Alternator

How alternators work

http://www.familycar.com/Classroom/charging.htm

Video - What is a diode?

http://youtu.be/MVy_MG0X2h4

Volts, Amps, Ohms

The three most basic units in electricity are voltage (V), current (I) and resistance (r).

Definitions:

V = Voltage (Volts)

I = Current (Amps)

R = Resistance (Ohms)

P = Power (Watts)

Analogy:

Plumbing pipes.

voltage <-> water pressure
increase the pressure in the tank -> more water come out of the hose.
increase the voltage -> more current flow.

resistance <-> pipe size.
increase the diameter of the hose -> more water come out of the hose.
decrease the resistance in an electrical system -> which increases the current flow.

In either cases you increase the water flow rate or current flow

Electrical power is measured in watts.
P = VI
Take a hose and point it at a waterwheel like the ones that were used to turn grinding stones in watermills. You can increase the power generated by the waterwheel in two ways.

1) increase the pressure of the water coming out of the hose, it hits the waterwheel with a lot
more force and the wheel turns faster, generating more power.

2) If you increase the flow rate, the waterwheel turns faster because of the weight of the extra water hitting it.

Ohms Law

V=IR

I=V/R

R=V/I

Power

P=VI

Assuming DC

AC calculations introduce something called the "power factor"or Phase shift between Voltages and Currents.

source:
http://www.idc-online.com/technical_references/pdfs/electrical_engineering/Volts_Amps_and_Ohms.pdf

Losses in a D.C. Machine

The losses in a d.c. machine (generator or motor) may be divided into three classes viz (i) copper losses (ii) iron or core losses and (iii) mechanical losses. All these losses appear as heat and thus raise the temperature of the machine. They also lower the efficiency of the machine.

1. Copper losses
These losses occur due to currents in the various windings of the machine

Note. There is also brush contact loss due to brush contact resistance (i.e., resistance between the surface of brush and surface of commutator). This loss is generally included in armature copper loss.

2. Iron or Core losses
These losses occur in the armature of a d.c. machine and are due to the rotation of armature in the magnetic field of the poles. They are of two types viz., (i) hysteresis loss (ii) eddy current loss.

(i) Hysteresis loss

Hysteresis loss occurs in the armature of the d.c. machine since any given part of the armature is subjected to magnetic field reversals as it passes under successive poles. Fig. (1.36) shows an armature rotating in two-pole machine. Consider a small piece ab of the armature. When the piece ab is under N-pole, the magnetic lines pass from a to b. Half a revolution later, the same piece of iron is under S-pole and magnetic lines pass from b to a so that magnetism in the iron is reversed. In order to reverse continuously the molecular magnets in the armature core, some amount of power has to be spent which is called hysteresis loss. It is given by Steinmetz formula. This formula is

In order to reduce this loss in a d.c. machine, armature core is made of such materials which have a low value of Steinmetz hysteresis co-efficient e.g., silicon steel.
(ii) Eddy current loss
In addition to the voltages induced in the armature conductors, there are also voltages induced in the armature core. These voltages produce circulating currents in the armature core as shown in Fig. (1.37). These are called eddy currents and power loss due to their flow is called eddy current loss. The eddy current loss appears as heat which raises the temperature of the machine and lowers its efficiency.

core resistance can be greatly increased by constructing the core of thin, roundIf a continuous solid iron core is used, the resistance to eddy current path will be small due to large cross-sectional area of the core. Consequently, the magnitude of eddy current and hence eddy current loss will be large. The magnitude of eddy current can be reduced by making core resistance as high as practical. The iron sheets called laminations [See Fig. 1.38]. The laminations are insulated from each other with a coating of varnish. The insulating coating has a high resistance, so very little current flows from one lamination to the other. Also,
because each lamination is very thin, the resistance to current flowing through the width of a lamination is also quite large. Thus laminating a core increases the core resistance which decreases the eddy current and hence the eddy current loss.

It may be noted that eddy current loss depends upon the square of lamination thickness. For this reason, lamination thickness should be kept as small as possible.
3. Mechanical losses
These losses are due to friction and windage.
(i) friction loss e.g., bearing friction, brush friction etc.
(ii) windage loss i.e., air friction of rotating armature.
These losses depend upon the speed of the machine. But for a given speed, they are practically constant.
Note. Iron losses and mechanical losses together are called stray losses.

Constant and Variable Losses
The losses in a d.c. generator (or d.c. motor) may be sub-divided into

(i)constant losses (ii) variable losses.
(i) Constant losses
Those losses in a d.c. generator which remain constant at all loads are known as
constant losses. The constant losses in a d.c. generator are:
(a) iron losses
(b) mechanical losses
(c) shunt field losses
(ii) Variable losses
Those losses in a d.c. generator which vary with load are called variable losses.
The variable losses in a d.c. generator are:

Total losses = Constant losses + Variable losses
Note. Field Cu loss is constant for shunt and compound generators.

http://electricalandelectronics.org/2009/05/07/losses-in-a-dc-machine/