Växelströmsmaskins

Växelströmsmaskins, commonly known in English as an alternating current (AC) machine, is an electromechanical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa, operating on the principle of alternating current. This category encompasses a wide range of devices, most notably electric motors and electric generators. The fundamental operation relies on the interaction between magnetic fields and electric currents.

AC motors use the alternating nature of the input current to create a rotating magnetic field within the stator, which then induces a current in the rotor, causing it to spin. The most prevalent types are induction motors and synchronous motors. Induction motors are simple, robust, and widely used in industrial applications due to their reliability and cost-effectiveness. Synchronous motors, on the other hand, maintain a constant speed dictated by the frequency of the AC supply and are often used in applications requiring precise speed control or power factor correction.

AC generators, also known as alternators, work in reverse. Mechanical energy is used to rotate a conductor within a magnetic field (or a magnetic field within a conductor), inducing an alternating electromotive force (voltage) that can then be supplied to an electrical grid. These are the primary means of electricity generation in power plants worldwide. The frequency of the generated AC power is determined by the speed of rotation and the number of magnetic poles in the generator.