In a series generator, what occurs when the magnetic saturation of the poles is reached?

When the magnetic saturation of the poles in a series generator is reached, the output behavior of the generator stabilizes. In this condition, the magnetic field generated by the poles cannot increase further despite an increase in armature current. As a result, the generated voltage and load current level off, reaching a point where they no longer increase significantly with added load.

In a series generator, the field winding is connected in series with the load, so as the load current increases, it increases the magnetic field until saturation occurs. Once saturation happens, further increases in current do not substantially enhance the magnetic field strength. Thus, the system stabilizes at a certain level of current and voltage, leading to a steady state where variations in load do not greatly affect the performance of the generator.

This stabilization is crucial for system reliability, as it ensures that the generator does not produce excessive voltage or current that could lead to potential damage to the electrical system or load.