Despite its name, a power generator is not a device that creates energy but one that converts other types of energy—such as mechanical or chemical—into electrical energy. Simply put, the generator energizes the electrical circuit, increasing the potential energy of the electrical loads passing through the circuit.
An ideal generator is one that achieves 100% energy efficiency, meaning it can convert all the applied energy into electrical energy. In reality, the electrical current passing through the generator’s circuit always encounters some resistance, resulting in a loss of total energy.
In practice, no generator achieves 100% energy efficiency, and part of the electrical energy produced is always dissipated within the generator itself.
Another major difference between the ideal and real generator is that in the ideal model, the voltage is always constant, regardless of the electrical current, which is not the case in the real model.
