INTRODUCTION TO BASIC MACHINES

PART A

TRANSFORMER: A transformer is a static device

that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to
another through inductively coupled conductors—the
transformer's coils. A varying current in the first
or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in
the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic
field through the secondary winding. This varying
magnetic field induces a varying electromotive force
or "voltage" in the secondary winding. This effect is
called mutual induction.
If a load is connected to the secondary, an electric
current will flow in the secondary winding and
electrical energy will be transferred from the primary
circuit through the transformer to the load. In an ideal
transformer, the induced voltage in the secondary
winding (Vs) is in proportion to the primary voltage
(Vp), and is given by the ratio of the number of turns in
the secondary (Ns) to the number of turns in the

primary (Np)

DC GENERATOR: In electricity generation, an

electric generator is a device that converts
mechanical energy to electrical energy. The reverse
conversion of electrical energy into mechanical
energy is done by a motor; motors and generators
have many similarities. A generator
forces electrons in the windings to flow through the
external electrical circuit.

The two main parts of a generator or motor can be

described in either mechanical or electrical terms:
Mechanical:
 Rotor: The rotating part.
 Stator: The stationary part of an electrical
machine
Electrical:
 Armature: The power-producing component of an
electrical machine. In a generator, alternator, or
dynamo the armature windings generate the
electric current. The armature can be on either the
rotor or the stator.
 Field: The magnetic field component of an

electrical machine. The magnetic field of the

dynamo or alternator can be provided by either
electromagnets or permanent magnets mounted on
either the rotor or the stator.
Because power transferred into the field circuit is
much less than in the armature circuit, AC generators
nearly always have the field winding on the rotor and
the stator as the armature winding. Only a small
amount of field current must be transferred to the
moving rotor, using slip rings. Direct current machines
(dynamos) require a comutator on the rotating shaft to
convert the alternating current produced by the
armature to direct current, so the armature winding is
on the rotor of the machine.
DC motor: A DC motor is an electric motor that runs on
direct current (DC) electricity.
The brushed dc motor generates torque directly
from DC power supplied to the motor by using internal
commutation, stationary permanent magnets, and
rotating electrical magnets. Like all electric motors or
generators, torque is produced by the principle
of lorentz force, which states that any current-carrying
conductor placed within an external magnetic field
experiences a torque or force known as Lorentz force.
Advantages of a brushed DC motor include low initial
cost, high reliability, and simple control of motor
speed. Disadvantages are high maintenance and low
life-span for high intensity uses. Maintenance involves
regularly replacing the brushes and springs which
carry the electric current, as well as cleaning or
replacing the commutator. These components are
necessary for transferring electrical power from
outside the motor to the spinning wire windings of the
rotor inside the motor.
Brushless DC motors use a rotating permanent
magnet in the rotor, and stationary electrical magnets
on the motor housing. A motor controller converts DC
to AC. This design is simpler than that of brushed
motors because it eliminates the complication of
transferring power from outside the motor to the
spinning rotor. Advantages of brushless motors
include long life span, little or no maintenance, and
high efficiency. Disadvantages include high initial
cost, and more complicated motor speed control.
Synchronous DC motors, such as the brushless dc
motor and the stepper motor, require external
commutation to generate torque. They lock up if
driven directly by DC power. However, BLDC motors
are more similar to a synchronous ac motor.