UNITED INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL

A.C. GENERATOR

NAME OF THE STUDENT: NIDHA ASIFALI

CLASS: XII ‘A’
ROLL NO.: ___________________

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UNITED INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL,
KUWAIT
(Department of Physics)
Bonafide Certificate
This is to certify that NIDHA ASIFALI
SHAIKH has successfully completed the
investigatory project on physics entitled “AC
GENERATOR” during the year 2024-2025 in
fulfilment of the Physics Practical
Examination.
Dated ……..
Mrs. Freny Abraham
PGT PHYSICS
United International Indian School
Kuwait
SUBMITTED FOR ALL INDIA SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
EXAMINATION
IN BIOLOGY AT THE UNITED INDIAN SCHOOL, KUWAIT

Date External examiner

Seal

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 DECLARATION
I, NIDHA ASIFALI SHAIKH hereby declare
that this project entitled “AC GENERATOR ”
was prepared by me during the year 2024-
2025 under the guidance of my Physics
teacher
Mrs.Freny Abraham

Nidha Asifali Shaikh

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have made efforts in this project. However, it

would not have been possible without many
individuals' kind support and help. I want to thank
my principal Mrs Elizabeth Joseph and the school
for providing me with the facilities required for my
project.
I would also like to express special thanks of
gratitude to my teacher Mrs. Frenny Abraham who
gave me the golden opportunity to do this
wonderful project on the topic of AC Generator,
while working on this project I came to know
about so many new things.
I would also like to thank my parents who helped
me a lot in finalising this project within a limited
time fame.

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 INDEX

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 INTRODUCTION
The Alternate Current Generator is an electric generator, or
dynamo is a device that converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy. The simplest practical generator consists of a

rectangular coil rotating in a uniform magnetic field. The

magnetic field is usually supplied by a permanent magnet.

generator forces electric current to flow through an external

circuit. The source of mechanical energy may be a:

• Reciprocating or turbine steam engine

• Water falling through a turbine or waterwheel
• An internal combustion engine
• A wind turbine
• A hand crank
• Compressed tank

Or any other source of mechanical energy. generator provides

nearly all of the power for electric power grids.

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 PRINCIPLE
A.C. Generators are alternators (as they are usually
called) that operate on the same fundamental
principles of electromagnetic induction as D.C.
generators.

Alternating voltage may be generated by rotating a coil

in the magnetic field or by rotating a magnetic field
within a stationary coil. The value of voltage generated
depends on:

o The number of turns in the coil.

o Strength of the field.
o The speed at which the coil or magnetic field
rotates.

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 COMPONENTS OF A.C. GENERATOR
o Field
o Armature
o Prime mover
o Rotor
o Stator
o Slip ring

THEORY OF COMPONENTS
FIELD:

The field in an A.C. Generator consists of coils of

conductors within the generator that revive the voltage
from a source (called excitation) and produce a
magnetic flux in the field that cuts the armature to
produce a voltage. This voltage is ultimately the output
voltage of the A.C. Generator.

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ARMATURE:

The armature is the part of an A.C. Generator in which

voltage is produced. This component consists of many
coils of wire that are large enough to carry the full–load
current of the generator.

Prime mover:

It is a component that is used to drive the A.C.

Generator. The prime mover may be any type of
rotating machine, such as a diesel engine, a steam
turbine, or a motor.

ROTOR:

The rotor of an A.C. generator is the rotating

component of the generator, the rotor is driven by the
generator’s prime mover, which may be a steam
turbine, gas turbine, or diesel turbine.

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Stator:

The stator of the A.C. Generator is the stationary part.

Like the rotor, this component may be the armature or
the field, depending on the type of generator. The
stator will be the armature if the voltage output is
generated there; the stator will be the field if the field
excitation is applied there.

Slip ring:

Slip rings are electrical connections that are used to

transfer power to and from the rotor of an A.C.
generator.

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 WORKING
The working principle of an alternator or A.C.
generator is similar to the basic working principle of a
D.C. generator.

The above figure helps in understanding how

an alternator or A.C. generator works. According to
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction, whenever a
conductor moves in a magnetic field EMF gets induced
across the conductor. If the close path is provided to
the conductor, induced EMF causes current to flow in
the circuit.

