Power Generation

Question 1

Types of Aircraft Power Sources?

Answer 1

Generators
Alternators
Aircraft Storage Batteries

Question 2

What FAR has the Requirements for aircraft power distribution?

Answer 2

FAR 23 & 25 establish requirements for aircraft power distribution systems

Question 3

Power source FAR requirements:

Answer 3

• Must work independently
• Each generator must be able to supply continuous rated power
• Must have over voltage control devices
• Should have an ammeter

Question 4

Aircraft batteries produce DC electricity by

Answer 4

chemical means.

Question 5

Aircraft Batteries are primarily used for

Answer 5

starting aircraft engines and emergency purposes.

Question 6

The vast majority of electrical energy used/consumed on an aircraft is produced by

Answer 6

electromagnetic means.

Question 7

Electromagnetic Induction Requirements:

Answer 7

Magnetic Field
Conductor
Motion

Question 8

Electromagnetic Induction

Answer 8

Left Hand Rule

Question 9

Define Rectification:

Answer 9

Process of converting AC to DC

Question 10

What are the three factors that affect the output of a DC generator?

Answer 10

Speed of armature
#of conductors
Strength of magnetic field

Question 11

List the five major components of a DC generator

Answer 11

Commutator, brushes, armature, poles, coils

Question 12

Which component is responsible for rectifying the current that is produced before it leaves the generator?

Answer 12

Commutator

Question 13

There are three types of armature wingdings in a generator. Which is most commonly found in aircraft?

Answer 13

compound wound?

Question 14

What is the purpose of field current?

Answer 14

Field Current, adds current to magnetic field to increase output of generator.

Question 15

Decrease in field current causes decrease in what?

Answer 15

DECREASE in magnetic field strength, and DECREASE in generator output

Question 16

If my voltage regulator increases the field current to my generator, will my voltage output increase or decrease?

Answer 16

Increase

Question 17

What would happen if the output of my generator dropped bellow the battery voltage?

Answer 17

Generator would essentially become a motor and draw voltage from battery.

Question 18

What component is in the voltage regulator to prevent output of generator to drop bellow battery power?

Answer 18

Reverse Current Relay

Question 19

What is the number one cause for brush arcing?

Answer 19

weak spring tension causes brush arcing

Question 20

Why must I “flash the field”after overhauling a generator?

Answer 20

To re-magnitize generator?

Question 21

Name three differences between a generator and an alternator?

Answer 21

1 generator needs battery to function
2 alternator changes DC to AC
3 Generator is DC mainly going in and going out
4 generator has rotating armature,
alternator has stationary armature

Question 22

Output Current of Generator vs Alternator?

Answer 22

Alternator output current is supplied through direct connections to the aircraft bus

Generator output current is supplied through direct connections to the aircraft bus

Question 23

What does an alternator use for rectification?

Answer 23

Diodes (6)

Question 24

What is the frequency of a current most commonly found on most aircraft?

Answer 24

400 Hz