DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

T-EEET310LA – DC and AC Machinery Lab

Experiment No. _1_

Familiarization of a Direct Current Generator

Submitted by:

Jay L. Ta-ay

MEE31

Submitted to:

Engr. Jerny D. Catibayan

Instructor

04 October 2020
I. Objectives

To be familiar with general parts of a direct current generator

II. Discussion

Background Information:

In the field of practice, especially in Electrical Engineering, familiarization of rotating electrical

machineries is very much of an essence; primarily because these types of machines play a significant role
in the growing industry. The most common types of such machines are generators and motors.
Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy while motors do vice versa.

There are two kinds of generators according to the types of voltage they deliver to the load. If a
generator delivers direct current (DC) voltage to the load, then the generator is classified as a Direct
Current generator, while if it delivers an alternating current (AC) voltage, it is then referred as an
Alternating Current generator or Alternator. Both DC and AC generators generate AC voltage, but in the
case of a DC generator, the voltage is rectified before it is delivered to the load by means of the
commutator.

There are two main parts of a DC generator, they are the armature and the stator. The armature
is the rotating part of the generator and it is where the conductors are embedded, while the stator is the
stationary part and contains the field windings necessary to create magnetic flux to generate voltage.

III. Circuit diagram/drawing

IV. Procedure

1. DRAW a DC generator in the space provided. Label each part.

2. After each drawing, discuss the functions of each part in relation to generators function.

V. Data and Results

Parts of a DC Generaotr:

1. Housing - It functions to support all other components and to complete the magnetic path between
the field poles.
2. Commutator - is a rotary electrical switch in certain types of electric motors and electrical
generators that periodically reverses the current direction between the rotor and the external
circuit.
3. Brushes - They write on commutator and carry the generated EMF to the load. They are made of
carbon and are housed in the brush holders. A flexible braided conductor, called a pigtail, connects
each brush to the external circuit.
4. Armature - is the component of an electric machine which carries alternating current. The
armature windings are connected to the commutator segments, whereby the generated EMF in
the armature windings are being taped out to the external circuit by means of brushes.
 5. Permanent Magnets - are materials where the magnetic field is generated by the internal structure
of the material itself.
6. End Housing - These are supports or the two ends of the main frame, which contains bearings for
the armature. The front housing will also support the brush assembly.
7. Bearing - purpose of a bearing in an electric motor is to support and locate the rotor, to keep the
air gap small and consistent and transfer the loads from the shaft to the motor.
The bearings should be able to operate at low and high speeds whilst minimizing frictional loses.
8. Shaft - The purpose of the shaft is to convert energy from the motor into the end use application

VI. Questions and Problem

1. Discuss how the generated AC voltage is rectified by the commutator. Use sketches to illustrate
your discussion.

All generators produce a sine wave, or AC currents when the rotor turns in the magnetic
field. The commutator on the DC generator converts the AC into pulsating DC. The commutator
assures that the current from the generator always flows in one direction. The brushes ride on
the commutator and make good electrical connections between the generator and the load.
On DC and most AC motors the purpose of the commutator is to insure that the current
flowing through the rotor windings is always in the same direction, and the proper coil on the
rotor is energized in respect to the field coils.
2. In relation to your answer in number 1, compare it with the manner in which an alternator (AC
generator) delivers AC voltage to the load. Use sketches to illustrate your discussion.

Alternators is an electrical generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy

in the form of alternating current by electromagnetic induction. When the alternator pulley is
rotated, alternating current (AC) passes through a magnetic field and an electrical current is
generated. The alternator is connected to the external circuit by slip rings, but the dc generator is
connected by a commutator.

3. Why is it necessary to place the conductors in revolving armature?

When the conductor slashes magnetic flux, an emf will be generated. The armature is the
rotating circuit and the one that carries the current, so it is very necessary to place a conductor in
the revolving armature. To simplify, conductor produces emf and the one who will carry it is the
armature.

4. What do neutral zones mean? Where in a generator is it located?

Neutral zones are those places on the surface of the armature where the flux density is
zero. When a generator operates at no load, the neutral zones are located exactly between the
poles. No voltage is induced in a coil that cuts through the neutral zone.