Electric Circuits & NetworkS

DC MACHINES
Syllabus
 Working principle of DC generator - different types of DC
generators - emf equation of a DC generator - armature
reaction - no load characteristics - types.
 DC motors - working principle of DC motor - significance of
back emf in DC motor - starters - Types of starters -necessity
of starter in DC motor - 3 point starter - comparison of DC
motors with characteristics and speed
DC Generator
 Generator is an Electric machine which will convert
mechanical power in to Electrical power.
 In DC generator the output power will be DC power.
 In order to convert , there is a n intermediate domain
(Magnetic domain) required.
Three requirements are essential
1. Conductors
2. 2. Magnetic field
3. 3. Mechanical energy
Working Principle
 A generator works on the principles of Faraday’s law of
electromagnetic induction
 Whenever a conductor is moved in the magnetic field , an
emf is induced and the magnitude of the induced emf is
directly proportional to the rate of change of flux linkage.
 This emf causes a current flow if the conductor circuit is
closed .
Fleming’s right-hand rule
 Fleming’s right-hand rule
 Fleming’s right-hand rule (for generators) shows the direction
of induced current when a conductor attached to a circuit moves in
a magnetic field.
 It can be used to determine the direction of current in a
generator’s windings.
 The right hand is held with the thumb, first finger and second
finger mutually perpendicular to each other (at right angles).
 The thumb is pointed in the direction of the motion of the
conductor relative to the magnetic field.
 The forefinger is pointed in the direction of the magnetic field.
(north to south)
 Then the middle finger represents the direction of the induced
or generated current within the conductor (from the terminal with
the lower electric potential to the terminal with higher electric
potential, as in a voltage source).
Single loop D.C generator
 let us consider a single loop of conductor
ABCD which is placed between to opposite
magnetic poles.
 The current will start to circulate in the closed loop.
 The direction of current in D.C generator can be
determined by Fleming’s right-hand rule.
 Now by applying Fleming’s right-hand rule,
the current will flow from the horizontal position of the coil
i.e the current will flow from point C to D and point A to B in another side of the
coil.
 Now at this position, the coil is perpendicular to field i.e flux line hence EMF is
maximum at this point.
 When the coil is further rotated in its axis and comes in the parallel position to field.
 The upper side of coil will be CD and lower side of coil is AB then the field line can’t
pass the coil
 Hence at this position, the EMF is minimum i.e zero so there is no current in the loop.
Wave form of DC generator
First half of revolution:
 In figure (a) during the first half of revolution the
current flow from ABMLCD.
 The segment of a split ring “a” is in contact with
brushes “1” which act as the positive end of the supply.
 The segment of split ring “b” is in contact with
brushes “2” which act as the negative end of the supply.
Second half of revolution:
 Now in figure (b) during the second half of the revolution the current flow
from DCMLBA.
 It is clear that the not only the direction of induced current in the coil is changed but
the position of Split ring segment also changes.
 The segment of split ring “b” is in contact with
brushes “1” which act as the positive end of the supply.
 The segment of a split ring “a“ is in contact with
brushes “2” which act as the negative end of the supply.
 Hence the current from load current still flow from M to L
Construction

1. Field system
2. Armature core
3. Armature winding
4. Commutator
5. Brushes
1. Field system

 Poles and pole shoes: Poles are joined to the yoke with
the help of bolts or welding.
 They carry field winding and pole shoes are fastened to them.
Pole shoes serve two purposes;
(i) they support field coils and
(ii) spread out the flux in air gap
uniformly
 2. Armature core
 Armature core is the rotor of the machine.
 It is cylindrical in shape with slots to carry armature
winding.
 The armature is built up of thin laminated circular steel disks
for reducing eddy current losses.
 The armature core of a DC generator or machine serves the
following purposes.
1. It houses the conductors in the slots.
2. It provides an easy path for the magnetic flux
 3. Armature winding
 WAVE WINDING: the armature coils
are connected in series through the
commutator segments in such a way
that the armature winding is divided into two parallel
paths irrespective of the number of poles of the machine.
 LAP WINDING: In lap winding, the armature coils are
connected in series through the commutator segments in such a
way that the armature winding is divided into as many parallel
paths as the number of poles of the machine,
4. Commutator
Characteristics of Commutator is as follows
 Connect with external circuit
 Converts AC into unidirectional current or DC
 Cylindrical in shape
 Made of wedge shaped copper segments
 Segments are insulated from each other
 Each commutator segment is connected to armature
conductors by means of a cu strip called riser.
 No of segments equal to no of coils
5. Brushes

