The energy can then be transferred to a generator where electricity is produced. Inverter generators serve a number of applications for our portable power customers including, RV power, camping, entertainment sound sets, sporting event vendors, healthcare and elderly care backup operations, mobile restaurants, mobile service providers, sensitive construction environments, and … The main job of the rotor is to absorb the mechanical energy outside the generator, and use it to create rotational motion. The following are the factors that you need to keep in mind while assessing the alternator of a generator: (a) Metal versus Plastic Housing – An all-metal design ensures durability of the alternator. A Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) captures exhaust heat from the gas turbine that would otherwise escape through the exhaust stack. The rotor generates a moving magnetic field around the stator, which induces a voltage difference between the windings of the stator. In the case of small generator units, the fuel tank is a part of the generator’s skid base or is mounted on top of the generator frame. Continuous usage of the generator causes its various components to get heated up. (a) Pipe connection from fuel tank to engine – The supply line directs fuel from the tank to the engine and the return line directs fuel from the engine to the tank. • Durability Control Panel Different manufacturers have varied features to offer in the control panels of their units. The disturbance of the downstream wind current is why regular turbines need to be installed far from each other. All generators use this basic principle. The method of retrieving the electrical energy depends on how it will be used. • User-friendly in operations The mechanism is described below against each component that plays a part in the cyclical process of voltage regulation. Located in Brighton, Colorado. They are also fully automatic and do not require any adjustments to be made or any settings to be changed. 2.1K views View 3 Upvoters The inverter circuit of this generator can convert any amount of DC power be it 20 volts or 100 volts to 120-volt 60Hz AC power. Two of the most common applications of Gas Turbines in modern industries are Turbo Generators and Turbo Compressors. (iii) By using an exciter – An exciter is a small source of direct current (DC) that energizes the rotor through an assembly of conducting slip rings and brushes. OHV engines have several advantages over other engines such as: • Compact design This cycle continues till the generator begins to produce output voltage equivalent to its full operating capacity. 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. Let’s take a step-by-step look out how a generator works using the diagram above: (1) Point 1, from the figure above, is a spinning rotor that is attached to the turbine shaft. There are less common varieties with two blades, or with concrete or steel lattice towers. (c) Generator gauges – The control panel also has meters for the measurement of output current and voltage, and operating frequency. The exciter windings are connected to units known as rotating rectifiers. Common sources used to supply a generator with mechanical energy are: The fuels used to supply these forces are: The generator pictured above is a small and cylindrical turbine generator with an outer casing made of steel. (4)  On either side of the armature, on the casing of the generator, we have two polar field magnets that create a magnetic field inside the space within the generator. AC current is generated by an electrical AC generator operating on the electromagnetic induction (EMI) principle. If the float voltage is very high, it will shorten the life of the battery. This prompts the voltage regulator into action and the above cycle begins. The fast-spinning turbine drives a generator that converts a portion of the spinning energy into electricity. IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY! The fuel tank usually has sufficient capacity to keep the generator operational for 6 to 8 hours on an average. The exhaust pipe terminates outdoors and leads away from doors, windows and other openings to the house or building. It contains a set of electrical conductors wound in coils over an iron core. The components work together to cause relative movement between the magnetic and electric fields, which in turn generates electricity. The energy from the exhaust gas turns the turbine wheel, and the gas then exits the turbine housing through an exhaust outlet area (4). The generator’s engine is lubricated by oil stored in a pump. This point can not be emphasized enough as carbon monoxide poisoning remains one of the most common causes for death in post hurricane affected areas because people tend to not even think about it until it’s too late. In a turbine generator, a moving fluid—water, steam, combustion gases, or air—pushes a series of blades mounted on a rotor shaft. This law states that a wire conductor that creates movement through a magnetic field creates an electric current, and that the strength of the current is equal to the rate of change through the magnetic field. Exhaust pipes are usually attached to the engine using flexible connectors to minimize vibrations and prevent damage to the generator’s exhaust system. Only the primary energy source and prime mover is different. Turbine is a rotary mechanical device which extracts energy from fluid flow converts it into useful work. Power Generation Modules. The steart function of a generator is battery-operated. A wind turbine turns wind energy into electricity using the aerodynamic force from the rotor blades, which work like an airplane wing or helicopter rotor blade. Plastic housings get deformed with time and cause the moving parts of the alternator to be exposed. Click the following link for further details regarding fuel tanks for generators. By providing your email you consent to receiving occasional promotional emails & newsletters. Constant measurement and monitoring of these parameters enables built-in shut down of the generator when any of these cross their respective threshold levels. The force of the fluid on the blades spins/rotates the rotor shaft of a generator. This process makes use of a natural resource (water) and does not involve the combustion of any fossil fuels. This rotational energy caused by the high pressured steam turbine is used to generate electricity from an attached generator. (f) Fuel Injector – This atomizes the liquid fuel and sprays the required amount of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine. Get more expert information and stay on top of green energy news. (c) Overflow connection from fuel tank to the drain pipe – This is required so that any overflow during refilling of the tank does not cause spillage of the liquid on the generator set.