To understand how an electric generator works, it's important to know the materials that make up one, and the basic principle surrounding the device. The whole operation that an electric generator conducts is based off of electromagnetic induction. This may sound intimidating, but it is really a simple concept. In 1831, a British scientist named Michael Faraday discovered that if an object or material that conducts electricity passes through a magnetic field, then an electric current will begin to flow through that material. With electric generators, that object is almost always made of some type of copper, normally a copper wire. In addition to the copper wire, the main components of an electric generator are a magnet to create the necessary magnetic field, some kind of device to initiate motion so that the copper wire can pass through the magnet (this is usually a hand crank or a turbine, depending on the size of the generator) and a voltage reader.
Setting the Conductor in Motion
Electric generators first begin the process of generating electricity when either a hand crank or turbine attached to it begins to move. With home generators, that is usually a hand crank, while a larger turbine is needed with larger generators, such as those that are hydroelectric. Either way, once this is set in motion, the copper wire or conductive material inside the generator begins to move, usually in a circular or otherwise continuous motion. Magnets inside the generator create a magnetic field that induces an electric current in the conductor whenever it moves through it. With constant and continuous motion of the conductor comes a constant stream of electricity.
Electricity Generation
As electricity is produced from the generator, the amount of volts is read on a voltage reading device connected to the generator. This tells exactly how much electricity is being produced. The voltage reader can also tell you about the current being produced, and the high and low points of electricity production. Because the conductor inside passes through the magnetic field at varied intervals and speeds, more electricity may be created at certain intervals. By looking into this and knowing how much electricity you want to conduct, you can change the speed of the crank or turbine and therefore alter the electricity production. For such an important process, electric generators are really simple machines and understanding how they work gives you a better understanding of how things are powered, from single homes to large cities.
Comments
pavanvar said
on 10/14/2009 nice!really liked this