Difference Between Alternator & Generator

Hello, friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will discuss the Difference Between Alternator & Generator. The basic difference between an alternator and a generator is that in the alternator armature is in rest position and the field windings move while in the generator it is reverse field is static and the armature moves. In the alternator, the armature windings is wounded at the static component of the alternator that is stator and field winding is wound on the rotor.

But in case of a generator, it is reverse armature is at rotor and field winding is at the stator. The working operation of both alternator and generator is based on Faraday’s law. In generating ac and dc both currents can be generated mean generator can be either ac or dc but the alternator produces only ac current. The rotating part or rotor of a generator is positioned in the static part of the generator or static magnetic field that is generated by the magnetic poles. Due to the rotation of the rotor in the magnetic field, it links with a line of force of field, and current flows in it. Each half rotation the rotation direction of the rotor varies and it generates AC. To get AC the endpoint of circuitry is directly attached to the load. If dc has to get at output terminals then commutators are attached that transform ac into dc. In today’s post, we will have a detailed look at both alternators and generators and compare them to find their differences. So let’s get started with the Difference Between Alternator & Generator.

Difference Between Alternator & Generator

Alternator

• The electrical device that transforms mechanical power in the alternating current is called an alternator.
• It can generate only AC.

• In an alternator, a rotating magnetic field is generated.
• The output of an alternator is taken from the stator.
• There is rotary armature is used in some types of alternators
• The generator can become an alternator with some changes in the structure
• There is permanent magnet is used for field creation.
• Such an alternator that runs a steam turbine is known as a turbine alternate.
• Three-phase alternators use fifty Hetz frequencies for power generation.

Generator

• The device that generates ac or dc current through mechanical power is called a generator.
• There are different types of generators like ac generators, dc generators, induction generators synchronous generator
• This device can produce both ac and dc currents.
• It generated a static magnetic field.

• It uses the Faraday law of electromagnetic induction to generate power.
• Three-phase generators are used in a generation to deliver power to the system.
• Its main parts are winding, rotor, stator, and shaft
• Its output can be taken out from the rotor.
• Its armature is not static.
• Its revolution per minute is less than the alternator.
• It can charge the battery contrary to the alternator.
• Its generated output is less than the alternator.

Alternator vs Generator

Alternator

• The device that transforms mechanical energy into ac electrical energy is called an alternator.
• It does not come with any subtypes.
• The output current of the alternator is AC.
• It has high-efficiency
• The magnetic field is generated through rotors and it is rotating in a stator.
• It does not need polarization when connected.
• The armature in this device is static.
• Its size is less than the alternator
• It comes with a larger speed range.
• Its main work is to transform mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Generator

• It is used for the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical AC or DC energy.
• The generator has further types DC generator and AC generator
• The output current of the generator is either AC or DC
• It has low efficiency the alternator
• The magentic field is generated through the rotor for the synchronous generator and for the DC generator in stator
• The generator is polarized when installed
• Its armature is static or rotating based on generator types.
• It is a larger size device
• Its speed range is lower than the alternator
• It converts low mechanical energy into electrical and is less effective.

That is a detailed post about the difference between an alternator and a generator if you have any further query ask in comments. Thanks for reading. Have a good day. See you in the next interesting tutorial.