Subgenerator

Subgenerator is a term used in several technical domains to describe a generator unit that operates as part of a larger system, or, more generally, a subordinate element that helps produce a larger structure. The precise meaning depends on the field and context, and in some disciplines the term is not standard.

In electrical power systems, a subgenerator refers to a generator unit that forms part of a larger generation facility, a distributed energy resource, or a microgrid. Subgenerators may be diesel, gas, or renewable-energy powered and are designed to be installed as modular units. They are typically synchronized with a main grid or with other generators when operating in parallel, and controlled by governors and automatic voltage regulators to maintain frequency and voltage within acceptable ranges. Protection schemes, such as overcurrent, under/over-frequency, and anti-islanding safeguards, ensure safe operation and automatic disconnection if faults occur. In distributed-generation architectures, subgenerators enable load sharing, maintenance isolation, and resilience through redundancy, and they can be activated or shed in response to system conditions or economic signals.

In mathematics and computer science, the term “subgenerator” is not a widely standardized term. When used, it may describe a subobject or substructure that, together with a generation rule or operation, yields a larger structure. More formal notions in these fields are generators, generating sets, submodules, or subalgebras, with precise definitions depending on the algebraic or categorical context.

See also: generator, generating set, submodule, subalgebra, islanding.