“Energy can be converted from one form to other form” – A generator does the same – it converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Mechanical energy can be created by using water turbines, steam turbines, internal combustion engines etc. And a generator converts this mechanical energy to electrical energy.  Generators can be broadly classified as AC generators and DC generators. Here lets take a look the types of DC generators.

DC generators are classified based on their method of excitation. So on this basis there are two types of DC generators:-

1. Separately excited DC generator

2. Self-excited DC generator

Self-excited DC generator can again be classified as 1) DC Series generator  2) DC Shunt generator and 3) DC Compound generator.

Let’s take a brief look at how all these differ.

1. Separately excited DC generator

As you can guess from the name itself , this dc generator has a field magnet winding which is excited using a separate voltage source (like battery). You can see the representation in the below image. The output voltage depends on the speed of rotation of armature and field current. The higher the speed of rotation and current  – the higher the output e.m.ftypes of dc generators

Note: Separately excited DC generators are rarely used in practice.

2. Self Excited DC Generator

These are generators in which the field winding is excited by the output of the generator itself. As described before – there are three types of self-excited dc generators – they are 1) Series 2) Shunt and 3) Compound.

a. Series DC Generator

A series DC generator is shown below in fig (a) – in which the armature winding is connected in series with the field winding so that the field current flows through the load as well as the field winding.The field winding is a low resistance, thick wire of few turns. Series generators are also rarely used!

b. Shunt DC Generator

A shunt DC generator is shown in figure (b), in which the field winding is wired parallel to armature winding so that the voltage across both are same. The field winding has high resistance and more number of turns so that only a part of armature current passes through field winding and the rest passes through load.

DC generator types

c. Compound Generator

A compound generator is shown in figure below. It has two field findings namely Rsh and Rse. They are basically shunt winding (Rsh) and series winding (Rse). Compound generator is of two types – 1) Short shunt and 2) Long shunt

a) Short shunt:- Here the shunt field winding is wired parallel to armature and series field winding is connected in series to the load. It is shown in fig (1).

b) Long shunt:- Here the shunt field winding is parallel to both armature and series field winding (Rse is wired in series to the armature). It is shown in figure (2)

So you have got a basic idea about the types of DC generators! Now you may know that these generators are used only for special industrial purposes where there is huge demand for DC production. Otherwise, electrical energy is produced by AC generators and is transmitted from one place to other as AC itself. When a DC power is required, we usually convert AC to DC using rectifiers.

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20 Comments

  1. runesu mudonhi

    How do i determine the polarity of a Sator for 260 kva Genessis generator excitation stator?

  2. Pls. I am a student of technical school,but over there we’ve been learning only the theorical.i need a practical manual books to guide me do connections and wirings.pls help

  3. Adigwe ugochukwu

    Please can u explain more about the concept of commutator 2 me

    • P.Maheswaran

      Commutator is also mechanical rectifier it is used to ac signal into dc signal convert.

  4. Syndjinn Scott

    Is it possible to remove the comutators to allow the generator to create AC? My understanding is that the commutators force the generator to create DC by restricting the current flow.Is it possible build a shunt-style that makes AC and feed it with solar-generated DC? I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter. Please contact by email.

  5. haris lateef chaudhary

    i need deeep concept of dc please send me data about dc machines and geneartor.

  6. Pls. I am a student of technical school,but over there we’ve been learning only the theorical.i need a practical manual books to guide me do connections and wirings.pls help?

  7. B malkaiah

    I am very Happy we have received more knoldge thanking

  8. Ahmed Nawaz

    i like it very much sir but if the laod voltage and voltage across feeder are given then terminal voltage v is equal to sum of v=voltage across feeder+voltage across load. CONTACT 03335071827