Generators are useful appliances that supply electrical power during a power outage and prevent discontinuity of daily activities or disruption of business operations. Generators are available in different electrical and physical configurations for use in different applications. They are designed to operate on variety of fuels such as diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas and have no connection to POWER GRID.
How does a generator work?
An electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy obtained from an external source (prime mover) into electrical energy as the output.
The diesel generator is the combination of two components, a diesel engine with an electric or electromagnetic generator (often an alternator) working together to generate electrical energy. This is specific case of engine – generator (alternator). These two components are connected by a crankshaft. When diesel engine burns the diesel fuel in order to produce motion for the generator, the crankshaft transfers the motion produced by the diesel engine to the magnets (within a chamber containing electromagnets) of the generator assembly. A generator works through the principle of electromagnetic induction. This high speed motion causes an electric current to be produced.
It is important to understand that a generator does not actually ‘create’ electrical energy. Instead, it uses the mechanical energy supplied to it to force the movement of electric charges present in the wire of its windings through an external electric circuit. This flow of electric charges constitutes the output electric current supplied by the generator. This mechanism can be understood by considering the generator to be analogous to a water pump, which causes the flow of water but does not actually ‘create’ the water flowing through it.
The modern-day generator works on the principle of electromagnetic induction discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831-32. Faraday discovered that the above flow of electric charges could be induced by moving an electrical conductor, such as a wire that contains electric charges, in a magnetic field. This movement creates a voltage difference between the two ends of the wire or electrical conductor, which in turn causes the electric charges to flow, thus generating electric current.
Main components of a generator
The main components of a diesel generator can be broadly classified as follows:
- Engine
- Alternator
- Panel
- Cooling System
- Diesel Tank/Base Frame
If you require more information on your diesel generator or you want to procure one, please contact John Holt Engineering.