut
t = time in seconds during which cutting takes
place
Note: Since modern armature windings always have the
conductors divided into two or more parallel paths (always an
even number, in each of which t here are an approximately
equal numbers of conductors in series, the generated voltage
is determined by only by the “string” of conductors joined in
series and not by the number of parallel paths through which
The current may pass. The number of parallel paths,
deterrmines the current rating of the generator, whereas the
number of series conductors per path is a measure of the
terminal voltage of the machine; both current and voltage
ratings determine the power rating in watts.
Example: If voltage and current ratings of 1.5 volts and Example: If voltage and current ratings of 1.5 volts and
5 A are assured per cell for the generator circuit, below. 5 A are assured per cell , the following tabulation shows
What is voltage, current, and power rating of the the relative ratings for 120 cells connected in various
generator?. numbers of parallel paths.
I3
Given:
No. Of Parallel
V (V) I (A) P (W)
Paths
I1 2 90 10
I2 I
900
4 45 20 900
6 30 30 900
I4 22.5
8 40 900
10 18 50 900
Required: I = ?, V = ?, and P = ?
12 15 60 900
Solution:
Solving for I , we have
I = (4)(5)
I = 20 A
Solving for V , we have
V = (1.5)(5)
V = 7.5 V
Solving for P , we have
P = VI = (20)(7.5)
P = 150 V
Example: A four-pole DC generator has an armature GENERAL VOLTAGE EQUATION FOR
winding containing a total of 648 conductors
GENERATOR
connected a total of 648 conductors connected in The general voltage equation is given by
6
two parallel paths. If the flux per pole is 0.321 x 10
P  N Z x 10 -8
maxwells and the speed of rotation of the armature Eg =
is 1800 rpm, calculate the average generated voltage. a x 60
where
Required: EAVE (total generated voltage)= ?,
Eg = total generated voltage in volts
Since
  = flux per pole in maxwells
E AVE (per conductor) = volts
t x 10
8 P = number of poles, an even number
But N = speed of the armature, in rpm
 = (4)(0.321 x 10 )
6
Z = total number of armature conductors effectively
 = 1.284 x 10 maxwells
6
used to add to resulting voltage
1
t = 1/N = a = number of armature paths connected in parallel
(1800 rev ) ( 1 min/ 60 s) (determined by the type of armature winding)
min
t = 0.0333 s
So that 6
E AVE (per conductor) = 1.284 x 10
0.0333 x 108
E AVE (per conductor) = 0.3855 V
Then
E AVE (total generated voltage)= (0.3855)(324)

EAVE (total generated voltage)= 124.902 V

Example: An 85 kW six-pole generator has an Solution:
armature containing 66 slots, in each of which Since
P  N Z x 10 -8
are 12 conductors. The armature winding is Eg =
connected so that there are six parallel paths. If a x 60
if each pole produces 2.18 x 10 6 maxwells and the So that
and the armature speed is 870 rpm, determine the 60aEg 8
Z= 10
generated voltage. 
P N
Required: Eg = ?, (60)(240)(2) 8
Solution: Z= 10
Since (4)(2.73 x 10 6 )(1200)
P  N Z x 10
-8
Eg =
But
a x 60 Z = 219.78  220
Z = 66 x 12; Z = 792
So that
(6)(2.18 x 10 6 )(870)(792) (1 x 10 -8)
Eg =
(6)(60)
Eg =250.35 V
Example: How many armature conductors are
there in a generator, given the following information:
 = 2.73 x 10 6maxwells; P = 4; N= 1200 rpm; a=2;
Eg = 240 V .
Required: Z = ?,
Figure 35 represents such an elementary AC
generator, with two poles and a single coil. In
order that the current be allowed to flow
through the stationary external resistor AB
indefinitely, the rotating ends of the coil are
shown connected to a pair of rings x and y,
upon which ride brushes joined to the load.
Note that with mn moving under a south pole,
the current through the load resistance is from
B to A; when mn moves under a south pole
and pq cuts lines of force under a north pole,
the current will be from B to A. Assuming one
direction, B to A, as positive and the opposite
direction, A to B, as negative, one cycle of the
alternating current is completed in one
revolution for this two pole machine. Had there
been four poles instead of two, two cycles
would have been generated per revolution; for Figure 35. Elementary two-pole AC generator
six, eight, or P poles, there would have been
three, four, or P/2 cycles per revolution,
respectively. In general terms, therefore, the
frequency, of the alternating current in cycles
per second or one hertz (Hz) is P/2 x revolutions
per second or more conveniently, where
rpm/60 = rps
N(rpm) or PN(rpm)
f = P/2 x f=
60 120
Example: An AC generator has six poles and operates Example: How many poles are there in a generator that
At 1200 rpm. (a) What frequency does it generate? (b) operates at a speed of 240 rpm and develops a
At what speed must the generator operate to develop frequency of 60 cycles?
25 cycles? 50 cycles? Required: P = ?
Required: f = ?, N =? Solution:
Solution: From
(a) f = ? PN(rpm)
Since f=
120
PN(rpm) (6)(1200) We have
f= =
120 120 120f (120)(60)
P=
f = 60 Hz N = 240
P = 30 poles
(b) N = ?
From
PN(rpm)
f=
120
120f (120)(25)
N=
P = 6
N = 500 rpm
If f = 50 cylces
120f (120)(50)
N=
P = 6
N = 1000 rpm
The diagram in Figure 36 represent graphically the manner in which the number of cycles per revolution
increases with an increases with an in increase in the number of poles.

