ECEN 441-504: Electronic Motor

Drive
Lab 3: Operating Characteristics of the
Separately Excited DC Motor

Submitted by:
Kevin Bradshaw - UIN: 122003416
Kenneth McDole - UIN: 92100448
Jonathan Moore - UIN: 413003391
Fernando Romo - UIN: 623001710
TA:
Performed: October 29th, 2015

Due: November 5th, 2015

Procedure
Part 1: Direction of Rotation of a Separately Excited DC Motor
The first part of this lab consisted of building the DC motor depicted in Figure
1. This wiring diagram is known as a separately excited configuration and
when enough terminal voltage is applied, the rotation of the motor (as seen
by the drive end) begins to rotate clockwise. By reversing the series field
connections, the motor rotates counterclockwise. When reversing the
armature connections instead of reversing the series field, the motor also
rotates counterclockwise. If only the polarity of the DC power supply is
reversed, the motor rotates counterclockwise. These are very important
observations because it shows that changing any connection can change the
rotation of the motor. This is because the armature and field flux are created
separately and changing one flux doesnt change the other flux like it did
with the shunt and series configurations.
Figure 1: Wiring Diagram of a Separately Excited DC Configuration

Part 2: Operation of a Separately Excited DC Motor under Load Variation

The second part of this lab consisted of connecting the DC motor with a
separately excited configuration to an electrical load. In order to analyze the
speed versus the torque of this motor, it was initially adjusted to 1000 rpm
and then tested under the respective resistive loads in Table 1. The angular
velocity and the terminal current were recorded for each load. Lastly, the

machine was turned off in order to find the total field resistance (16.3 )
and the armature resistance (4.4 ).

Discussion
1. In terms of the armature and field winding polarities, what is the single condition
that has to be met for the DC motor to rotate counterclockwise, and why? (Refer
to Part I)
In order for the DC motor to rotate counterclockwise, the polarities of
either the field, armature, or the armature voltage must be different.
When the polarities of any component are switched, there is a different
flux in the rotor and stator that will align in a different direction. (In this
case counterclockwise.)]
2. In terms of the armature and field winding polarities, what is the single condition
that has to be met for the DC motor to rotate clockwise, and why? (Refer to Part I)
In order for the DC motor to rotate clockwise, the polarities of the field,
armature and the armature voltage must be the same. When the
polarities of all the components are aligned, the flux in the rotor and
stator that will align in a clockwise direction.
3. For each of the speeds obtained in Part II (Table 1), calculate the values of the
armature current, back EMF, torque and efficiency. Present your results in a table.
Also, calculate the machines constant K.
Applicable Equations:
EA = K
T = KIA
K=kLFIF
PO = T
= ( Pout / Pin ) * 100%
Table 1: DC Motor load operational characteristics
R (Ohms)

n (RPM)

Ia (A)

Ea (V)

T (Nm)

Efficiency

No Load

1005

0.490

0.4523

47.599

0.2216

65.57%

600

1005

0.530

0.4504

47.403

0.2387

67.09%

300

1003

0.560

0.4499

47.256

0.252

67.94%

200

1003

0.580

0.4490

47.158

0.2604

68.47%

150

1003

0.600

0.4480

47.060

0.2688

69.04%

120

1003

0.630

0.4466

46.913

0.2814

69.79%

100

1003

0.640

0.4462

46.864

0.2856

70.00%

85.7

1003

0.650

0.4457

46.815

0.2897

70.20%

4. Plot speed (rpm) vs. torque (Nm). What happens to the speed as the torque
increases? Why?
The graph below shows that the speed is more or less constant at a
value of 1004 rpm while the torque increases. Speed and torque are
proportional to both the current and voltage in the armature.
Depending on the armature current the DC Motor will have more power
available to increase the torque. If the speed were to increase
significantly, the graph would show a major increase of torque as well.
Figure 2: Speed Vs. Torque Graph

5. Plot the electrical losses (W) vs. torque (Nm). What happens to the electrical
losses as the torque increases? Why?
The graph below shows that as the torque increases, the power loss
increases too. In order to increase torque, the current through the
armature is being increased, yet the current through the field is
constant all this results in resistive power losses. Increasing the
armature current increases power dissipation. Hence, the higher the
armature current, the higher the torque and power loss.

Figure 3: Power Loss Vs. Torque Graph

6. What happens to the speed as the armature voltage increases? Why? (Refer to
Part III)
As the armature voltage increases, the speed increases significantly. This is
because its directly correlated by the following equation:
Armature Voltage = Machine Constant * Angular Velocity
This is also true when the field voltage is decreased, as long as the armature
voltage is also increased, the speed increases.
Table 2: DC Motor Speed Characteristics.
Speed
Characteristic
(RPM)

Field Voltage

10

50

45

40

35

30

25

154

161

171

186

205

232

Armature
Voltage

20

344

363

394

438

490

575

30

530

574

615

687

778

921

40

720

781

838

939

1065

1267

50

910

986

1060

1189

1353

1606

Figure 4: Speed Vs. Field Voltage and Armature Voltage 3D-Graph

7. What happens to the speed as the field voltage decreases? Why? (Refer to Part
III)
The speed is controlled by both the field and armature voltages. As the field
voltage decreases, the speed increases. This is can be seen by the TorqueSpeed Characteristic Equation:
= (Vin/k) - (IRa/(k)2)
As the field voltage increases, this affects the field flux which is inversely
proportional to the speed of the motor.