Lesson 8.

DC Motors

8.2 Types of DC Motors

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Identify and illustrate the different types of DC Motors

2. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of dc motors

3. Calculate the back emf of the different types of dc motors

Types of DC Motors

1. Separately-Excited Motor

In a separately excited DC motor the field coils are supplied from an independent source, such as a
motor-generator and the field current is unaffected by changes in the armature current. The separately
excited DC motor was sometimes used in DC traction motors (A traction motor is an electric motor used
for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric or hydrogen vehicles, elevators or electric
multiple unit.).

2. Permanent Magnet DC Motor

A permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor is a motor whose poles are made out of permanent magnets to
produce the stator field.
Advantages

- Since no external field circuit is needed, there are no field circuit copper losses.

- Since no field windings are needed, these motors can be considerable smaller.

- Widely used in low power application.

- Field winding is replaced by a permanent magnet (simple construction and less space).

- No requirement on external excitation.

Disadvantages:
- Since permanent magnets produces weaker flux densities then externally supported shunt fields, such
motors have lower induced torque.

- There is always a risk of demagnetization from extensive heating or from armature reaction effects
(Some PMDC motors have windings built into them to prevent this from happening).

2. Shunt Motor

Shunt-wound Brushed DC (SHWDC) motors have the field coil in parallel (shunt) with the armature.

The speed is practically constant independent of the load and therefore suitable for commercial
applications with a low starting load, such as centrifugal pump, machine tools, blowers, fans,
reciprocating pumps, etc.

Advantages
- The current in the field coil and the armature
are independent of one another. as a result,
these motors have excellent speed control.
- Loss of magnetism is not an issue in SHWDC
motors so they are generally more robust than
PMDC motors.
- Speed can be controlled by either inserting a
resistance in series with the armature (decreasing
speed) or by inserting resistance in the field
current (increasing speed).
Disadvantages
- Shunt-wound Brushed DC (SHWDC) motors
have drawbacks in reversing applications,
however, because winding direction relative to
the shunt winding must be reversed when
armature voltage is reversed. Here, reversing
contactors must be used.
Characteristics of Shunt Motors according to field construction

(i) There is slight change in the speed of a shunt motor from no-load to full-load. Hence, it is essentially a
constant-speed motor.
(ii) The starting torque is NOT high because Td α Ia.

Illustrative Examples:

1. A 220V d.c. shunt motor has a 5V brush drop, an armature resistance of 0.2Ω, and a rated armature
current of 40A. Calculate:
(a) the counter-back e.m.f. (EC),
(b) power developed by the armature (Pd) in watts
(c) mechanical power developed by the armature in horsepower.

Solution.

By KVL, the back emf can be calculated, note that 𝑉𝑆 = 𝐼𝑠ℎ 𝑅𝑠ℎ

−𝑉𝑠 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

−220 + (40)(0.2) + 5 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

𝐸𝑏 = 207 𝑉
Power developed in the armature,

𝑃𝑑 = 𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 = (207)(40) = 8,280 𝑊

Power developed in hp
1 ℎ𝑝
𝑃𝑑 = 8,280 𝑊 𝑥 = 11.099 ℎ𝑝
746 𝑊

2. A 4-pole, 220-V shunt motor has 540 lap-wound conductor. It takes 32A from the supply mains and
develops an output power of 5.595 kW. The field winding takes 1A. The armature resistance is 0.09Ω
and the flux per pole is 30 mWb. Calculate
(i) the speed and
(ii) the torque developed in newton-meter.
Solution.

To calculate the back emf, apply KVL

−220 + 𝐼𝑎 (0.09) + 𝐸𝑏 = 0, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑏𝑦 𝐾𝐶𝐿 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑠 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ = 32 − 1 = 31 𝐴

−220 + (31)(0.09) + 𝐸𝑏 = 0
𝐸𝑏 = 217.21 𝑉

Using the equation for the speed

60(𝑎)(𝐸𝑏) 60(1 𝑥 4)(217.21)
𝑁= = = 804.48 𝑟𝑝𝑚
𝑃𝑍∅ (4)(540)(30 𝑥 10−3 )

The torque developed is

𝑃𝑑 (217.21)(31)
𝑇𝑑 = 9.55 ( ) = 9.55 ( ) = 8.37 𝑁𝑚
𝑁 804.48

3. Armature of a 6-pole d.c. shunt motor takes 400A at a speed of 350 r.p.m. The flux per pole is 80
milliWebers, the number of armature turns is 600, and 3% of the torque is lost in windage, friction and
iron-loss. Calculate the brake horsepower.

Solution.

Calculate the back emf

∅𝑃𝑁𝑍 (80 𝑥 10−3 )(6)(350)(600)

𝐸𝑏 = = = 280 𝑉
60𝑎 60 (1 𝑥 6)

The power developed in the armature is

𝑃𝑑 = 𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 = (280)(400) = 112,000 𝑊

The torque lost in windage refers to the rotational lost, therefore

𝑃𝑜 = (97%)(𝑃𝑑 ) = (97%)(112,000) = 108,640 𝑊

The brake horsepower is equal to the Power output in hp

1 ℎ𝑝
𝑃𝑜 (ℎ𝑝) = 108,640 𝑊 𝑥 = 145.63 𝑁𝑚
746 𝑊
3. Series Motor

Series-wound Brushed DC (SWDC) motors have the field coil in series with the armature. These motors
are ideally suited for high-torque applications such as traction vehicles (cranes and hoists, electric trains,
conveyors, elevators, electric cars) because the current in both the stator and armature increases under
load.

