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. Conservation

    Oxidation of Metal Using a Generator

    Hi all, this question may sound incredibly obvious to a degree of trolling, but I was having difficulty finding an online source that dealt with this subject. When one connects a metallic plate to, say, a positive end of a voltage source, is the metal actually oxidizing and changing to +1...
  2. E

    How can I prevent breakdown in my electrostatic generator's output wires?

    I'd like to create a high-voltage, low current source having multiple output wires each capable of attracting tiny pieces of paper. What kind of solutions should I look into?
  3. C

    Transformation of generator under translations

    Homework Statement Let us study the subgroup of the Poincare group that leaves the point ##x=0## invariant, that is the Lorentz group. The action of an infinitesimal Lorentz transformation on a field ##\Phi(0)## is ##L_{\mu \nu}\Phi(0) = S_{\mu \nu}\Phi(0)##. By use of the commutation...
  4. B

    Ocean Noise Generator - MyNoise.net

    http://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/oceanNoiseGenerator.php how are they making these sounds? it sound a lot better than just pink noise and brown noise...
  5. A

    How to Calculate RPM of Wind Turbine generator

    I am going to design 10 kw, Permanent Magnet, Direct Drive Wind Turbine Generator. The main problem is, how to determine the rotational speed of the Wind Turbine. This is important for me because I have to design the PMG and its rated rpm values...
  6. I

    Liquid nitrogen generator, N2 gas generator

    I thought some of you engineers would be interested in reading my web tutorials. I have written some extensive tutorials on the theory and building of a homemade N2 gas generator. It takes regular air, and using pressure swing adsorption, concentrates the N2 up to 99%. This is here. I then...
  7. B

    Math behind tone generator with Beats

    ok this is an example: Frequency = 180 Hz Amplitude = 0.5 db Beat = 4 Hz waveform sampling rate is 44100 Hz ok 1) Which the information above, does that mean that every 11025 samples there should be an beat ( meaning 0 s) ? The math I...
  8. ugenetic

    [Synchronous Generator] How exactly is power transferred?

    I appreciate your attention. This question concerns the generators connected to an infinite bus. I would like to know the details of the chain of event that leads from the rotating turbine to the electrical power "put onto" the grid. Just a simple mechanical to electrical energy conservation...
  9. I

    [Programming - C] character generator for a game

    Context: Question: Code I have thusfar: #include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <time.h> #include <string.h> #define MAX_STAT enum { STR, DEX, INT, CON, WIS, CHA, LEVEL, MAX_STAT }; struct Character { int level; int class; int HP...
  10. S

    Calculating actual power (wattage) created by a simple generator

    Hi All, I am thinking about building a simple electrical generator, and I am trying to make sure I clearly understand the theory and expected results before starting the project. I have two basic questions: 1) How do I calculate the generators maximum current and wattage, if i know the...
  11. N

    Engineering Multiphase clock generator circuit and control logic

    I want to design a multiphase clock generator circuit and control logic. The circuit will have a 250 MHz clock and the circuit will generate three non-overlapping clock phrases running at 50 MHz. Each clock phase has an associated output driver that can drive up to a 10pF load with no more than...
  12. W

    Is My Stepper Motor Wind Generator Output Too High?

    Hello Wizards! I'm trying to use a stepper motor as a wind powered generator. I connected some resistors to one coil of the motor, and turned the motor with a drill, while reading the voltages. The power ( watts ) number I came up with seems too high. Am I missing something...
  13. R

    Why does the Van der Graaf Generator produce a spark?

    Where the electrons come from? Do they leave the sphere or the object? Or maybe even the rubber band inside the generator? I'm having a hard time figuring this out. Also, how does this prove the charge of the sphere?
  14. R

    Using resistor and DC motor acting as generator as a brake

    how would you calculate the resistance required for a resistor which is in series with a generator (DC motor in reverse) to achieve a certain torque from the generator? Eg, there's a torque of 30kN acting on a 100kW generator while it moves at 50RPM. The is the same mechanism as electric...
  15. M

    Simple Electric Generator: How to Generate Electricity with an Electric Drill

    Hi, If you turn the bit in an electric drill will it generate electricity? What would you need to do for it to produce enough electricity to feed back into the grid?
  16. JonnyMaddox

    Infinitesimal transformations and the Hamiltonian as generator

    Helloo, I don't understand how one arrives at the conclusion that the hamiltonian is a generating function. When you have an infinitesimal canonical transformation like: Q_{i}=q_{i}+ \delta q_{i} P_{i}=p_{i}+\delta p_{i} Then the generating function is: F_{2}=q_{i}P_{i}+ \epsilon...
  17. M

    Single-Phase Generator: Troubleshooting Power Output

    Hi, Why won't a generator composed of a stator that has 9 coils (each connected to it's neighbour in a ring until line out), and a rotor that has 10 permanent n50 magnets (NSNS...) generate useable electricity?
  18. F

