GUJRANWALA
GURU NANAK
PUBLIC SCHOOL
SESSION: 2024-25
PHYSICS
INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
TOPIC :- “ AC GENERATOR”
SUBMITTED BY :-
NAME : PARINEET KAUR
CLASS : XII- MEDICAL
ROLL NO. : 56
CERTIFICATE
This is to Certify that PARINEET KAUR of
class XII-MEDICAL of has successfully
prepared the project on the topic " AC
Generator’’ as prescribed by the
CBSE Board for the Academic Year 2024-
25 under the guidance of PHYSICS
TEACHER.
This project is the result of her efforts
and endeavours.
It is further certified that the project is
the individual work of the candidate.
INDEX
S CONTENTS PAGE REMARKS
NO.
1 COVER PAGE 1
2 CERTIFICATE 2
3 INDEX 3
4 ACKNOWLEDGMENT 4
5 INTRODUCTION 5
6 THEORY AND WORKING 6
7 COMOPNENT OF AC 7 – 10
GENERATOR
8 EFFICIENCY 11
9 RESULT 12
10 USES 13
11 LOSSES IN AC GENERATOR 14 – 15
12 PRECAUTION 16
13 BIBLIOGRAPHY 17
14 TEACHER’S REMARK 18
Acknowledgement
I would like to convey my heartfelt
gratitude to my Physics Teacher for his
tremendous support and assistance in the
completion of my project. I would also
like to thank him for providing me with this
wonderful opportunity to work on a project
with the topic “ AC Generator”.
My sincere thanks to my Principal mam for her
coordination in extending every possible support that
was required for this project.
Lastly, I would also like to thank my
parents and all those who directly or
indirectly helped me in finalizing this project
in limited time frame.
PARINEET KAUR
XII-MEDICAL
INTRODUCTION
An electric generator is a device that converts
mechanical energy to electrical energy.
A generator forces electric current to flow
through an external circuit. The source of
mechanical energy may be a reciprocating or
turbine steam engine, water falling through a
turbine or waterwheel, an internal
combustion engine, a wind turbine, a hand
crank, compressed air, or any other source of
mechanical energy.
Generators provide nearly all of the power for
electric power grids.
THEORY AND WORKING
The strong magnetic field is produced by a current
flow through the field coil of the rotor.
The field coil in the rotor receives excitation
through the use of slip rings and brushes.
Two brushes are spring-held in contact with the slip
rings to provide the continuous connection between
the field coil and the external excitation circuit.
The armature is contained within the windings
ofthe stator and is connected to the output.
Each time the rotor makes one complete revolution,
one complete cycle of AC is developed.
A generator has many turns of wire wound into the
slots of the rotor.
The magnitude of AC voltage generated by an AC
generator is dependent on the field strength and
speed of the rotor.
Most generators are operated at a constant speed;
therefore, the generated voltage depends on field
excitation, or strength.
COMPONENTS OF AN AC GENERATOR
FIELD
ARMATURE
PRIME MOVER
ROTOR
STATOR
SLIP RINGS
FIELD
The field in an AC generator consists of coils of conductors within
the generator that receive a voltage from a source (called
excitation) and produce a magnetic flux.
The magnetic flux in the field cuts the armature to produce a
voltage. This voltage is ultimately the output voltage of
the AC generator.
ARMATURE
The armature is the part of an AC generator in which
voltage is produced.
This component consists of many coils of wire that
are large enough.
PRIME MOVER
The prime mover is the component that is used to drive
the AC generator.
The prime mover may be any type of rotating machine,
such as a diesel engine, a steam turbine, or a motor.
ROTOR
The rotor of an AC generator is the rotating component of
the generator, as shown in Figure 1.
The rotor is driven by the generator's prime mover, which
may be a steam turbine, gas turbine, or diesel engine.
Depending on the type of generator, this component may
be the armature or the field.
The rotor will be the armature if the voltage output is
generated there; the rotor will be the field if the field
excitation is applied there.
STATOR
The stator of an AC generator is the part that is
stationary.
Like the rotor, this component may be the armature or
the field, depending on the type of generator.
The stator will be the armature if the voltage output is
generated there; the stator will be the field if the field
excitation is applied there.
SLIP RING
Slip rings are electrical connections that are used to
transfer power to and from the rotor of an AC generator.
