Having an electric generator, whether at home or in any other place, guarantees continuous work of the equipment without any problem.
Especially for businesses, generators play a fundamental role, and even for some businesses, having them is mandatory.
What is an electric generator?
A super-silent electric generator is a device that converts rotational mechanical energy into electrical energy. According to Faraday’s law, when we rotate a coil inside a magnetic field, the flux of the magnetic field changes, which generates an electric current.
This law is the principle that led to the birth of electromagnetic generators and is named after its inventor, Michael Faraday. He designed a system that uses a rotating copper disc between the poles of a magnet to generate a DC voltage.
Today, generators are highly developed and efficient equipment found in virtually every industry. For example, generators for the agricultural sector supply energy to equipment that requires it, because they don’t always have an energy supply in the large areas of land. Also, they are used in hospitals to keep life support machines on in case of blackouts.
How does an electric generator work?
When the generator is in operation, one of the parts generates magnetic flux acting as an inductor, while the other part converts it into electrical energy acting as an armature.
These machines consist of three fundamental parts:
- Rotor: It’s the moving part driven by the motor;
- Stator: It’s the static part in which the motor inside rotates;
- Drive motor: Depending on the type of energy generated by the movement, its design varies, but it can be a turbine, an internal combustion engine, or another thing.
Based on the current type they produce, there are two types of electric generators:
- Alternators: They generate alternating current. The inductive element is the rotor and the armature is the stator. An example of this type is the power generators.
- Dynamos: They generate direct current. The inductive element is the stator and the armature is the rotor. As an example of a dynamo we can find the light generators that bicycles have. These work through the movement of the chain when pedaling, or also in wind generators that act through the movement of the blades exerted by the wind.
Electric generators are also classified base on their use:
- Single-phase: They generate less electricity due to their simple operation. They are ideal for domestic use, since their power supply is sufficient to meet the energy demands of the home or small business.
- Three-phase: They are more complex generators than single-phase ones and, therefore, produce more energy. They are ideal if you plan to use them in large companies, factories or workshops.
The gasoline generator is one of the most requested equipment on the market because it can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, without the need to be connected to the current. Its fuel consumption is low and it offers high power output.
There are portable generators which can be very useful, for example, in case of floods to start water pumps. They are easy to transport and store.
Having one of these at home or in our work environment means having energy supply at any time in a cost-effective and portable way, so it is certainly a good investment.