 Carbon brushes are used in DC machines because they are

soft materials
 It does not generate spikes when they contact commutator
 To deliver the current thro armature
 Carbon is used for brushes because it has negative
temperature coefficient of resistance
 Self lubricating , takes its shape , improving area of contact
EMF equation
 Let,
Ø= flux per pole in weber
Z = Total number of conductor
P = Number of poles
A = Number of parallel paths
N =armature speed in rpm
Eg = emf generated in any on of the parallel path
Flux cut by 1 conductor in 1 revolution = P * φ •
Flux cut by 1 conductor in 1 sec = P φ N /60
Avg emf generated in 1 conductor = PφN/60
Number of conductors in each parallel path = Z /A
Eg = PφNZ/60A Volts
Types of DC Generators
Armature Reaction
 The current flowing through the armature conductors creates a
magnetic field, which is called as armature flux.
 This armature flux distorts and weakens the magnetic flux
produced by the main poles.
 This effect of armature flux on the main flux is known as
armature reaction.
Characteristics of DC Generators
1. No load saturation characteristic (Eo/If) or No-load
Characteristics.
2. Internal or Total characteristic (E/ Ia)
3. External characteristic (V/I)
Characteristics of DC shunt Generators
Characteristics of DC Series Generators
DC Motor
 Motor is a machine which converts electrical energy into
mechanical energy.
 DC motor is a machine which converts DC electrical energy
into mechanical energy.
Principle of operation of DC Motor
 When current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field it
experience a force.
 The direction of force is given by Fleming’s Left Hand Rule.
 The Rule says that if we extend the index finger, middle finger
and thumb of our left hand in such a way that the current carrying
conductor is placed in a magnetic field (represented by the index
finger) is perpendicular to the direction of current (represented
by the middle finger), then the conductor experiences a force in
the direction (represented by the thumb) mutually perpendicular
to both the direction of field and the current in the conductor.
Back EMF
 When the armature of a d.c. motor rotates under the
influence of the driving torque, the armature conductors
move through the magnetic field and hence e.m.f. is induced
in them as in a generator.
 The induced e.m.f. acts in opposite direction to the applied
voltage V (Lenz's law) and in known as back or counter
e.m.f.
Significance of Back EMF
 The back EMF in a DC motor makes it a self-regulating
machine, which means it makes the motor to draw a
sufficient amount of armature current to develop the torque
required by the mechanical load.

