DC GENERATOR LEC 4

LOSSES IN DC GENERATOR

ENGR. ROVENSON V. SEVILLA

LOSSES IN DC GENERATOR
COPPER LOSS
These losses occur in armature and field copper windings. Copper losses consist
of Armature copper loss, Field copper loss and loss due to brush contact
resistance.

Armature copper loss = Ia2Ra

This loss contributes about 30 to 40% to full load losses. The armature copper loss is
variable and depends upon the amount of loading of the machine.

Field copper loss = If2Rf

In the case of a shunt wounded field, field copper loss is practically constant. It
contributes about 20 to 30% to full load losses.

Brush contact resistance also contributes to the copper losses. Generally, this loss is
included into armature copper loss.
IRON LOSS
As the armature core is made of iron and it rotates in a magnetic field, a
small current gets induced in the core itself too. Due to this current, eddy
current loss and hysteresis loss occur in the armature iron core. Iron losses
are also called as Core losses or magnetic losses.

Hysteresis loss

This is due to the reversal of magnetization of the armature core. When the core passes
under one pair of poles, it undergoes one complete cycle of magnetic reversal. The
frequency of magnetic reversal is given by, f=P.N/120 (where, P = no. of poles and N =
Speed in rpm)
The loss depends upon the volume and grade of the iron, frequency of magnetic reversals
and value of flux density.
Wh=ηBmax1.6fV (watts)

where, η = Steinmetz hysteresis Good Dynamo sheet steel 502 J/m3 ; Silicon Steel =191 J/m3 Hard cast steel = 7040 J/m3
constant Cast steel = 750 J/m3 Cast iron = 2700-4000 J/m3
V = volume of the core in m3
Eddy current loss

When the armature core rotates in the magnetic field, an emf is also induced in
the core (just like it induces in armature conductors), according to the Faraday's
law of electromagnetic induction. Though this induced emf is small, it causes a
large current to flow in the body due to the low resistance of the core. This
current is known as eddy current. The power loss due to this current is known as
eddy current loss.

We=KBmax2 f2 t2 V2 (watts)
where, K = eddy current constants
f = frequency
t = thickness of lamination
Bmax = maximum flux density
V = volume of the core in m3
Mechanical Losses

Mechanical losses consist of the losses due to friction in bearings and

commutator. Air friction loss of rotating armature also contributes to these.
These losses are about 10 to 20% of full load losses.

Stray Losses

In addition to the losses stated above, there may be small losses present which are called as
stray losses or miscellaneous losses. These losses are difficult to account. They are usually due to
inaccuracies in the designing and modeling of the machine. Most of the times, stray losses are
assumed to be 1% of the full load.

Stray Power Losses (SPL)

Accumulated losses of Iron losses and mechanical losses. They are considered as constant loss of
dc generator
EFFICIENCY IN DC GENERATOR
Maximum Efficiency
Controlling the voltage in DC Generator
Controlling the voltage in DC Generator
 SAMPLE PROBLEM

1. A 20-kW 220-volt shunt generator has an armature resistance of 0.07 ohm and a
shunt resistance of 200 ohms. Determine the power developed in the armature
when it delivers its rated output.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

2. A 400- kW, 600 volt, d-c shunt generator has an armature resistance of 0.03
ohm. The field resistance is 48 ohms. The stray power loss for this machine at
rated voltage and speed is 7200 watts, What is the maximum efficiency?
SAMPLE PROBLEM

3. A 10 kW, 250 volt, 6 Pole, d-c shunt generator runs at 1000rpm, when delivering
full load. The armature has 534 lap connected conductors. Full load copper loss
is 0.64KW. The total brush drop is 1 volt. Determine the flux per pole. Neglect
shunt current.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

4. A 500V dc shunt motor draws a line current o5 5 Amps, on light load. If the
armature resistance is 0.15 ohm and field resistance is 200 ohms, determine the
efficiency of the machine running as generator, delivering a load of 40 Amp.
SAMPLE PROBLEM

5. In a dc machine, the total iron loss is 8KW at its rated speed and excitation. If
excitation remains the same but speed is reduced by 25%, the iron loss is found to
be 5 KW. Calculate the hysteresis and eddy current losses at a. full speed b. half
speed