Introduction to Generator I

In 1831 Michael Faraday discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction. This discovery paved the way for the development of the electric generator. In 1888 Sir Charles A Parsons developed the first ac turbo-generator with his name still synonymous today with the Parsons Turbine manufacturing plant in .

Development continued and by 1922 generator capacities had increased to 20MW (small by today's standards) with the introduction of solid forging and improved construction techniques. In the late 1940's 60MW machines were produced by replacing air-cooling with low pressure hydrogen. Generator output reached 245MW when both stator and rotor conductors were cooled with hydrogen. Further development of water-cooling of the stator conductors along with higher pressure hydrogen cooling of the rotor has allowed construction of 1000MW generators.