Speed control of Shunt motor

1. Flux control method

It is already explained above that the speed of a dc motor is inversely proportional to the flux per
pole. Thus by decreasing the flux, speed can be increased and vice versa.

To control the flux, a rheostat is added in series with the field winding, as shown in the circuit
diagram. Adding more resistance in series with the field winding will increase the speed as it
decreases the flux. In shunt motors, as field current is relatively very small, Ish2R loss is small.
Therefore, this method is quite efficient. Though speed can be increased above the rated value by
reducing flux with this method, it puts a limit to maximum speed as weakening of field flux beyond a
limit will adversely affect the commutation.

Disadvantages of Field Rheostat Controlled DC Shunt Motor

 Creeping speeds cannot be obtained.

 Top speeds only obtained at reduced torque.
 The speed is maximum at minimum value of flux, which is governed by the demagnetizing
effect of armature reaction on the field.
2. Armature control method

Speed of a dc motor is directly proportional to the back emf Eb and Eb = V - IaRa. That means, when
supply voltage V and the armature resistance Ra are kept constant, then the speed is directly
proportional to armature current Ia. Thus, if we add resistance in series with the armature, Ia
decreases and, hence, the speed also decreases. Greater the resistance in series with the armature,
greater the decrease in speed.

3. Voltage control method

There are some disadvantages for flux control method and armature control method such
as poor speed regulation and poor efficiency. Voltage control method overcome these
problems.

In this method, the voltage source supplying the field current is different from that which
supplies the armature.

This method is used for large size motors since it is very expensive.
a. Multiple voltage control

In this method, the shunt field of the motor is connected permanently across a-fixed voltage
source.

The armature can be connected across several different voltages through a suitable
switchgear. In this way, voltage applied across the armature can be changed.

The speed will be approximately proportional to the voltage applied across the armature.
Intermediate speeds can be obtained by means of a shunt field regulator.

b)Ward-Leonard System:

This method of speed control needs a variable source of voltage separated from the source
supplying the field current. This method avoids disadvantages of poor speed regulation and
low efficiency of armature-resistance control methods.

The basic adjustable armature voltage control method of speed d control is accomplished by
means of an adjustable voltage generator is called Ward Leonard System. This method
involves using a motor-generator (M-G) set. This method is best suited for steel rolling mills,
paper machines, elevators, mine hoists, etc. This method is known as Ward Leonard System.

This system is used where very sensitive speed control of motor is required (e.g electric excavators,
elevators etc.). The arrangement of this system is as shown in the figure at right.
M2 is the motor to which speed control is required.
M1 may be any AC motor or DC motor with constant speed.
G is a generator directly coupled to M1.
In this method, the output from generator G is fed to the armature of the motor M2 whose speed is
to be controlled. The output voltage of generator G can be varied from zero to its maximum value by
means of its field regulator and, hence, the armature voltage of the motor M2 is varied very
smoothly. Hence, very smooth speed control of the dc motor can be obtained by this method.

Advantages of Armature Controlled DC Shunt Motor

1. Very fine speed control over whole range in both directions

2. Uniform acceleration is obtained
3. Good speed regulation
4. It has regenerative braking capacity
Disadvantages of Armature Controlled DC Shunt Motor

1. Costly arrangement is needed, floor space required is more

2. Low efficiency at light loads
3. Drive produced more noise.

Speed control of Series Motor

1. Flux control method

a) Field diverter:

 A variable resistance is connected parallel to the series field as shown in fig (a). This
variable resistor is called as a diverter, as the desired amount of current can be
diverted through this resistor and, hence, current through field coil can be
decreased. Thus, flux can be decreased to the desired amount and speed can be
increased.
 This method gives speed above normal and the method is used in electric drives in
which speed should rise sharply as soon as load is decreased.
 B) Armature diverter:

Diverter is connected across the armature as shown in fig (b).

For a given constant load torque, if armature current is reduced then the flux must
increase, as

Ta∝ØIa

This will result in an increase in current taken from the supply and hence flux Ø will
increase and subsequently speed of the motor will decrease.

 Tapped field control:

  As shown in fig (c) field coil is tapped dividing number of turns. Thus we can select
different value of Ø by selecting different number of turns.
 This is another method of increasing the speed by reducing the flux and it is done by
lowering number of turns of field winding through which current flows. In this
method a number of tapping from field winding are brought outside. This method is
employed in electric traction.
 Paralleling field coils:

In this method, several speeds can be obtained by regrouping coils as shown in fig
(d).