Figure 36. Sketch illustrating the

relation between the number of
poles and the generated AC
frequency in cycles per revolution
TYPES OF GENERATORS.
Generators are usually classified according to
the way in which their fields are excited.
Generators maybe divided into
(a) Separately excited generators are those
whose field magnets are energised from an
independent external source of dc current. It
Is shown in Figure 37.
Figure 37. Self excited
Generator
There are three types of self-excited generators
named according to the manner in which their
field coils (or windings) are connected to the
armature.
Figure 37. Separately excited Generator
(b) Self-excited generators are those whose (i) Shunt wound has field winding connected
field magnets are energized by the current across or in parallel with the armature
produced by the generators themselves. Due conductors and have the full voltage of the
to residual magnetism, there is always present generator applied across them. It is shown in
some flux in the pole. When the armature is Figure 37.
rotated, some e.m.f. and hence some induced
current is produced which is partly or fully
passed through the field coils thereby
strengthening the residual pole flux. It is shown
in Figure 38.
(ii) Series Wound has the field windings joined I
in series with the armature conductors (Figure
39). As they carry full load current, they consist
Of relatively few turns of thich wires or strips.

Figure 39. Series Wound Generator

(iii) Compound Wound generators
It is a combination of a series and few shunt
windings and can be either short shunt or long-
shunt as shown in Figure 40(a) and (b),
respectively

(b)
Figure 39. Compound WoundGenerator
Various types of DC generators have been shown separately in Figure 41

0.012

cond
Example: A shunt generator delivers 450 A at 230 V and the resistances of the shunt field and armature are
50  and 0.03  respectively. Calculate the generate e.m.f.

Example: A long-shunt compound generator delivers a load current of 50 A at 500 V and has armature,series
field and shunt field resistance of 0.05 , 0.03  and 250  respectively. Calculate the generated voltage and
armature current

Example: A 20 kW compound generator works on full load with a terminal voltage of 250 V. The armature,
series, and shunt windings have resistances of 0.05 , 0.025  and 100 , respectively. Calculate the
total e.m.f. generated in the armature when the machine is connected short-shunt.