The slip ring consists of a circular conducting material that
is connected to the rotor windings and insulated from the
shaft. Brushes ride on the slip ring as the rotor rotates.
The electrical connection to the rotor is made by
connections to the brushes.
Slip rings are used in AC generators because the desired
output of the generator is a Sine wave.
In a DC generator, a commutator was used to provide an
output whose current always flowed in the
positive direction.
EFFICIENCY
Efficiency of an AC generator is the ratio of
the useful power output to the total power
input.
Because any mechanical process experiences
some losses, no AC generators can be 100per
cent efficient
Efficiency of an AC generator can be
calculated using Equation.
Efficiency = (Output /Input) X 100
OR
Efficiency = (POWER
OUT/POWER IN) X 100
EFFICIENCY OF ELECTRIC GENERATOR
POWER = VOLTAGE * CURRENT
EFFICIENCY = POWER OUTPUT * 100
POWER INPUT
RESULT
WHEN THE AXLE OF GENERATING MTOR IS ROTATED,
E.M.F. IS PRODUCED BY IT.
REASON: CHANGE INFLUX THROUGH THE WINDING OF
MOTOR.
THIS E.M.F. REMAINS IN THE CIRCUIT AS LONG AS AXLE
IS ROTATED.
HENCE, FARADAY'S LAW OF ELECTROMAGNETIC
INDUCTION IS VERIFIED.
AS THE SPEED OF ROTOR IS INCREASED,THE VOLTAGE
AND CURRENT PRODUCED BY GENERATOR ALSO GET
INCREASED.
REASON: RATE OF CHANGE OF FLUX INCREASES.
USES
Aircraft auxiliary power generation,
wind generators, high speed gas turbine
generators.
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) drive
systems, automotive starter generators.
An ac generator, or 'alternator, is used
to produce ac voltages for transmission
via the grid system or, locally, as
portable generators.
All of our household appliances run on
ac current. Ex:Refrigerator, washing
machines, oven, lights, fan etc.
LOSSES IN AN AC
GENERATOR
1.) Internal Voltage Drop
The load current flows through the armature in all AC
generators. The armature has some amount of resistance
and inductive reactance.
The combination of these make up what is known as the
internal resistance, which causes a loss in a n AC
generator.
When the load current flows, a voltage drop is developed
across the internal resistance.
This voltage drop subtracts from the output voltage and,
therefore, represents generated voltage and power that is
lost and not available to the load
2.) HYSTERESIS LOSSES
Hysteresis losses occur when iron cores in an AC
generator are subject to effects from a magnetic field
The magnetic domains ofthe cores are held in alignment
with the field in varying numbers, dependent upon field
strength.
The magnetic domains rotate, with respect to the
domains not held in alignment, one complete turn during
each rotation of the rotor. This rotation of magnetic
domains in the iron causes friction and heat.
The heat produced by this friction is called magnetic
hysteresis loss.
After the heat-treated silicon steel is formed
to the desired shape, the laminations are
heated to a dull red and then allowed to cool.
This process, known as annealing, reduces
hysteresis losses to a very low value.
To reduce hysteresis losses, most AC
armatures are constructed of heat treated
silicon steel, which has an inherently low
hysteresis loss.
3.) MECHANICAL LOSSES
Rotational or mechanical losses can be caused
by bearing friction, brush friction on the
commutator, and air friction (called windage),
which is caused by the air turbulence due to
armature rotation.
Careful maintenance can be instrumental in
keeping bearing friction to a minimum.
Clean bearings and proper lubrication are
essential to the reduction of bearing friction.
LE
Brush friction is reduced by ensuring: proper
brush seating, proper brush use, and
maintenance of proper brush tension.
A smooth and clean commutator also aids in
the reduction of brush friction.
PRECAUTIONS
Do all the connection carefully
Fix all the component on cardboard with
strong glue
Do not take a high voltage LED bulb (1.5V
preferred)
Use only DC motor in making the model
Before doing any experiment please consult
to your subject teacher or lab assistance
BIBLIOGRAPHY
For successfully completing my project file I
have taken help from the following website links
:-
www.google.com
www.youtube.com
www.wikepedia.com
Google images
www.brainly.com
BOOKS:-
NCERT Textbook
