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. Z

    Small gas engine electric generator ?

    hi, i want to know if i can tie 2 generators together to get enough amps to run my house. i have an older 10 hp 4.5 k watt genset and a 5.5 hp 3 k watt genset. the 4.5 k genset is a 240 plug in but only 15 amps my ac is 240 at 30 amps and dryer require 220 at 30 amps. thanks
  2. D

    Synchronized random bit generator

    Is it possible to construct 2 devices which simultaneously generate (the same) random bits indefinitely? No matter how far apart spatially they are. And I don't mean a pseudorandom number generator with the same seed. I mean something like sharing entangled particles, but without the need to...
  3. B

    Benefit of a Vortex Generator in a turbocharged automotive applications

    Benefit of a "Vortex Generator" in a turbocharged automotive applications As the title states, What is, if any, benefit of creating a vortex in the air flow prior to it entering the turbocharger. Here is a photo of the "Vortex Generator" in question...
  4. A

    Steam Generator take me off grid.

    I have made a Solar collector out of a 10' diameter satelight dish and lexan mirrors. I have a collector that converts water to steam ( 20lb propane tank) at a rather frightening rate I must add. Now i have a dilema. Where can I buy a turbine that i can bolt onto this scary steam source...
  5. D

    Theoretical Generator: Can I Extract a Current?

    This is not a homework problem, just the musings of a bored mind. Suppose I plumbed a loop from some non-conductive pipe, say PVC. In this loop I placed a pump, also non-conductive. Let's say I place the pipe in a powerful magnetic field, perpendicular to the flow of fluid in the pipe. If I...
  6. J

    Purchasing a Function Generator

    I recently acquired a Texronix 454 and would now like to purchase a function generator. What would be a good cheap f.g. to accompany the 454.
  7. C

    Uniform random number generator (RNG)

    I am writing a program in Fortran language, in which i use a Random Number Generator (RNG) subroutine. Until now i used ran1 from " Numerical Recipes in fortran ,second edition, Page 271 ", but i think it is quite slow. While searching on the internet for a faster RNG i found a few...
  8. S

    How is the mechanical energy of a generator transformed into electrical energy?

    I always thought that an electrode is what transforms the mechanical energy of a generator into electrical energy. In a children's book about technology that I was reading yesterday, I saw something that has confused me. The book seemed to imply that the movement of a the wires of a coil...
  9. T

    Generator frequency homework

    Homework Statement A generator uses a coil that has 80 turns and a 0.35 T magnetic field. The frequency of this generator is 60.0 Hz, and its emf has an rms value of 120 V. Assuming that each turn of the coil is a square (an approximation), determine the length of the wire from which the coil...
  10. F

    David Hamel's Generator: Mythbusters Test & Miniature Homemade Version

    David Hamel (1924-2007) made a generator, and some people might know it from mythbusters where they made one for the anti-gravity myth. Even though it didn't work for the anti-gravity the generator itself seemed to work. I then read on the internet that it is supposed to run for 100's of years...
  11. Artlav

    Debugging Van De Graaff generator

    I'm trying to build a simple Van De Graaff generator, for the first time. The problem is quite obvious - the current generated is zero. Can somebody help to find what is wrong? The column is a typical sewer pipe, axles are aluminum bars, electric screwdriver acts for motor. The upper...
  12. U

    QFT: Find Poincare Group Generators in QFT

    Hi I need to find the generators of the Poincare group in the representation of a clasical scalar field. Every textbook I found let them as P and M. But any buk does not what are they. I'm wondering if anybody help me to find this Uda
  13. T

    Using man-power to turn massive generator

    Hi I just wanted to run this hypothetical power plant idea past you physics guys to see what kind of feedback I could get. My general question is "Could man-power through the use of massive gears, be used to turn a very large generator.?" The generators used in the Three Gorges...
  14. J

    AC Current Source from a function generator

    First of all, i do not know if this is the ideal forum. If not, mods, please move it. Second of all, I know the title is redudant but whatever. Anyway, I am doing some experimental work that requires us to be able to controll the current, but we want to have it be a sine wave. We had been...
  15. B

    Highway Generator Idea: Pros/Cons & Practicality

    A friend of mine posed the idea of having magnets on the bottom of cars drive over a large cage of conductor material buried under the pavement on the highway, as a way to generate electricity. Does this pose any practical application? Any immediate problems/concerns come to mind? I haven't had...
  16. A

    Generator Protection in Thermal Power Station India | Summer Trainee

    i am working at a thermal power station as a summer tranii in india...today my instructer told d protection of geneartor he tells us over current protection ... i am not satisfied ...is dere any over current preotection exists or not?
  17. M

