2kVA Universal

Machine

EEE 233
DC Generator
Prof. Dr. Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 1
 References
1. I. L. Kosow “Electrical Machines and
Transformer” Prentic-Hall, ISBN 087692-
775-4

2. BL Theraja & AK Theraja “Electrical

Technology” Vol. II, 2010, ISBN 81-219-
1142-7

3. Rosenblatt and Friedman “AC and DC

Machinery” CBS

4. Internet based sources: If required

Mahmud, EEE, CUET 2
 DC Generators

Mahmud, EEE, CUET 3

https://www.electricaleasy.com/2022/09/construction-and-working-of-dc-generator.html
 DC Generators
An electric generator is a machine that converts
mechanical energy into electrical energy.
 An electric generator is based on the principle
that whenever flux is cut by a conductor, an
e.m.f. is induced which will cause a current to
flow if the conductor circuit is closed.
The direction of induced e.m.f. (and hence
current) is given by Fleming’s right hand rule
(FRHR)
The essential components of a generator are:
(a) A magnetic field
(b) Conductor or a group of conductors
(c) Motion of conductor w.r.t. magnetic field
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 4
 Construction of DC Generator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_LOXUEFA-o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2V
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 5
d_LOXUEFA-o&t=12s l70XxiaA
 Simple Loop DC Generator

Consider a single turn loop ABCD rotating clockwise in a

uniform magnetic field with a constant speed as shown in
Fig. As the loop rotates, the flux linking the coil sides AB
and CD changes continuously. Hence the e.m.f. induced in
these coil sides also changes but the e.m.f. induced in one
coil side adds to that induced in the other. Note that e.m.f.
generated in the loop is alternating but it can be
converted into direct voltage (DC) by a device called
commutator/rectifier. Mahmud, EEE, CUET 6
 Action of Commutator

If, somehow, connection of the coil side to the external load is reversed at
the same instant the current in the coil side reverses, the current through the
load will be direct current (DC). This is what a commutator does:
It consists of a cylindrical metal ring cut into two halves or segments C1
and C2 respectively separated by a thin sheet of mica. The commutator is
mounted on but insulated from the rotor shaft. The ends of coil sides AB and
CD are connected to the segments C1 and C2 respectively as shown in Fig.
Two stationary carbon brushes rest on the commutator and lead current to
the external load. With this arrangement, the commutator at all times
connects the coil side under S-pole to the +ve brush and that under N-pole to
the -ve brush.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFCXKKePS8Y
 Action of Commutator (Cont.)

 In Fig. the coil sides AB and CD are under N-pole and S-pole respectively.
Note that segment C1 connects the coil side AB to point P of the load
resistance R and the segment C2 connects the coil side CD to point Q of
the load. Also note the direction of current through load. It is from Q to P.
 After half a revolution of the loop (i.e., 180° rotation), the coil side AB is
under S-pole and the coil side CD under N-pole as shown in Fig. The
currents in the coil sides now flow in the reverse direction but the
segments C1 and C2 have also moved through 180° i.e., segment C1 is
now in contact with +ve brush and segment C2 in contact with -ve brush.
Note that commutator has reversed the coil connections to the load i.e.,
coil side AB is now connected to point Q of the load and coil side CD to
the point P of the load. Also direction of current through the load. It is
again from Q to P. Mahmud, EEE, CUET 8
 Action of Commutator (Cont.)
 Thus the alternating voltage generated in the loop will appear as direct
voltage across the brushes. The reader may note that e.m.f. generated in the
armature winding of a d.c. generator is alternating one. It is by the use of
commutator that we convert the generated alternating e.m.f. into direct
voltage. The purpose of brushes is simply to lead current from the rotating
loop or winding to external stationary load.
 The variation of voltage across the brushes with the angular displacement
of the loop will be as shown in Fig. This is not a steady direct voltage but
has a pulsating character. It is because the voltage appearing across the
brushes varies from zero to maximum value and back to zero twice for each
revolution of the loop. A pulsating direct voltage such as is produced by a
single loop is not suitable for many commercial uses. What we require is
the steady direct voltage. This can be achieved by using a large number of
coils connected in series. The resulting arrangement is armature winding.

