Module 8

Armature Reaction
and Commutation

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 Armature Reaction
 Armature Reaction – it is the effect of magnetic field set up by
the armature current on the distribution of flux under main poles
of a generator.
 Magnetic Neutral Axis (MNA) – it may be defined as the axis
along which no emf is produced in the armature conductors. The
MNA is perpendicular to the flux passing through the armature.
It is also called as the axis of commutation.

Armature Reaction in a DC Machine

 Effects of Armature Reaction
The two effects of armature reaction in the armature magnetic field
are:
 It demagnetizes or weakens the main flux which leads to the
reduction of generated voltage. The demagnetizing effect of
armature reaction is neutralized by adding extra turns to the field
winding.

𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝑻𝒅

𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆
=𝝀
𝑰𝒂
 For series generator

𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝑻𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝑨𝑻𝒅

=𝝀  For shunt generator
𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝑰𝒇

Where: λ = leakage coefficient

 Effects of Armature Reaction
 It cross-magnetizes or distorts the main flux causing sparking at
the brushes. Compensating windings or pole-face windings are
used to eliminate the cross-magnetizing effect of armature
reaction. These windings are embedded in series with the
armature.

𝒁 𝑨𝑻 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒄 𝒁𝑰
𝒁𝒄 = = ×  For compensating winding
𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝟐𝑷

Where:
Zc = compensating conductors
Z = armature conductors
I = current in each armature conductor
I = Ia/2  For simplex wave
I = Ia/P  For simplex lap
Ia = armature current
P = number of poles
 Two Components of
Armature Reaction
Demagnetizing Ampere Turn (AT) per pole

𝑨𝑻𝒅 𝜽𝒎
= 𝒁𝑰
𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝟑𝟔𝟎°

 Cross-magnetizing AT per pole

Where:
𝑨𝑻𝒄 𝟏 𝜽𝒎 Z = armature conductors
= 𝒁𝑰 −
𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝟐𝑷 𝟑𝟔𝟎° I = current in each armature conductor.
I = Ia/2  For simplex wave
I = Ia/P  For simplex lap
𝑷
°𝑬 = °𝑴 × Ia = armature current
𝟐 θm = forward lead in mechanical degrees
 Sample Problems
1. A 4-pole generator has a wave-wound armature with 722
conductors, and it delivers 100 A on full-load. If the brush lead is
8°, calculate the armature demagnetizing and cross-
magnetizing ampere-turns per pole.
2. An 8-pole generator has an output of 200 A at 500 V, the lap-
connected armature has 1280 conductors, 160 commutator
segments. If the brushes are advanced 4 segments from the no-
load neutral axis, estimate the armature demagnetizing and
cross-magnetizing ampere-turns per pole.
3. A 4-pole wave-wound motor armature has 880 conductors and
delivers 120 A. The brushes has been displaced through 3
angular degrees from the geometrical axis. Calculate (a)
demagnetizing amp-turns/pole (b) cross-magnetizing amp-
turns/pole (c) additional field current for neutralizing the
demagnetiization if the field winding has 1100 turns/pole.
 Sample Problems
4. A 4-pole, 50 kW, 250 V wave-wound shunt generator has 400
armature conductors. Brushes are given a lead of 4 commutator
segments. Calculate the demagnetization amp-turns/pole if
shunt field resistance is 50Ω. Also, calculate the extra shunt
field turns/pole to neutralize the demagnetization.
5. Determine per pole the number (a) of cross-magnetizing
ampere-turns (b) of back-ampere turns and (c) of series turns to
balance the back ampere-turns in the case of a dc generator
having the following data: 500 conductors, total current 200 A, 6
poles, 2-circuit wave winding, angle of lead = 10°, leakage
coefficient = 1.3.
6. A 400-V, 1,000 A, lap-wound dc machine has 10 poles and 860
armature conductors. Calculate the number of ampere-turns for
compensating winding in the pole face to give full compensation
if the pole face covers 70% of pole span
 Commutation
 Commutation – it is the process of current reversal or switching
that takes place when the brush is in contact with a coil via its
respective commutator bars or split-rings.
 Reactance Voltage – it may be defined as the self-induced emf
produced in the coil undergoing commutation. The reactance
voltage retards or detards the quick reversal of current in the
brushes thereby causing sparking at the brushes

The Commutation Process

 Methods of Improving Commutation
 Resistance Commutation. This method of improving
commutation consists of replacing low-resistance Cu brushes by
comparatively high-resistance carbon brushes.

 Emf Commutation. In this method arrangement is made to

neutralize the reactance voltage by producing a reversing emf in
the short-circuited coil under commutation.

Two Ways of Producing the Reversing Emf

 By giving the brushes a forward lead sufficient enough to
bring the short-circuited coil under the influence of next pole
of opposite polarity
 By using interpoles (also called as commutating poles or
compoles).
 Interpoles
 Interpoles – these are small poles fixed to the yoke and placed
between the main field poles on a dynamo. The field winding on the
interpole consists of a few turns of large cross-section, and is
connected in series with the load current of the armature

 Functions of interpoles:
1. It improves the commutation process by inducing a commutating
or reversing emf in the coil, which neutralizes the reactance
voltage thereby making a sparkless commutation.
2. It prevents or neutralizes the cross-magnetizing effect of armature
reaction.
 Equalizing Connections

Equalizing Connections – these are done by connecting

equalizing conductors or equalizing rings on the armature of a
lap wound machine to produce equal current distributions at
the brushes thereby helping to get sparkless commutation.
Equalizer rings are not used in wave-wound armatures,
because there is no imbalance in the emf’s of the two parallel
paths.

𝑵𝒐. 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
𝑵𝒐. 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝑰𝒏𝒈𝒔 =
𝑵𝒐. 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