ENEE3521 DC Machine Problems

1. The shunt field winding magnetization table for a UNO Energy Conversion Laboratory DC machine
running at 1600rpm is given below. Tests performed on this DC machine show that the shunt field winding
has a resistance of 193.5 and the armature has a resistance of 3.5. Also the DC machine has a rated
maximum power output of 250W.
IF (A)
EA (V)

0
1.25

0.05
15.24

0.1
31.47

0.15
47.63

0.2
63.65

0.25
78.70

0.3
91.25

0.35
101.69

0.4
111.17

0.45
116.55

0.5
122.20

0.55
126.07

0.6
130.15

In an experiment, the DC machine is configured as a separately excited shunt DC generator. A 125VDC

source is connected to the field winding through a 0-300 variable resistor to provide an adjustable
excitation current for the generator. A load resistance of 107 is connected to the generator output
terminals. The field circuit variable resistor is adjusted to a value of 100. If the generator drive shaft is
driven at a constant speed of 1760rpm and there is an internal mechanical rotational loss of 20W, compute
the following quantities for the generator.
a. Load voltage and current. (121.381V, 1.134A)
b. Drive shaft torque and power in HP. (0.880N-m, 0.2175HP)
c. Efficiency and percent loading. (63.915%, 55.078%)
d. Assuming that the speed remains unchanged, determine the value of the field circuit variable resistance
required in order to create a load voltage of 128V. (65.8174)
2. In another experiment, the DC machine in Problem #1 is configured as a self excited shunt DC generator.
The generator drive shaft is driven at a constant speed of 1600rpm, and there is no load connected to the
generator output terminals. If the field circuit variable resistance is adjusted to produce an excitation current
of 0.535A, compute the following quantities for the generator. Assume an internal mechanical rotational
loss of 25W.
a. Output terminal voltage. (123.036V)
b. Field circuit variable resistance value. (36.4748)
c. Drive shaft torque and power in HP. (0.548N-m, 0.1231HP)
d. If a load resistance of 70 is connected to the generator output terminals, determine the generator power
output. (196.4317W)
3. In another experiment, the DC machine in Problem #1 is configured as a separately excited shunt DC motor.
A 125VDC source is connected to the field winding through a 0-300 variable resistor to provide an
adjustable excitation current for the motor. A 105VDC source is connected to the motor input terminals. The
field circuit variable resistor is adjusted to a value of 200. A mechanical load is coupled to the drive shaft,
and the motor is observed to run at a speed of 1600rpm. Assuming that the machine internal mechanical
rotational loss is negligible, compute the following quantities for the motor.
a. Input current. (2.875A)
b. Drive shaft torque and power in HP. (1.629N-m, 0.3660HP)
c. Efficiency and percent loading. (79.906%, 109.175%)
d. Motor startup current. (30A)
4. For the motor of the previous problem, the mechanical load decreases, and the 105VDC source is observed
to supply 225W of power to the motor. Assuming that the excitation remains the same, compute the
following quantities for the motor.
a. Drive shaft speed in rpm. (1643.181rpm)
b. Drive shaft torque and power in HP. (1.214N-m, 0.2802HP)
c. Efficiency and percent loading. (78.928%, 83.571%)
5. In another experiment, the DC machine in Problem #1 is configured as a self excited shunt DC motor. A
125VDC source is connected to the motor input terminals, the field circuit variable resistance is set to a
Prepared by Henri Alciatore for the University of New Orleans ENEE3521 Course 2007 Version 03-31-07

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ENEE3521 DC Machine Problems

value of 55, and the drive shaft is observed to spin at a speed of 1600rpm. Assume an internal mechanical
rotational loss of 20W. Compute the following quantities for the motor.
a. Input current. (1.236A)
b. Drive shaft torque and power in HP. (0.416N-m, 0.0936HP)
c. Efficiency and percent loading. (45.152%, 27.910%)
d. Motor startup current. (36.217A)
6. A shunt DC motor is rated 15HP, 250V, 55A, 1200rpm and has an armature resistance of 0.4. The motor
is wired in a self excited configuration. The motor has a shunt field winding resistance of 100, and a
variable resistor is placed in series with the shunt field winding in order to control the motor excitation
current and thus the motor speed. The friction/windage loss of the machine can be assumed to be zero. The
motors magnetization characteristics for rated speed are given in the following table.
IF (A)
EA (V)

