What is Alternator:

An alternator is such a machine which produces alternation electricity. It is a

kind of generators which converts mechanical energy into alternating
electrical energy. It is also known as synchronous generator.
Working principle of Alternator:
working principle of alternator is same as the working principle of Dc
generator. It works on the principle of faraday law of Electromagnetic
induction,which says the current is induced in the conductor inside a
magnetic field when there is a relative motion between that conductor and
the magnetic field.
Types of Alternator:
Alternators or synchronous generators can be classified in may ways
depending upon their application and design.
According to application these machines are classified as

Automotive type - used in modern automobile.

Diesel electric locomotive type - used in diesel electric multiple
unit.
Marine type - used in marine.

Brush less type - used in electrical power generation plant as main

source of power.

Radio alternators - used for low brand radio frequency

transmission.

These ac generators can be divided in many ways but we will discuss now
two main types of alternator categorized according to their design. These
are1.

Salient pole type It is used as low and medium speed alternator. It

has a large number of projecting poles having their cores bolted or

dovetailed onto a heavy magnetic wheel of cast iron or steel of good

magnetic quality. Such generators are characterized by their large
diameters and short axial lengths. These generator are look like big
wheel. These are mainly used for low speed turbine such as in hydral
power plant. The salient features of pole field structure has the
following special features.
2.

They have a large horizontal diameter compared to a shorter axial

length.

3.

The pole shoes covers only about 2/3rd of pole pitch.

4.

Poles are laminated to reduce eddy current loss.

5.

The salient pole type motor is generally used for low speed
operations of around 100 to 400 rpm, and they are used in power
stations with hydraulic turbines or diesel engines.

6. Smooth cylindrical type

It is used for steam turbine driven alternator. The rotor of this generator
rotates in very high speed. The rotor consists of a smooth solid forged steel
cylinder having a number of slots milled out at intervals along the outer
periphery for accommodation of field coils. These rotors are designed
mostly for 2 pole or 4 pole turbo generator running at 36000 rpm or 1800
rpm respectively.

Automotive type alternator

An automotive alternator is a three-phase generator with a built-in rectifier

circuit consisting of six diodes. As the sheave is rotated by a belt connected
to the automobile engine's crankshaft, a magnet is spun past a stationary set
of three-phase windings (called the stator), usually connected in a Y
configuration. The spinning magnet is actually an electromagnet, not a
permanent magnet. Alternators are designed this way so that the magnetic
field strength can be controlled, in order that output voltage may be
controlled independently of rotor speed. This rotor magnet coil (called the
field coil, or simply field) is energized by battery power, so that it takes a

small amount of electrical power input to the alternator to get it to generate a

lot of output power.