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Basic Construction And Working Of A DC
Generator.
By Kiran Daware DC Machines 54 Comments

DC Generator
A dc generator is an electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into direct
current electricity. This energy conversion is based on the principle of production of
dynamically induced emf. This article outlines basic construction and working of a DC
generator.

Construction Of A DC Machine:
Note: A DC generator can be used as a DC motor without any constructional changes
and vice versa is also possible. Thus, a DC generator or a DC motor can be broadly termed
as a DC machine. These basic constructional details are also valid for the construction of
a DC motor. Hence, let's call this point as construction of a DC machine instead of just
'construction of a dc generator'.
The above figure shows the constructional details of a simple 4-pole DC machine. A DC
machine consists two basic parts; stator and rotor. Basic constructional parts of a DC machine
are described below.
1. Yoke: The outer frame of a dc machine is called as yoke. It is made up of cast iron or
steel. It not only provides mechanical strength to the whole assembly but also carries
the magnetic flux produced by the field winding.
2. Poles and pole shoes: Poles are joined to the yoke with the help of bolts or welding. They
carry field winding and pole shoes are fastened to them. Pole shoes serve two purposes;
(i) they support field coils and (ii) spread out the flux in air gap uniformly.
3. Field winding: They are usually made of copper. Field coils are former wound and
placed on each pole and are connected in series. They are wound in such a way that,
when energized, they form alternate North and South poles.

Armature core (rotor)

4. Armature core: Armature core is the rotor of the machine. It is cylindrical in shape with
slots to carry armature winding. The armature is built up of thin laminated circular steel
disks for reducing eddy current losses. It may be provided with air ducts for the axial air
flow for cooling purposes. Armature is keyed to the shaft.
5. Armature winding: It is usually a former wound copper coil which rests in armature
slots. The armature conductors are insulated from each other and also from the
armature core. Armature winding can be wound by one of the two methods; lap winding
or wave winding. Double layer lap or wave windings are generally used. A double layer
winding means that each armature slot will carry two different coils.
6. Commutator and brushes: Physical connection to the armature winding is made through
a commutator-brush arrangement. The function of a commutator, in a dc generator, is
to collect the current generated in armature conductors. Whereas, in case of a dc motor,
commutator helps in providing current to the armature conductors. A commutator
consists of a set of copper segments which are insulated from each other. The number
of segments is equal to the number of armature coils. Each segment is connected to an
armature coil and the commutator is keyed to the shaft. Brushes are usually made from
carbon or graphite. They rest on commutator segments and slide on the segments when
the commutator rotates keeping the physical contact to collect or supply the current.
 Commutator

Working Principle Of A DC Generator:

According to Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction, whenever a conductor is placed in
a varying magnetic field (OR a conductor is moved in a magnetic field), an emf (electromotive
force) gets induced in the conductor. The magnitude of induced emf can be calculated from
the emf equation of dc generator. If the conductor is provided with the closed path, the
induced current will circulate within the path. In a DC generator, field coils produce
an electromagnetic field and the armature conductors are rotated into the field. Thus, an
electromagnetically induced emf is generated in the armature conductors. The direction of
induced current is given by Fleming’s right hand rule.

Need of a Split ring commutator:

According to Fleming’s right hand rule, the direction of induced current changes whenever
the direction of motion of the conductor changes. Let’s consider an armature rotating
clockwise and a conductor at the left is moving upward. When the armature completes a half
rotation, the direction of motion of that particular conductor will be reversed to downward.
Hence, the direction of current in every armature conductor will be alternating. If you look at
the above figure, you will know how the direction of the induced current is alternating in an
armature conductor. But with a split ring commutator, connections of the armature conductors
also gets reversed when the current reversal occurs. And therefore, we get unidirectional
current at the terminals.

Types Of A DC Generator:
DC generators can be classified in two main categories, viz; (i) Separately excited and (ii)
Self-excited.
(i) Separately excited: In this type, field coils are energized from an independent external
DC source.
(ii) Selfexcited: In this type, field coils are energized from the current produced by the
generator itself. Initial emf generation is due to residual magnetism in field poles. The
generated emf causes a part of current to flow in the field coils, thus strengthening the field
flux and thereby increasing emf generation. Self excited dc generators can further be divided
into three types -
(a) Series wound - field winding in series with armature winding
(b) Shunt wound - field winding in parallel with armature winding
 (c) Compound wound - combination of series and shunt winding

You can learn more about types of a DC generator/machine here.