0
1.5

0.1
74

0.2
125

0.3
168

0.4
202

0.5
225

0.6
245

0.7
255

0.8
263

0.9
271

1.0
289

1.1
294

1.2
300

A 240V source is connected to the motor input terminals, and the motor is operated with no drive shaft load
in order to test its no-load speed control characteristics. Compute the following motor quantities.
a. Armature current. (0A)
b. Value of the field current required for the motor to operate at rated speed. (0.575A)
c. Value of the field circuit variable resistor required for the motor to operate at rated speed. (317.391)
d. Motor speed if the field circuit variable resistance is adjusted to a value of 100. (960rpm)
e. Motor speed if the field circuit variable resistance is adjusted to a value of 250. (1135.775rpm)
f. Motor speed if the field circuit variable resistance is adjusted to a value of 600. (1577.465rpm)
7. In the previous problem, a mechanical load is connected to the motor drive shaft, the field circuit variable
resistance is adjusted to a value of 375, and the motor drive shaft is observed to rotate at a speed of
1175rpm. Calculate the following motor quantities.
a. Total power being supplied by the source. (11.3153KW)
b. Output power in HP and torque. (13.845HP, 83.903N-m)
c. Motor efficiency and percent loading. (91.238%, 92.297%)
d. Motor startup current. (600.505A)
8. The same motor specified in Problem #6 is now wired in a separately excited configuration. A constant
240V source is used for excitation, and another variable output DC source used for the main power supply.
If the motor is operated with no mechanical load, and the field circuit variable resistance is adjusted to a
value of 175, then calculate the following motor quantities.
a. Motor speed for a main power supply voltage of 100V. (446.398rpm)
b. Motor speed for a main power supply voltage of 150V. (669.598rpm)
c. Motor speed for a main power supply voltage of 250V. (1115.996rpm)
9. A self excited series connected DC generator is rated 6KW, 150V, 1500rpm, has a rotor armature resistance
of 0.12, and has a series field winding resistance of 0.15. The series magnetization characteristics of the
generator while operating at rated speed are given in the table below.
IF (A)
EA (V)

0
5

5
20

10
40

15
60

20
79

25
98

30
122

35
134

40
140

45
155

A load resistance is connected to the generator output terminals, the generator input shaft is driven at a
speed of 1350rpm, and a generator output current of 32.5A is measured. Compute the following quantities.
a. Generator output terminal voltage. (106.425V)
b. Generator drive shaft power in HP and torque. (5.021HP, 26.483N-m)
c. Generator efficiency and percent loading. (92.383%, 57.647%)
Prepared by Henri Alciatore for the University of New Orleans ENEE3521 Course 2007 Version 03-31-07

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ENEE3521 DC Machine Problems

10. A self excited shunt DC motor is rated 15HP, 240V, 60A, 1800rpm and has an armature resistance of 0.15
and a shunt field winding resistance of 40. variable resistor with a range of 5 to 500 is placed in
series with the shunt field winding in order to control the motor excitation current and thus the motor speed.
Assuming that the field circuit variable resistor is initially set to its minimum value at motor startup, and
rated voltage is applied to the motor, then calculate the following motor quantities.
a. Motor startup current and its multiples of the motor rated current. (1672.222A, 27.870)
b. A special motor startup resistor is wired in between the power supply positive terminal and the motor
input positive terminal. A switch is wired in parallel with this startup resistor. During motor startup, the
switch is open and the resistor will limit the motor startup current. Once the motor has started up and
reached a desired operating condition, the switch is then closed to bypass the startup resistor and apply
full supply voltage to the motor. Calculate the value of the motor startup resistor required to limit motor
startup current to 250% of the rated motor current. (1.669)
c. Calculate the motor input voltage when the startup resistor switch is in the open position during motor
startup. (20.556V)
11. In the machine system shown in the diagram below, a separately excited shunt DC motor drives a self
excited series DC generator which in turns supplies power to a resistive load. A cooling fan is attached to
the drive shaft coupling between the two rotating machines to produce air flow over the machine system.
P1

