Direct Current Motors: Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering Department

Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

BatStateU Alangilan
Alangilan, Batangas City
College of Engineering, Architecture and Fine Arts
https://batstate-u.edu.ph/, Tel. No. (043) 425-0139 loc. 118/2121
Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering Department
DIRECT CURRENT MOTORS
INTRODUCTION
Direct current motors are seldom used in ordinary applications because all electric
supply companies furnish alternating current However, for special applications such as in steel
mills, mines, and electric trains, it is advantageous to convert alternating current into direct
current to use DC motors. The reason is that speed/torque characteristics of DC motors are
much more superior to that of AC motors. Therefore, it is not surprising to note that for
industrial drives, DC motors are as popular as 3-phase induction motors. Like DC generators, DC
motors are also of three types, series-wound, shunt-wound and compound- wound. The use of
a particular motor depends upon the mechanical load it must drive.
DC MOTOR PRINCIPLE
A machine that converts DC electrical power into mechanical power is known as a DC
motor. Its operation is based on the principle that when a current carrying conductor is placed
in a magnetic field, the conductor experiences a mechanical force. The direction of this force is
given by Fleming’s left-hand rule and magnitude is given by:
F=BIlnewtons
Basically, there is no constructional difference between a DC motor and a DC generator. The
same DC machine can be run as a generator or motor.
WORKING OF DC MOTOR
Consider a part of a multipolar DC motor as shown Fig. 1. When the terminals of the
motor are connected to an external source of DC supply:
1. the field magnets are excited developing alternate N and S poles.
2. the armature conductors carry ^currents. All conductors under N-pole carry
currents in one direction while all the conductors under S-pole carry currents in
the opposite direction.
Suppose the conductors under N-pole carry currents
into the plane of the paper and those under S-pole carry
currents out of the plane of the paper as shown in Fig. 1.
Since each armature conductor is carrying current and is
placed in the magnetic field, mechanical force acts on it.
Referring to Fig. 1 and applying Fleming’s left-hand rule, the
force on each conductor is tending to rotate the armature in
Fig. 1
anticlockwise direction. All these forces add together to
produce a driving torque which sets the armature rotating.
When the conductor moves from one side of a brush to the other, the current in that
conductor is reversed and at the same time it comes under the influence of next pole which is
of opposite polarity. Consequently, the direction of force on the conductor remains the same.
BACK OR COUNTER EMF

When the armature of a DC motor rotates under the influence of the driving torque, the
armature conductors move through the magnetic field and hence emf is induced in them
1 | Page A.Y. 2020-2021, Second Semester, EE-
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as in a generator. The induced emf acts in opposite direction to the applied voltage V(Lenz’s
law) and in known as back or counter emf (Eb). The back emf
ZϕN P
E B= ( )
60 a
is always less than the applied voltage V, although

this difference is small when the motor is running
under normal conditions.
Consider a shunt wound motor shown.
When DC voltage V is applied across the motor
terminals, the field magnets are excited and
armature conductors are supplied with current.
Fig. 2
Therefore, driving torque acts on the armature
which begins to rotate. As the armature rotates, back emf Eb is induced which opposes the
applied voltage. The applied voltage has to force the current through the armature against the
back emf Eb. The electric work done in overcoming and causing the current to flow against Eb
is converted into mechanical energy developed in the armature. It follows, therefore, that
energy conversion in a DC motor is only possible due to the production of back emf Eb.
Therefore, the net voltage across the armature is,
V −E B
and if Ra is the armature resistance, then
V −E B
I a=
Ra
Since V and Eb are usually fixed, the value of Eb will determine the current drawn by the
motor. If the speed of the motor is high, then Eb is large and hence the motor will draw less
armature current.
SIGNIFICANCE OF BACK EMF

