Alternator

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

An alternator is a generator that produces alternating current by converting mechanical
energy to electrical energy via a rotating magnetic field. The first public demonstration of
an alternator system took place in 1886.[1] The first general practical electromechanical
alternator was patented by Nikola Tesla in 1891, U.S. Patent 447921.[2] In principle, any
AC system of machine generation can be called an alternator. More specifically, the word
usually refers to small rotating machines driven by automotive and other internal
combustion engines.

Contents
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1 Theory of operation
2 Automotive alternators
3 Radio alternators

4 External links
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Theory of operation
Alternators generate electricity by the same principle as DC generators. When magnetic
field lines cut across a conductor, a current is induced in the conductor. In general, an
alternator has a stationary part (stator) and a rotating part (rotor). The stator contains
windings of conductors and the rotor contains a moving magnetic field. The field cuts
across the conductors, generating an electrical current, as the mechanical input causes the
rotor to turn.
The rotor magnetic field may be produced by induction (in a "brushless" generator), by
permanent magnets, or by a rotor winding energized with direct current through slip rings
and brushes. Automotive alternators invariably use brushes and slip rings, which allows
control of the alternator generated voltage by varying the current in the rotor field
winding. Permanent magnet machines avoid the loss due to magnetizing current in the
rotor but are restricted in size owing to the cost of the magnet material. Since the
permanent magnet field is constant, the terminal voltage varies directly with the speed of
the generator. Brushless AC generators are usually larger machines than those used in
automotive applications.
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Automotive alternators
Alternators are used in automobiles to charge the battery and to power all the car's
electric systems when its engine is running. Alternators have the great advantage over
direct-current generators of not using a commutator, which makes them simpler, lighter,
and more rugged than a DC generator. The stronger construction of alternators allows
them to turn at higher speed, allowing an automotive alternator to turn at twice engine
speed, improving output when the engine is idling. The availability of low-cost solid-state
diodes from about 1960 allowed auto manufacturers to substitute alternators for
generators. Automotive alternators use a set of rectifiers (diode bridge) to convert AC to
DC. To provide direct current with low ripple, automotive alternators have a three-phase
winding.
Modern car alternators also have a voltage regulator built into them. Typical car
alternators generate the field using a DC current through slip rings. The field current is
much smaller than the output current taken from the fixed stator windings, and so heavy
duty slip rings are not required. For example, in an alterator rated to produce 70 amperes
of DC, the field current will be less than 2 amperes. The voltage regulator operates by
modulating the small field current in order to produce a constant voltage at the stator
output. In many older designs of car, the field windings are initially supplied via the
ignition switch and charge warning light, which is why the light glows when the ignition
is on but the engine is not running. Once the engine runs and the alternator is generating,
a diode feeds the field current from the alternator main output, thus equalizing the voltage
across the warning light which goes out.
This system is simple and avoids the need for a heavy duty switch in the main alternator
output circuit, which can carry very high currentsup to 100 amperes (though typical
cars have 4060 ampere alternators). One drawback of this arrangement is that if the
warning light fails, no priming current reaches the alternator field windings and so it
cannot bootstrap itself. The engine will still run from the battery for a while, and the lack
of warning light will fail to alert the driver that anything is wrong. Modern systems have
more complex electronic monitoring and do not suffer from this drawback.
Very large automotive alternators used on heavy equipment or emergency vehicles may
produce 150 amperes. Very old automobiles with minimal lighting and electronic devices
may have only a 30 ampere alternator. Hybrid automobiles replace the separate alternator
and starter motor with a combined motor/generator that performs both functions,
cranking the internal combustion engine when starting, providing additional mechanical
power for accelerating, and charging a large storage battery when the vehicle is running
at constant speed. These rotating machines have considerably more power electronic
devices for their control than the simple automotive alternator described above.
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Radio alternators

Nikola Tesla's U.S. Patent 447920, "Method of Operating Arc-Lamps" (March 10, 1891),
describes a specialized alternator that produces high frequency current, around 10,000
cycles per second (hertz). Tesla's intention in developing this device was to suppress the
disagreeable sound of power-frequency harmonics produced by arc lamps operating on
frequencies within the range of human hearing. The produced alerations (or pulsations)
was in the longwave broadcasting range (very low frequency band). The Alexanderson
alternator produced alternating current up to 100,000 Hz. The Alexanderson alternator
was extensively used for radio communications by shore stations. It was too large and
heavy to be installed on most ships. Alexanderson alternator were the first form of radio
transmitter to be modulated to carry the sound of the human voice.
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External links
Citations
^ Blalock, Thomas J.,Alternating Current Electrification, 1886". IEEE History
Center, IEEE Milestone. (ed. first practical demonstration of a dc generator - ac
transformer system.)
^ Tesla, Nikola, "US447921 Alternating Electric Current Generator". USPTO.
Information
"Alternators". Integrated Publishing (TPub.com).
"Wooden Low-RPM Alternator". ForceField, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Mann, H., "Single-phase alternator". Electro-mechanical systems, DynLAB Course on Modeling and Simulation.
"Understanding 3 phase alternators". WindStuffNow.
Author unknown, "Alternator secrets". date unknown.
"Alternator, Arc and Spark. The first Wireless Transmitters". The G0UTY
Homepage.
Eagle, Nathan, "Using an Alternator in Renewable Energy Projects". Benjamin
Olding, Summer, 2000.
White, Thomas H., "Alternator-Transmitter Development (1891-1920)". United
States early radio history.
Tesla, Nikola, "The Ewing High-Frequency Alternator and Parson's Steam
Engine". 12-17-1892. (Pepe?s Tesla Pages, DOC)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternator"
Categories: Electrical generators | Energy conversion