Electrical Power Systems Technology

Alternating Current Power Systems 143

Generating AC Voltage

Figure 6-3 shows a magnetic field developed by a set of permanent

magnets. Conductors that can be rotated are placed within the magnetic

field, and they are connected to a load device by means of a slip ring/brush

assembly. Figure 6-3 simulates a single-phase alternator.

In position A (Figure 6-3A), the conductors are positioned so that the

minimum amount of magnetic lines of force is “cut” by the conductors as

Figure 6-3. Basic principle of a single-phase alternator: (A) Position A, (B)

Position B, (C) Position C, (D) Position D, (E) Position E, (F) Resulting output

waveform