PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS

Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity

MODULE 3
Sub Module 3.4

GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity

CONTENTS
GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY -------------------------------------------------- 1
LIGHT – PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS ------------------------------------------------- 1
HEAT (THERMOCOUPLE) --------------------------------------------------------- 1
FRICTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
PRESSURE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
CHEMICAL ACTION (CELL) -------------------------------------------------------- 4
ELECTROMAGNETISM------------------------------------------------------------- 4

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GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY
Very large amounts of electrical energy lie dormant in the atoms
of every speck of material in the universe. Whilst the atoms
remain electrically balanced however, this electricity cannot be
put to any practical use. What is needed is some form of
external energy that will separate the electrons from their nuclei.
In this way, the external energy that is applied will give rise to
electrical energy.
Electricity can be generated in six basic ways. These are:
 Light
 Heat
 Friction
 Pressure
 Chemical Action
 Magnetism and motion
LIGHT – PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
A solar cell or a photovoltaic cell is a device that converts light
energy into electricity. Fundamentally, the device contains
certain chemical elements that when exposed to light energy,
they release electrons.
Photons in sunlight are taken in by the solar panel or cell, where
they are then absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as
silicon. Electrons in the cell are broken loose from their atoms,
allowing them to flow through the material to produce electricity.
The complementary positive charges that are also created are
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Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity
called holes (absence of electron) and flow in the direction
opposite of the electrons in a silicon solar panel.
Solar cells have many applications and have historically been
used in earth orbiting satellites or space probes, handheld
calculators, and wrist watches. These can also be used for
automatic adjustments of CRT screens to compensate for
ambient light levels and are used to power battery chargers
when connected as solar panels.
HEAT (THERMOCOUPLE)
When two different metals are brought into contact with one
another, it is found that electrons can leave one of the metals
more easily than they can leave the other metal. This is
because of the difference in what is known as the work function
of the two metals. Since electrons leave one metal and are
gained by the other, a potential difference exists between the
two metals; which is known as the contact potential or contact
emf.
Thermocouple has two ends, hat are;
Hot end: Measuring end
Cold end: Indicating end
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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity
FRICTION

Static electricity is the separation and build-up of charge is an

everyday phenomenon that is often caused by friction – the
physical stripping of electrons from one body and depositing on
another. Early examples in science were the rubbing of a glass
rod (which loses electrons and gains a positive charge) with a
silk stocking (gains electrons, receives negative charge) and the
rubbing of an ebonite rod (receives negative charge) with cat’s
fur (becomes positively charged). Everyday examples are:

 Combing the hair (dry). the comb attracts the individual

hairs and the hairs repel each other and stand on end. Although not used to produce electricity for any aircraft systems,
static electricity is generated by friction as the aircraft moves
through the air.

Figure 3.4.2

Fig 3.4.7

 Removing a shirt (especially nylon). The shirt crackles

and sparks may be seen, the shirt is also attracted to the
body.

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity
PRESSURE

This form of electrical generation is commonly known as

piezoelectric (piezo or piez taken from Greek: to press;
pressure; to squeeze) is a result of the application of
mechanical pressure on a dielectric or non-conducting crystal.
The most common piezoelectric materials used today are
crystalline quartz and Rochelle salt. However, Rochelle salt is
being superseded by other materials, such as barium titanate. Figure 3.4.8
The application of a mechanical stress produces an electric
polarization, which is proportional to this stress. This
polarization establishes a voltage across the crystal. This effect
is commonly referred to as the piezoelectric effect.

Piezoelectric materials are used extensively in transducers for

converting a mechanical strain into an electrical signal. Such
devices include microphones, phonograph pickups and
vibration-sensing elements.
The opposite effect, in which a mechanical output is derived
from an electrical signal input, is also widely used in
headphones and loudspeakers.

The Quartz Crystal

Quartz crystals have been in regular use for many years to give
an accurate frequency for all radio transmitters, radio receivers
and computers. It is unaffected by most solvents and remains
Figure 3.4.9
crystalline to hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit. The property that
makes it an electronic miracle is the Piezoelectric effect.
.

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity
CHEMICAL ACTION (CELL) Magnetism And Motion

Magnetism is defined as the property of a material to attract

Cell and Batteries are the devices in which Chemical energy is
converted into electrical energy. It is the particular kind of
chemical action that takes place in ‘electric cells’ and ‘batteries’
which is put to practical use in the production of electricity.
Principles
A Cell is a basic or elementary portable device whereas two or
more group of interconnected cells is known as a battery. Cells
operate on a principle of the exchange of charges between
dissimilar metals.
certain metallic substances. In general, these substances are
ferrous materials; that is, materials composed of iron or iron
alloys, such as soft iron, steel, and alnico. These materials,
sometimes called magnetic materials, include at least three
nonferrous materials: nickel, cobalt, and gadolinium, which are
magnetic to a limited degree. All other substances are
considered nonmagnetic, and a few of these nonmagnetic
substances can be classified as diamagnetic since they are
repelled by both poles of a magnet.
The field of a magnet is made up of many individual forces that
appear as lines in the figure. Although they are not “lines” in the
ordinary sense, this word is used to describe the individual
nature of the separate forces making up the entire magnetic
field. These lines of force are also referred to as magnetic flux.
The magnetic field of a magnet is concentrated at the ends of
the magnet. These areas of concentrated flux are called the
north and south poles of the magnet.

Figure 3.4.10

Figure 3.4.11

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity
ELECTROMAGNETISM Electromagnetic Induction

The electrons moving through the wire created the magnetic
field around the conductor. Since magnetic field accompanies a
charged particle, the greater the current flow, and the greater
the magnetic field. Figure illustrates the magnetic field around a
current carrying wire. A series of concentric circles around the
conductor represent the field, which if all the lines were shown
would appear more as a continuous cylinder of such circles
around the conductor.
Electromagnetic induction is the process of producing a voltage
(EMF) by moving a magnetic field in relationship to a conductor.
As shown in Figure 3.4.13, when a conductor (wire) is moved
through a magnetic field, an EMF is produced in the conductor.
If a complete circuit is connected to the conductor, the voltage
also produces a current flow.

Figure 3.4.12

Figure 3.4.13

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 PIA Training Centre (PTC) Module 3 – ELECTRICAL FUNDAMENTALS
Category – B Sub Module 3.4 – Generation of Electricity

Figure 3.4.14

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