2. Variable resistance in series with armature

By introducing resistance in series with the armature, voltage across the armature can be
reduced. And, hence, speed reduces in proportion with it.

3. Series-parallel control
This system is widely used in electric traction, where two or more mechanically coupled
series motors are employed. For low speeds, the motors are connected in series, and for
higher speeds, the motors are connected in parallel.
When in series, the motors have the same current passing through them, although voltage
across each motor is divided. When in parallel, the voltage across each motor is same
although the current gets divided.

TESTING OF DC MACHINES

Testing of DC machines can be broadly classified as

i) Direct method of Testing

ii) Indirect method of testing

iii) Regenerative test

DIRECT METHOD OF TESTING:

In this method, the DC machine is loaded directly by means of a brake applied to a water
cooled pulley coupled to the shaft of the machine. The input and output are measured and
efficiency is determined by η=output/input . It is not practically possible to arrange loads for
machines of large capacity.

INDIRECT METHOD OF TESTING:

In this method, the losses are determined without actual loading the machine. If the losses are
known, then efficiency can be determined. Swinburne’s test and Hopkinson’s test are
commonly used on shunt motors. But, as series motor cannot be started on No-load,these
tests cannot be conducted on DC series motor.

REGENERATIVE TEST

Hopkinson's Test is also known as Regenerative Test, Back to Back test and Heat Run Test.
Hopkinson’s Test is another useful method of testing the efficiency of a DC machine. It is a
full load test and it requires two identical machines which are coupled to each other. One of
these two machines is operated as a generator to supply the mechanical power to the motor
and the other is operated as a motor to drive the generator. For this process of back to back
driving the motor and the generator, Hopkinson’s test is also called back-to-back test or
regenerative test.

Brake test:
Direct method is suitable for small DC machines. In Direct Method, the DC machine is
subjected to rated load and the entire output power is wasted. The ratio of output power to the
input power gives the Efficiency of DC Machine. For a DC Generator the output power is
wasted in resistor.

Direct Method of testing when conducted on a motor is also known as Brake Test. Brake Test
of DC Motor is carried out as shown in figure below.

A belt around the air cooled pulley has its end attached to the spring balance S1 and S2.
Using belt tightening hand wheels H1 and H2, the load of motor is adjusted to its rated value.
Assuming the spring balance to be calibrated in kilogram, then rated load on the DC motor is
given as

Motor Output Power = Torque x Angular Speed

= (Force x Radius) x Angular Speed

As the torque because of force F1 and F2 are opposing each other, therefore net torque will
be subtraction of torque because of F1 and F2.

Therefore,

Motor Output = ω (S1 – S2) x R x9.8 Watt

Now assuming the terminal voltage of DC Motor to be V and IL to be the load current then,

Input power to the DC Motor = VIL

Thus the efficiency of DC Motor can be calculated as below.

Efficiency = (Output / Input) x100

= [ω (S1 – S2) x R x 9.8 Watt] / VIL x100

For conducting Brake Test on DC Series Motor, it must be ensured that belt is sufficiently
tight before the motor is switched on as DC Series Motor shall not be started at no load. If it
is run without load , it runs at dangerously high speed

Disadvantages of Brake Test:

1) The Spring Balance Readings are not stable rather it fluctuates.

2) Output power is wasted.
3) The frictional torque at a particular setting of Hand wheel H1 and H2 do not remain
constant.

Swinburne Test of DC Machine

This method is an indirect method of testing a DC machine. It is named after Sir James
Swinburne. Swinburne’s test is the most commonly used and simplest method of testing of
shunt and compound wound DC machines which have constant flux. In this test the
efficiency of the machine at any load is pre-determined. We can run the machine as a motor
or as a generator. In this method of testing no load losses are measured separately and
eventually we can determine the efficiency.
The circuit connection for Swinburne’s test is shown in figure below. The speed of the
machine is adjusted to the rated speed with the help of the shunt regulator R as shown in
figure.

Calculation of Efficiency

Let, I0 is the no load current (it can be measured by ammeter A1)

Ish is the shunt field current (it can be measured by ammeter A2)

Then, no load armature current =

Also let, V is the supply voltage. Therefore, No load power input = VI0 watts.
In Swinburne’s test no load power input is only required to supply the losses. The losses
occur in the machine mainly are:

 Iron losses in the core

 Friction and windings losses
 Armature copper loss.

Since the no load mechanical output of the machine is zero in Swinburne’s test, the no load
input power is only used to supply the losses.
The value of armature copper loss =
Here, Ra is the armature resistance.
Now, no to get the constant losses we have to subtract the armature copper loss from the no
load power input.

