What is Generator: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In electricity generation, a generator is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) into electrical power for use in an external circuit. Sources of mechanical energy include steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines and even hand cranks. The first electromagnetic generator, the Faraday disk, was invented in 1831 by British scientist Michael Faraday. Generators provide nearly all of the power for electric power grids.
The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by an electric motor, and motors and generators have many similarities. Many motors can be mechanically driven to generate electricity; frequently they make acceptable manual generators.

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  1. berkeman

    Thoughts for a low-power 60Hz 120Vrms signal generator please

    For a metrology (power metering) calibration test fixture at work, I'm looking for a low-cost way to generate an isolated 120Vrms (or 240Vrms) sine wave to feed into the high-impedance mesasurement circuitry. The first test fixture used a $40k AC Mains generator instrument driving a 1kW load...
  2. C

    Proving Poincare Algebra Using Differential Expression of Generator

    Using differential expressions for the generator, verify the commutator expression for ##[J_{\mu\nu},P_{\rho}]=i(\eta_{\mu\rho}P_{\nu}-\eta_{\nu\rho}P_{\mu})## in Poincare group Generator of translation: ##P_{\rho}=-i\partial_{\rho}## Generator of rotation...
  3. klamberth27

    4x4" Square Tubing Generator Stand

    Generator weights approximately 1000lbs. I will be removing from the trailer and mounting it to a concrete pad. The reason for the stand is simply because there is a 100 gallon fuel tank that needs to remain under it like it is mounted in the trailer. The spacer/stand is so that the fuel tank...
  4. A

    PPMT, Magnetic Flux Switch, electro-permanent magnet generator

    Ok so here is something that made me scratch my head and I still can't come to a final conclusion. The basic idea is seemingly simple. You have permanent magnets attached to a core, the field lines close on both magnets through the core, so far so good. but the core also has electromagnets , put...
  5. AN630078

    Van der Graaf Generator: Charge, Potential and Redesign Questions

    1. i. I think that the potential on the surface will be the same as that of a point charge at the centre of the Van der Graaf sphere, which will be 30cm away (since this is the radius of the top sphere). Convert 30cm to m which is equal to 0.3 m. Therefore, to find the charge it can hold one can...
  6. J

    Securing Power from a 120VAC Generator: H3 and H8 Taps

    My plan is to power the secondary with my 120VAC generator and use the 240VAC primary connection configuration and use the H3 and H8 taps as the neutral.
  7. V

    Synchronous generator variable speed and constant excitation

    The question is regarding an electrically excited synchronous generator. Consider that this generator is not connected to the grid and thus not locked with the grid frequency. This generator is spinning at variable speed and gets constant and similar excitation current meaning that the...
  8. Elsi b

    Microwave generator and a resonant cylindrical cavity

    I tried to fix this physics problem. But i think I’m using the wrong steps.
  9. AxeGrinder

    Help with this Brushless Generator Design Please

  10. J

    Electrical Build or Buy a Van de Graaff generator?

    Wonder how much skill is needed?
  11. R

    Calculate Load Angel & Pole Wheel Voltage Up

    Nominal power PN= 3MVA Nominal Voltage UN= 3000v (Y) Line frequency f=50 Hz Number of ole pairs= 2 Synchronous Reactance X1= 2.5 ohms There is no reactive power and the generator can be assumed as lossless. Please calculate Load angel and pole wheel voltage Up Formula and my solution...
  12. T

    PM Generator and battery resistance

    I have a burned stator for a PM generator mounted in the accessory case of an internal combustion engine. The stator has 2 sets of 5 coils creating 2 20 amp generators. I am using a lithium battery and the engine builder blames the battery for the burned stator. He says the lithium battery...
  13. CherryB

    How many kWh will a 23MW generator make in 1 year

    If a power plant generates at 23MW, how many kWh will be generated in 1 year? And how many miles could you drive Tesla cars, at highway speeds (70mph), in one year? Thanks
  14. L

    Maximum Induced Voltage of an AC Generator

    I would like to ask a question about the induced voltage of an AC generator. So, according to a graph I found on Google, the maximum induced voltage is reached when the loop is parallel to the loop. (The graph shown below.) Then I was wondering, what if the loop is initially (when it is at 0...
  15. Omega0

    What comes on top of a generator of a PDE?

    From some principles in nature we are using in physics the calculus of variations. Let me call it a generator for PDE's. My question: Are there levels above? What I mean is: Is there mathematics where you have principles where the solutions are generators for the generators for PDEs ? What about...
  16. M

    Engineering DC Generator calibration plot

    Summary:: Hello Got the following plot (please see below), and am trying to figure out the phenomena behind it (plot behaviour) What do you guys think? It's a DC Generator to be calibrated. On the x axis: the ratio between the power of the generator / nominal power of the generator, while on...
  17. B

    Self Excited AC Single Phase Generator

    Hi I'm doing a uni project and need help with a Self Excited AC Single Phase Generator. I'm using an AC Single Phase Induction Motor to act as the generator. Its turned by a DC Motor The AC motor is 1350 RPM and the DC motor is 2500 RPM Its not producing any electricity (just a few volts) for...
  18. A

