THE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF KENYA

Haile Selassie Avenue, P. O. Box 52428, Nairobi, 00200, Tel: +254 (020) 343672, 2249974, 2251300, 341639,
Fax: 2219689, E-mail: vc@kenpoly.ac.ke, Website: www.tukenya.ac.ke

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering year 3

CHARACTERISTICS OF D.C. GENERATORS

OBJECTIVES

 To perform magnetic or open circuit test on a separately excited d.c generator.

 To perform load test on a compound wound d.c generator.

BACK GROUND INFORMATION

The curves or graphs giving the relationship between various quantities such as excitation (or field
current), generated voltage, terminal voltage, load current etc. are known as generator
characteristics. There are three most important characteristics of a d.c generator:

 The magnetic or open circuit characteristic also known as no-load saturation

characteristic: this gives the relationship between the generated voltage in the armature on
no-load E0 and field or exciting current, If at a given fixed speed. The shape of this
characteristic curve is practically the same for all types of d.c generators.
 Internal or total characteristic: this gives the relationship between the emf (E) actually
induced in the armature (after allowing for the demagnetizing effect of armature reaction)
and the armature current Ia. This characteristic is of interest mainly to the generator
designer.
 External Characteristic: this is also referred to as performance characteristic or sometimes
voltage-regulating curve. This curve gives the relationship between the terminal voltage V
and the load current I under the given conditions of speed and excitation. The terminal
voltage is always less than the generated voltage on account of voltage drop in the armature.
This characteristic is of utmost importance for determining the suitability of a generator for
a particular service.

D.C Machines & Transformers 1

 EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS

 Power supplies: Armature of the synchronous motor: three-phase fixed line 380 V; Field of
the synchronous motor: fixed line 220 V d.c.; Field of the d.c generator: d.c. variable line 0
to 500 V
 2 moving-iron ammeters 2-4 A
 2 moving-iron voltmeters 250-500 V
 RC: resistive loading banks, model RL-1/EV
 2 excitation rheostats 5000 Ω – 500 W
 Starting rheostat: 3 x 50 Ω -300W
 IC: switch for the load separation
 Three phase Synchronous Machine, model M-3/EV
 D.C Machine, model M1-2/EV

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Figure 1: connection diagram for determination of the generator characteristics

D.C Machines & Transformers 2

 PROCEDURE

1. Couple the a.c motor with the generator and connect the circuit as shown (see full line
diagram), the voltmeter across points A1-A2 (include a starting rheostat for the synchronous
motor in the circuit), jumper the terminals F1-F2 of the synchronous motor; excitation and
starting rheostats fully inserted.
2. Start the motor turning the switch of the three-phase line on. When the motor has reached
certain speed stability, disconnect the jumper and connect them to the fixed D.C. line; then,
activate the switch.
3. By the help of excitation rheostat RE, increase the armature terminal voltage in the steps
shown in the table until the rated terminal voltage value is reached.
4. Switch off the circuit and connect the d.c machine in compound configuration mode (see
dotted lines).
5. Repeat procedure 2 above then by acting on the load separation switch IC, connect the load;
one at a time until the rated current of the generator is reached (see name plate) recording
corresponding values of terminal voltage and load current.
6. Reduce the load on the generator and finally unload it completely, reduce the field current of
the generator to zero then switch off the a.c motor.

Table 1: open circuit characteristic

Voltage RVV = 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225

Field current

Table 2: external characteristic

Terminal Voltage VOCC =

Load current IL

DISCUSSION

i. How should a generator be started?

ii. Plot the magnetic and the external characteristic curves on a graph paper.
iii. Explain the nature of the graphs in ii above.

D.C Machines & Transformers 3

iv. Describe under compounded, flat compounded and over compounded d.c generator
characteristics.
v. A differentially compounded d.c generator is delivering full load current at a terminal
voltage of 220 V. Explain what happens to the terminal voltage if the series field winding is
short circuited.
vi. A d.c shunt generator when driven without connecting field winding shows an open circuit
terminal voltage of 12 V. When field winding is connected and excited the terminal voltage
drops to zero because:
a) Field resistance is higher than critical resistance.
b) There is no residual magnetism in the field circuit.
c) Field winding is wrongly connected.
d) There is a fault in armature circuit.
vii. Explain your answer in (vi) above

D.C Machines & Transformers 4