P3

Self
Excited
Series
DC
Generator N3

Separately
Excited
Shunt
DC
Motor

130V
DC
Source
N1
P2

Resistive
Load

N2

24VDC
Excitation
Source

The separately excited shunt DC motor is rated 8HP, 120V, 1200rpm and has an armature resistance of
0.17, a shunt field winding resistance of 25, and a rotational loss of 160W. A 130V DC source is used to
power the armature circuit of the motor. A separate 24V DC source is connected to the field winding
through a variable resistor to produce an adjustable motor excitation current that controls the motors speed.
The magnetization characteristics of the motor while operating at rated speed are given in the table below.
IF (A)
EA (V)

0
5

0.1
20

0.2
40

0.3
60

0.4
79

0.5
93

0.6
102

0.8
114

1.0
120

1.2
125

The self-excited series connected DC generator is rated 6KW, 140V, 1500rpm and has an armature
resistance of 0.12, a field winding resistance of 0.15, and a rotational loss of 185W. The magnetization
characteristics of the generator while operating at 1350rpm are given in the table below.
IF (A)
EA (V)

0
5

5
20

10
40

15
60

20
79

25
98

30
122

35
134

40
140

45
155

The motor field circuit variable resistance was adjusted to a value of 7.78 to make the machines operate at
a speed of 1350rpm, and the output current of the generator was measured to be 32.15A.
Calculate the following machine system quantities.
a. Generator output terminal voltage. (118.480V)
b. Generator drive shaft power in HP and torque. (5.730HP, 30.227N-m)
c. Generator efficiency and percent loading. (89.140%, 63.485%)
Prepared by Henri Alciatore for the University of New Orleans ENEE3521 Course 2007 Version 03-31-07

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ENEE3521 DC Machine Problems

d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Motor input current. (37.233A)

Motor drive shaft power in HP and torque. (5.960HP, 31.439N-m)
Motor efficiency and percent loading. (91.493%, 57.647%)
Mechanical power in Watts consumed by the cooling fan. (171.434W)
Overall efficiency of the machine system. (78.411%)

12. In a special mechanical energy conversion system called a Ward-Leonard system, an input drive shaft spins
a separately excited shunt DC generator that is tied to a separately excited shunt DC motor which provides
an output drive shaft. In this system, both the DC generator and DC motor can be independently controlled
via their excitation inputs to provide a very high degree of speed and torque control on the mechanical drive
shaft output. A Ward-Leonard system is used in the propulsion system of an experimental vehicle as shown
in the block diagram below.
WHEEL

Separately
Excited
DC
Generator

shaft #1

Fuel
Supply

Gasoline
Engine
P

Excitation
Source #1

Separately
Excited
DC
Motor

shaft #2

Gear
Box

Excitation
Source #2

WHEEL

Both the DC generator and DC motor in this system are identical machines having an armature resistance of
0.85 and shunt field winding magnetization characteristics given below for a speed of 2500rpm.
IF (A) 0.00 0.80 1.00 1.28 1.44 2.12 2.88
EA (V) 8.5 150 180 215 226 232 245

Both excitation sources are 150V DC sources, both DC machines each have internal mechanical rotational
losses of 75W, and both drive shaft couplings have a 35W loss. The gear box has a 2750rpm rated input
shaft speed, has 1500rpm rated output shaft speed on both wheel drive shafts, and can be assumed to be
93% efficient. The gasoline engine operates with 30% efficiency, and the fuel source used has a HHV of
120,000 BTU/gallon.
The following measurements were made in the machine system during operation. The DC generator shaft
speed was 2950rpm, and its excitation source supplied 1.982A. The DC motor shaft speed was 2300rpm,
and its excitation source supplied 1.393A.
Calculate the following machine system quantities.
a. Induced armature voltage of the DC generator. (272.323V)
b. Induced armature voltage of the DC motor. (204.947V)
c. Current, voltage, and power flow between the DC generator and the DC motor. (39.633A, 238.635V,
9457.805W)
d. Mechanical drive shaft power in HP and torque going into the gear box. (10.745HP, 33.267N-m)
e. Speed of and torque delivered to each wheel, assuming both wheel drive shafts are operating with the
same speed and torque. (1254.545rpm, 4.996HP, 28.361N-m)
f. Fuel consumption rate in gallons per hour. (1.033gph)
g. Overall efficiency of the machine system. (20.222%)

Prepared by Henri Alciatore for the University of New Orleans ENEE3521 Course 2007 Version 03-31-07

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