Lab # 3.

Magnetization Characteristics of DC Generators

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 Lab # 3.1

Magnetization Characteristics of DC Generators

Table of Content

i. Introduction …………………………………………………. 3

ii. Abstract/Theory ………………..…………………………… 3

iii. Procedures ………………………….……………………….. 4

iv. Experimental Data ………………………………………….. 7

v. Results …………………………….………………………... 12

vi. Conclusion ………………………………………………….. 12

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 Lab # 3.1

Magnetization Characteristics of DC Generators

Introduction:

In this laboratory experiment we learn about the magnetization characteristics of separately

excited DC generator which reveals the nature of magnetization of the machine. Magnetization
characteristics is the relation between induced voltage and the Field current. Then we find speed
and voltage characteristics of DC generator which tells how induced voltage changes with speed
variation.

Abstract/Theory:

In the dc generator operation, there are four basic variables

1. Armature terminal voltage (VA)

2. armature current (IA)
3. field current (Ifg )
4. speed (n)

To investigate the operating characteristics the generator has to run (by a prime mover) at rated
speed (n constant). Out of the remaining three variables, one is held constant and the last two one
is varied to study its relationship with the other. The relationship between these variables has to
be presented graphically because of the magnetic saturation effect.

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Procedure:

1. Connect the DC motor and the four-point starter as shown in Figure 1. Turn the motor DC
power supply ON and adjust the voltage to 120 volts. Put motor circuit breaker
switch to ON. Position the field rheostat on top of motor to the full counter-
clockwise position (minimum resistance). Start the motor by moving the arm of the
starter slowly until it is against the holding coil and stays there. Adjust the power
supply until VM = 120 volts. Adjust the motor speed by turning the field rheostat in a
clockwise direction until the speed is 2600 RPM. Decrease motor speed by turning
the rheostat in the counter-clockwise direction. Stop the motor by releasing the arm
from the holding coil on the starter. Put the motor circuit breaker switch to OFF.

Figure 1

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 2. Connect the DC Dynamometer as a Separately-Excited generator as shown in Figure
2. Start the motor. Adjust the speed to 2600-RPM. Measure VM and speed. The speed
is to remain constant at 2600 RPM for this procedure by adjusting the motor field
rheostat. Put the circuit breaker at the bottom of the DC dynamometer to ON. Record
țhe armature volțage VA What is this voltage called? Turn a second DC power supply
ON. Slowly increase field current Ifg of the DC dynamometer in steps until the current
becomes 0.5 A, or the voltage VA reaches 125 volts, whichever occurs first. DO NOT
BACK UP WHILE INCREASING THIS FIELD CURRENT, Record VA and Ifg at
each step. When the top has been reached, slowly decrease the field current in steps to
zero. AGAIN DO NOT BACK UP WHILE DECREASING THE FIELD CURRENT.
Record VA, Ifg, and speed at each step.

Figure 2

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 3. Start with motor rheostat in full counter-clockwise position and V M= 120 volts.
Readjust the Dynamometer field current, Ifg, until VA =l20 volts and speed = 3200
RPM. Record the three measurements. Decrease the speed in 200 RPM steps to 2000
RPM. Record the three measurements at each step. Increase the speed in 200 RPM
steps to 3200 RPM. Record the same three measurements at each speed. At each
speed the Dynamometer field current, I fg, should be maintained constant. Stop the DC
Motor. Turn both power supplies OFF.

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Experimental Data:

Part 1 (Magnetization curve for Dynamometer)

The Armature terminal voltage VA and Field current Ifg are as follows:

Speed n= 2600 RPM

Table 1.

Armature terminal voltage VA (Volt) Field current Ifg (A)

3 0

8 0.02

17 0.04

27 0.06

37 0.08

47 0.1

62 0.12

73 0.14

83 0.16

90 0.18

100 0.2

110 0.22

118 0.24

125 0.26

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 120 0.24

115 0.22

110 0.2

95 0.18

85 0.16

75 0.14

65 0.12

55 0.1

45 0.08

33 0.06

24 0.04

14 0.02

3 0

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 Magnetization Characteristic
140

125
120 120
118
115
110 110

100 100
95
90
85
83
80
75
73
65
60 62
55
Armature terminal
voltage VA (Volt) 45 47
40
37
33
27
24
20
17
14
8
3
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3

Figure -3 Magnetization curve for Dynamometer

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 Part 2 (Voltage /speed Characteristics for the Dynamometer)

Ifg =Constant (2.5A)

Speed (n) and Armature terminal voltage VA are as follows:

Table-2

Speed (n) RPM Armature terminal voltage VA

3200 120

3000 118

2800 111

2600 104

2600 102.5

2800 110

3000 117

3200 125

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 speed voltage characterstics
125

120
armature terminal voltage

115

110

105

100
2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200
speed rpm

Figure-4 Speed- Voltage characteristics

Part 3

1. Voltage at Ifg =0 is 3V, This voltage is known as residual voltage. Magnetization curve
of a DC generator does not start from Zero.
2. Reason of residual magnetism: In Ferromagnetic materials magnetic power and induced
voltage increase with the increase of current flow. When the current reduced to zero
magnetic power left in coils core. This phenomenon is known as residual magnetism.
3. When the dynamometer field circuit is energized this residual voltage helps to Voltage
build-up. Residual voltage is necessary for the self-excitation of generator.

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Part 4

1. Reasons for the shape of magnetization curve.

a. When Ifg change in both forward direction and backward direction curve would
exhibit local hysteresis loops.
b. The machine would have been previously subjected to magnetization; a small residual
voltage would be present with field unexcited known as residual voltage.
c. Ea =Kфwm;
At constant speed Ea=kф;
If field current increase, flux(ф) increase;
And if flux increase Ea increase
d. Above certain point it become very difficult to further increase in pole flux. This
point is known as saturation point. That is why the upper portion of the curve is bend
as find in figure-3

2. Reasons for the shape of Speed voltage characteristics.

a. Ea =Kфwm
For constant field current Ifg ,Flux will also remains constant.
If flux is constant then induced voltage is directly proportional to the speed.
That’s why when we decreased the speed induced voltage also decreased.

Conclusion:

In this laboratory experiment we learn the magnetization characteristics and the speed /voltage
characteristics of the DC generator. In the magnetization characteristics how voltage is changed
with field current at constant speed. In the speed/voltage characteristics how voltage is changed
with speed at constant field current. We have drawn the graphs for these characteristics with
observed values during experiment . We achieve the objective of this laboratory experiment.

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