Then,
After calculating the no load constant losses now we can determine the efficiency at any load.
Let, I is the load current at which we have to calculate the efficiency of the machine.
Then, armature current (Ia) will be (I – Ish), when the machine is motoring.
And , when the machine is generating.
Calculation of Efficiency When the Machine is Motoring on Load:

Power input = VI
Armature copper loss,
Constant losses,

∴Efficiency of the motor:

Calculation of Efficiency When the Machine is Generating on Load:

Power input = VI
Armature copper loss,
Constant losses,

∴ Efficiency of the generator:

Advantages of Swinburne’s Test

The main advantages of this test are:

1.
1. This test is very convenient and economical as it is required very less power from
supply to perform the test.
2. Since constant losses are known, efficiency of Swinburne’s test can be pre-
determined at any load.
Disadvantages of Swinburne’s Test

The main disadvantages of this test are :

1. Iron loss is neglected though there is change in iron loss from no load to full load due
to armature reaction.
2. We cannot be sure about the satisfactory commutation on loaded condition because
the test is done on no-load.
3. We can’t measure the temperature rise when the machine is loaded. Power losses can
vary with the temperature.
4. In DC series motors, the Swinburne’s test cannot be done to find its efficiency as it is
a no load test.

Retardation test:
This method is generally employed to shunt generators and shunt motors. From this method
we can get stary losses. Thus if armature and shunt copper losses at any given load current
are known then efficiency of a machine can be easily estimated.

The connections required for conducting this test are shown in the Fig. 1.
The machine whose test is to be taken is run at a speed which is slightly above its normal
speed. The supply to the motor is cut off while the field is kept excited. The armature
consequently slows down and its kinetic energy is used in supplying the rotational or stray
losses which includes iron, friction and winding loss.
If I is the amount of inertia of the armature ans is the angular velocity.
Kinetic energy of armature = 0.5 Iω2
... Rotational losses, W = Rate of change of kinetic energy

Fig. 1 Retardation test

Angular velocity, ω = (2 πN)/60
 Thus if we if to find the rotational losses, the moment of inertia I and dN/dt must be
known.
These quantities can be found as follows ;-

1. Determination of dN/dt:

The voltmeter V1 which is connected across the armature will read the back e.m.f. of the
motor. We know that back e.m.f. is proportional to speed so that voltmeter is calibrated to
read the speed directly.
When motor is cut off from the supply, the speed decrease in speed is noted with the help
of stop watch. A curve showing variation between time and speed which is obtained from
voltmeter which is suitably calibrated is shown in the Fig. 2.

Fig. 2
At any point C corresponding to normal speed, a tangent AB is drawn. Then

The value obtained from above can be substituted in the expression for W which can give
the rotational looses.

2. Determination of moment of inertia (I):

Method (a) Using Flywheel

The armature supply is cut off and time required for definite change in speed is noted to
draw the corresponding curve as we have drawn in previous case. This curve is drawn
considering only armature of the machine. Now a flywheel with known moment of the inertia
say is I1 keyed onto the shaft and the same curve is drawn again. The slowing down time will
be extended as combined moment of inertia of the two is increased.
For any given speed (dN/dt1) and (dN/dt2) are determined same as previous case. It can
be seen that the losses in both the cases are almost same as addition of flywheel will not make
much difference to the losses.
In the first case where flywheel is not there then,
 Adding the flywheel to the motor armature in second case we get,

Method (b) Without using Flywheel

In this method time is noted for the machine to slow down by say 5 % considering the
armature alone. The a retarding torque either mechanical or electrical is applied. Preferably
electrical retarding torque is applied and time required to slow down by 5% is noted again.
The method by which electrical torque can be provided is shown in the Fig. 1 in which the
switch S after disconnecting from the supply is thrown to terminals 1'2'. The machine then
gets connected to a non-inductive load resistance RL. The power drawn by this resistance will
acts as a retarding torque on the armature which will make it slow more quickly.
The additional loss in the resistance will be equal to product of ammeter reading and the
average reading of the voltmeter (for a fall of 5% of voltmeter reading, the time is noted.)
The ammeter reading is also changing so its average reading is taken. Thus the additional
losses is Ia2 (Ra + R). Let t1 be the time when armature is considered alone and t2 be the time
when armature is connected across a load resistance, V be average voltage across R and Ia be
the average current and W' is additional retarding electrical torque supplied by motor.

If dN i.e. change in speed is same in two cases then

 Here dN/dt1 is rate of change in speed without extra load whereas dN/dt2 is rate change
in speed with extra electrical load which provides retarding torque.