 Ia = (V – Eb)/Ra
Where, Ia - armature current
V - applied voltage
Eb - Back Emf
Necessity of Starter in DC Motor
 A motor at rest has no back or counter e.m.f. At staring
therefore, the armature current is limited only by the
resistance of the armature circuit.
 The armature resistance is very low, however, and if full
voltage were impressed upon the motor terminals at stand
still, the resulting armature current would be many times
full-load value usually sufficient to damage the machine.
 For this reason, additional resistance is introduced into the
armature circuit at starting.
 As the motor gains speed, its back e.m.f. builds up and the
starting resistance is cut out.
3- Point Starter
 When the handle moves from start
Position to stud 1, the circuit is completed
Through coil M2 and M1, which
Closes the filed circuit to the motor.
 The total resistance is come in series with
the armature Circuit and the current will be
minimum. Hence the motor starts from rest an
increasing the speed. Also back EMF increase when the motor attains speed.
 When the handle is moving to next studs by cutting out the resistances and
motor speed increases by increasing the applied voltage. At last when the
stud is at position 5 , it will cut out all the resistances and full voltage is
applied across the armature. The coil M1 will hold the handle by attracting
it.
 When ever the motor is overloaded , the coil M2 will attract the contact C ,
which will bypass the coil M1.
 Which makes the handle to unhold from coil M1 and the motor will
stopped.
 Characteristics Of DC Series Motors
 Characteristics are classified in to
1. Electrical characteristics.
2. Mechanical characteristics.
Electrical characteristics:
a. Torque Vs. Armature Current (Ta-Ia)
b. Speed Vs. Armature Current (N-Ia)
Mechanical characteristics.
a. Speed Vs. Torque (N-Ta)
Electrical Characteristics Of DC Series Motors
a. Torque Vs. Armature Current (Ta-Ia)- Torque is directly
proportional to the product of armature current and field flux,
Ta ∝ ɸ.Ia. In DC series motors, field winding is connected in series
with the armature, i.e. Ia = If. Therefore, before magnetic
saturation of the field, flux ɸ is directly proportional to Ia. Hence,
before magnetic saturation Ta α Ia2. Therefore, the Ta-Ia curve is
parabola for smaller values of Ia.
b. Speed Vs. Armature Current (N-Ia)- We know the relation, N
∝ Eb/ɸ,For small load current (and hence for small armature
current) change in back emf Eb is small and it may be neglected.
Hence, for small currents speed is inversely proportional to ɸ. As
we know, flux is directly proportional to Ia, speed is inversely
proportional to Ia. Therefore, when armature current is very small
the speed becomes dangerously high. That is why a series motor
should never be started without some mechanical load.
Mechanical Characteristics Of DC
Series Motors
a. Speed Vs. Torque (N-Ta)- From the above
two characteristics of DC series motor, it can be
found that when speed is high, torque is low and vice versa
Characteristics Of DC Shunt Motors
Characteristics Of DC Shunt Motors-
Electrical Characteristics
 Torque Vs. Armature Current (Ta-Ia)-In case of DC shunt motors,
we can assume the field flux ɸ to be constant. Though at heavy loads, ɸ
decreases in a small amount due to increased armature reaction. As we are
neglecting the change in the flux ɸ, we can say that torque is proportional
to armature current. Hence, the Ta-Ia characteristic for a dc shunt motor
will be a straight line through the origin. Since heavy starting load needs
heavy starting current, shunt motor should never be started on a
heavy load.
 Speed Vs. Armature Current (N-Ia)- As flux ɸ is assumed to be
constant, we can say N ∝ Eb. But, as back emf is also almost constant, the
speed should remain constant. But practically, ɸ as well as Eb decreases
with increase in load. Back emf, Eb decreases slightly more than ɸ,
therefore, the speed decreases slightly. Generally, the speed decreases only
by 5 to 15% of full load speed. Therefore, a shunt motor can be
assumed as a constant speed motor.
Characteristics Of DC Shunt Motors-
Mechanical Characteristics
 Speed Vs. Torque (N-Ta)- The speed of the DC shunt
motor is only slightly decreased when the load increased. It is
almost constant speed.
Applications of DC Motors
DC Series motor DC shunt Motor DC Compound Motor
1. Cranes 1. Wiper 1. Presses
2. Air compressor 2. Automatic windscreen 2. Electric shovels
3. Lifts 3. Conveyors 3. Reciprocating machine
4. Elevators 4. Fans 4. Conveyors
5. Winching system 5. Boring mills 5. Stamping machine
6. Electric traction 6. Shapers 6. Elevators
7. Hair drier 7. Blowers 7. Compressors
8. Vacuum cleaner and in 8. Spinning and weighing 8. Rolling mills
speed regulation machine 9. Heavy planners
application 9. Centrifugal pumps
9. power tools
10. Sewing machine
11. Electric footing