Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for DC/AC Machinery

Experiment No. 4
THE DC SHUNT MOTOR

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between the speed, the output power and the efficiency of
a DC shunt motor and the torque produced by the motor

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The output characteristics of a shunt motor can be derived from the induced voltage and
torque equations of the motor plus Kirchhoff’s voltage law. The Kirchhoff’s voltage law
equation for the shunt motor is

VL = Eg +IaRa Eq. 4.1

where VL is the terminal voltage applied to the motor, Eg is the internally generated voltage
and IaRa is the voltage drop due to the resistance of the armature. The induced voltage Eg =
Zpφn/60a = kφn where k is due to the values of Z, p and a of the given motor, so

VL = kφn +IaRa Eq. 4.2

Since the induced torque T = kφIa, current Ia can be expressed as

Ia = T/kφ Eq. 4.3

Combining Equations 4.2 and 4.3 produces

VL = kφn + kRa/kφ Eq. 4.4

Finally, solving for the motor’s speed yields

n = VL/kφ – RaT/(kφ)2 Eq. 4.5

Equation 5.5 is a linear equation with a negative slope whose graph is similar to the
example in Figure 4.1. Furthermore, it can be seen that the speed is inversely proportional
to the flux per pole φ and directly proportional to V L. If we increase the shunt field current If
of the motor to increase φ, the speed will decrease. Decreasing I f to reduce φ will increase
the speed. If VL and φ or If are held constant, then Ia or T will affect the speed as changes in
mechanical load connected to the motor is varied. An increase in Ia will decrease the speed
while a decrease in load to the motor will reduce I a and therefore the speed will increase.
When a shunt motor is made to drive a load, the armature current automatically increases
until its value is such as to produce a torque sufficient to overcome the load.

EQUIPMENT INITIAL SETTINGS (double check)

FH2 MkIV Test Bend Speed Range: 1800 rev/min

DC Supply: 110 V

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START/STOP/RUN: Switch to Run

Armature Rheostat to infinity (∞)
External/Internal Torque Switch to INT
Torque Reverse Switch to give positive
meter deflection
Torque Meter Range to 2.5 N-m
Brake Torque Control to minimum

FH50 DC Compound Machine Prime Mover – DC Motor

FH2 MkIV Instrumentation Frame
V2 DC Voltmeter 150 V Range
A2 DC Ammeter 250 mA (Af) Range/1.5 A Range (AL)

PROCEDURES:

1. Position the FH50 Mimic Diagram over the Machine Access Sockets of the FH2
MkIV Test Bed. Mount the FH50 into the right-hand machine position and insert the
16-way plugs into the adjacent socket.

2. Set up the equipment and connect the wiring diagram as shown in Fig. 4.1(a) or Fig.
4.1(b) and then switch on the power to the FH2 MkIV, first at the Main Switch and
then press the Green ON push button to activate the contactor.

3. Start the motor by rotating the FH2 MKIV Armature Rheostat to zero and increase
the brake control until the motor develops an indicated torque of 0.4 N-m. Allow the
motor to warm up for approximately 10 minutes.

4. Increase the brake control so that the motor nearly stalls and then return it to the
minimum setting.

5. Adjust the motor supply voltage VL to 110 V and maintain this constant.

6. In steps, as indicated in the Results Table, increase the torque on the motor and
record the corresponding values of torque, speed, current and voltage. The 0.5 N-m
Torque Meter range will be appropriate for most readings.

7. Record the results in Table 4.1.

8. Plot graphs of the armature current, efficiency and speed against torque.

Note:
DO NOT allow the motor to run without a load, minimum of 0.5 N-m, otherwise the motor
may seriously over-speed and could disintegrate.

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CALCULATIONS

Calculate armature power, field power, input power, output power and efficiency using
the following relationships:

Shaft (Output Power) = 2π × speed (rpm) × Torque (n-m) / 60

Input Power = VL × IL
Field Power = VL × If
Armature Power = VL × Ia
Efficiency (p.u.) = (Output Power)/(Input Power)

WIRING DIAGRAM

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

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Applicable Equations:

VL = Eg + IARA IL = IA + If

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS

1. What is the speed regulation of a motor?

2. How can the speed of a shunt motor be controlled? Explain in detail.

3. What is the principal difference between a separately excited shunt and shunt DC
motor?

4. What effects does armature reaction have on the torque-speed characteristics of a

shunt DC motor? Can the effects of armature reaction be serious? What can be done
to remedy these problems?

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Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for DC/AC Machinery

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Experiment 4 - THE DC SHUNT MOTOR

NAME: ______________________________ DATE: ________________

COURSE/SECTION: __________________ GROUP NO.: __________

Table 4.1 Measured Values

Trial Torque Speed Armature Field Supply
(N-m) (rpm) Current, Ia Current, If Voltage (VL)

Table 4.2 Calculated Values

Armature Field Input Output Efficiency
Trial
Power (W) Power (W) Power (W) Power (W) (p.u.)

_________________________
Instructor’s Signature

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