Advantages
- The torque is proportional to I2 so it gives the
highest torque per current ratio over all other dc
motors.
Disadvantages
- A drawback to SWDC motors is that they do not
have precise speed control like PMDC and
SHWDC motors have.
- Speed is restricted to 5000 RPM. It must be
avoided to run a series motor with no load
because the motor will accelerate uncontrollably.

Characteristics of a Series Motor according to field construction

(i) It has a high starting torque because initially: 𝑇𝑑 = 𝑘𝐼𝑎2

(ii) It is a variable speed motor. It automatically adjusts the speed as the load changes. Thus if the load
decreases, its speed is automatically raised and vice-versa

(iii) At no-load, the armature current is very small and so is the flux. Hence, the speed rises to an
excessive high value (N α 1/Ø). This is dangerous for the machine which may be destroyed due to
centrifugal forces set up in the rotating parts.

(iv) A series motor should never be started on no-load. However, to start a series motor, mechanical
load is first put and then the motor is started.

Illustrative Examples.

1. A 600-V, 150-HP, 600 r.p.m. d.c. series motor has an armature and series field resistance of 0.12Ω and
0.04Ω, respectively. The full-load current is 200A.
(a) Find the back e.m.f. at full-load.
(b) Find the armature developed power and torque at full-load.

Solution.
Use KVL to calculate the back emf,

−𝑉𝑠 + 𝐼𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑠𝑒 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼𝑠𝑒 = 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑠 = 200 𝐴

−600 + 200(0.04) + 200(0.12) + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

𝐸𝑏 = 568 𝑉

The power developed is,

𝑃𝑑 = 𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 = (568)(200) = 113, 600 𝑊

For the armature torque,

𝑃𝑑 113,600
𝑇𝑎 = 9.55 ( ) = 9.55 ( ) = 1,808.13 𝑁𝑚
𝑁 600

2. Determine developed torque and shaft torque of 220-V, 4-pole series motor with 800 conductors
wave-connected supplying a load of 8.2kW by taking 45A from the mains. The flux per pole is 25 mWb
and its armature circuit resistance is 0.6Ω.

Solution. In this problem, the series field resistance is negligible.

Calculate the back emf using KVL

−𝑉𝑠 + 𝐼𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑠𝑒 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

−220 + (45)(0) + (45)(0.6) + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

𝐸𝑏 = 193 𝑉

Calculate the speed

 60(𝑎)(𝐸𝑏) 60(1 𝑥 4)(193)
𝑁= = = 579 𝑟𝑝𝑚
𝑃𝑍∅ (4)(800)(25 𝑥 10−3 )

For the gross torque or armature torque,

9.55(𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 ) 9.55((193)(45))
𝑇𝑎 = = = 143.25 𝑁𝑚
𝑁 579
For the shaft torque or output torque,
9.55(𝑃𝑜 ) 9.55(8,200)
𝑇𝑠ℎ = = = 135.25 𝑁𝑚
𝑁 579

4. Compound Wound (CWDC)

These motors are a combination of shunt-wound and series-wound motors.

CWDC motors employ both a series and a shunt field. The performance of a CWDC motor is a
combination of SWDC and SHWDC motors. CWDC motors have higher torque than a SHWDC motor
while offering better speed control than SWDC motor. It is used in Applications such as Rolling mills,
sudden temporary loads, heavy machine tools, punches, etc.

Advantages Disadvantages
- This motor has a good starting torque and a - Complex winding connections
stable speed.

Characteristics of Cumulative-Compound Motors

(i) Due to the presence of shunt field, the motor is prevented from running away at no-load.
(ii) Due to the presence of series field, the starting torque is increased.

Characteristics of Compound Motors according to field construction

A compound motor has both series field and shunt field. The shunt field is always stronger than the
series field. Compound motors are of two types:
(i) Cumulative-compound motors in which series field aids the shunt field.
(ii) Differential-compound motors in which series field opposes the shunt field
Note: Differential compound motors are rarely used due to their poor torque characteristics at heavy
loads.

Illustrative Example:

A 50-HP, 600-V compound motor, taking 80 A, operates at a speed of 495 r.p.m. at full-load. If the flux
per pole is 9.1 𝑥 106 Maxwells and the armature resistance is 0.015Ω, the field resistances are 0.006
ohms and 300 ohms. Calculate:

a. Field currents and the armature current

b. the counter emf

c. the rotational loss

Solution. The shunt field resistance is higher than the series field resistance in all cases.

For the field currents,

𝑉𝑠 600
𝐼𝑠ℎ = = =2𝐴 𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼𝑠𝑒 = 𝐼𝑠 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ = 80 − 2 = 78 𝐴
𝑅𝑠ℎ 300

Use KVL for the counter emf,

−𝐼𝑠ℎ 𝑅𝑠ℎ + 𝐼𝑠𝑒 𝑅𝑠𝑒 + 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 + 5 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

−600 + (78)(0.006) + (78)(0.015) + 5 + 𝐸𝑏 = 0

𝐸𝑏 = 593.362 𝑉

For the rotational loss, we subtract the power output from the power developed.
746 𝑊
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡 = 𝑃𝑑 − 𝑃𝑜 = 𝐸𝑏 𝐼𝑎 − 𝑃𝑜 = (593.362)(78) − (50 ℎ𝑝 𝑥 ) = 8,982.236 𝑊
1 ℎ𝑝