DC GENERATOR

CH 3-12
 DEFINITION
Generator is a device which can convert mechanical energy into
electrical energy. There are two types of generators one is DC
Generator another one is AC Generator (Alternator).
Large aircraft generators are having AC Generators and small
aircrafts are generally fitted with DC Generators. Now a days
small private jet aircrafts are also having AC Generators.
There are many advantages of having AC Generator as a main
source of supply, but still DC supply is essential for many devices
in aircraft.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
• The working principle of DC Generator is based on Faraday’s
laws of electromagnetic induction. It states that whenever a
conductor cuts magnetic flux, an EMF (Electromotive Force) is
induced across the conductor. The magnitude of this induced
EMF is directly proportional to the rate of change of flux linkage.

• To understand how EMF gets induced in a conductor, let us

consider a single-turn rectangular loop ABCD rotating in a
clockwise direction between the poles.
FLEMMINGS RIGHT HAND RULE
 FLEMINGS RIGHT HAND RULE
FLEMINGS RIGHT HAND RULE STATES THAT
STRETCH THUMP, FOUR FINGER AND MIDDLE FINGER, NINETY
DEGREE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER, IN THIS CASE
THUMP INDICATE - DIRECTION OF ROTATION
FOUR FINGER INDICATE – MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
MIDDLE FINGER - DIRECTION OF INDUCED CURRENT
CONDUCTOR AB AND CD PARALLEL TO
FLUX
CONDUCTOR AB AND CD PERPENDICULAR TO
FLUX
CONDUCTOR AB AND CD PARALLEL TO FLUX
CONDUCTOR AB AND CD PERPENDICULAR TO
FLUX
EMF OUTPUT WAVE FORM
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
WHEN CONDUCTOR AB IS IN VERTICAL POSITION EMF INDUCED IS
ZERO BECAUSE MAGNETIC FLUX LINES ARE PARALLEL TO
CONDUCTOR AB.
WHEN CONDUCTOR AB ROTATES IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AFTER
90 DEGREE CONDUCTOR AB IS IN HORIZONTAL POSITION
MAGNETIC FLUX LINES ARE CUTTING THE CONDUCTOR AB HENCE
EMF INDUCED IS MAXIMUM, OUTPUT WAVEFORM RAISED TO 90
DEGREE.
THEN AGAIN CONDUCTOR AB ROTATES , AT 180 DEGREE THE
CONDUCTOR AB IS AGAIN VERTICAL. HENCE EMF INDUCED IS ZERO.
THE OUTPUT WAVEFORM REDUCED TO ZERO.
 WORKING PRINCIPLE
AGAIN CONDUCTOR AB ROTATES EMF INDUCED IS
INCREASING TO MAXIMUM AT 270 DEGREE POSITION AS
CONDUCTOR IS PERPENDICULAR TO MAGNETIC FLUX LINES.
AGAIN CONDUCTOR AB ROTATES WHEN IT COMPLETES 360
DEGREE ROTATION CONDUCTOR IS VERTICAL AGAIN, SO EMF
INDUCED IS REDUCED AND COMES TO ZERO VOLT AS
MAGNETIC FLUX LINES ARE PARALLEL.
THIS IS THE WORKING PRINCIPLE OF DC GENERATOR. THE
DIRECTION OF INDUCED CURRENT CAN BE FOUND BY
FLEMINGS RIGHT HAND RULE.
 FACTORS GOVERNING OUTPUT
The output voltage of the DC Generator is controlled by changing the
strength of the magnetic field of the rotor.
This is accomplished by controlling the amount of direct current (DC)
or excitation current that is supplied to the rotor’s field winding
through the variable rheostat.
The excitation current is supplied by the exciter generator or Battery.
The speed of the prime mover also has the role to play in delivering
output as per the Faradays second law of electro magnetic induction.
The number of turns in the field winding of DC Generator also
determines the output voltage.
DC GENERATOR CONSTRUCTION
THE CONSTRUCTION OF DC GENERATOR CONSIST OF FOLLOWING
MAJOR PARTS
1. FIELD POLES
2. ARMATURE
3. COMMUTATOR
4. BRUSHES

EACH PARTS ARE HAVING SPECIFIC ROLE TO PLAY AND PURPOSE.

GENERATORS ARE USED ON AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURED BY
DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS. BUT STILL CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
ARE SIMILAR TO ONE ANOTHER.
DC GENERATOR CONSTRUCTION
FIELD POLES OR FIELD WINDINGS
 FIELD POLES OR FIELD FRAMES OR
YOKE
IT CONSTITUTES THE FOUNDATION FOR THE GENERATOR. THE
FRAME HAS TWO PRIMARY FUNCTION
1. IT COMPLETES THE MAGNETIC CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE POLES
2. ACT AS A MECHANICAL SUPPORT FOR OTHER PARTS.
THE FRAME IS MADE OF IRON AND IT IS HIGHLY PERMEABLE AND
TOGETHER WITH THE POLE PIECES FORMS THE MAJORITY OF THE
MAGNETIC CIRCUIT. THE POLE PIECES ARE LAMINATED TO
MINIMISE EDDY CURRENT LOSSES AND CONCENTRATE THE LINES
OF FORCE PRODUCED BY THE FIELD COILS. THE POLE SHOES ARE
MADE OF HIGH QUALITY MAGNETIC IRON OR SHEET STEEL. THERE
ARE ALWAYS EVEN NUMBER OF POLES EXIST IN ANY MACHINES.
ARMATURE
 ARMATURE
• THE ARMATURE IS MOUNTED ON A SHAFT WHICH ROTATES
INSIDE THE BEARINGS LOCATED IN THE GENERATORS END
FRAMES. THE CORE OF ARMATURE ACT AS A CONDUCTOR
WHEN IT IS ROTATES IN THE MAGNETIC FIELD AND IT IS
LAMINATED TO REDUCE THE EDDY CURRENT LOSSES.

• THE ARMATURE HAS COILS PLACED IN THE SLOTS IF THE

CORE. THE COILS ARE HELD IN THE SLOTS BY WOODEN OR
FIBRE WEDGES. THE COIL ENDS ARE SOLDERED WITH
INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUTATOR.
COMMUTATOR
 COMMUTATOR
• IT IS MADE BY HARD DRAWN COPPER AND IT IS LOCATED AT
THE END OF ARMATURE AND CONSIST OF WEDGE SHAPED
SEGMENTS. EACH SEGMENT IS INSULATED BY THIN SHEETS
OF MICA.
• THE SEGMENTS ARE HELD IN THE PLACE BY V RINGS OR
FLANGES FITTED WITH BOLT. RINGS OF MICA ARE INSULATED
THE SEGMENTS FROM THE FLANGES.
• THE RAISED PORTION OF EACH SEGMENT IS CALLED RISER
AND THE LEADS FROM THE ARMATURE COILS ARE SOLDERED
TO EACH RISER.
BRUSHES
THANKYOU