    Electrical generator- governing laws for RPM to voltage output

    Hello all, Is there anyone out there who can help me out? I have developed a drive system for a generator, but... the big but... in need to know how to build the appropriate stator for it. Assume this is of the windmill electrical generating variety, where magnetic coils produce AC...
  18. B

    Electric Generator driven by Electric Motor

    Hi, I'm just an enthusiast. I want to generate electricity by driving a/c generator with the help of a motor and that motor will be powered by an inverter. Usually we see generator driven by an engine commonly known as "Electric Generator". But in my case it will be the motor which will drive...
  19. N

    The Faraday disc (unipolar generator) and Lenz' law

    Homework Statement Hi all. I can't seem to understand how to apply Lenz' law to a disc rotating in a magnetic field that is perpendicular to the discs plane (see first page on PDF): http://www.pa.uky.edu/~latimer/phy232s08/lectures/phy232l31_4.pdf I can see that using the right-hand...
  20. shintashi

    Graviton amusement ride as generator?

    Hi, I was thinking about the graviton ride at amusement parks - the one that sort of simulates the feeling of gravity by spinning. I was wondering if the pressure between two objects (such as your head and the surface when spinning around) is potentially useful in terms of power generation, via...
  21. B

    Classical -> Quantum Generator of Translation

    Hi all, I've posted a little bit here in the past but I don't think anyone's going to really remember me from those. I hope to come back more frequently now, especially since I've now learned how to use the TEX feature. There was a post with members asking somewhat similar questions a couple...
  22. M

    Van der graaf generator and tesla coil

    Hello peoples. Im attempting to build a van der graaf generator and a small tesla coil. Hopefully I have come to the right place for help. Firstly I'll start with van der graaf generator. I am going to use pvc lower roller (negative charge) and nylon upper roller (positive). any suggestions...
  23. G

    Why Does My Java Random Insult Generator Not Compile?

    I need to make this Random Insult Generator work... I mistakenly thought it had compiled correctly, but I guess something went wrong. I would really appreciate some help with this as soon as possible. Thanks (I apologize for the sloppy code, I just saw Java code for the first time a few weeks...
  24. B

    Exploring How a Generator Produces Alternating Current

    Homework Statement How does a loop of wire in a generator produce alternating current? a.by creating current by rotating in an existing magnetic field? b.by creating a varying magnetic field with its rotational kinetic energy c.by rotating through areas of high and low electrical force...
  25. B

    How does a loop of wire in a generator produce alternating current?

    a.by creating current by rotating in an existing magnetic field? b.by creating a varying magnetic field with its rotational kinetic energy c.by rotating through areas of high and low electrical force An electric field produces a magnetic field even when there is no wire to conduct a...
  26. S

    High Frequency Square Wave Generator: 500 MHz, 2 Channels

    Greetings, Sorry to bother you with such a trivial question, but I'm looking for a high frequency (>500 MHz) 2 channels square wave generator. Do you know any material (not too expensive if possible) that would match these specifications? Many thanks!
  27. U

    Why Does a DC Generator Crank Easily with No Load or Disconnected Wires?

    Hi, this question might seem really basic but I can't seem to wrap my head around it. For a DC generator (like the hand cranked ones used in science experiments) the generator gets harder to crank when connected to a resistor since it is harder to move the electrons through the wire/circuit. The...
  28. M

    What is the formula to solve for RPM to volatage output in a generator

    can anyone tell me how to solve for the voltage output in a generator and all the variables needed to solve it. What if I only have the RPM can I solve it? thanks
  29. R

    Determine resistance of a generator

    What formula can I use to determine the resistance of an electrical generator?
  30. S

    Calculating generator function in canonical transformation

    I'm searching for an example of how to find out generator function for a canonical transformation, when new canonical variables are given in terms of old variables. Any help is greatly appreciated.
  31. R

    Construct a Wind Power Generator: Determine Rotor Size for 3V & .2W

    I have to construct a wind power generator out of straws. It has to provide no less than 3V and .2W for a period of 1 minute and be able to withstand a horizontal force of 15N. How would I determine what size the rotor would have to be to create this voltage and current from 15N ?
  32. J

    Want to build a home-made generator

    First off thanks for the quick replys on my first post. Now, I'm looking to build a home-made generator, I've been told that I can just reverse the motion of a electric motor and *poof* it becomes a generator, is this true? And I was also considering just using a automobile alternator as my...
  33. P

    What is the infinitesimal generator of reflected Brownian motion?