The presence of back emf makes the DC motor a self-regulating machine i.e., it makes
the motor to draw as much armature current as is just sufficient to develop the torque
required by the load.
Armature current,
V −E B
I a=
Ra
1. When the motor is running on no load, small torque is required to overcome the
friction and windage losses. Therefore, the armature current Ia is small and the
back emf is nearly equal to the applied voltage.
2. If the motor is suddenly loaded, the first effect is to cause the armature to slow
down. Therefore, the speed at which the armature conductors move through the
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field is reduced and hence the back emf Eb falls. The decreased back emf allows a
larger current to flow through the armature and larger current means increased
driving torque. Thus, the driving torque increases as the motor slows down. The
motor will stop slowing down when the armature current is just sufficient to
produce the increased torque required by the load.
3. If the load on the motor is decreased, the driving torque is momentarily more than
the requirement so that armature is accelerated. As the armature speed increases,
the Eb also increases and causes the armature current Ia to decrease. The motor
will stop accelerating when the armature current is just sufficient to produce the
reduced torque required by the load.
It follows, therefore, that back emf in a DC motor regulates the flow of armature current that
is, it automatically changes the armature current to meet the load requirement.
TYPES OF DC MOTORS
Like generators, there are three types of DC motors characterized by the connections
of field winding in relation to the armature:
1. Shunt-wound motor in which the

field winding is connected in parallel
with the armature. The current
through the shunt field winding is
not the same as the armature
current. Shunt field windings are
designed to produce the necessary
magnetomotive force by means of a
relatively large number of turns of
wire having high resistance.
Therefore, shunt field current is
relatively small compared with the
armature current.
2. Series-wound motor in which the

field winding is connected in series
with the armature. Therefore, series
field winding carries the armature
current. Since the current passing
through a series field winding is the
same as the armature current, series
field windings must be designed with
much fewer turns than shunt field
windings for the same
magnetomotive force. Therefore, a
series field winding has a relatively small number of turns of thick wire and, therefore,
will possess a low resistance.

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3. Compound-wound motor which has two field windings, one connected in parallel with
the armature and the other in series with it. There are two types of compound motor
connections (like generators). When the shunt field winding is directly connected across
the armature terminals, it is called short-shunt connection. When the shunt winding is
so connected that it shunts the series combination of armature and series field, it is
called long-shunt connection.
ARMATURE TORQUE OF DC MOTOR

Torque is the turning moment of a force about an axis and is measured by the
product of force (F) and radius (r) at right angle to which the force acts.
T =F × r
In a DC motor, each conductor is acted upon by a

circumferential force F at a distance r, the radius of the
armature. Therefore, each conductor exerts a torque,
tending to rotate the armature. The sum of the torques
due to all armature conductors is known as gross or
armature torque (Ta).
Let: Fig. 3
r – average radius of armature in m
I – effective length of each conductor in m
Z – total number of armature conductors
a – number of parallel paths
Ia
i – current in each conductor ¿
a
B – average flux density in Wb/m2
φ – flux per pole in Wb
P – number of poles
Say the force on each conductor is

F=Bi l
The torque due to one conductor is
F=Z ×r
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There for the armature torque is defined as

F=Z × F × r
T a=Z B il r
Now,
Ia
i=
a
and
∅
B=
A
where A is the cross-sectional areal of the flux path per pole at radius r
∅ I
T a=Z × ( )( )
A
× a ×l ×r
a
∅ I
T a=Z ×
( )
2 πrl a ( )
× a × l× r
P
Ia
T a=Z × ( 2∅π ) × ( a ) N ∙ m
Z ∅ Ia P
T a=
2π a ( )
N ∙m
Since Z, P and a are constant for a given machine,
T a=k ∅ I a
Hence, the torque in a DC motor is directly proportional to flux per pole and armature current.
1. For shunt motor, the flux is practically constant.
T a∝ ∅ I a
2. For series motor, flux is directly proportional to the armature current provided that
the magnetic saturation does not take place.
T a ∝ I a2
Alternative expression of Ta
ZϕN P
E B=
60 a ( )
PϕZ 60 E B
k= =
60 a N
Therefore,
EB I a
T a=9.55 × N ∙m
N

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SHAFT TORQUE (Tsh)

