Learn the configuration and working principles of AC and DC in rotating electrical machines in this free online course.

Electrical machines are devices that convert mechanical energy to electrical energy and vice versa. This course starts off with an introduction to electrical machinery principles, explaining various terms used in this area of electrical engineering. The fundamental concept of all generators and motors is the fact that a current flowing in a wire will produce a magnetic field around the wire. You will be taught the construction and working of generators and motors as well as the application of the two main types of induction motor rotors. A magnetic field causes a loop of wire to rotate or twist depending upon the angle of the applied force and the length of the wire. See how to calculate this twisting effect, called torque, and understand which factors influence torque and how to solve related mathematical problems. You will also be shown the difference between AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) machines and how to solve some common problems that are faced by them.

There are two main classes of AC machines: synchronous and induction machines. You will be shown the difference between the two, their respective configurations, sources of power, workings and their sub-types. Single-phase induction motors are classified and named according to the method employed to make them self-starting. Since single-phase induction motors suffer from problems at starting, you will learn how to make a single-phase induction motor self-start by adding extra windings to the motor rotor. Three-phase induction motors are used extensively in industrial and commercial applications and are simple, rugged, low priced and easy to maintain. You will study their advantages, drawbacks, types, how they work and how to perform flux analysis on these motors. Synchronous generator motors are those AC motors in which the movement of the armature is synchronised with the input current. You will learn about their sources of energy, generation of magnetic flux and their overall working as part of a power system, gaining an understanding of the parallel operation of synchronous generators and the benefits of using several generators in a power system.

This course is designed for electrical engineers, students and professionals who work in the power sector. This is also a refresher course for people who want to review and upgrade their knowledge of electrical rotating machines. This course contains lectures on up-to-date industrial knowledge explained with the help of colourful graphics and schematic diagrams. Every attempt has been taken to keep the calculations as easy as possible, with thorough explanations for each. Grab the opportunity to sharpen your analytical and problem-solving skills in the areas of generators and motors - join the course now!