    I General Generator of Lorentz Transformation in Hamiltonian Formalism

    In the Hamiltonian formalism, the space-time transformation are realized via canonical transformation, and the transformations are generated by Poisson brackets of certain functions of phase-space variables. In Newtonian mechanics, Galilean boosts are generated by the sometimes called dynamic...
  19. D

    Controlling the rotational speed of a generator

    Hi, I am working on a project that would insert a generator/expander system to a pressurized stream of gas in order to generate electricity. I would like to control the rotational speed of the generator in order to adjust the gas stream flow rate. Would it be possible to control the...
  20. P

    Finding the generator of rotations for a 3-state triangle

    I first computed the operator ##\hat{T}## in the ##a,b,c## basis (assuming ##a = (1 \ 0 \ 0 )^{T} , b = (0 \ 1 \ 0)^{T}## and ##c = (0 \ 0 \ 1)^{T}##) and found $$ \hat{T} = \begin{pmatrix} 0&0&1 \\ 1&0&0 \\ 0&1&0 \end{pmatrix}.$$ The eigenvalues and eigenvectors corresponding to this matrix...
  21. binbagsss

    MATLAB Matlab: echo generator question

    The task is to given an input column vector (with values between -1 and 1 representing the digitized data), fs the sampling rate, delay to represent the delay of the echo in seconds, amp specifying the amplification of the echo, to add this echo to the original signal after delay seconds. Other...
  22. archaic

    Maximum electric field at the surface of a Van de Graaff generator

    I know that the potential of the sphere at its surface is ##V(a)=kQ/a##, and the electric field generated by it is ##E(a)=kQ/a^2##, which gives me ##V(a)=aE(a)##. When the electric field at the surface is as in the question, we have...
  23. vish1711

    Synchronous Generator PMG Rotor Damaged

    Generator - 1800rpm, 11kV, 656A. While running Gen, a large load was turned on, and excitation voltage went from 23V to 120V, but that's a normal situation that happens every time and on all Generators. But this time after turning on the large load, vibrations started increasing, and Gen tripped...
  24. K

    Why is S=2*pi*r*l in the equation for induced voltage of a DC motor?

    Induced voltage of DC motor isV=Blv where B= phi/S where S=2*pi*r*l and magnetic flux is phi=B*2*pi*r*l as shown in the picture. that leads to the equation V=PZ*phi*N/60amy question is, why do we set S=2*pi*r*l Shouldn't magnetic flux 0 because the magnetic flux of a closed surface is 0...
  25. M

    Electrical Small DIY Generator Build/Purchase?

    How easy/difficult would it be to construct an electric generator that can generate a single ampere without a gearbox? How small could this generator be? I didn't want to jump down the rabbithole of research without asking all of you first. Thanks!
  26. A

    Engineering Speed of a DC generator is proportional to the generated voltage?

    I'm confused as I'm aware speed is directly proportional to the EMF, but is it proportional to the voltage as well? If the speed of a DC generator is halved and everything else is remaining constant the EMF will have so will the output voltage half
  27. K

    DC generator: Induced EMF of a single coil armature

    Hi. I am reading a textbook about simple DC generator. The situation is if we are rotating a single armature coil within a constant field B, the induced emf will be (if we are to only think about the magnitude), emf= B*l*W*omegaB = magnetic field l = length of the coil W = width of the coil...
  28. hilbert2

    Building RF Noise Generator Circuit w/ LM324D SMD Op Amp

    I haven't been building electrical circuits for quite a while, but I'm now trying to create a circuit that produces RF random noise. I found this webpage with some information about it. http://www.n5ese.com/noise.htm There is this diagram there: I have an LM324D SMD op amp with pins...
  29. E

    Why can't a 2 pole ac induction motor run a 6 pole induction generator

    I will use examples of actual products: 1) 3 hp (2.2kW) 3 phase 2 pole AC Induction Motor 3 hp/2.2kW three-phase induction motor features 2 poles, 2840rpm rated speed, and 7.4Nm nominal torque, with a working voltage of 380V 50Hz. Cheap 3-phase asynchronous motor has outstanding performance in...
  30. O

    AC Mains Generator -- RPM changes based on load changes

    Hi, Scenario: Given a powerplant is being provided a constant power source - like steam is being produced at a steady rate, so that the generator rotates at a constant speed, and in turn, produces a constant electrical frequency. And, suppose, hypothetically, all the power being used...
  31. O

    Transorbs in a generator rotor

    is there some special reason why transorbs would be inserted into the rotor circuit of a capacitor controlled generator, rather than diodes? And since I have no way of determining the value of the existing transorbs, could I simply substitute diodes. Diodes are the "normally" expected component...
  32. G

    DIY nano Hydro Power generator in a Jungle

    Hi I am usually living off grid in simple huts in remote locations in Asia. A few months per year (rainy season) I don't have enough sun to produce solar power. I need very little electricity. My 20w solar panel produces enough electricity for my needs (lighting + charging a few small gadgets)...
  33. PainterGuy

