ME311

Lesson 1. DC Generator
What is DC Generator?

- DC generators are standalone machines that provide electricity when power from the local grid is unavailable. These
generators supply backup power to businesses and homes during power outages. Generators do not create electrical energy,
but they convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

How does DC Generator works?

- According to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a varying magnetic
field, an emf is induced in the conductor. According to Fleming’s right-hand rule, the direction of the induced current changes
whenever the direction of motion of the conductor changes.

Parts of DC Generator

Frame/

Pole Shoe
Air Gap
Shaft

Stator

Rotor/
Armature
Winding
Slot

Base

 Frame/Yoke - outer part (small: cast iron, large: cast steel or rolled steel)
- acts as a protective shield of a generator
- provides the necessary mechanical power for carrying the magnetic flux given through the poles
 Air Gap - the gap between the pole shoe and the rotor/armature
- decrease the effects of armature reaction on the stator
 Pole – maintains/holds the field windings
 Field winding – where field current flows
- forms an electromagnet that produces field flux within, which the rotor armature rotates and results in the effective
flux cutting
 Armature/Rotor - built up of thin laminated circular steel disks for reducing eddy current losses
 Base – serves as a stand of the generator
 Slot - accommodate the armature winding and provide mechanical support
 Brushes – serves as an electrical connections can be ensured between the commutator as well as the exterior load circuit
 Commutator - changes AC voltage to DC voltage within the armature winding
 Stator - provide magnetic fields where the coil spins
 Shaft - mechanical component that causes rotation by producing the torque, which is a rotational force
 Pole shoe - spreads the magnetic flux to prevent the field coil from falling
 Terminal box – keeps the electrical connections for the generator
 Armature winding/Armature conductors - facilitate commutation, carry current across the field and generate emf
  Wave winding - armature coils are connected in series through the commutator segments in such a way that the
armature winding is divided into two parallel paths irrespective of the number of poles
(number of parallel paths = 2 always)
 Lap winding - armature coils are connected in series through the commutator segments in such a way that the
armature winding is divided into as many parallel paths as the number of poles
(number of parallel paths = number of poles)

E.M.F equation of DC generator

The emf equation of the DC generator is given by the equation:

Eg = PNZϕ
60a’
Where:
Z is the total number of conductors or elements note: 1 coil = 2 conductors or elements

P is the number of poles

a’ is the number of parallel paths

N is the speed of armature core rotation in rpm

Eg is the generated emf

Φ flux per pole (Weber) note: 1 Weber = 1x108 maxwells or lines per flux

N/60 is the number of turns per second

The time for one turn will be dt=60/N sec.

Losses in DC Generator

 Copper Losses - takes place when the current flows through the winding. These losses occur due to the resistance in the
winding
- Armature loss
- Field winding loss
- Brush contact resistance loss
 Core Losses or Iron Losses - occur when the armature rotates in the magnetic field
- Hysteresis loss
- Eddy current loss