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 Types of DC Generators

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GWioYhnqg
General Features Armature Windings
 A DC machine (generator or motor) generally employs windings distributed in
slots over the circumference of the armature core. Each conductor lies at
right angles to the magnetic flux and to the direction of its movement
Therefore, the induced e.m.f. in the conductor is given by; e = Blv volts.

 The armature conductors are connected to form coils. Most of DC armature

windings are double layer windings.
 D.C. armature windings must be of the closed type in order to provide for the
commutation of the coils.
 The details of armature winding will
Mahmud, EEE,be discuss later….
CUET 11
E.M.F. Equation of a D.C. Generator
We shall now derive an expression for the e.m.f. generated in a DC
generator: Let ϕ= flux/pole in Wb
Z = total number of armature conductors
P = number of poles
A = number of parallel paths = 2 ... for wave
Winding and = P ... for lap winding
N = speed of armature in r.p.m.
Eg = e.m.f. of the generator = e.m.f./parallel path
Flux cut by one conductor in one revolution
of the armature, dϕ = Pϕ webers
Time taken to complete one revolution, dt = 60/N second
e.m.f generated/conductor = dϕ /dt=PϕN /60 Volts
Now the e.m.f. of generator,
Eg = e.m.f. per parallel path
=(emf/conductor) X No. of conductors in series per parallel path
= P ϕN/60 x Z/A A = 2 for Wave winding
= P for Lap winding
Eg = PϕZN/60A = ϕZN/60(P/A)
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 General Features DC Generators
 Armature Resistance (Ra): The resistance offered by the armature circuit is known
as armature resistance (Ra) its value is generally less than 1Ω.
 Armature reaction: is the effect on the main field flux of that flux set up by the
currents in the armature winding. The effect is the same for both lap- and wave-
wound machines. In the DC generators (and the DC motors), armature reaction
produces effects which are undesirable and demagnetize the mail field flux…..

 Brush Contact Drop: It is the voltage drop over the brush contact resistance when
current flows. Obviously, its value will depend upon the amount of current flowing and
the value of contact resistance. This drop is generally small about 1V per brush……
 D.C. Generator Characteristics: The speed of a DC generator is kept fixed, Thus the
generator performance deals primarily with the relation between excitation (If),
terminal voltage (Eg/E or V) and Mahmud,
load (IEEE,
L). CUET
These characteristics normally shown17in
graphs to observe at a glance under different load conditions….
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 18
DC Generator Characteristics (Cont.)
1) Open Circuit Characteristic (O.C.C.):
This curve shows the relation between the generated e.m.f. at no-
load (E0) and the field current (If) at constant speed. It is also known
as magnetic characteristic or no-load saturation curve. Its shape is
practically the same for all generators whether separately or self-
excited. The data for O.C.C. curve are obtained experimentally by
operating the generator at no load and constant speed and recording
the change in terminal voltage as the field current is varied.

Mahmud, EEE, CUET 19

 Voltage Build-Up in a Self-Excited Generator
 Consider a shunt generator. If the generator is run at a constant
speed, some e.m.f. will be generated due to residual magnetism in the
main poles. This small e.m.f. circulates a field current which in turn
produces additional flux to reinforce the original residual flux
(provided field winding connections are correct). This process
continues and the generator builds up the normal generated voltage
following the O.C.C. shown in Fig. (i).
 The field resistance Rf can be represented by a straight line passing
through the origin as shown in Fig. (ii). The two curves can be shown
on the same diagram as they have the same ordinate [See Fig. (iii)].

