
SEBU8088-06 135
Reference Information Section
Reference Materials
i01207219
Glossary
SMCS Code: 4450
Actuate – Actua
tion relates to putting something in
motion.
Alternating C
urrent (AC) – Alternating Current is
an electric current that reverses direction at regular
intervals (50 times per second in 50 Hz or 60 times
per second in 6
0Hz).
Anode – An anode is the positive end of a diode or
an anode is th
e positive end of a rectifier.
Blocking Rectifier – A blocking rectifier permits
direct curre
nt flow in only one direction.
Bolted – A bolted device uses a bolt to hold two or
more parts to
gether.
Bridge – A bridge is a circuit that is used to measure
small quant
ities of current, voltage, or resistance.
Bridge Rec tifier – A bridge rectifier is a circuit that
is used to ch
ange alternating current (AC) to direct
current (DC).
Buildup – Ab
uildup is a gradual increase in voltage.
Cathode – A cathode is the negative end of a diode
or a cathode
isthenegativeendofarectifier.
Capacitance – Capacitance is the ability to store
an electric
al charge.
Capacitor – A capacitor is a device that will store
an electri
cal charge.
Circuit Breaker – A circuit breaker is an automatic
switch tha
tisusedtoopenacircuit.
Circulating Current – Circulating current is the flow
of current
between two or more generators that are
working in parallel. Circulating current is also the flow
of current between two or more generators that are
parallel w
ith a utility line.
Conduct – Conducting relates to allowing the flow of
current.
Constant Voltage Regulation – Constant Voltage
Regulati
on is one of the two methods of voltage
regulation. In order to maintain the line voltage,
Constant voltage regulators allow the field to be
forced to
the saturation point. This allows the engine
to be overloaded. On large block load applications,
the engine may not recover.
Continuity – Co
ntinuity provides a path for current
flow.
Control – Acon
trol is a device that controls another
device. A control is also a circuit that controls a
device.
Cross Current Compe n sation –
Cross current
compensation is a method that is used for reactive
power equali
zation.
Current Transformer (CT) – A current transformer
is used to ste
p down higher line current.
Direct Current (DC) – Direct current is current flow
that moves in
only one direction in a given circuit.
Damping – Damping refers to decreasing the
amplitude of
a signal.
De-energized – A de-energized input refers to
stopping th
e current that is going to a component.
Distribution Winding – Distribution windings go
from one end
of the core to the other end of the
core. These windings are arranged in groups that are
located in several slots.
Droop – Droop refers to a decrease.
Excitation
– Excitation is controlled direct current
(DC) that is used to make a m agnetic field.
Energized –
An energized input refers to activating
a device.
Electrost
atic Charge – Electrostatic charge is
electricity that is caused by induced voltage and
stored charge.
Exciter – An exciter supplies direct current (DC) to
the field windings of the generator.
Field – A field is a magnetic line of force that
surrounds a conductor. This force is caused by
current fl
ow in the conductor.
Field Windings – Field windings are many turns of
wire that
are wrapped around an iron core. When
direct current (DC) flows through the field windings,
a magnetic field is produced. This magnetic field is
compara
ble to the magnetic field of a bar magnet.
Flashing – Flashing is a process of putting direct
current
from an external source into the field
windings. This process causes the generator to
produce an output voltage.
Flux – Flux is magnetic lines of force.