    Coil & Generator Homework: Solve for Current & Reactance

    Homework Statement problem is attachedHomework Equations formula sheet is attachedThe Attempt at a Solution 1. I=v/z=110v/11Ω=10A 2. sinø=(Imax)(X)/v=(10A)(9Ω)/110V ø=54.9° 3. I don't know what to do for this. I want to use Xc=1/ωC and solve for C but I need to first find Xc somehow
  19. G

    Electric AC Generator: Understand Magnetic Fields & Brushes

    Hi! I have been studying AC generators. I am confused about why there is no current when the armature is perpendicular to the magnetic field (when it is vertical). Also, what is the purpose of the brushes? Probably a really obvious answer, but it is confusing me. Any help would be...
  20. R

    How torque is converted into ampere in a generator

    As i have read on the internet that during synchronization the prime mover connected to the turbine produces a little over than required power to keep the turbine cum generator assembly moving at the synchronous speed that is regulated by the grid frequency (In India its 50Hz). As the generator...
  21. maistral

    Can the VLE Generator accurately predict results for low reflux ratios?

    Yes, da, yes. :biggrin: So this is my first VLE Generator using the Dalton's Law and Raoult's Law I managed to whip up in Excel. It simultaneously calculates the VLE using the DIPPR equations for vapor pressures and heat capacities. Obviously, this is still in BETA stage; so please do not...
  22. U

    Orbital Angular Momentum as Generator for Circular Translations

    Homework Statement Taken from Binney's Text, pg 143. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution From equation (7.36): we see that ##\delta a## is in the direction of the angle rotated, ##\vec{x}## is the position vector, and ##\vec{n}## is the unit normal to the plane of...
  23. A

    Hybrid bus simulink motor generator

    Hi, I am making a Simulink model for the drive cycle of a hybrid bus. My bus is using a gas turbine engine to power a generator which then charges the batteries. I have a motor model which I have attached a screenshot of, and I know I can use this as a generator also. I just have no idea...
  24. C

    Simple Van de Graaff Generator Problem

    My area of concern is C) and if I am correct in assuming it is like Faradays cage, but I am new to all this so I also put down A and B also. If you charge up a Van de Graaff Generator and then bring an identical but uncharged hollow conducting sphere near it, without letting the two spheres...
  25. H

    How to understand momentum is the generator of translation ?

    How to understand "momentum is the generator of translation" ? "As it is known from classical mechanics, the momentum is the generator of translation", it is from WIKI, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momentum_operator) I don't understand its meaning. T(ε) is translation operator, then...
  26. A

    Homemade Electric Crank Generator Not Producing Voltage

    This is a homemade generator I've been trying to make using a hand crank, neodymium magnets and two copper coils. It doesn't work. If anyone has any suggestions on how to configure the magnets or something I am doing wrong your comments will be much appreciated. Thanks!
  27. M

    Alternator , generator efficiency

    Hi I've been looking in google although I can't find a definitive answer, what are the usual efficiency range for alternators, some talk about brushed ones in the range of 50 to 60 % , brushelss some say go as highas 75%, maybe some of you folks know from your experience what are the typical...
  28. F

    How Long Does It Take for a Homopolar Generator Disc to Halve Its Speed?

    I have proven the induced emf between the centre and rim in a circular disc of radius a and angular velocity w, with a magnetic field B parallel to its axis is 0.5wa2B. I need to find the time taken for the disc to slow to half it's initial speed ignoring friction, given a resistance R is...
  29. H

    Maximizing Generator Performance: Motor and Dynamo Specs & Tips

    motor specs are.. dc motor single phase 24 volts 49.6 amp 3000rpm, 1hp dynmo specs are: dynamo 1500 rpm 31.5amp output current 8hp shaft of motor 1.3cm diameter and dynamo 3.5cm approx please tell me the ideas to drive the generator? give explained answers
  30. C

    Unleashing the Potential of Gravitational Generator: A Theoretical Approach

    Ok this one is purely theoretical and I'm going to just make some assumptions. 1. No Debris will block the way. 2. Its A vacuum 3.The structure won't collapse. Ok, first we drill a hole through one side the Earth and out the other. We then wrap the new whole in a superconducting coil of wire...
  31. A

    What is the Wattage Calculation for a DIY Generator with Multiple Coils?

    Hello, I'm building a generator and have completed initial phase. I made coil with 300 turns, which gives me 12v when rotor is turned at 2000rpm, if I short the coil it gives me 16 amp. 1] Now I'm wondering what is the output wattage of the generator I built / described? 2] If I use 18...
  32. M

    How does a homopolar generator produce current?

    Hi there , I would like to understand more about how exactly current is induced in a homopolar generator aka Faraday disc ? I have read some papers on this subject and so on and as far as I understand in a normal generator current is induced because magnetic field lines travel through a loop of...
  33. N

    The mystery of the generator?

