Electrical Machines, Chapter 5

Operating DC Motors and

Generators
 Motors
 Fed by an electric current.
 Theload on motor constitutes the force that
tends to oppose rotation called countertorque.
 Speed of rotation tends to change as the load
varies.
 Speed of rotation can be changed by varying
either or both (1)the strength of the magnetic
field (2)the voltage impressed across the
armature terminals.
 Generators
o It is driven by an mechanical machine.
o The load on a generator constitutes those
electrical devices that convert electrical
energy into other forms of energy.
o The voltage tends to change when the load
changes.
o The voltage of the generator can always be
adjusted by doing either or both (1)
changing the speed (2) changing the
strength of the magnetic field
 Classification of DC Motors
Series Motors
➢ The field winding connected in series with the
armature core. A variable speed or adjustable
speed motor.
Shunt Motors
➢ The field winding connected parallel to the
armature core. A constant speed or adjustable
speed motor.
Compound Motors
 A variable speed motors, connected in series and
parallel with the armature core.
 Counter Electromotive Force

 The motor action results when an armature

is placed in a magnetic field and the
winding is supplied by the current. Under
this condition, the armature produces a
magnetic field of its own, which is
displaced 90 electrical degrees with
respect to the main field.
 With the armature rotating as a result of
motor action, the armature conductors
continually cut through the resultant
stationary magnetic field and because of such
flux cutting, voltages are generated in the
very same conductors that experience force
action.
 When a motor is operating, it is
simultaneously acting as a generator.
 The generated voltages are indicated by
crosses and dots below the circles and are in
the directions opposite to the flow current.
Since the generated voltage opposes the flow
current, this is called a counter electromotive
force (counter EMF).
 Thiscounter EMF can never be equal to, and
must always be less than, the voltage
impressed across the armature terminals.
 Thiscan mean that the armature current is
controlled and limited by the counter EMF.
 By Ohm’s law,

where:
IA = armature current
VA = impressed voltage across armature winding
EC = counter EMF generated in armature
RA = resistance of armature

Since the counter EMF is a generated voltage depends upon two

factors: (1) the flux per pole Ø and (2) the speed of the rotating
S in rev/min.
EC = k ØS ; where k is a proportionality constant that depends
upon the number of armature conductors, the type of armature
winding, and the number of poles.
Example:
A compound motor operates at a speed of
1,520 rpm when the voltage impressed across
the armature terminals is 230. If the flux per
pole is 620,000 maxwells and the armature
resistance is .43 ohm, calculate: (a) the counter
EMF and (b) the armature current. (Assume a
value k= 2.2x10-7 and a brush drop of 2 volts.)
Solution:
(a) EC = (2.2x10-7)(620,000)(1,520) = 207.5 volts

(b) IA = ((230-2) – 207.5)/.43 = 47.7 amp

 Starting a DC Motor
 At the instant a d-c motor is started, the
counter EMF EC is zero because the
armature is not revolving. As the armature
accelerates to full speed, the value of EC
rises to a value that causes the proper
value of armature current IA to flow; the
proper armature current is that required
by the armature to permit it to drive its
load at speed S.
 In the case of very small motors, usually the
fractional – horsepower sizes up to about ¾ hp, no
starting resistor is necessary. Such motors may be
started by simply closing the line switch.
 The resistance & inductance of the armature
winding are generally sufficiently high to limit the
initial rush of current to values that are not
particularly serious.
 The inertia of a small armature is generally so
low that it comes up to speed very quickly,
thereby minimizing the serious effect that might
otherwise result from a high sustained current.
 STARTING DC MOTORS

 Their primary function is to limit the current in

the armature circuit during the starting or
accelerating period.
 There are two standard types of motor starter for
shunt and compound motors.
 Three-point type
 Four-point type
❖ Three Point Type
➢ The starter has three terminals or connection
points connected to a shunt motor.
 (1) If the power fails and the starter arm is not restored to
the OFF position, the motor might be damage should the
power come on again, and,
 (2) If the shunt field circuit were opened accidentally and
the starter arm did not return to the OFF position, the
motor speed might become dangerously high.
❖ Four Point Type
the holding coil has been removed from the shunt-
field circuit and, in resistor r, has been placed in a
separate circuit in parallel with armature and field.
 Permits any change in the current in the shunt –
field circuit without affecting the current
through the holding coil.
 Controllers for Series Motors
 Some means for varying the speed of the
motor to which it is connected.
 Designed to permit reversing the direction of
rotation and may include protective feature.
A device used in connection w/ the starting of
a series motor.
 Reversing

 Speed-control

 Generally designated as drum controllers.

 Controllers for Shunt and
Compound Motors
 Incorporate both starting resistors and
field rheostats in single, panel-mounted, and
make it impossible to start shunt or compound
motors with any resistance cut into the field
rheostat.
 Two functions:
 Starting

 Speed-control
Controller connected to compound
generator
 Details of construction:
1. Two arms, the longer one moving over a set of field rheostat
contact points(upper) and the shorter one moving over as set of
armature resistor contacts.
2. The handle for moving both arms clockwise simultaneously is
on the upper arm.
3. Spiral spring is fastened to the armature spring only.
4. A copper wiper is mounted on armature resistor arm and wipes
over copper segments as moves forward.
5. . In final position armature resistor arm , the copper wiper
makes contact of the holding coil at point h , the copper wiper
wiper leaving the copper segment.
6. In final position, armature resistor arm is held by the holding
coil, while field rheostat arm is free to moved counterclockwise
any point on rheostat.
Automatic Starter for Shunt
and Compound Motors

 Three types of automatic starter.

