PRACTICAL ACTVITY 2 - SHUNT-FIELD SELF-EXCITED

DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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Group no. Course Name: DC-AC Machinery
Group Members Course Code:
1) Course Instructor: Engr. FD Milan
2) Date:
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Lead Team:

I. PRINCIPLES AND DISCUSSION:

A shunt field DC motor is a self-excited DC machine which has field windings that are
connected in parallel to the armature winding of the motor. As these two parts are
connected in parallel, the armature and field windings are exposed to the same supply
voltage. The shunt winding is made up of many turns of small copper wire and since it is
connected across the DC field supply, its field current will be constant.

Figure 1. A Shunt-Field DC Motor

Figure 2. Shunt-Field Winding is Connected

Across the Supply Line

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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The total circuit current of the dc motor with shunt field excitation is given by the
equation IL = Ish + Ia while the circuit voltage is given below,

V = Eb + ( Ia) (Ra + Rb) = (Ish) (Rsh), volts

Where: Ra + Rb = armature and brush contact resistance, ohm

Rs = series field coil resistance, ohm
V = supply / terminal voltage, volts
Eb = counter emf,
IL = line current, amp
Ish = shunt-field excitation current, amp
Ia = armature current, amp

Operating Characteristics: Two factors are important when selecting a motor for
particular applications: (1) the variation of the speed with a change in load, and (2) the
variation of torque with a change in load. A dc shunt motor is basically a constant-speed
device. The dc shunt motor is basically a constant-speed device. If a load applied, the
motor “tends” to slow down. The slight loss in speed reduces the counter emf and results
in an increase of the armature current. This action continues until the increased current
produces enough the torque to meet the demands of the increased load. As a result, the
shunt motor reaches a state of stable equilibrium because a change of load always
produces reaction that adapts the power input to the change in load. This is so noted on
the nameplate of the motor by the terms “compensated shunt motor” or “stabilized shunt
motor”.
Varying the Speed: The dc shunt motor has excellent speed control. The motor can be
operated above its rated speed by reducing the field excitation current in the shunt file
winding as well as the field flux. For the speed below the rated value, reduce the voltage
applied to the armature circuit. Electronic speed control systems are used extensively in
dc motor. Speeds above rated value are achieved by reducing the field voltage
electronically, and speeds below rated value reduce the armature voltage.
Speed Regulation: The speed regulation of shunt dc motor drops from 5 to 10% from
the no-load to full-load condition. As a result, the shunt motor is superior to the series dc
motor, but is inferior to compound dc motor.
Torque: The dc shunt motor has a high starting torque at different speed. At start-up
condition, the motor develops 150% of its rated torque if the starting controller is capable
to withstand the heating effects of the current. For very short periods of time, the motor
an develop 350% of the full-load torque, if necessary.
Reversing the Rotation of Armature: The direction of armature rotation may be
changed by reversing the direction of current either the field circuit or the armature circuit.
For a motor with simple shunt field circuit, it may be convenient to reverse the filed circuit
terminal leads.

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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If the motor has a series winding, or an interpole winding to counteract armature reaction,
the same “relative” direction of current must be maintained in the shunt and series
winding. For this reason, it is always safer to reverse the direction of just the armature
current.
Back EMF in DC Shunt Motor Whenever the DC shunt motor’s armature winding
rotates within the magnetic field which is generated by the field winding. Thus, an EMF
can be stimulated within the armature winding based on the Faradays law
(electromagnetic induction). Although, according to Lenz’s law, the induced EMF can
act within reverse direction toward the armature voltage supply. Thus, this EMF is
named as the back EMF, and it is represented with Eb

Eb = P ØNZ) / 60 A, volts
Eb = K Ø N, volts
Where: K = Z P / 60 A
A = Parallel path of armature conductors
P = No. of Poles
Z = Total no. of armature conductors

Since the element of K are fixed component of the DC motor then this can be represented
as design constant or K = 1.3 x 10 (-7).

Shunt motors are utilized in applications where a constant speed is required. Centrifugal
pumps, weaving and lathe machines, lifts, fans, blowers, spinning machines, conveyors,
and other applications use shunt DC motors.

Shunt DC Motors Speed Control Despite the load changes, shunt motors can maintain
their constant speed. As the load increases the armature slows down its speed. This
results in less back electromagnetic force. This less back EMF accounts for less
opposition against the supplied voltage. So, the motor will draw more current. This
increase in current leads to an increase in torque to gain speed. so, if the load increases,
the net effect of load on speed in a Shunt motor is almost zero. When the load decreases,
the armature moves faster and creates more back EMF because the polarity of the back
EMF is against the supply voltage, load reduction causes less current and hence the
speed remains constant.