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M OR E PO ST S AB O U T DC M AC H IN ES
 Parallel operation of shunt
generators
 EMF equation and Torque
equation of a DC machine
 What is an electrical machine?
 Permanent magnet DC (PMDC)
motors
 Armature winding of a DC
machine

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54 Comments:

1.
Prince BoatengNOV 21, 2013, 4:10:00 PM
I think your post is perfect and has given
me a clear picture of what i was thaught
Reply

1.
My Electrical 2015SEP 15, 2017, 9:59:00 PM
nice article
2.
AnonymousNOV 27, 2013, 2:03:00 AM
thanks buddy...
Reply
3.
K4111985FEB 23, 2014, 4:59:00 PM
nice post
Reply
4.
bipulAPR 20, 2014, 8:40:00 AM
It's Really helpful..................strong
arrangement in short placement
Reply
5.
AnonymousAPR 26, 2014, 2:23:00 AM
Very nice and straightforward.
Reply
6.
AnonymousJUN 25, 2014, 9:39:00 AM
perfect
Reply

7.
Kiran DawareJUN 25, 2014, 9:55:00 AM
It feels really good when someone
appreciates your work. It motivates you
to work more and better. Just like you all
guys motivating me.

I had started this blog with an intention

of helping electrical engineering
students to understand the basics in
electrical in easy words. It seems, seeing
your comments, that I am doing it good.

Thanks a lot for appreciation! :)

Never hesitate to contact me with any
query, suggestion, request, feedback or
even just to say 'Hi'.
Reply
1.
AnonymousAUG 3, 2014, 12:28:00 PM
hello sir,, may i know when did you write
this article? i just need it for my citation...
thank you

8.
Kiran DawareAUG 3, 2014, 2:53:00 PM
This article was written in December of
2012.
Actually, I'm an engineering student and
that is why I can not find too much time
 to look after this site. And also, it takes at
least 4 or 5 days to study briefly on a
topic from various references, so that I
can deliver it to you in an effective way.
That is the reason why very few articles
are available for now.

The growth of this site may be slow, but

it is definite. Thanks to all you readers
and supporters. :)
Reply

9.
JassiAUG 8, 2014, 6:47:00 AM
sir kindly explain is generator is a
transducer?
Reply

10.
Kiran DawareAUG 8, 2014, 10:12:00 AM
Generator may be used as a transducer
sometimes. Eg. in a tachometer, a small
generator is used which generates an
equivalent voltage to the speed being
measured.
Reply

11.
Asfaq BakroliwalaAUG 17, 2014, 4:20:00 PM
Which machine has higher back emf?dc
motor or generator and reason behind
it???
Reply

1.
Kiran DawareSEP 14, 2014, 11:08:00 AM
Back emf is due to rotor conductors
cutting stator flux in DC motors, which
opposes the rotor current. But, in case of
DC generators the emf generated due to
rotor conductors cutting stator flux is
termed as 'generated emf'.
12.
AnonymousOCT 16, 2014, 7:38:00 PM
Helped out with my assignment so much,
thanks for the info :)
Reply
13.
AnonymousOCT 30, 2014, 6:28:00 PM
 pls explain how the generated ac voltage
convrted into dc current in dc machine
Reply

1.
Kiran DawareOCT 31, 2014, 7:03:00 PM
The generated AC current is converted
into DC current with the help of
commutator in a DC generator.

I have updated the article with an

illustrative image which tells how the
direction of output current of a DC
generator remains same.

14.
Hazhar ZanaganaNOV 4, 2014, 1:31:00 AM
thank you . i have the interview tomorrow
...
Reply
15.
AnonymousNOV 10, 2014, 2:53:00 PM
nice post,it is very helpful 4 me
Reply
16.
AnonymousNOV 14, 2014, 10:10:00 AM
Hi
I have a doubt ,it may look silly .
If the generated output is AC then why
should we convert it to DC using
commutator ? We can use as it is right ?
Reply
1.
AnonymousNOV 24, 2014, 6:49:00 AM
dc is easy to store but not for ac.All your
charging device needs dc as storage
power so its a need to convert it to dc.
But dc cannot be transmitted easily as
compared to ac

17.
Kiran DawareNOV 14, 2014, 11:57:00 AM
If it is desired to generate DC electrical
power, DC generator is used (which is
having split ring type commutator).

