Determining Generator Voltage
Alternative power generators produce electricity from renewable energy sources. The term "alternative power" presupposes that traditional energy sources such as coal, gas, and other fossil fuels are undesirable. Alternative energy is typically defined as power produced without the undesirable effects of burning fossil fuels. These effects include high carbon dioxide emissions, difficulties inherent in processing fossil fuels, and ultimately depletion of the fuel itself. Depending upon the type, all alternative power generators convert a renewable energy source, such as wind, moving water, biomass, or sunlight into mechanical energy or electricity.
Technology
The Engineering360 SpecSearch database contains information about numerous types of alternative power technologies.
Fuel cells oxidize fuels such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons to convert chemical energy into electricity. Their construction is similar to that of batteries, but unlike batteries fuel cells require a constant supply of fuel and oxygen to produce energy. Byproducts of fuel cell electricity production include water, heat and, depending on the fuel used, very small amounts of emissions.
Hydro turbines are rotary devices which convert mechanical energy from moving water into electricity.
Flywheel power systems use mechanical devices called flywheels to store rotational energy. By storing energy, they are able to provide continuous power where the energy source is not continuous. The flywheel principle was historically applied in designing the potter's wheel.
Wind turbines convert kinetic wind energy into electricity. Small turbines are used to charge batteries and other small equipment, while large ones are increasingly being used in commercial electric power applications.
Photovoltaic (PV) cells turn sunlight directly into electricity. PV cells are the basic building blocks of solar panels.
Solar power supplies consist of various parts and supplies which aid in converting light into electricity. Examples include solar batteries, solar battery chargers and solar pan.