A generator set, also known as a genset, is the combination of an electrical

generator and an engine mounted together to form a single piece of

equipment that produces electrical power. In the generator, referred to as
an alternator, the mechanical work of the engine generates electrical
power. Generation sets are used in sites that are not connected to the
power grid or to supply emergency power when the grid fails. Generator
sets may also be employed to produce energy during peak usage hours
when the energy costs are the highest, to decrease the amount of
electricity that must be purchased from the utility company, in a power-
saving application called peak shaving.

An electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy from

an external source to electrical energy. It is important to understand that
a generator does not actually "create" electrical energy, but uses a prime
mover to force the movement of electric charges in the wire of its
windings through a circuit. Thus, the electric current supplied by the
generator is actually the flow of electric charges.

The generator works using the process of electromagnetic induction.

During electromagnetic induction, a source moves an electrical conductor,
or wire, in a magnetic field, which induces the flow of electric charges. The
movement of the wire creates a voltage difference between the two ends
of the wire, causing electric charges to flow and generating current.

The generator’s interior components, including the stator and the rotor,
work in combination to generate electricity by generating movement
between the magnetic and electric fields. The stator is a stationary
component that contains a set of wires wound in coils around an iron
core. The rotor or armature, connected to the output crankshaft of the
engine, produces the rotating magnetic field. The rotor generates a
moving magnetic field around the stator, which induces a difference
between the windings of the stator. A specific output voltage of the
generator can be produced by varying the winding patterns. This
produces alternating current (AC).
Generators can produce a tremendous amount of heat, and the interior
components must be cooled constantly so the generator is not damaged.
The cooling method is a critical design element of a generator. Most
generators are air cooled, hydrogen cooled, or liquid cooled. The size and
type of generator determines the type of cooling system that is needed.
Air cooling systems are usually used for smaller generators (which cannot
reject heat as quickly as with liquid or hydrogen). Hydrogen cooling, which
is usually used for large generators, is the most efficient method.