gelijkstroommachine

A gelijkstroommachine, or direct current machine, is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or vice versa, operating on the principle of direct current (DC). These machines can function as either a DC motor, which uses electrical energy to produce rotational motion, or a DC generator, which uses mechanical energy to produce electrical energy. The fundamental operation relies on the interaction between magnetic fields and electric currents.

The key components of a gelijkstroommachine include a stator, which provides a stationary magnetic field, and a rotor (or armature), which is the rotating part. The interaction between the magnetic field of the stator and the magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the armature windings on the rotor generates torque, causing rotation in a motor. Conversely, when the rotor is mechanically turned within the stator's magnetic field, a voltage is induced in the armature windings, producing an electric current, characteristic of a generator.

A crucial element for the continuous operation of a gelijkstroommachine is the commutator. This device, typically a segmented ring attached to the armature shaft, reverses the direction of current flow in the armature windings at the appropriate moments. This reversal ensures that the torque produced by the motor remains in the same direction or that the induced voltage in a generator is unidirectional. Gelijkstroommachines have historically been important in various industrial applications, though they have been largely superseded by alternating current (AC) machines in many areas.