    Hi folks, I have a question concerning the infinitesimal generator of a stochastic ;process, more specificaly of Brownian motion. Let X_t be a stochastic process, then the infinitesimal generator A acting on nice (e.g. bounded, twice differentiable) functions f is defined by...
  34. RonL

    Propane driven Generator system

    Not wanting to be guilty of thread hi-jacking I'll start a new one. This design is in the start of assembly stage, but i will not engage it until i have a few more answers, but i do have all equipment, except for plumbing and fittings, and pressure release valves. The thread by HashsBack...
  35. W

    What is the power curve of the American Bosch Motor/Generator?

    I'm designing a power assisted bicycle for my senior project in mechanical engineering and I have a few questions about the electric side of the design. I want to attach a small motor to be driven by the rear wheel to generate electricity to recharge the battery. The specs of the motor I was...
  36. K

    Q&A on Electrical Connections, 100 Amp Wiring, Marx Generator & Capacitors

    Hi, everyone I am new around here and was wondering if anybody could answer some basic questions for me? 1. I was wondering how you would make an electrical connection or for example a direct connect from a battery to switch the electrons to be only negative or only positive. 2. If you...
  37. M

    Build a Radio Wave Generator: How-To Guide

    how can you build a device that can produce radio waves?
  38. M

    Generator transformer of power plants

    Regarding to physical size of national power systems, rate of power exchange and transmission lines capacity are increased by using of high voltage technology. Step up or generator transformers increase the produced voltage of power generators in great power plants. Therefore it seems the unique...
  39. D

    Efficiently Generating Sudoku Puzzles by Difficulty

    I was wondering if there was a more efficient way of generating sudoku puzzles. I already have a method to create puzzles of varying difficulties that goes something like this: - Randomly generate a completed 9x9 solved sudoku - Randomly remove some of the numbers from the matrix (as...
  40. J

    Momentum as the generator of translation

    Hi all, I'm trying to convince myself that momentum is the correct infinitesimal generator for translations. In his book, Sakurai justifies this assertion by making an analogy between the translation operator acting on the ket-space \mathcal{T}(d\mathbf{x}) : \mathcal{H} \to \mathcal{H} ...
  41. B

    How Can I Build a Biomass Steam Generator Using Coco Shells?

    Please help me, this is urgent. Anyone who has a sample of design and construction of a cocoshell feed steam generator? or site/s where i can find complete data in the design of the said steam generator?
  42. U

    Anyone thought of combining solar water heater with Stirling generator?

    I've heard that solar water heating is very efficient, almost all the radiation of the sun on the panel is turned into heat. Also heard Stirling cycle generators (where heat flow from hot to cold is turned into mechanical motion and hence into electricity) are also quite efficient. Though by...
  43. T

    Maximum Amplitude, 50hx vs 60hz generator

    Homework Statement We have an AC generator with output current I. I, as a function of time, is a sine wave whose frequency, f, is the same as the rotational frequency of the generator. So, I(t) = I_{0}sin(2πft), where I_{0} is the max. amplitude of the current. In terms of magnetic...
  44. P

    I'm sorry, I am not able to generate webpage titles for user's content.

    What is the rotation transformation generator? What is the Lorentz group generator?
  45. E

    Understanding the 4-20mA Standard in Industrial Control Systems

    Hi does anyone know of a simple circuit that i can build to generate a ma signal from 0 - 20ma ? using a 9v pp3 or similar there does not need to be a digital indicator on the circuit as i will series the generator with a digital multimeter, i just need to be able to generate a ma signal that...
  46. D

    In need of help buying a Generator

    I need to purchase a generator to run our home. We live in the country so i would like to have enough power to run our lights, Deep Freezer, Side by side refridgerator, pellet stove (only heat source) and cooking stove, hot water heater. Our home is approximately 1600sf. I would like to know...
  47. E

    Magnetohydrodynamic Generator (POPTOR 2005)

    There was an interesting problem that appeared in POPTOR 2005: A generator consists of a parallel-plate capacitor immersed in a stream of conductive liquid with conductivity \sigma. The surface area of a capacitor's plate is S, the distance between the plates is d. A liquid flows with constant...
  48. S

    Anyone working on Reactionless Gyroscopic Generator?

    Is there any physical law that prohibits the continuous generation of a reactionless torque using a series of gyroscopic rotors?
  49. S

    Air driven turbine for generator and flywheel?

    Hello... new to forum... I am looking into design of a forced air turbine that will drive a generator and flywheel. The flywheel would be utilized for short periods of zero air supply and as an energy resevoir to maintain revs at an optimum level. Dimensions: Turbine/AC generator/flywheel...
  50. S

    Frequency Generator for Hydrogen System

    I am looking to create a power supply for producing hydrogen. According to claims with a 17-22Mhz signal going into stainless steel plates spaces 1mm apart you can achieve huge output with only 12V input (car battery) my attampts at crating the power supply have failed the setup i tried using...
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