Mahmud, EEE, CUET 20

Critical Resistance (Rc), Critical Speed (NC)
If the total circuit resistance is R1, then
a generator will build up a voltage OL.
The line OC is tangent to O.C.C. and
represents critical resistance RC for
a generator. If the total resistance of
the circuit is more than RC (say line OI),
generator will fail to build up voltage.

The critical speed of a generator

is the minimum speed below which
it fails to excite. Clearly, it is the
speed for which the given field
resistance represents the critical
resistance. In Fig., curve 2
corresponds to critical speed (Nc)
because the field resistance (Rsh)
line is tangential to it.
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 21
Conditions for Voltage Build-Up of a
Shunt Generator
The necessary conditions for
voltage build-up in a shunt
generator are:
(i) There must be some residual
magnetism in generator poles.
(ii) The connections of the field
winding should be such that the
field current strengthens the
residual magnetism.
(iii) The resistance of the field
circuit should be less than the
critical resistance Rsh<Rc
(OCC). In other words, the
speed of the generator should
be higher than the critical
speed. Ng>Nc
(iv) If Gen. is excited on load,
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 22
Rsh>Rmin (from internal CC….)
Shunt & Series Generator Characteristics
Shunt Generator Characteristics

Mahmud, EEE, CUET 23

Series Generator Characteristics
 Compound Generator Characteristics
 In a compound generator, both series and shunt excitation are
combined as shown in Fig. The shunt winding can be connected either
across the armature only (short-shunt connection S) or across
armature plus series field (long-shunt connection G). The compound
generator can be Cumulatively compounded or differentially
compounded generator…….
 Fig. shows the external characteristics of a cumulatively compounded
generator. The series excitation aids the shunt excitation. The
degree of compounding depends upon the increase in series excitation
with the increase in load current and diverters….

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 Losses in a D.C. Machine
The losses in a DC machine (generator or motor) may be
divided into three classes viz: (i) Copper losses (ii) Iron or
core losses and (iii) Mechanical losses. All these losses
appear as heat and thus raise the temperature of the
machine. Thus, lower the efficiency of the machine…..

Ph= Bmax1.6 f V watt

Pe = KBmax2 f2 t2 V watts

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 Voltage Regulation
The change in terminal voltage of a generator between full
load (V) and no load (Eo) (at constant speed) is called the
voltage regulation, usually expressed as a percentage of the
voltage at full-load.
%Voltage regulation = (VNL- VFL/ VFL) X 100%

VNL = Terminal voltage of generator at no load (Eo)

VFL = Terminal voltage of generator at full load (V)

Note that voltage regulation of a generator is determined

with field circuit and speed held constant. If the voltage
regulation of a generator is 15%, it means that terminal
voltage increases 15% as the load is changed from full load
to no load.
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 Parallel Operation of D.C. Generators
In a DC power plant, power is usually supplied from several generators of small ratings
connected in parallel instead of from one large generator. This is due to the following
reasons:
(i) Continuity of service
If a single large generator is used in the power plant, then in case of its breakdown, the
whole plant will be shut down. However, if power is supplied from a number of small units
operating in parallel, then in case of failure of one unit, the continuity of supply can be
maintained by other healthy units.
(ii) Efficiency
Generators run most efficiently when loaded to their rated capacity. Electric power costs
less per kWh when the generator producing it is efficiently loaded. Therefore, when load
demand on power plant decreases, one or more generators can be shut down and the
remaining units can be efficiently loaded.
(iii) Maintenance and repair
Generators generally require routine-maintenance and repair. Therefore, if generators are
operated in parallel, the routine or emergency operations can be performed by isolating
the affected generator while load is being supplied by other units. This leads to both
safety and economy.
(iv) Increasing plant capacity
In the modern world of increasing population, the use of electricity is continuously
increasing. When added capacity is required, the new unit can be simply paralleled with
the old units.
(v) Non-availability of single large unit
In many situations, a single unit of desired large capacity may not be available. In that
case a number of smaller units can be operated
Mahmud, EEE, in parallel to meet the load requirement.37
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