    Some basic questions about a DC motor and a DC generator

    Hi, The picture below shows a DC generator. The magnetic field is uniform. As the coil rotates clockwise, the right side of coil is moving downward and the left side of coil moves upward. Using Fleming's right hand rule, one can deduce the direction of conventional current in both sides of...
  34. bieon

    Finding the Power Produced by a Hydroelectric Generator

    My Attempt So Far: 1. Write down all information: Q=10m³ /min h=75m 2. Change 10m³ /min to m³ /s 10m³ /min × min/60s =1/6 m³ /s 3. Change Volumetric Flow Rate to Mass Flow Rate ṁ=ρQ ṁ=1000kg/m³ × 1/6 m³ /s ṁ=166.67 kg/s 4. Apply Potential Gravitational energy but replacing the Mass with...
  35. D

    MCNP: mesh with weight window generator

    Hallo everybody, I am using a mesh-based-weight window generator. It is clear to me that the coarse mesh must cover the full geometry; my doubt is about the fine mesh. Is it possible to define the fine mesh only in a part of a geometry, for example telling to MCNP to make 5 bins between y1 and...
  36. nmsurobert

    Van Der Graaf Generator with no discharge wand

    I came across a three Van Der Graaf generators in a closet here where I work. None of them have the discharge wand. Does anyone have any DIYs for a wand?
  37. U

    Signal Generator, Oscilloscope and Capacitor

    I started by working out the time constant of the Capacitor = RC = 300 * 1.5*10^-9 = 0.45 *10^-6 and the time period (t) of the square wave signal produced by the signal generator : 1/(1*10^6 )= 10^-6 Then I drawed the graph as follows...
  38. jisbon

    Understanding a Homopolar Generator

    So I was searching up on the homopolar generator and found this explanation for the generator, as well as the proposed solution. However, I don't really understand what the solution is trying to do here. Ok, I understand to find the current, you will need the potential, which is the...
  39. Quix270

    What would happen to a small DC generator if it is spun at higher rpm?

    What would happen to a dc small generator if it is moved at more rpm that is it designed to? Does it will produce more, less or the same? I have this question since I while. Thank you
  40. Quix270

    What resources to learn to design a small 500W synchronous generator?

    I want to learn to design a synchronous generator, I search and search but I don’t find nothing to that.
  41. K

    How to create a mini generator that will charge my phone?

    I was studying generators. I learn most when it is hands on. I want to start a project that creates a mini generator which I can use to charge my Samsung phone. Just for fun. I want to use gas for fuel. I don't have any idea on what books to study or what equations to look for. The books on...
  42. A

    Ground for a Van de Graaff Generator?

    I attached a jpeg of a Van De Graaff generator off the web. Is the point in the photo the Van De Graaff ground? Suppose I have a wire coming out of that slot instead of a discharging sphere, would that hole still be the Van De Graaff ground?
  43. E

    MHB Linear programming - Simplex Method - Stuck with picking the right 'generator'

    Dear All, Thank you for reading my post. I'm stuck with picking the correct 'generator' element in the attached example (Simplex method). As you can see, the solution keeps picking the yellow elements as 'generators', but I don’t understand why we can't choose the purple ones. Can somebody...
  44. F

    Use of a Water-Cooled Diesel Generator as an Off-Grid CHP System

    I am looking at options I have available for providing Power Heat and Light to a collection of houses and barns I am planning to convert into a small holiday complex in rural France. I plan to run this complex as an agricultural small holding with holiday let's in 4 x renovated French farm...
  45. H

    Boosting a petrol generator with a car battery?

    Hi All, So i am looking to buy a petrol generator to run a 2.2KW electric motor. I was thinking of getting a 3KW model which under normal conditions this should be ok - but on start up I've been told an electrical motor draws 6 to 10 times the normal load, which is way too high for the...
  46. B

    Parallel Plate Pulsed Proton Beam Generator (Thought Experiment)

    I am trying to come up with a design for a device with which to generate a rapidly pulsed proton beam (on the order of 1 pulse per ms). My thought was to apply a 10 kV potential between two parallel plates (each with a hole in their center) and inject a steady stream of hydrogen gas through the...
  47. Renewable_energyguy

    Making electricity by means of my old bike

    going off the summary I want some feedback and any opinion that may improve this project, please and thank you.
  48. T

    Using a generator to charge 2 batteries

    My project is to create a circuit for a stroller that can store the mechanical work into electrical while moving around and with the push of a switch, use the electrically stored energy to assist the movement of the stroller. I’ve tried capacitors but it ended up not being enough voltage and I...
  49. C

    Electrical Decided to make a Van De Graaff generator

    Hi, I recently decided to make a Van De Graaff generator and I have a question regarding the top load sphere. I managed to get myself a very nice 60cm-diameter stainless steel polished sphere. Before I start cutting up the bottom part so to make room for the top roller with the collection comb...
  50. N

    Electrical Where Can I Find a High Voltage DC 30kv - 40kv Generator for My Experiment?

    Hi all Trying to carry out an experiment and need a high voltage supply Looking for say upto 40kv dc adjustable generator been looking on the net and only able to find low cost voltage boosters on eBay Or if anyone know of a good website to try Any help would be much apreciated Thanks...Niki
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