II. SIMULATION ACTIVITY:

A simulation dynamic test was conducted for the shunt-field DC motor to determine the
electro-mechanical characteristic through the applied force (F) of 6.5N and the varying
arm length (b). This force (F) was used to determine the simulated torque (M) relative to
the given arm length as reflected in Table 2.2 using the equation below.
[ M = F x b] Newton-meter

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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III. OBJECTIVE:
ii.

The shunt-field winding and armature resistance is 10.5 ohms and 0.20 ohm respectively.
The carbon brush contact voltage drop was found to at 1.5 volts. The DC motor has
design constant of 1.3 x 10 (exp) -7.
For simulation purposes, it is an objective to verify the electro-mechanical characteristic
through the following parameters of this shunt-field DC motor.
Table 2.1 – Data and Specifications
Item Parameter
DC Motor Type Shunt-Field DC Motor
Voltage 12 V
Speed 545 RPM
Rated efficiency 90.5%
Flux per pole 5.5 x 10 (exp) 5 Maxwells
Design constant (K) 1.30 x 10(exp) -7
Armature resistance 0.20 ohm
Brush voltage drop 1.5 V
Shunt-filed winding resistance 10.5 ohms

2.1 In the objective to verify the electro-mechanical characteristics of the shunt-field

DC motor, the following preliminary information must be evaluated first.
2.1.1 Induced voltage (Eb) in the armature, Eb = KØ N, volts
2.1.2 Armature current (Ia), I a = [ (V – Eb – Vbc ) / Ra ], Amp.
2.1.3 Shunt-field current (Ish) I sh = V / Rsh, Amp.
2.1.4 Supply line current (IL) IL = Ia + I sh, Amp

2.2 Verify the following preliminary data and record it in Table 2.3 i.e. input power,
output power at rated torque of the motor based on rated efficiency.
2.3 Calculate the equivalent torque based on the given arm length and record the data
in Table 2.3. Note that the default force (F) is 6.5N.
2.4 Evaluate the shaft output power (Po) of the motor through the simulated torque at
constant speed using the equation below and record the data in Table 2.3. Do the
same procedure on the succeeding trials.
[ P out = 0.1047 (N) (T) ], watts
2.5 Calculate the percentage efficiency of the shunt DC motor using the equation
below and record the data in Table 2.3
% Efficiency = [ Pout / P in ] x 100%
P in = (VL) (IL), watts

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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2.5 Illustrate the electro-mechanical characteristic graph of the shunt DC motor based
on simulated torque as indicated in Table 2.3
2.5.1 Speed vs. Torque
2.5.2 Efficiency vs. Torque
2.5.3 Pout vs. Torque
2.6 Then interpret the graph.

IV. DATA AND RESULTS:

Table 2.2 – Preliminary Data Summary

Line Counter Armature Shunt Field Line Power Input, Rated

Voltage, EMF, Current, Current, Current, Pi Torque,
(Volts) (Volts) (Ia), (Ish), (IL), Amp Watts M
Amp Amp (N-m)

Table 2.3 – Simulated Output Power and Efficiency of Shunt DC Motor on Varying Torque
Applied Applied Arm Equivalent Speed (N) Output Equivalent
Force (F) Length (b) Torque(M) (RPM) Power (Po) Efficiency, η
Newton (m) (N-m) (Watts) (%)
6.5 N 0.5 545
6.5 N 0.7 545
6.5 N 0.9 545
6.5 N 1.1 545
6.5 N 1.3 545
6.5 N 1.5 545
6.5 N 1.7 545
6.5 N 1.9 545
6.5 N 2.1 545
6.5 N 2.3 545

V. COMPUTATIONS:
(Show calculations based on Table 2.2 and Table 2.3 in a separate sheet)

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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VII. GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION

Figure 2 – Graph of Power Output (Pout) as a function of varying Torque

Figure 3 – Graph of Efficiency (η) as a function of Power Output (Pout)

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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VIII. NTERPRETATION OF DATA AND RESULT:

IX. CONCLUSION:

X. QUESTION(S) / PROLEM(S):

10.1 Explain the implication of induced voltage (back EMF) in the operation of DC
motor?
10.2 Differentiate the main characteristics between the shunt-field and series-field DC
motors.
10.3 What is the main purpose of commutating winding in dc shunt motor and how it
is being connected in the motor circuit?
10.4 Illustrate how a speed meter (tachometer) used in measuring the speed of a DC
motor?
10.5 A 35Hp, 225.35 volts DC shunt motor draws 135 amperes at full load and
operates at 1893 rpm. The field and armature resistances are 300 ohms and 0.3
ohm respectively. Neglect the effect of armature reaction. What will be the speed
when the generated torque is 90 lbs-ft?

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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X1. ANSWERS:

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DC MOTOR CHARACTERISTICS
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