EE 2312 / ME 2613:

AC and DC Machinery /
Electrical Machines 1
INSTRUCTOR: KEVIN LESTER B. LOBO
Generated Voltage of a
DC generator
Faraday’s Law
Second Law of Electromagnetic Induction:
“The magnitude of the generated voltage is directly proportional
to the rate at which a conductor cuts magnetic lines of force.”

When a conductor moves at a constant speed across a uniformly dense magnetic field,
“1-volt is generated for every 100,000,000 (or 108) lines cut per second”

If the flux density is not constant, the average generated voltage per conductor will be:
∅
𝐸𝑎𝑣𝑒 = (volt/conductor)
𝑡 × 108
Principle of Generator Action
Given the total number of conductors, the average generated voltage will be:
∅
𝐸𝑎𝑣𝑒 = ∗𝑍 (Volt)
𝑡 × 108

where: (unit)
𝐸𝑎𝑣𝑒 average generated voltage in a conductor Volt
∅ total flux cut Maxwell
rate of cutting of flux (for rotating conductor, it is the
𝑡 second/rev
time to make 1 complete revolution)
Z total number of conductors conductor
 Did you know?
A measuring device that measures
magnetic flux, ∅ of a magnet
system or single magnet is called a
Flux meter.

https://www.list-magnetik.com/en/magnetic-measuring/fluxmeter-fl-4
Example
A 4-pole DC generator has an armature winding containing a total of 648 conductors connected in
2-parallel paths. If the flux per pole is 0.321*106 Maxwell and the speed of rotation is 1,800-rpm;
calculate the average generated voltage. Answer: 124.8-V
Note: The total number of conductors are distributed equally in total number of parallel paths.
Thus, the general formula becomes:

∅ 𝑍
𝐸𝑎𝑣𝑒 = ∗ (Volt)
where: 𝑡 × 108 𝑎 (unit)
𝐸𝑎𝑣𝑒 average generated voltage in a conductor Volt
∅ total flux cut Maxwell
rate of cutting of flux (for rotating conductor, it is the
𝑡 second/rev
time it takes to make 1 complete revolution)
Z total number of conductors conductor
𝑎 number of armature paths is parallel path
# of Conductors vs. # of Parallel Paths
NOTE:
The generated voltage is determined only by the “strings” of conductors joined in series and not by
the number of parallel paths through the current may pass.

The situation existing in a generator with regards to voltage and current is analogous to dry-cell
connections.

Example: If voltage and current ratings of 1.5 volts and 5 amperes are assured per cell, determine the
relative power ratings of 120 cells connected when the number of parallel paths is: a) 2, b) 4, c) 6, d) 8

The power rating is independent of the manner in which the cells or conductors are connected.
General Voltage Equation for DC
Generator
Most of the time, in the nameplate of most machines where the specification
and ratings are found; the given values are:
• No. of Poles
∅𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 𝑃 ∗ ∅𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑒
• Flux per pole

1 60𝑠𝑒𝑐
• Speed of rotation, N (rev/min or rpm) t= ∗
𝑁 1𝑚𝑖𝑛

• No. of Parallel paths, a (or type of armature winding) 𝑍

𝑍𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
• Total no. of conductors 𝑎
 General Voltage Equation for DC
Generator
𝑃×∅×𝑁×𝑍
𝐸𝑔 = × 10−8 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑠
𝑎×60
Where: 𝐸𝑔 Total generated voltage Volts
∅ Flux per pole Maxwell
𝑃 Number of poles, an even number poles
𝑁 Speed of rotation of the armature rpm
𝑍 Total number of armature conductors effectively used to add to conductors
resulting voltage
𝑎 Number of armature paths connected in parallel (determined by unitless
the type of armature winding)
Note: If the flux per pole is given in Webber (Wb); the *10-8 is omitted
Armature Winding
THE NUMBER OF PARALLEL PATHS
Types of Armature Windings
I. Lap winding
• Forms a loop as it expands around the
armature core.

II. Wave winding

• Forms a wave as it expands around the
armature core.

