DC GENERATOR

An electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, usually via
electromagnetic induction. A generator forces electric charge (usually carried by electrons) to
flow through an external electrical circuit.

The generator is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction discovered in 1831 by

Michael Faraday. Faraday discovered that if an electric conductor, like a copper wire, is moved
through a magnetic field, electric current will flow in the conductor. So the mechanical energy of
the moving wire is converted into the electric energy of the current that flows in the wire.

Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction:

The phenomenon whereby an e.m.f and hence current is induced in any conductor which is cut
across or is cut by a magnetic flux is known as electromagnetic induction.

Faraday’s first law: It states as follows:

Whenever the magnetic flux linked with a circuit changes, an e.m.f is always induced in it.

Or

Whenever a conductor cuts magnetic flux, an e.m.f induced in that conductor.

Voltage induced across Voltage induced across No voltage is induced in a

a wire moving downward a wire moving upward wire moving parallel to the
field.

Figure: When a conductor is moved across a magnetic field a voltage is induced in the
conductor.
 Faraday’s second law: It states as follows:
The magnitude of induced e.m.f is equal to the rate of change of flux-linkages.

Mathematically, e = -N volts
Where, e = induced e.m.f
= rate of change of flux, and
N = number of turns of the coil
[Usually, a minus sign is given to the right-hand side expression to signify the fact that
the induced e.m.f sets up current in such a direction that magnetic effect produced by it
opposes the very cause producing it.]

Voltage induced in a conductor: According to Faraday’s law in order to have a voltage

induced in a conductor we must have
1. A conductor
2. Line of magnetic flux
3. Motion that produces cutting of the magnetic lines.

Remember, this three condition is must for voltage generation

With an increase in flux density and the conductor is moving at the same velocity, it then follows
that the induced voltage is also increased.

If the length of the conductor is short, the number of lines of flux cut by the conductor will be
small, and therefore the induced voltage will be small. If the conductor is made longer, the
number of lines of flux cut will be greater. Hence the induced voltage depends directly upon both
the flux density and the length of the conductor.

The speed at which the conductor cuts the lines of a stationary magnetic field also determines the
magnitude of the induced voltage. If the conductor is stationary, it is obvious that no lines of flux
are cut regardless of the length of the conductor or the strength of the magnetic field. If the
conductor moves very slowly, the number of lines of flux cut per unit of time will be very small,
and therefore the voltage induced will be very low. If the conductor moves very fast, it will cut
lines of flux at a much greater speed, and the induced voltage will be greater. The same relative
voltages would be induced if the conductors were stationary and the magnetic fields were to
move. In terms of a formula the above information is

E = Blv

Where B = flux density, lines per sq in

l = length of that part of conductor that actually cuts flux
v = speed of conductor
From figure we see that, if a conductor moves parallel to the lines of flux, no voltage will be
induced in the conductor. If the conductor moves at right angles to the lines of flux, a voltage
will be induced in the conductor in accordance with the formula E = Blv volts. However,
suppose the conductor moves in a direction that is neither at right angle nor parallel to the lines,
but instead moves at some angle θ, the value of voltage is given by the formula

E = Blv sin θ

Direction of the induced voltage:

The polarity of the induced voltage depends upon the direction in which the conductor is
moving. The polarity, however, also depends upon the direction of lines of flux. Taking these
two factors into consideration, the polarity of the induced voltage may be determined in the
following manner. Extend the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of the right hand so they
are at right angles to each other. With the index finger pointing in the direction of the lines of
flux (from north to south) and the thumb pointing in the direction of motion of the conductor, the
middle finger will point the direction that current will flow in the conductor. This is known as
Fleming’s right-hand rule.

The Internal Generated Voltage of a DC Machine:

The induced voltage in any given machine depends on three factors

1. The flux in the machine

2. The speed of the machine’s rotor (in radian)
3. A constant depending on the construction of the machine
The voltage out of the armature of a real machine is equal to the number of conductors per
current path times the voltage on each conductor. The voltage in any single conductor
under the pole face is
E = Bvl
The voltage out of the armature of a real machine is thus

Ea =
Where Z is the total number of conductors and a is the number of current paths. The
velocity of each conductor in the rotor can be expressed as v = r , where r is the radius of
the rotor, so
Ea =
This voltage can be reexpressed in a more convenient form by noting that the flux of a pole
is equal to the flux density under the pole times the pole’s area:

= BAp

The rotor of the machine is shaped like a cylinder, so its area is

A = 2πrl

If there are P poles on the machine, then the portion of the area associated with each pole is
the total area A divided by the number of poles P:

Ap = =

The total flux per pole in the machine is thus

= BAp = =

Therefore, the internal generated voltage in the machine can be expressed as

Ea =

=( )( )

Finally, Ea = K

Where K =
If we express the speed of a machine in revolutions per minute instead of radians per second. The
conversion from revolutions per minute to radians per second is

= N

So the voltage equation is Ea = K’ N

Where K’ =