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 Now see the above figure. Let the conductor
coil ABCD be placed in a magnetic field. The direction
of magnetic flux will be from the north pole to the
south pole. the coil is connected to slip rings, and the
load is connected through resting on the slip rings.

Now, consider the case (1) from the above

figure. The coil is rotating clockwise in this case the
direction of induced current can be given by Fleming’s
right-hand thumb rule and it will be along A - B - C- D.

As the coil is rotating clockwise, after half of the period,

the position of the coil will be as in the second case of
the above figure. In this case the direction of the
induced current according to Fleming's right-hand
thumb rule will be along D - C - B – A. It shows the
direction of the current changes after half of the time
period, which means we have an alternating current.

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 GRAPH BASED ON AC GENERATOR

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 LOSSES IN A.C. GENERATOR
The load current flows through the armature in all A.C.
generators. Like any coil, the armature has some
amount of resistance and inductive resistance. The
combination of these makes up what is known as the
internal resistance which causes a loss in an A.C.
generator. When the load current flows, a voltage drop
is developed across the internal resistance. This voltage
drop subtracts from the output voltage and, therefore,
represents the generated voltage and power that is lost
and available to the load. The voltage drop in an A.C.
generator can be found using-

EQUATION

Voltage drop = IaRa + IaXLa

Where

Ia = armature current

Ra = armature resistance

Xla= armature inductive resistance

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The three losses found in an A.C. generator are:

o Internal voltage drops due to the internal

resistance and impedance of the generator.
o Hysteresis losses
o Mechanical losses

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 HYSTERESIS LOSSES

Hysteresis losses occur when iron cores in an A.C.

generator are subject to effects from a magnetic field.
The magnetic domains of the cores are held in
alignment with the field in varying numbers, dependent
upon field strength. The magnetic domain in the iron
rotates, with respect to the domain not held in
alignment, one complete turn during each rotation of
the rotor. This rotation of magnetic domains in the iron
causes friction and heat. The heat produced by this
friction is called magnetic hysteresis loss.

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 MECHANICAL LOSSES
Rotational or mechanical losses can be caused by
bearing friction, brush friction on the commutator, and
air friction (called windage), which is caused by air
turbulence due to armature rotation. Careful
maintenance can be instrumental in keeping bearing
friction to a minimum. Clean bearings and proper
lubrication are essential to the reduction of bearing
friction.

Brush friction is reduced by ensuring:

o Proper brushing seating

o proper brush use
o maintenance of proper brush tension

A smooth and clean commutator also aids in the

reduction of brush friction. In very large generators,
hydrogen is used within the generator for cooling;
hydrogen, being less dense than air, causes less
windage losses than air.

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 EFFICIENCY
The efficiency of an A.C. generator is the ratio of the
useful power output to the total power input. Because
any mechanical process experiences some losses, no
A.C. generators can be 100% efficient. The efficiency of
an A.C. generator can be calculated using the
equation:

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 CONCLUSION
To sum up, alternating current (AC) generators are pivotal in modern
electrical engineering and power generation. This project has
provided me with a comprehensive understanding of how AC
generators work, their components, and their importance in various
applications. Key takeaways include:
1. Fundamental Principles:
o AC generators operate on the principle of electromagnetic
induction, where a rotating magnetic field induces an
alternating current in the stator windings..
2. Wide Range of Applications:
o AC generators are integral to power plants, renewable
energy systems (e.g., wind and hydroelectric power), and
emergency backup power solutions. Their versatility
makes them indispensable in both urban and rural settings.
Through this project, we've reinforced the critical role AC generators
play in our daily lives and the broader energy landscape.

COMMON APPLICATIONS:
Wind Turbines: Commonly used in wind energy conversion
because they can handle variable speeds.
Small Hydroelectric Plants: Suitable for small-scale
hydroelectric power generation.
Backup Generators: Used as backup generators in isolated
systems

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
o www.mycbseguide.com
o www.ask.com
o NCERT Physics Textbook
o www.google.com
o www.electricalessay.com

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