A Simple DC Generator

• The alternating signal from the earlier AC generator

could be converted to DC using a rectifier
• A more efficient approach is to replace the two slip
rings with a single split slip ring called a commutator
• this is arranged so that connections to the coil are reversed as
the voltage from the coil changes polarity
• hence the voltage across the brushes is of a single polarity
• adding additional coils produces a more constant output
A Simple DC Generator
• Use of a commutator
A Simple DC Generator
• A simple generator with two coils
A Simple DC Generator
• The ripple can be further reduced by the use of a cylindrical iron core
and by shaping the pole pieces
• This produces an
approximately
uniform field in the
narrow air gap
• The arrangement
of coils and core
is known as the
armature
DC Generators or Dynamos
• Practical DC generators or dynamos can take a
number of forms depending on how the magnetic field
is produced
• can use a permanent magnet
• more often it is generated electrically using field coils
• current in the field coils can come from an external supply
• this is known as a separately excited generator
• but usually the field coils are driven from the generator output
• this is called a self-excited generator
• often use multiple poles held in place by a steel tube called
the stator
A four-pole DC generator
DC Generators
• Field coil excitation
• Sometimes the field coils are connected in series with the armature,
sometimes in parallel (shunt) and sometimes a combination of the two
(compound)

• These different forms produce slightly different characteristics

Separately Excited Field DC Generator
• Field current is supplied by a separate external dc voltage source

• IL : Current flowing in the lines

• EA: Generated voltage
• IA: Armature current
The Terminal Characteristic

• The terminal characteristic of a device is a plot of the output quantities of the

device versus each other.
• Separately Excited DC Generator
• Plot of VT versus IL for a constant speed ω.
• Since the internal generated voltage is independent of lA, the terminal characteristic of the
separately excited generator is a straight line
• When load increases IL increases  IA increases  IARA drop increases VT falls
Separately Excited DC Generator
Voltage control
• Speed of rotation
• Field current
Advantage
•  It operates in a stable condition with any field excitation. Thus a wide
range of output voltage may be obtained. 
Disadvantage
• The inconvenience and expense of providing the separate excitation
source
Self Excited Field DC Generator

Shunt DC Generator
supplies its own field current by having its field connected directly across the
terminals of the machine
Self Excited Field DC Generator
• Shunt-wound generator characteristics
When load increases IL increases  IA increases  IARA drop increases VT falls

IF Decreases

Flux Decreases

EA Decreases

VT Decreases

If the generator supplies its own field current, how does it get the initial field flux to start when it is first turned
on?? Residual Flux  Reading Assignment “Voltage buildup in a shunt Generator” Sec 8.31 (Page 535)
 Shunt DC Generator

Voltage Control for a Shunt DC Generator

• There are two ways to control the voltage of a shunt generator:
• Change the shaft speed Wm of the generator.
• Change the field resistor of the generator, thus changing the field current
Advantage
• No external power supply is required for the field circuit
• The output voltage remains more constant as compared to series dc generator.
Disadvantage
The output voltage decreases as load current increases because the voltage drop
across the armature resistance increases (E = IR). It is allowable upto an extent. But if
load is increased further, the field current will fall rapidly and hence overall
generated emf will reduce.
Self Excited Field DC Generator
Series DC Generator
Field is connected in series with its armature
 Series DC Generator

Series DC generator characteristics

When load increases IF increases  EA increases Rapidly  IA (RA + Rs ) drop increases
Increase in EA > Increase in IA(RA + Rs) drop  VT Increases

After Saturation

EA almost Constant

IA (RA + Rs ) drop

VT decreases
Series DC Generator
Voltage Control for a Shunt DC Generator
• Change the shaft speed Wm of the generator.
• Change the field resistor of the generator, thus changing the field current
Advantages
• It is used for fluctuating loads
Disadvantages
• It has poor voltage regulation and it has low terminal voltage.
Losses In DC Machine
Losses In DC Machine
ELECTRICAL OR COPPER LOSSES
Copper losses are the losses that occur in the armature and field
windings of the machine. The copper losses for the armature and field
windings are given by
Losses In DC Machine
BRUSH LOSSES
The brush drop loss is the power lost across the contact potential at the
brushes of the machine. It is given by the equation
Losses In DC Machine
CORE LOSSES
The core losses are the hysteresis losses and eddy current losses
occurring in the metal of the motor.
Mechanical losses
Friction losses: caused by the friction of the bearings in the machine.
Windage losses: caused by the friction between the moving parts of
the machine and the air inside the motor's casing.
STRAY LOSSES (OR MISCELLANEOUS LOSSES). Stray losses are losses
that cannot be placed in one of the previous categories.
Power Stages in DC Generator
Power Stages in DC Motor
Efficiency of DC Machine