how does a generator work powerlessly. i mean like if there is a black out people cna generate energy from like a generator. well then how come a generator work without the help of anything? (NOT TALKInG About the hydropower generator, the one that spins.
Generators *always* take some kind of mechanical energy to operate. In the case of a power blackout, backup generators use large diesel engines rated for hundreds of thousands of Horsepower, to run the electrical backup generators. Those diesel engines (obviously) run on diesel fuel so, there is your 'anything'. .
As pointed out generators convert mechanical energy into electricity. The mechanical energy is provided by an engine that uses some type of fuel like diesel or natural gas. All generators spin to produce power. well then how come a generator work without the help of anything? Backup generators do seem to magically produce electricity during a power failure Backup generators are fitted with automatic controls that handle the starting and placing of the generator onto the buildings power bus. The automatic controls are powered from the AC mains to keep a set of batteries charged. THe batteries are used at the beginning of a blackout to power the automation and start the generator. (Once the generator is running these batteries may then be recharged from the power produced by the generator or when the AC mains is re-established.) Electronic controls sense the loss of AC power and trigger a starting sequence. The generators starter is engaged to crank over the diesel or Gas engine. The controls monitor this process to ensure the engine actually starts and that an excessive amount of cranking doesn't occur. Once the engine is running and brought up to proper speed additional automatic controls disconnect the now powerless AC mains from the buildings buss and connect the Generator power to the buildings electrical panel. Based upon the size of the generator some or all of the buildings power may be supplied by the backup generator. Without the automation the process is still the same except a persone would have to perform the process of starting the gen and placing it on line. Its not difficult to do but does require some trainng. Automation performs this startup process quicker that what a humam would be likely to do.