The torque which is available at the motor shaft for doing
useful work is known as shaft torque. It is represented by Tsh. Figure
4 illustrates the concept of shaft torque. The total or gross torque Ta
developed in the armature of a motor is not available at the shaft
because a part of it is lost in overcoming the iron and frictional losses
in the motor. Therefore, shaft torque Tsh is somewhat less than the Fig. 3
armature torque Ta. The difference Ta – Tsh is called lost torque.
Clearly,
Iron∧Friction Losses
T a−T sh=9.55 ×
N
As stated above, it is the shaft torque that produces the useful output. If the speed of the
motor in rpm, then
2 πN T sh
Output ∈Watts=
60
Output ∈Watts
T sh=
2 πN
60
Output ∈Watts
T sh=9.55 ×
N
BREAK HORSEPOWER
The horsepower developed by the shaft torque is known as brake horsepower (B.H.P.).
If the motor is running at N rpm and the shaft torque is Tsh N-m, then,
2 πN T sh
BHP=
44760
SPEED OF A DC MOTOR
In a DC Motor, the speed id directly proportional to the back emf and inversely
proportional to the flux per pole.
V −E B
I a=
Ra
E B=V −I a Ra
Since
ZϕN P
E B= ( )
60 a
Then
ZϕN P
60 a ( )
=V −I a Ra
N= ( V −Iϕ R ) 60PZa
a a

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N=k ( V −Iϕ R )
a a
Then,
EB
N=k ( )
ϕ
Therefore,
EB
N∝
ϕ
SPEED RELATIONS
If a DC motor has initial values of speed, flux per pole and back emf as N1, ϕ1 and EB1
respectively, and the corresponding final values are N2, ϕ2 and EB2 then,
N 2 EB 2 ϕ1
= ( )( )
N 1 EB 1 ϕ2
For shunt motors, the flux practically remains constant so that ϕ1 = ϕ2
N 2 EB2
=
N1 EB1
For series motor, ϕ ∝ Ia prior to saturation of the Magnetic Field
N 2 EB 2 Ia1
= ( )( )
N 1 EB 1 Ia2
SPEED REGULATION
The speed regulation of a motor is the change in speed from full – load to no – load
and is expressed as a percentage of the speed at full – load.
Nl speed−FL speed
%NR=
FL speed
TORQUE AND SPEED OF A DC MOTOR

For any motor, the torque and speed are very important factors. When the torque
increases, the speed of a motor increases and vice-versa. We have seen that for a DC motor:
N=k ( V −Iϕ R )=k ( Eϕ )(i)

