Induction Generator

The value of the induction generator to the production of electrical and mechanical power for businesses ranging from farms to high-tech industry cannot be overestimated. The size, function, power, and versatility of the induction generator range from tiny versions that light a camping lantern to systems used to light cities and regions. By using electromagnetic induction, this machine converts mechanical energy into electrical energy to provide the flip-of-a-switch convenience we depend on.

The Dynamo: DC Induction Generator

Because of the ability of magnetism to induce electrical charges and vice versa, the simplest induction generator consists of a coil of wire moving back and forth between the north and south poles of a magnet. Direct current (DC) used in a constructed generator flows in only one direction and therefore provides a constant current. The speed of direct current motors is easily controlled, so these are used in machines where speed control is important. Dynamo is the common term for a DC generator; usually, the generators used in automobiles are dynamos.

AC Generators

An alternating current(AC) generator is called an alternator. Here, the coil passes through the magnetic field in one direction and then in the other direction, so that the induced current moves in the same manner. Because of the nature of alternating current, AC motors need a transmission to change speed.

Although it may seem unlikely, AC induction motors are simpler and cheaper than DC motors. Most home appliances run on either DC or AC. Large alternating current generators driven by steam turbines provide most of the electricity used by the population, and by industry, for example, in induction heating and induction equipment.