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How Does an Electric Generator Work?

Every time there is a power outage, we run to switch on the generator. Many of the modern-day electric generators don’t even need to be switched on. They automatically start working when the power is out. Ever wondered how these electric generators have been running to keep our homes and commercial establishments lit up? We did too, and so we decided to learn from someone who knows.

Laura Avila Barraza, who works as a powerhouse electrician at Cook Chicken Inn at Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, explains how an electric generator works.

The basics of electrical generators

An electric generator is a machine that supplies electrical energy when there is no supply of electricity. It may be used where there is no permanent connection of electric supply or when there is a power cut. The purpose of the electric generator is to provide uninterrupted power to homes, offices, commercial spaces, or industrial establishments. Electric generators are also used in other outdoor applications like providing power at a construction site.

How do electric generators produce electricity?

Laura Avila Barraza explains how an electric generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. They work on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Most electric generators have an armature coil surrounding a magnetic core. The armature coil is free to rotate around the magnetic core.

The coil is attached to the shaft of a motor, which provides mechanical energy. When the electric generator is switched on, the motor runs first. The motor usually runs on fuel like diesel or natural gas, but these days there are renewable energy sources like solar power too. The armature coil that is attached to the motor’s shaft will rotate with it. By electromagnetic induction, when a conductor coil rotates around a magnetic field, a flow of current in the coil is obtained.

This is the electrical energy produced by the generator.

Do generators have different capacities

Laura Avila Barraza shares that electric generators come in a range of different capacities, from 5 kW to 3 MW or more. Depending on where you will be using the generator, how long the generator needs to run, and what appliances or machinery it will be powering, a suitable capacity may be chosen.

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