Dear Seyfi,

Compared to an electric machine (rotating system), a PV system is considerer as an energy but STATIC converter.

Regards,

Mohamed

Hello there,

In my opinion, when we talk about electric machines we consider energy conversion, but which type of energy conversion? The answer is magnetic to electric or vice versa. This is the main reason we consider transformer as an electric machine.

So, if I were you, I would ask does any magnetic to electric (or vice versa) energy conversion happens in a PV? 

if yes, so it is an electric machine.

If No, (which is the right answer, to my mind) so we can not count it as an electric machine.

Kind regards,

Sajjad

Thank you so much, dear Benbouzid and Asefi.

Ok. In order to be accepted as a machine, at the same time, it must be related to magnetism (magnetic to electric or vice versa).

When classifying electric machines, generally, they are classified as motors and generators, or motors, generators and transformers. Or; + Redresors, inverters, turbogenerators, ...

Mohamed Benbouzid said that "this is STATIC converter". According to some books, frequency converter, redresers and etc. are electric machines. Are they true?

"So, if I were you, I would ask does any magnetic to electric (or vice versa) energy conversion happens in a PV? if yes, so it is an electric machine." Sajjad Asefi said. 

If I say YES. Thus, the battery (cell) is also an electric machine.

If I say NO. Thus, what is the class of the PV?

turbogenerators

Is the gas turbine and steam turbine and Francis turbine an electric machine? or turbogenerators.

ِDear friend, 

Are you sure that a battery is not applying a chemical conversion and it is using magnetic conversion?!!! As it is a chemical conversion so it is not an electric machine.

The PV is another type of electrical generators (not electric machines) which uses physical conversion (I mean the stuff related to silicon, UV energy, heat energy and etc.) to produce electricity. 

This was all I can say about PV.

and about gas turbine and steam turbine question, I think you have mixed about some parts. Its better to search about them and look at power plants schemes to understand difference between gas turbine and the electric generator which is coupled to a gas turbine.

Hope it helps.

Thanks, dear Asefi.

Sorry. I said; "Is the gas turbine and steam turbine and Francis turbine an electric machine? or turbogenerators." Incorrect question. I have been corrected as "Is the turbogenerator an electric machine?".

Turbo generator is also called as a electric machine only...A turbo generator is the combination of a turbine directly connected to an electric generator for the generation of electric power.

Thanks, dear Natarajan .K .

Hi,

In my opinion, the term electric machine was coined a long time ago, so it is probably necessary to take into account a revision of this term.

Best regards,

Dear Ignacio Martín Díaz. Thank you for your kind answer.

You are right. 

In the definition; There is a generator expression.

PV panel is expressed as "photovoltaic generator" in this book (Djamila Rekioua, Ernest Matagne, Optimization of Photovoltaic Power Systems, Green Energy and Technology, Springer, 2012) or others.

Generally, description of the electric machine:

They are devices that convert electricity to mechanical power (electric motor), convert mechanical energy to electrical energy (generator) and also convert or transfer the electric energy (Transformer, inverter,..).

In additon, the expressions of the magnetic field/effect or rotating/linear are included. 

If it is missing or incorrect, please correct it. Or please suggest a source.

IEC standards have a definition for electric machine in their free to everybody electropedia:

IEV ref 151-13-39

electric machine

energy transducer that can transform electric energy into mechanical energy or vice versa

Note – The term "electric machine" is also used for synchronous compensators and torque motors.

Thus IEC definition excludes transformers. Historically transformers are often in university courses combined with electric machines as they both have windings and iron and thus the magnetic design is similar.

Dear Jouko Niiranen. Thank you for your kind answer.

Dear Jouko Niiranen. Thus, What is your opinion for the title of this researhgate question?

IEC standard definition:

IEV ref 151-13-35

(electric) generator

energy transducer that transforms non-electric energy into electric energy

Thus PV is generator according to IEC but "electric generator" should be used for clarity because IEC defines:

IEV ref 411-32-01

generator

a machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

No. PV is not a generator category. It is a PN Junction semiconducting device. Solar radiation is a key activation for Conducting medium

Dear Niiranen and Rajendran. Thank you for your kind answers.

PV is normally a machine because that anything converts energy is a machine but it is not an electric generator since that converts mechanical to electrical energy but it is to be considered as a simple generator.

Dear Kumar. Thank you for your kind answer.

Thanks, everyone, for your answers.

Im summary, according to idea of me and valuable researchers; PV is not an electric machine. PV is to be considered as a simple generator and/or a PN Junction semiconducting device and/or STATIC converter.

However, electric machine term is not explicitly described in many sources. This term must be described as clear. Also, a revision may be needed for this term.