Faculty of Engineering–Zagazig University

Electrical Power & Machines Eng. Program

‫جامعة السقازيق – كلية الهندسة – برنامج هندسة القىي واآلالت الكهربية‬

Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1)

EPE 323a
3rd year, 1st Term
(2022_2023)

Experiment No. : (5)

Title

Load Test on A Self – Excited DC Compound

Generator

Student name : …………………………….…….………

Sec : …………………………….…….………
Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

EXPERIMENT
5
Load Test on A Self – Excited DC Compound
Generator

1. Object:
The objectives of this experiment are to:
 Study experimentally the performance characteristics of a self –
excited DC compound generator.
 Determine empirically the internal and external characteristic
curves for DC compound generator for both connections of
commutative and differential.
 Study the variation effect of electrical loading on the operational
features for DC compound generator for both connections of
commutative and differential.

2. Experimental Setup
2.1. Mechanism theory of a DC compound generator
In a Compound Wound Generator, there are two sets of the field
winding on each pole. One of them is connected in series having few
turns of thick wire, and the other is connected in parallel having
many turns of fine wire with the armature windings. In other words,
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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

the generator which has both shunt and series fields is called the
compound wound generators.

If the magnetic flux produced by the series winding assists the flux
produced by the shunt winding, then the machine is said to be
cumulative compounded. If the series field flux opposes the shunt
field flux, then the machine is called the differentially compounded.

It is connected in two ways. One is a long shunt compound generator,

and another is a short shunt compound generator. If the shunt field is
connected in parallel with the armature alone then the machine is
called the short compound generator.

In long shunt compound generator, the shunt field is connected in

parallel with the both series and armature windings that are
connected in series combination. The connection diagram of long
shunt wound generator is shown below in Fig. 1(a).

In a short shunt compound wound generator as the desired applied

connection in this study, the shunt field winding is connected in
parallel with the armature winding only. The connection diagram of
short shunt wound generator is shown below in Fig. 1(b).

(a) (b)
Fig. 1. Equivalent circuit of a DC compound generator; (a)
Long shunt type; (b) Short shunt type

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

2.2. Overview on the load test on a DC compound generator

A load test on a DC compound generator is conducted to know its
operational performance features and assess its quality for a reliable
service for both connections of commutative and differential based on
determining the following items:
1. Internal characteristic curve that represents a graph showing
the variation between induced EMF and the load current.
2. External characteristic curve that represents a graph showing
the operational variation between the terminal load voltage and
the load current.

2.3. Overview on internal and external characteristic curves

of a DC compound generator
The external characteristic of a DC generator is the curve between
the terminal load voltage and the load current (which is the
same as armature current in this case).

In the external characteristic curve, as the load current increases, the

terminal load voltage falls due to two reasons:
1. Reduction in main flux due to armature reaction. So that actual
EMF generated on load is less than that generated on
no load condition.
2. Armature resistance voltage drop .

Due to these reasons, the external characteristic is a drooping curve

as shown in Fig. 1. Note that in the absence of armature reaction and
armature drop, the generated EMF would have been .

The internal characteristic curve can be determined from external

characteristic by adding drop to the external characteristic. It is
because armature reaction drop is included in external characteristic.
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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

The performance characteristics of a DC compound generator can be

shown in the same curve of external curve as shown in Fig. 1.

The internal and external characteristics of the applied type of DC

short shunt compound generator in this study are subjected to the
following points:

1. In this type of DC generator, the field is produced by the shunt

as well as series winding.
2. The shunt field is stronger than the series field.
3. If the magnetic flux produced by the series winding assists the
flux produced by the shunt field winding, the generator is said
to be Cumulatively Compound Wound generator.
4. If the series field flux opposes the shunt field flux, the generator
is said to be Differentially Compounded.

The shapes of operational characteristics of DC compound generator

are listed to three categories as shown in Fig. 2:

A. Under compound generator

In this type the number of series field turns is less than the number
of shunt field turns. As the number of series field turns are less that
the shunt field turns, the net flux decreases as the load current
increases. The terminal voltage decreases as the load current
increases due to decrease in flux.

B. Flat – Level Compound Generator

In this type the number of series field turns is equal to the number of
shunt field turns. The terminal voltage remains constant for any
value of load current which is within the limits.

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

C. Over compound generator

In this type the number of series field turns is larger than the
number of shunt field turns. As the series field turns are more than
the shunt field turns, the net flux and hence the terminal voltage
increases as the load current increases

Fig. 2. Performance of a self - excited DC compound generator

that is so – called external curve

3. Connection and Instrumentations

3.1. Required Instrumentations
The following instrumentations should be available:
1. Variable DC power supply (Control Panel Unit)

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

2. DC compound machine

3. DC test stand

4. Multi – range Voltmeter / Ammeter

5. Resistive load unit

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

6. Leads with different sizes

3.2. Connection Diagram and Procedures for load test on a DC

self – excited shunt generator

1. Connect the following diagram

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

2. Couple the DC compound machine shaft to the DC motor, which

is fed from variable DC source.
3. Turn the motor supply ON and adjust its value to ensure the
rated voltage at its rated speed.
4. Switch on the resistive load unit and vary the loads gradually
step by step.
5. Record the readings of the ammeter and the voltammeter for
the side of the loaded generator as shown in the Table 5.1.
6. Calculate the EMF voltage at load at each reading and
record it in Table 5.1 based on the following formula regarding
the measured value of in the first experiment.

7. Draw the variation graph of load voltage with load current

which is called external characteristic curve
8. Draw the variation graph of EMF voltage at load with load
current which is called internal characteristic curve
9. Reverse the connection of the series field winding
10. Turn the motor supply ON and adjust its value to ensure the
rated voltage at its rated speed.
11. Switch on the resistive load unit and vary the loads gradually
step by step.
12. Record the readings of the ammeter and the voltammeter for
the side of the loaded generator as shown in the Table 5.2.
13. Calculate the EMF voltage at load at each reading and
record it in Table 5.2 based on the following formula regarding
the measured value of in the first experiment.

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

14. Draw the variation graph of load voltage with load current
which is called external characteristic curve
15. Draw the variation graph of EMF voltage at load with load
current which is called internal characteristic curve

Table 5.1
Measured data for load test on a short shunt DC compound generator for
cumulatively compounded connection

Table 5.2
Measured data for load test on a short shunt DC compound generator for
differentially compounded connection

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 Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a
Load terminal voltage Experiment no.5
measured in

Load current measured in (A)

External characteristic curve of a short shunt DC compound generator

in case of differentially and cumulatively compounded together
Load EMF voltage
measured in

Load current measured in (A)

Internal characteristic curve of a short shunt DC compound generator

in case of differentially and cumulatively compounded together

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Electrical Power and Machines Testing (1) EPE323a Experiment no.5

4. Conclusions and Discussions

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