Generator

How it is used

Used in power plants, buildings and sites. A generator starts, runs, is synchronized with the grid or takes over the load during an outage. An engine and generator together are called a genset, and an automatic transfer switch (ATS) moves the load between the grid and the generator.

Example sentences

1. When the grid went down, the generator started and took the load in about ten seconds.

2. We test the standby generator under load once a month.

Common collocations

• standby generator
• diesel generator
• generator set
• start the generator
• synchronize a generator

Related terms

• motorA machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical rotation. Most industrial machines use three-phase induction motors, while small devices often use DC or brushless motors.
• gridThe interconnected network of power plants, transmission lines, substations and distribution lines that delivers electricity to consumers. It is also called the power grid or the mains.
• three-phaseDescribing an AC system with three voltages of the same frequency, each shifted by 120 degrees from the others. It is used to transmit power and run large motors efficiently.
• inverterA power electronic device that converts DC into AC. Inverters connect solar panels and batteries to the grid, supply AC loads in UPS systems and produce variable-frequency AC in motor drives.
• loadAny device or circuit that draws power from a source, such as a motor, a lamp or a heater. The word also means the amount of power or current being drawn.

More terms: Power Systems and Electrical Machines

• transformer
• battery
• rectifier
• phase
• substation
• transmission line