What is the most common setup for an AC electric generator? Two choices, 10 points? |

What is the most common setup for an AC electric generator? Two choices, 10 points?

Mon, Jul 12, 2010

I have made these two choices up myself, as I know it should be either one of these but I don’t know which one…
A. Stator windings, coils of wires as rotor. Current fed to rotor, become electromagnet and produces magnetic field, rotates (through heat, wind etc) and induces current in stator windings which AC.
B. Permanent magnets as stator, coils of wires as rotor. Rotor rotates through heat, wind etc. and has current induced in it. Does not have commutator (ie. same setup as DC electric generator but no commutator).

I am writing a report on it, and I want to do the most common one. I assume it would be the one used in power stations to ‘generate’ domestic electricity. If possible, could you please tell me what that type of AC generator is called also after choosing A or B?

Thanks in advance. 10 points for best answer promised.
Anyone? Please help?

ac generator, domestic electricity, electric generator, electromagnet, magnetic field, magnets, stator coils, stator windings, thanks in advance, two choices, writing a report

2 Responses to “What is the most common setup for an AC electric generator? Two choices, 10 points?”

Bramble Says:
12. July 2010 at 1:32 am

I’m not sure if you’d understand EPK’s somewhat comprehensive response, so to give you straight answers to your clear questions:

Your version A is appropriate. It corresponds to the basic configuration of generators used in power plants. It’s called either an alternator or a synchronous generator.

For the sake of clarity note that current to the rotor winding is DC and the stator winding is 3 phase AC

EPK Says:
12. July 2010 at 1:32 am

These days most common is a "brushless alternator" where the exciter is a wound rotor turning within a stator of electromagnets controlled by an external AVR or "automatic voltage regulator". Current from the rotating exciter windings is naturally AC (normally 3-phase) & is fed to a rectifier which rotates with the rotor, converted to DC & fed to the rotating magnets of the main rotor. The outgoing AC current is generated in the windings of the main stator. The exciter windings, rectifier & main rotor electromagnets all turn on the one common shaft. The AVR varies current to the exciter windings in response to voltage changes at the generator terminals.

Bramble Says:
12. July 2010 at 1:32 am
I’m not sure if you’d understand EPK’s somewhat comprehensive response, so to give you straight answers to your clear questions:

Your version A is appropriate. It corresponds to the basic configuration of generators used in power plants. It’s called either an alternator or a synchronous generator.

For the sake of clarity note that current to the rotor winding is DC and the stator winding is 3 phase AC
EPK Says:
12. July 2010 at 1:32 am
These days most common is a "brushless alternator" where the exciter is a wound rotor turning within a stator of electromagnets controlled by an external AVR or "automatic voltage regulator". Current from the rotating exciter windings is naturally AC (normally 3-phase) & is fed to a rectifier which rotates with the rotor, converted to DC & fed to the rotating magnets of the main rotor. The outgoing AC current is generated in the windings of the main stator. The exciter windings, rectifier & main rotor electromagnets all turn on the one common shaft. The AVR varies current to the exciter windings in response to voltage changes at the generator terminals.