a. Counter-EMF type of starter
b. Time-limit starter
c. Current-limit starter
Counter-EMF type
starter
Time-limit acceleration
starter
Current-limit acceleration
starter
 Loading a Motor
Effect upon Speed and Armature Current

 Electric motor generally receives its electrical

power then converts this electrical power into
mechanical power.
 The mech. Load on the motor changes, either
the torque or the speed or both.
 The control speed of a motor is generally
exercised through the medium of flux
adjustment or control.
 The speed at which the a motor operates when
it is driving its rated load, its so-called rated
horsepower( normal speed).
 Torque Characteristics of
DC Motors
 The tendency of a motor to produce rotation depends upon
two factors.
1. The flux created by the main poles
2. The current flowing in the armature winding
 Torque is dependent of the speed rotation.
T = k x Ø x IA lb-ft
Where T = torque (usually in pound-fee)
Ø = flux per pole in maxwells
IA = total armature current
k = proportionality constant
 Torque of Shunt Motor

 The torque depends only upon the

armature current; assuming that
the shunt-field current is not
changed field-rheostat adjustment ,
torque is independent of the flux.
 Torque of Series Motor

 The torque developed by a series motor

depends upon armature current and the flux
that this current produces in passing the
series field.
 The graph torque vs armature current for
series motor start parabola and eventually a
straight line.
 Torque of Compound Motor

 The torque of a compound motor

(cumulative only, where the shunt
and series-field ampere-turns aid
each other) combines the torque-
load characteristic of the shunt and
series motors.
Characteristic torque vs.
armature current
 The torque develop by a motor at the
instant of starting is called the starting
torque.
 In all cases, these percents of torque
would drop after the motors have attained
normal speeds and driving normal loads.
 Series Motor

 The speed of a series motor rises very

rapidly when the load is removed and must
always drive some load to be prevented
from racing dangerously.
 The series motor operates over an extremely
wide speed range and tends to “run away”
at light load. It should be used when the
load is such that torque might drop to
approximately 15% of the full-load value.
 Shunt Motor

 The speed of a shunt motor rises about

2 to 8 % when the rated load is
completely removed.
 The speed of a shunt motor is
substantially and has a very definite
no-load value.
 Compound Motor

 The speed of a compound motor rises

approximately 10-25% when the rated load
is completely removed.
 The speed of a compound motor varies
considerably and also has a very definite
no-load value.
Speed vs. Load
 Speed Regulation of
DC Motors
 Referred to the full load or rated speed of the motor
expressed in per cent, it is called the per cent speed
regulation. In equation form,
𝑁𝑁𝐿 −𝑁𝐹𝐿
Percent speed regulation = 𝑥100
𝑁𝐹𝐿
 In shunt motors, generally regarded as constant –speed
motors because their per cent speed regulation is very-
small.
 Compound motors are considered to be a variable-speed
motors because their per cent speed regulation is
comparatively high.
 ➢ The Series motor certainly has a variable-
speed characteristic, and it too is classed as
such.

Example
The full-load speed of a 10-hp shunt motor is
1,600 rpm. (a)If the per cent speed regulation is 4
per cent, calculate the no-load speed. Assuming a
straight-line speed-load variation (approximately
correct), determine the speed of the motor when it
delivers (b) 6 hp and (c) 3.5 hp.
Solution
(a)

(b)
(by similar triangles)

(c)
(by similar triangles)
 Speed Control of DC Motor
 It is frequently necessary to adjust the speed of a
motor to some value other than the one at which
it normally operates its load.
1. Inserting a field rheostat in the shunt-field
circuit of a shunt or compound motor.
2. Inserting a resistance in the armature circuit
of a shunt, compound, or series motor.
3. Varying the voltage across the armature
circuit of a shunt or compound motor while
maintaining constant the voltage across the
shunt field.
 In the Method 1, the speed increases as resistance
is cut in by the field rheostat; this is true because
the speed rises as the flux is reduced.
 Method 2, the speed decreases as resistance is inserted
in the armature circuit.
 In Method 3, two sources of direct current for the controlled
motor. A wiring diagram for this system of control is
illustrated below. Obviously, the arrangement involves the
expense of three machine set for the control of a motor.
 The three methods of speed control here
discussed are best understood by analyzing
the equation below.

S – speed of the motor, also designated as

N in rpm
 Armature Reaction in
DC Motor
 The magnetic neutral in a motor always tends
to shift in a direction opposite to that of the
armature rotation.
 Figure 113 represents a simple two-pole motor with rotation clockwise.
Indicated in Fig. 113a are the directions of the currents in the conductors,
the main field flux in continuous lines and the armature filed flux in broken
lines. Fig. 113b shows the resultant field and clearly emphasizes the fact
that the magnetic neutral is shifted counterclockwise.
 Figure 114a shows how the interpoles counteract the effect of the
armature reaction, and Fig. 114b illustrates how their polarities
are related to those of the main poles.
 Reversing the Direction of
Rotation of DC Motors

 There two general methods for reversing the

direction of rotation of a d-c motor.
1. Changing the direction of current flow
through the armature.
2. Changing the direction of current flow
through the field circuit on circuits.
 The direction of rotation of a d-c motor cannot be
reversed by interchanging the connections to the
starting switch.
 The Figure 116 shows how the reversal of the direction
of rotation of a shunt motor may be accomplished by
both methods. In Fig. 116a, the reversing switch is
connected to the shunt field, while Fig. 116b, it is
connected to armature.
 To reverse the direction of rotation of a compound motor,
it is necessary to reverse the current flow through the
armature winding only (Fig. 117a) or through both the
series and shunt fields (Figs. 117b & 117c).
END