DC MOTORS

A Review
Classification of DC Motors
DC drives are most commonly used for the applications where variable speed,
good speed regulations and repeated starting, braking, and reversal of speed
are required. Some of common applications are machine tools, paper mills,
rolling mills, traction etc.

These motors are classified as:

1. Separately Excited
2. Self Excited
Self- Excited
There is further classification;

A. Shunt- field winding is connected across the armature, independent control of

armature and field voltage made possible by inserting a variable resistor in
armature/field circuit. Less efficient method.
B. Series- field winding is connected in series with the armature, independent
field and armature control is difficult task because field winding is same as
armature current. Diverter/tappings are used for speed control.
C. Compound- some turns of field winding are connected in series with the
armature whereas large number of turns are connected across armature. At
low load, it behave shunt type; at high load, it behave to some extent as
series type. Suitable for intermittent nature of load. Generally, cumulative
compound type motor is used.
Separately Excited
For this type of motor, the field and armature windings are
connected with separate dc sources, hence, the independent
control of armature/ field voltage is possible and this is the main
advantage of this configuration. Generally, this type of motor is
used when it is fed with power electronic converters.

Armature controlled- flux is kept constant, speed control up to

base speed, speed increase with armature voltage

Field controlled- armature voltage is kept constant, field voltage is

varied, speed inversely proportional to flux.