DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the staff :Sri N.Khaja meeran
Designation :Lecturer
Branch :AEIE
Institute :S.G.P.R Govt polytechnic,Kurnool
Year/Semester :III Semester
Subject :Process Instrumentation-I
Subject code :AEI-305
Topic :Displacement and position measurement
Sub-Topic :AC and DC tacho generator
Duration :100 Mins
Teaching Aids :PPT, Animations, Photographs.
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 Objectives

Upon the completion of this topic you will be able

to know about
AC and DC tacho generators.

•Principle

•Operation

•Its advantages and disadvantages .

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 Principle

It operates on the principle that..

The relative motion between a magnetic field and a

conductor results the voltage generation in that conductor.

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• For measurement of angular velocity tachogenerators
are used

• There are two types of tacho generators

• 1) D.C tacho generator

• 2) A.C tacho generator

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DC Tacho Generator

Fig 1
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 Construction
• An armature is rotating type and this magnet is a
fixed type.

• The armature is coupled to the machine whose

velocity is to be measured.

• It consists of commutator and brushes is connected

to the armature

• Output is connected to a Moving Coil (MC) type

voltmeter

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 Operation
• When the armature is stationary there is no

relative motion between the magnetic field and

the armature winding.

• Hence the output voltage is ZERO.

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• As the armature speed increases the relative motion
also increases.

• The output voltage is induced in the armature winding.

• The magnitude of this voltage is proportional to the

speed of the armature.

• A commutator and brushes are connected in the

armature to give the DC output voltage.
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• The polarity of output voltage indicates the
direction of rotation

• This output voltage is measured with the help of

moving coil voltmeter calibrated in terms of speed.

• The relationship between the DC output voltage

and angular velocity is given by

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 NpNc p 
e0   10 8 volts
60Npp

e0 60Npp
  108 rpm
NpNc p
Where
ω = angular velocity
e = DC output voltage
0

Np = No. of poles
Nc = No. of conductors in armature
øp = flux per pole
Npp = parallel paths between positive and negative
brushes.
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 Advantages

The main advantage of this meter is the direction of

rotation is indicated by the polarity of the output

voltage.

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 Disadvantage

• The commutator and brushes required

periodic maintenance.

• The output voltage is non-linear

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 A.C Tacho generator

• The Fig.2 shows the A.C tacho generator.

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 Construction

• It consists of

• Permanent magnet (rotor)

• Coil (stator)

• Rectifier bridge

• Moving Coil (MC) voltmeter

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 Operation

• When the magnet rotates in a stationary coil , an AC

voltage is generated
• The amplitude and the frequency of this voltage are both
proportional to the speed of rotation
• Thus either amplitude or frequency of induced voltage
may be used as a measure of rotational speed
• The output voltage of ac tacho generator is rectified and
is measured with MC voltmeter
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 Advantages

• Maintenance free due to the absence of brushes and

commutators

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 Disadvantages

• Large number of poles are required

• Requires high input impendence display devices

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• The principle and operation of DC tacho generator

• Its advantages and disadvantages.

•The principle and operation of AC tacho generator

•Its advantages and disadvantages.

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 Quiz
1.DC tacho generators are used for measurement of

(A) Linear velocity

(B) Angular velocity

(C) Linear displacement

(D) Angular displacement

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2.DC tacho generators converts

(A) Rotation into electrical signal

(B) Displacement into electrical signal

(C) Temperature into electrical signal

(D) Pressure into electrical signal

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3.Angular velocity measurement is carried out by using a

(A) Taco generators

(B) Moving coil type transducer

(C) Moving iron type transducer

(D) Piezo electric transducer

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1) Explain the operation of DC tacho generator with a neat

diagram.

2) List the advantages and disadvantages of DC Tacho

generator.

3) Explain the operation of AC tacho generator with a neat

diagram

4) List the advantages and disadvantages of AC Tacho

generator.
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