Speed of a DC Motor

The back emf equation of DC motor is given by:

NPϕZ
Eb = ' (1)….
60 a

Where,
N = speed of rotation in rpm.
P = number of poles.
a' = number of armature parallel paths.
Z = total no. conductors in armature.

ϕ = flux per pole in webers

Eb =V −I a R a (2)…

Where:

V = total voltage

Ia = armature current

Ra = armature resistance

Thus, speed of rotation ;

60 a E b
'
N= ×
PZ ϕ

60 a V −I a R a
'
N= ×
PZ ϕ

After the machine has been assembled;

Eb V −I a Ra 60 a
'
N=k =k Where k = is constant
ϕ ϕ PZ

If flux not given:

ϕ=k ' l f N f

Where:
k’ = proportional constant
lf = field current in Amps
Nf = no. of turn in field winding

Hence, speed of a DC motor is directly proportional to emf of rotation (E) and

inversely proportional to flux per pole (φ).

Working Problems
1. A 4-pole, 220-V shunt motor has 540 lap-wound conductor. It takes 32 A from the supply
mains and develops output power of 5.595 kW. The field winding takes 1 A. The
armature resistance is 0.09 Ω and the flux per pole is 30 mWb. Calculate the speed of
rotation
Given:

Ia = 32 -1= 31 A

V = 220 volts

Ra = 0.09 ohms

ϕ = 30mWb

Z = 540

P=4

a’ = 4

Solution;

60 a V −I a R a
'
N= ×
PZ ϕ
60(4 ) 220−(31∗0.09)
¿ ×
4 (540) 30∗10−3
N = 804.4 r.p.m

2. The armature winding of a 200-V, 4-pole, series motor is lap-connected. There are 280
slots and each slot has 4 conductors. The current is 45 A and the flux per pole is 18
mWb. The field resistance is 0.3 Ω; the armature resistance 0.5 Ω. Find the speed of
rotation
Given

Ia = 45 A

V = 200 volts

Ra = 0.3 + 0.5 ohms

ϕ = 18 mWb

Z = 280 *4

P=4

a’ = 4
60 a V −I a R a
'
N= ×
PZ ϕ
60 (4) 200−(45∗0.8)
¿ ×
4 (280∗4) 18∗10−3

N = 488 r.p.m
Back emf Eb of a DC motor is nothing but the induced emf in armature conductors due to
rotation of the armature in magnetic field. Thus, the magnitude of E b can be given by EMF
equation of a DC generator.

/
Eb = PØNZ 60A
(where, P = no. of poles, Ø = flux/pole, N = speed in rpm, Z = no. of armature conductors, A =
parallel paths)

Eb can also be given as,

Eb = V- IaRa

thus, from the above equations

/
N = Eb 60A PØZ

but, for a DC motor A, P and Z are constants

Therefore, N ∝ K E b /Ø (where, K=constant)