Department of Electrical and

Computer Engineering
EE20A - Electromechanical Energy
Conversion
DC Machine

Construction of DC Machines

Commutator

Features of DC Machine
Field Winding

DC Machines- Direction of Power Flow and Losses

DC Machines- Direction of Power Flow and Losses

DC Machines Analysis
Symbols that will be used.
= flux per pole
p = no. of poles
z = total number of active conductors on the armature
a = no. of parallel paths in the armature winding
Aside: Lap Winding -> a = p
Wave Winding -> a = 2
n = speed of rotation of the armature in rpm
wm = speed in radians per second

DC Machines Connections
If

Ra

+
VT

E
-

a)

+
Field

E
F

Armature

b) Separately Excited

DC Machines Connections
+
E

Armature

Field
F

F
c) Series

+
E

Armature

Field
F

d) Shunt

DC Machines Connections
A

+
e) Cummulative Compound

Field

Armature

A
+

Armature

d) Differential Compound
Field

DC Machines Connections
A
+

Armature

f) Long Shunt
Field

A
+

Armature

g) Short Shunt
F

Field

EMF Equation
When the rotor rotates in the field a voltage is developed in the
armature.

- the flux cut by one conductor in one rotation = p

- therefore in n rotations, the flux cut by one conductor = np
-

EMF Equation

EMF induced in the

armature windings

TORQUE EQUATION
EaIa=Tem

- In the DC machine losses are

expressed as rotational losses
due to friction and windage
(F&W).

- The torque equation can then be

rewritten as:-

SHAFT OUTPUT TORQUE = (Te -

TF&W)

DC Generator
Ia
E a = Nz pa
60
V = E a Ia R a
L
V
I = L
f R
f
Ia = I + I
f L

+
E

Ra
Rf

If

L
O
A
D

VT

Note: VT = VL
i.e. Terminal Voltage is the Load Voltage

OPEN CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

The Open Circuit characteristic is a graph relating Open-Circuit
Armature voltage of a D.C. Generator versus its field current
when the machine is driven at its rated speed

DC
Source

Field Regulator

Ra
ZZ

FL

Rf

F
L

OPEN
CIRCUIT

AA

Ea

Z
A

Field Current

Diagram showing motor connections for the open circuit test, separately excited

The D.C. Generator field is excited by a separate D.C. source and

the current is varied using a generator Field Regulator (a potential
divider).

OPEN CIRCUIT CHARACTERISTICS

Rext is set to its maximum value. The D.C. Generator is driven at
rated its speed. Rext is decrease to a lower value so that the
machine self-excites ( i.e.. Develop an e.m.f).
A

Field Current

Ra
Rext
970 ohms

Rf
ZZ

VT

Ea
AA

Diagram showing the D.C. Generator as a self-excited shunt machine

EXTERNAL CHARACTERISTIC OF SHUNT GENERATOR

This is a graph relating terminal voltage and the load current of a

D.C. Generator when driven at its rated speed with the field current
maintained at its normal no-load value.
A

Field Current

Load Current

Ra
Rext
970 ohms

Rf
ZZ

Ea

Terminal
Voltage

L
O
A
D

AA

Diagram showing connections for load test.

Summary
E a = V - I a R a Note: For motor
Ea = n z p
60 a
V - I a R a 60 a
Speed n =
z p
E
n a

Losses = I2 R a -- Windings(Armature)
a
2
= I R -- Windings(Field )
f
f
and Rotational Losses (Windage and Friction)