Synchronous generators

Synchronous generator

— alternators are called synchronous, in which the rotation of the rotor (moving part) coincides with the rotation of the magnetic field of the stator (fixed part) — as opposed to asynchronous models. Such alternators are somewhat more complicated and more expensive than asynchronous ones, they are more sensitive to short circuits and prolonged overloads. On the other hand, synchronous generators do an excellent job not only with active (resistive), but also with reactive loads — such as electric motors, refrigerator compressors, etc. thus providing the required starting current for the reactive load. In addition, the design necessarily has an auto-voltage regulator (see "Functions and Capabilities"), which contributes to output stability; and thanks to certain technical tricks, many of these units can even be used as welding generators. Due to these advantages, it is synchronous generators that have become most widespread nowadays; however, they are still somewhat inferior to inverter models in terms of current stability, however, they are much cheaper.