a a B
T a=k ∅ I a (ii)
If the flux decreases, from Eq.(i), the motor speed increases but from Eq.(ii) the motor
torque decreases. This is not possible because the increase in motor speed must be the result
of increased torque. Indeed, it is so in this case. When the flux decreases slightly, the
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armature current increases to a large value. As a result, despite the weakened field, the
torque is momentarily increased to a high value and will exceed considerably the value
corresponding to the load. The surplus torque available causes the motor to accelerate and
back emf to rise. Steady conditions of speed will ultimately be achieved when back emf
has risen to such a value that armature current develops torque just sufficient to drive the
load.
Sample Problems
1. A 4-pole, 220V shunt motor has 540 lap-wound conductors. It takes 32A from the supply mains
and develop output power of 5.595 kW. The field winding takes 1A. The armature resistance is
0.09 ohm and the flux per pole is 30 mWb. Calculate (a) the speed and (b) the torque developed
in. (804.4rpm and 66.5 N-m)
2. A 220V shunt motor driving its normal load draws an armature current of 50A. The armature
resistance of this motor including brushes is 0.25 ohm. How much armature current will this
motor draw from a 200V DC source when driving the same load with the field adjusted to
maintain the same speed.
3. A DC series motor takes 40A at 220V and runs at 800rpm. If the armature and filed resistance
are 0.2 ohm and 0.1 ohm respectively and the iron and friction losses are 500W, find the torque
developed in the armature.
4. A 4-pole, 240V, wave connected shunt motor gives 11.190 kW when running at 1000 rpm and
drawing armature and field currents of 50A and 1.0A respectively. It has 540 conductors. Its
armature resistance is 0.1 ohm. Assuming 1 volt per brush drop contact, find the total torque,
useful torque and the useful flux per pole.
5. A shunt motor draws a current of 40A from a 120V source and runs at 1200 rpm at rated load.
The armature and filed circuit resistances are 0.1 oh and 60 ohms, respectively. Determine the
speed of the motor at half load. Assume a brush drop of 2V at rated load and 1V at half load.
6. The nameplate rating of a shunt motor is 150Hp, 600 volts, 205A, 1700 rpm. The resistance of
the shunt filed circuit is 240 ohms and the total armature circuit resistance is 0.15 ohm. If the
motor is to deliver full-load torque at 1200 rpm, what value of resistance must be added to the
armature circuit?
7. The shunt motor, which has filed resistance of 220 ohms and an armature resistance of 0.8
ohms takes 26A from a 260V supply when running at 500 rpm on full load. To control the speed
of the motor a 1.2-ohm resistor is connected in series with the armature. Calculate the speed of
at which the motor will run when supplying full load torque.
8. A 220V series motor takes 15A and runs at 700 rpm. The armature resistance including the
resistance of the series winding is 0.8 ohm. At what speed will it run if a 2-ohm resistance is
connected in series with the supply voltage? Assume the motor is taking the same current.
9. The equivalent armature resistance of a series motor is 0.1 ohm. When connected across a 110V
mains, the armature takes 20A and its speed is 1000 rpm. Determine the speed when the
armature takes 50A from the same mains with the filed increased by 10%
10. A 400V series motor has a filed resistance of 0.2 ohms and an armature resistance of 0.1 ohm.
The motor takes 30A of current at 1000 rpm while developing full load torque. What is the
motor speed when this motor develops 60% of the full load torque?
11. The resistance of each of the two coils of a series motor is 0.04 ohm, armature resistance, 0.04
ohm. The motor tales 50A at 100V while running at 800 rpm and the coils are inn series. What
will be the speed if the coils are reconnected in parallel while the load torque is doubled?
12. A 220V DC motor has an armature resistance of 0.4 ohm, shunt field resistance of 175 ohms and
a series field of 4 ohms. The machine is connected as a short shunt compound motor to 220V
mains. Calculate the power developed by the armature id the armature current is 30A. Neglect
the brush drop.

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EFFICIENCY OF A DC MOTOR
Like a DC generator, the efficiency of a DC motor is the ratio of output power to the
input power. The various stages of energy transformation in a motor and the losses occurring
in each stage are shown in the figure below.
Mechanical Output Power

ηoverall =
Electrical Input Power
Pout Pout
ηoverall = =
P¿ P out + P losses
Plosses=P constant + PVariable =[ Pcore + Pfeild + PStary Loss + P FW ] + [ P Cu + Pbrush ]
Pcore=P eddy + Physteresis
Sample Problems:
1. The field and armature resistances of a 220V series motor are 0.2ohm and 0.1ohm, respectively.
The motor takes 30A of current while running at 700rpm. If the total iron and friction losses are
350W, determine the motor efficiency.
2. A 6-pole, 500V wave-connected shunt motor has 1200 armature conductors and useful flux per
pole of 20mWb. It draws a current of 20A from the supply mains. The armature and field
resistance are 0.05ohm and 250ohms, respectively. If the magnetic and mechanical losses
amount to 900W, find the efficiency of the motor at this load.
3. A long shunt compound motor takes a current of 42A from a 230V source. The generator
parameters are: Ra = 2.0 ohms. Rsh = 460 ohms and R se = 0.25 ohms. If the friction and windage
losses amount to 400W, determine the overall efficiency of the motor.
4. A 20hp (14.92kW), 230V, 1150 rpm, 4-pole DC shunt motor has a total of 620 conductors
arranged in two parallel paths and yielding an armature circuit resistance of 0.2ohm. When it
delivers rated power and speed, it draws a line current of 74.8A and a field current of 3A.
Calculate the (a) rotational losses and (b) total losses of the motor and (c) motor efficiency.

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Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering Department