Electromechanical Energy Conversion EEE229/EEE223/GEE202

EE229/EEE223/GEE202 – Problem Sheet 6

(Power Electronics used to Control DC Motors)

1. (A permanent magnet DC machine is initially connected to a fixed 24VDC supply and runs up to a
maximum speed of 3800rpm with no load. The machine has an armature resistance of 0.1Ω.
Calculate the speed at which the DC machine rotates if the load torque is increased to 3Nm on the
same 24VDC supply. (You may assume that the bearing friction and aerodynamic drag on the rotor
are negligible).

2. In order to reduce the speed to half of that calculated in Question 1 at the same load torque of 3Nm,
the machine is connected to a single quadrant DC chopper. The DC chopper is switched with a cycle
that corresponds to a switching frequency of 20kHz. Calculate the on-time of the chopper switch to
achieve this new machine operating point.

3. A full four-quadrant H-bridge is used with the same machine and again with the same load of 3Nm.
Calculate the duty cycle if the machine is rotated at the same speed as Question 2 but in the reverse
direction.

4. A permanent magnet brushed DC machine produces a torque of 10Nm with an armature current of
30A. If the machine has an armature resistance, , of 0.12Ω and is connected to a 50V supply,
calculate the following:
(a) The rotational speed of the machine in rpm when produces a torque of 10Nm.
(b) The efficiency of the machine when produces a torque of 10Nm.
(c) The no-load speed when connected to the 50V supply.
(d) The stall torque of the machine when connected to the 50V supply
(e) The machine is now connected to the same 50V supply but via a simple DC chopper which is
switching at 15kHz and is able to apply a controlled voltage to the machine. Calculate the on-time
of the chopper switch if the machine is required to deliver 10Nm at 60% of the speed calculated
in part (a).
(f) A full four-quadrant H-bridge is used with the same machine and again with the same load of
10Nm. Calculate the duty cycle if the machine is rotated at the same speed as part (e) but in the
reverse direction.

Numerical solutions:

1. 3008rpm
2. 30µs
3. 0.198
4. (a) 1330rpm; (b) 92.8%; (c) 1434rpm; (d) 138.8Nm; (e) 41.9 µs; (f) 0.186