Today motors and generators have become a general electrical tool employed in roughly every electrical appliance. They both are electric tools that transform one form of energy to another and have developed through many alterations. Though their hardware necessities are related, motors and generators diverge in their operational conduct.
What is a motor?
A motor is an electrical machine that changes electrical energy into mechanical energy. Electric motors get power from direct currents (DC) sources, like batteries, motor vehicles, rectifiers or through alternating current (AC) sources, like a power grid, inverters or electrical generators.
The motor constituents and working principles are:
- Stator
- Rotor
- Shaft
- Commutator
- Brushes
When the power is turned on, the brushes provide current to the commutators. These commutators are connected to the rotating coils, one to every end. Current flows from commutators into the coil, situated between the permanent magnets’ poles, stator. When current flows in the coil, the magnetic field is stimulated around the coil.
This magnetic field gets in contact with the magnetic field of the permanent magnets. Because of the feature of magnetism, poles deter each other and unlike poles magnetizing, the coil begins to rotate. When the rotor spins, the shaft affixed to it also rotates, thus switching the applied electrical energy into mechanical energy.
What is a generator?
A generator functions with an inverted power flow, switching mechanical energy into electrical energy. The hardware necessities of the generator are the same, but the working principle fluctuates. Here, the rotor spins when the mechanical energy has pertained to the shaft. This movement of the rotor between the permanent magnets begins producing electricity within the rotor’s coils. The brushes accumulate this electricity.
The difference between motor and generator
There is an account of the difference between motor and generator by deeming numerous factors. The following aspects show the main differences between these two in the table below.
Factors | Motor | Generator |
---|---|---|
Purpose | The purpose of the motor is to transfer Electrical energy into Mechanical Energy | The purpose of the motor is to transfer Mechanical energy to Electrical energy |
Operational Principle | The operational principle of a motor depends on the current-carrying conductor that undergoes a force when it is placed in the magnetic field | The operational principle of the generator depends on electromagnetic induction |
Rule | The motor is governed by Fleming’s left-hand rule | The generator is governed by Fleming’s right-hand rule |
Driving power for shaft | The shaft of an electric motor is run by a magnetic force which is extended between the armature and field | The shaft of an electric generator is linked to the rotor that is run by a mechanical force |
Electricity | The motor employs electricity | The generator produces electricity |
Current Usage | In a motor, the current is provided to the armature winding | In a generator, the current is generated in the armature winding |
Basis of energy | The basis of energy in a motor is power grids, electrical supply | The basis of energy in a generator is steam turbines, internal combustion engines, water turbines |
EMF | The electric motor provides outback emf to the circuit | The generator provides emf to the load connected. |
Application | A motor is employed in automobiles, elevators, pumps, fans, etc | A generator is employed in power supply chains in productions, testing functions in the laboratory, common lighting, powering of batteries, etc |
Example | A few examples of a motor could be ceiling fans, bikes, cars, etc | In power stations, a generator is employed to produce electricity |
Conclusion
Fleming’s left-hand rule can be utilized to determine the direction in which the force is inclined in a motor. Likewise, Fleming’s right-hand rule can be utilized in an electric generator to establish the direction in which the current is stimulated. The strong magnetic force runs the shaft attached to the electric motor between the field and the armature.
In electric bikes and electric cars, electric motors are brilliant examples. Nevertheless, the energy generated in the form of electrical energy, more frequently known as electricity, at power plants illustrates an electric generator. Subsequently, the power stations are responsible for supplying and allocating energy to the homes.