Example: In a long-shunt compound generator, the terminal voltage is 230 V when the generator delivers
150 A. Determine (i) induced e.m.f. (ii) total power generated and (iii) distribution of this power. Given the
shunt field, series field, divertor and armature resistances are 92 , 0.015 , 0.03 , and 0.032 ,
respectively. cond
Example: The following information is given for a 300 kW, 600 V, long shunt compound generator:Shunt field
resistance = 75 , armature resistance including brush resistances = 0.03 , commutating field winding
resistance = 0.011  , series field resistance = 0.012 , divertor resistance = 0.036 . When the machine is
delivering full load, calculate the voltage and power generated by the armature.
0.025 Wb
SIMPLEX WAVE WINDING
In wave windings, however, the commutator pitch
YC is comparative large number because the coil
ends must be joined to segments approximately
360º electrical degrees apart. The word approximately
must be taken literally because the wave winding is
Impossible if the coil ends are joined to segments
exactly 360º electrical degrees apart.
Figure 34. Complete wiring diagram of four-pole
simplex-wave winding.
To understand why the foregoing statements
are true, consider the following facts about
simple wave windings:
1. Starting at any commutator segment, the
entire winding must be traced from segment
to segment and from coil side to coil side
before closure occurs, that is, before the
winding reenters.
2. If the coil ends are connected to segments
360 electrical degrees apart, every group
P/2 coils would constitute a complete
reentrancy because there are 360 electrical
degrees in every pair of poles (P/2)
Note: A simplex wave is possible if the
following equation results in an integer:
C±1 Since
Yc =
P/2 C
Yc = = 48/2 = 24
Example: For a 48 segment commutator. If P = 4,
P/2
segments 1 and 35 are 360 electrical degrees The succession of commutator segments are as
apart, One coil, therefore, the sides of which are follows:
are in slots on one side of the armature, has its 1-25-1
ends connected to these segments; another coil,
the sides of which are in slots on the opposite
side of the armature, has its ends join to the same
segment. Thus these two coils would constitute
a complete closure, which is a violation of
statement 1.
Example: For a 48 segment commutator. If P = 6, Example: For a 48 segment commutator. If P = 8,
then then
Since
C Since
Yc = = 48/3 = 16 C
P/2 Yc = = 48/4 = 12
P/2
The succession of commutator segments are as
The succession of commutator segments are as
follows:
1-17-33-1 follows:
1-13-25-37-1
NUMBER OF PARALLEL PATHS IN SIMPLEX-
WAVE WINDINGS.
There are two extremely important electrical differences
between simplex-lap and simplex-wave windings:
1. In a simplex-lap winding there are many parallel paths
between positive and negative brushes as there are
poles, while the number of parallel paths in a simplex-
wave winding is two, regardless of the number of poles.
2. The conductors in each of the P paths of a lap winding
Are distributed under two poles, a north and a south pole,
whereas the conductors in each two paths of a wave
winding are distributed under all the poles.
Example: Determine the commutator pitch Yc for Seatwork: Determine the commutator pitches Yc
A four-pole simplex-wave-wound armature having For the following pole and commutator segment
21 segments. Also list the commutator segments combinations:(a) 6 poles, 34 segments;(b) eight
In the proper order as the coils are traced through poles, 63 segments; (c) 10 poles, 326 segments
The entire winding from segment 1 until it closses. In each case, trace the winding around the
Solution: commutator once; start at segment 1 and show
Since that after one trip round the commutator, a
C ± 1 21 ± 1 10 or 11 segment is reached that is one behind or one
Yc = = =
P/2 4/2 ahead of the starting segment.

Using Yc = 10, The succession of commutator

segments are as follows:

1-11-21-10-20-9-19-8-18-7-17-6-16-5-15-4-14-
3-13-2-12 then reentering 1
Using Yc = 11, The succession of commutator
segments are as follows:
1-12-2-13-3-14-4-15-5-16-6-17-7-18-8-19-
9-20-10-21-11 then reentering 1
SEVERAL FIELD WINDING CONSTRUCTION
1. A shunt field in which there are many turns
of fine wire.
2. A series field in which there are comparatively
few turns of heavy wire.
3. A compound field in which both a shunt and
series winding are used.

Figure 21
Figure 21. Main laminated pole
core assembly a DC motor or
generator

Figure 22 shows the fine wire shunt

coil on the left of while the picture on
the right shows the shunt coil taped
and surrounded by a few turns of
very heavy wire representing the
series coil.

Figure 21
ARMATURE CORE
The armature core houses the armature
conductors or coils and causes them to
rotate and hence cut the magnetic flux of
the field magnets. In addition to this, its
most important function is to provide a path
of very low reluctance to the flux through
the armature from N-pole to a S-poles(See
Figure 23).
It is a cylindrical or drum-shaped and is
built up of usually circular sheet steel discs
or laminations approximately 0.5 mm thick Figure 23
(See Figure 23)
KEY WAY
The slots are eithe die-cut or punched on
the outer periphery of the disc and the key SLOTS
way is located on the inner diameter as
shown in Figure 23. The laminations are
perforated for air ducts which permit axial
flow of air through the armature for cooling
purposes. Such ventilating channels are
AIR
clearly visible in the lamination shown in HOLES
Figure 23 and Figure 24. Figure 24
NOTE: The purpose of using laminations
is to reduce the loss due to eddy currents.
The thinner the laminations, the greater
the resistance offered to the induced
e.m.f., the smaller the current and hence
the lesser the I 2 R loss in the core.
ARMATURE WINDINGS
The armature windings are usually former
wound. These are first wound in the form of
flat rectangular coils andare then pulled into
their proper shape in a coil puller. Various
conductors are placed in the armature slots
which are lined with tough insulating
material. This slot insulation is folded over
above the armature conductors placed in
the slot and is secured in place by special
hard wooden or fibre wedges.