From an electronic point of view, they were able to generate exactly one phase of AC voltage. The problem here is that the permanent magnet rotor rotates, and on the stator mounted coil will not produce a single phase. Because a coil always has 2 ends. Then each wire is a phase. The connection in a 3-phase star generator will create a junction of 3 phases to generate neutral voltage. It is theoretically, in fact, since the sum of the 3 voltages is slightly different from zero. Therefore, it is necessary to ground to suppress, and make sure the voltage reaches zero value (see picture above).
Thus, there is no single phase AC generator based on the law of electromagnetic induction. By connecting and switching it is possible to create a single-phase generator, but that is not the essence of the structure.
Typical example of a single phase voltage generation: inverter generator uses voltage phase pairs to charge the battery, after which the constant pure DC voltage is converted to only one voltage phase and a neutral voltage (0 V).
Generator Heads and Alternators Information
Generator heads and alternators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Generators and alternators differ by operation and electrical output, but function via the same principle—electromagnetic induction.
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| Generator head |
Generator is the name given to the class devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy; the output can be AC or DC. Generator head refers exclusively to the energy conversion assembly of the generator.
An alternator is a specific type of generator, one that creates synchronous AC power. The term alternator also describes the part of a motor vehicle that generates electrical power for the vehicle, which initially generate AC power that is converted to DC.
Generators that output DC electricity power most often do so by spinning a conductive wire winding called the armature inside a magnetic field. In some rare cases this is reversed, where the magnet spins inside a stationary coil. Rotational energy is supplied by a belt, chain, or direct drive from a power source such as an internal combustion engine.
The magnetic field is generated by an electromagnet or permanent magnet and the strength of the magnetic Automotive alternatorfield affects output current. Voltage and power is determined by the rotations per minute (RPM) of rotor winding. While the electricity created by the field is initially AC in nature, it is converted to DC by commutation. The armature is commutated with brushes that create an electrical rotary switch system. This method of commutation connects and disconnects to the armature such that the output is rough DC power.
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| Generator head in DIY AC generator system |
Generators that create AC power, which are also called alternators, do so most often with a stationary armature and a rotating magnetic field. This is opposed to standard DC generators. To create the magnetic field, either permanent magnets are used—called a magneto, or an electromagnet that requires some form of power. Since the magnet is rotating, the coupling for this electromagnet power can be in the form of brushes called a commutator or it can be inductive. AC generators that are brushless and use inductive coupling have no brushes that wear out but tend to be larger in size as they require additional coils to create the magnetic field.