    What seems like a simple fix turns out not to be so simple. Question, I have an old mill with a waterwheel. The shaft turns at 100 RPM. We figure based on what was there a minimum 300HP so 300 x 746 watts per HP, this has the potential to generate 223.8 Kw’s of electricity. A 72 pole...
  34. A

    Calculation of Lorentz Force in Generator and its mass equivalence

    Greetings All - Per F=BIL I can calculate quantity of Force on coil (or magnet), when I draw certain amount of current from the generator. So I need help in calculating the Force and then weight equivalent of it. Let's say I have Single coil [with 300 turns] generator [wire length = 92...
  35. N

    Why the generator operators of a compact Lie algebra are Hermitian?

    Why generator matrices of a compact Lie algebra are Hermitian?I know that generators of adjoint representation are Hermitian,but how about the general representaion of Lie groups?
  36. A

    Generator of translations involving TIME

    I'm in one spatial dimension. I want to know what the operator is that will turn \psi(x) into \psi(x + \frac{vt}{2}), where t is, yes, time. I know that, usually, we say that (assuming \hbar = 1) e^{ipa} is the generator of translations by a, but I was wondering if things were different once we...
  37. N

    How Do You Design a Linear Generator for High Frequency Movements?

    Is there a clear design procedure for a linear generator. I'm in need of fabricating it for my project. what i exactly need to know is how to choose the coil and the magnets for high frequency, low displacement movements. this would help me in buying the correct coil and magnet for the same. is...
  38. P

    Building a homemade crank generator, but no voltage on voltmeter?

    Hey guys, I built up this design for a hand-powered crank generator with four neodymium magnets, but am having trouble getting a reading through a voltmeter. I want to try and amplify the voltage as well but that will come later. Here is our setup http://imgur.com/a/0aM4W#0 I am not...
  39. E

    Is every observable the generator of a symmetry?

    We know that observables correspond to hermitian operators on the Hilbert space of physical states of the system. We also know, via Wigner theorem, that for each symmetry there is a linear unitary operator (or anti-linear and anti-unitary). In the case of a continuous symmetry, that is in the...
  40. shahrzad1994

    How Does a Random Number Generator Work and What is its Usage?

    How does a random number generator work ? What is the usage of it ?
  41. A

    Van de Graaff generator questions?

    Hello~ I've got a confusing question; "If a Van de Graaff generator is charged to 50,000 volts, how much energy does it take to add an additional electron to the charge on the sphere?" (The charge of an electron is given as -1.6 x 10^{-19}C) My answer: (50,000 V)( -1.6 x 10^{-19}C) = 8.0 x...
  42. TheDemx27

    Random Number Generator in C# Using System.Random

    using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Text; namespace ConsoleApplication1 { class Program { public class RandomNextDemo { static void NoBoundsRandoms(int seed) { Console.WriteLine(...
  43. W

    What is the initial force required to start an electric motor and generator?

    Hello all, So I am confused about a a scenario and I hope you guys can hook me up with some explanation. So I am trying to find the initial force needed for an electric motor to turn. I am not looking for torque or energy just the Newtons just to start from scratch and keep going with the...
  44. S

    Synchronous Generator Ratings

    Hey all, If we are given a synchronous generator with the following nameplate values 10MVA, 13.8kV, 2 pole, 60 Hz why is it not sufficient to go S_{RATED}=I_{RATED}V_{RATED} as we did for transformers? My reason for asking is because I am trying to determine the voltage regulation of a...
  45. D

    Mechanical Nuclear coolant pumps built on turbine to generator shaft?

    Hello, I'm new to this board. I have a engineering question about the coolant pumps used to maintain reactors. I have been studying the basics of a PWR. I notice the pumps are fed mostly by electricity. While I see the logic and efficiency of that..I am left wondering why the space on...
  46. E

    Need to Make DC supply & Function Generator

    I wanted advice I saw that DC supply, function generators, and Digital Oscilloscopes were really expensive and I wanted to know is there some way you can use software to turn your PC into a variable DC supply and/or a Function Generator thanks
  47. I

    Torque angle and power factor of generator

    I need someone to clarify for me how an increase in torque angle in an ac generator increases the power factor. Does the torque from the rotor force the current in phase with the voltage on the stator.
  48. K

    How can I create a high frequency signal generator?

    Creating a signal generator Hi all, i want to create a high frequency signal generator. However i have no clue how to create a wave. I am looking in crystal oscillator which have pretty precise frequency and having a good stability. I also look in pierce circuit oscillators but i still...
  49. K

    Can a Motor-Powered Generator Increase Electrical Output?

    Hello everyone, I would like to know if it is possible to produce more electrical power from a generator if it is powered by an electric motor through a speed multiplier gearbox? Any answer will be greatly appreciated.
  50. M

    MATLAB Synchronous generator matlab simulation

    I want a closed loop MATLAB simulation for a case study in power grid control: I'm planning to regulate the terminal voltage of a synchronous generator on overloading, by measuring the terminal voltage instantaneously, giving it to a rectifier and feeding the DC signal to the exciter (instead of...
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