If you replace the split ring type

commutator of a DC genrator with slip
rings then it will be called AC generator.
 Read it at
http://www.electricaleasy.com/2014/02/
AC-generator-alternator-construction-
working.html

It may clear your doubt.

Reply
18.
AnonymousNOV 18, 2014, 8:55:00 AM
Is commutator acting as a rectifier...??
Reply
1.
siddhant jawaleOCT 2, 2015, 10:35:00 PM
yes commutator converted a.c to dc
voltage like as rectifier...

19.
Kiran DawareNOV 18, 2014, 10:26:00 AM
In a sense... Yes!
Commutator is the part because of which
output like a full wave rectifier is
obtained.
Reply

20.
Muhammad HamzaJAN 7, 2015, 7:23:00 PM
really helpfull .. great work (Y)
Reply
21.
Kuber SodariJAN 23, 2015, 8:38:00 AM
As I was looking for, just in the right site.
Thankx, it helped me understand just the
way i was taught..
Reply

22.
KavyaJAN 28, 2015, 7:27:00 AM
sir please explain commutation in d.c
generator?
Reply
23.
nayaJUL 3, 2015, 4:55:00 PM
how biasing is done in a BJT
Reply
24.
zoya khanJUL 8, 2015, 8:18:00 PM
sir please explain the NPN transistor and
its characteristics
Reply
 1.
Nice To ReadOCT 10, 2015, 8:13:00 AM
ysi need

25.
HarxJUL 31, 2015, 4:38:00 PM
armature core : it says wave
wingings(spelling mistake )
hahahahahah
Reply

1.
Kiran DawareAUG 4, 2015, 10:54:00 AM
LoL.... thank you for notifying
it...Corrected now!

26.
MilanAUG 13, 2015, 9:10:00 AM
Thanks buddy
Reply

27.
UnknownOCT 2, 2015, 11:09:00 PM
Please help me with
comparisonconparisonal features of ac
and DC motor and generator
Reply
28.
AnonymousOCT 8, 2015, 8:22:00 PM
thankyou sir, helped a lot fam
Reply

29.
Nice To ReadOCT 10, 2015, 8:12:00 AM
nice to read
Reply

1.
Jash LiwanagOCT 15, 2015, 7:33:00 PM
I couldnt read it dam it

30.
Kieran KnightOCT 15, 2015, 7:29:00 PM
cheers big fella
Reply

31.
Jash LiwanagOCT 15, 2015, 7:33:00 PM
 Gracias Señor - Asian boi
Reply

1.
UnknownSEP 5, 2017, 5:04:00 AM
hi

32.
Chris HartneyOCT 22, 2015, 8:29:00 PM
safe g
Reply

33.
Samar MahmadOCT 26, 2015, 5:51:00 AM
thanks a lot....it's very helpful article
Reply

34.
Mahmoud MonemNOV 10, 2015, 10:00:00 AM
prince (y)
Reply

35.
Adam AlNOV 20, 2015, 11:46:00 PM
Awesome explanation better than the
professors thanks alot
Reply

36.
Adarsh KumarJUL 26, 2017, 7:51:00 PM
Nice article
Reply

37.
Adarsh KumarJUL 26, 2017, 7:52:00 PM
And so please explain the dc generator
Reply

38.
Mahfooz KhanAUG 18, 2017, 8:27:00 PM
Thank you sir,
I found what I was looking for..
Regards
Reply
39.
MukhtarSEP 10, 2017, 5:36:00 PM
I love your post but I am a bit confused
where the armature core is meant to fit in
cos there is no labelled shaft on either
diagrams
 Reply

40.
My Electrical 2015SEP 24, 2017, 6:53:00 AM
nice article
Reply

41.
Atul WadhaiOCT 3, 2017, 12:36:00 PM
Very nice description regarding DC
Generator . I got clear idea regarding this
topic
Reply

42.
Top Electrical EngineersOCT 28, 2017, 6:01:00 PM
very good ... http://www.top-
ee.com/working-principle-of-dc-
generator/
Reply

43.
Ankur TripathiOCT 29, 2017, 10:41:00 PM
U did fan work thankyou for your short
and sober article,keep it up
Reply

44.
UnknownFEB 26, 2018, 8:03:00 AM
This article is very easily understood.
Thanks so much.😊
Reply

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