III. Frog-Leg winding

• Combination of lap and wave coil windings.
 Lap Winding
➢ In this winding, the coil ends of each
armature coil (start and end) is connected
to adjacent commutator segments.
➢ The finishing end of one coil is situated
under the same pair of poles of the starting
end of the next coil.
➢ The number parallel paths and brushes is
equal to the number of poles.
➢ This type of winding is used for high-current
and low-voltage rating generators.

https://circuitglobe.com/lap-and-wave-winding.html
 Wave Winding
➢ In this winding, the coil ends of each
armature coil (start and end) is separated
by the distance between two pairs of poles.
➢ The finishing end of the one coil is
connected to the starting end of the next
armature coil situated under different pairs
of poles.
➢ The number parallel paths and brushes is
always 2.
➢ This type of winding is used for low-current
and high-voltage rating generators.

https://circuitglobe.com/lap-and-wave-winding.html
Number of Parallel Paths, a
Machine’s “Plex” Value:
▪ The number of revolutions it takes to fill
the slots in the armature before
terminating in a commutator segment.
▪ Increases the number of parallel paths of
lap and wave armature windings by a
multiplicity factor that is equal to the
number of revolutions made.
Multiplicity Factor, m:
m = 1, for simplex winding m = 3, for triplex winding
m = 2, for duplex winding m = 4, for quadruplex winding
Lap Winding:
Number of parallel paths = Multiplicity x Poles
𝒂 = 𝒎𝑷
Number of Brushes = Number of Poles
𝑵𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 = 𝑷
Wave Winding:
Number of parallel paths = Multiplicity x 2
𝒂 = 𝟐𝒎
Number of Brushes = 2
𝑵𝒃𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉 = 𝟐
https://www.engineeringslab.com/all_engineerings_dictionary_terms/parallel-paths.htm
Problems
1. A four-pole generator, having wave-wound armature winding has 51 slots, each slot containing 20
conductors. What will be the voltage generated in the machine when driven at 1,500 rpm assuming
the flux per pole to be 7.0-mWb ?
Answer: Eg = 357V
2. An 8-pole d.c. generator has 500 armature conductors, and a useful flux of 0.05-Wb per pole. What
will be the e.m.f. generated if it is lap-connected and runs at 1,200 rpm ? What must be the speed
at which it is to be driven to produce the same e.m.f. if it is wave-wound?
Answer: 𝐄𝐠 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎𝐕, 𝐍𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎𝐫𝐩𝐦
3. The armature of a four-pole shunt generator is lap wound and generates 216 volts. If this armature
is rewound as wave connected, find the emf generated at the same armature speed and flux per
pole. Assume that the total number of armature conductors remains the same after re-wounding.
Answer: 𝐄𝐠 = 𝟒𝟑𝟐𝐕
Online References
http://harmonscience6.wikispaces.com/file/view/Forms_of_Energy.jpg/276538606/Forms_of_E
nergy.jpg
http://hornedoreesescience.weebly.com/uploads/8/5/1/3/8513063/5367849_orig.gif
http://static.trunity.net/files/186001_186100/186073/energyconversionmatrix.png
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW45N2WpD64
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xebh8wU8gY
http://www.ustudy.in/sites/default/files/lap%20and%20wave.GIF
http://www.electrical4u.com/lap-winding-simplex-and-duplex-lap-winding/
https://www.electricaleasy.com/2012/12/basic-construction-and-working-of-dc.html
https://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/151550-How-Does-a-DC-Generator-Work-.aspx
Online References
https://www.theengineeringknowledge.com/construction-of-dc-machines/
https://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/46570.html
https://www.powermag.com/press-releases/doosan-skoda-power-is-sending-a-turbine-to-the-
land-of-the-rising-sun-for-the-first-time/
https://electrical-engineering-portal.com/whats-important-for-water-power-designer-to-make-
the-right-choice-of-a-turbine
https://www.offshorewind.biz/2020/04/21/mingyang-turbines-for-400-mw-wind-farm-offshore-
china/
https://www.udemy.com/course/internal-combustion-engine-basics/
https://www.canstockphoto.com/machine-ac-and-dc-currents-excitatrice-31336418.html
https://www.crompton.co.in/product/consumer-pumps/agricultural-pumps/centrifugal-
monoset-agricultural-pumps/centrifugal-monoset-pumps/
Online References
http://bescousa.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=169_205_235
https://circuitglobe.com/lap-and-wave-winding.html
https://www.engineeringslab.com/all_engineerings_dictionary_terms/parallel-paths.htm
https://www.nde-ed.org/Physics/Magnetism/Demagnetization.xhtml