Basics of DC Machines
Basics of DC Machines
Basics of DC Machines
DC
Machines
By Kiran Daware
Basics of
DC Machines
By Kiran Daware
Chapter 1
Basics of DC Machines
1.1 Introduction:
1
1.2 Construction of a DC machine:
2
pole shoes are fastened to them. Pole shoes serve two purposes;
(i) they support field coils and (ii) spread out the flux in the air gap
uniformly.
Field winding: They are usually made of copper. Field coils are
former wound and placed on each pole and are connected in series.
They are wound in such a way that, when energized, they form
alternate North and South poles.
3
conductors. Whereas, in case of a DC motor, commutator helps in
providing current to the armature conductors. A commutator
consists of a set of copper segments which are insulated from each
other by mica insulation. The number of segments is equal to the
number of armature coils. Each segment is connected to an
armature coil and the commutator is keyed to the shaft. Brushes
are usually made from carbon or graphite. They rest on
commutator segments and slide on the segments when the
commutator rotates keeping the physical contact to collect or
supply the current.
Fleming’s right hand rule: The thumb, first finger and second finger
of the right hand are held perpendicular to each other. If the thumb is
pointed in the direction of motion of the conductor and the first finger is
pointed in the direction of the magnetic field (north to south), the second
finger represents the direction of induced current.
4
the direction of motion of that particular conductor will be reversed to
downward. Hence, the direction of current in every armature conductor
will be alternating.
If you look at the figure 1.4, you will know how the direction of the
induced current is alternating in an armature conductor. But with a split
Figure 1.4
5
Fleming’s left hand rule: The thumb, first finger and second finger of
the right hand are held perpendicular to each other. If the first finger is
pointed in the direction of the magnetic field and the second finger is pointed
in the direction of the current, then the thumb represents the direction of
force experienced by the conductor.
6
generated in the conductors which is opposite to the direction of the
provided armature current.
The applied voltage has to force the current through the armature
conductors against back emf. Under normal running conditions, back emf
(Eb) is always less than the applied voltage (V). Due to the presence of back
emf, the net voltage across the armature circuit is given as:
V = Eb + Ia.Ra
7
1.7 Classification of DC Machines:
DC machines are usually classified on the basis of their field
excitation method. This makes two broad categories of dc machines; (i)
Separately excited and (ii) Self-excited.
8
Self excited: In this type, field winding and armature winding are
interconnected in various ways to achieve wide range of
performance characteristics. Depending on that, self-excited
machines can be further classified as –
9
1.8 Armature winding:
To learn how practical armatures are wound, it is essential to know
the following terminologies –
Coil: A coil has two sides which rest in distinct armature slots. A coil
may be single turn or multi-turn coil. A single turn coil has only one
conductor per coil side but a multi-turn coil may have many
conductors per coil side. All the coils are connected in series and
the junctions of consecutive coils are terminated on the respective
commutator segments.
Figure 1.8
Coil span: It is nothing but the spacing between the two coil sides
in terms of the number of armature slots. If coil span is equal to the
pole pitch, then the winding is called to be full pitched. In this case,
the coil sides lie exactly under the opposite poles and maximum
emf is induced in the coil. Example - for a full pitched coil with coil
span of 9, if one coil side is placed in slot no. 3 then the other coil
side must be placed in slot no. 12. If the coil span is less than the
pole pitch, then the winding is called to be fractional pitched. In this
case, the net emf generated in the coil is less than that would be in
a full pitched coil. This is due to the phase difference between the
10
generated emfs in the two coil sides. Still, fractional pitch windings
may be sometimes used for substantial saving in copper at the end
connections and for improving commutation.
Single layer and double layer winding: When only one conductor
or coil side is placed in an armature slot then the winding is called
single layer winding. It is not very commonly used. On the other
hand, in double layer winding, each armature slot carries two
conductors forming two layers of winding. One coil side lies in the
upper layer while the other coil side of the same coil lies in the
lower layer in a different armature slot.
11
Simplex and multiplex winding: If there is only one set of closed
winding, then the winding is called as simplex winding. If there are
two sets of closed winding then it is called as duplex winding and
so on.
Lap winding:
A type of armature winding in which successive coils overlap each
other is called as lap winding. For a simplex lap winding, the commutator
pitch is 1. That means, the two ends of a coil are connected to adjacent
commutator segments. For a duplex lap winding, commutator pitch is 2.
The winding may be progressive or retrogressive. A progressive winding
progresses in the direction in which the coil is wound. The opposite way is
retrogressive.
In simplex lap winding, number of parallel paths is equal to the
number of poles. When brushes of the same polarity are connected
together, then the current flowing paths between the opposite brushes
are called as parallel paths.
Wave winding:
In wave winding, the end of one coil is connected to the beginning
of a coil which lie under the same polarity of field pole as that of the first
coil. In other words, all the coils which carry emf in the same direction at a
time are connected in series. Hence, a simplex wave winding makes only
two parallel paths.
Figure 1.10
12
Brush positions:
The brush positions can be determined by finding the direction of
induced emf in the various armature conductors. By applying the Fleming’s
right hand rule, the direction of induced emf in any conductor can be
found. A positive brush is placed on a commutator segment at which
direction of induced emf in both the terminated conductors is positive.
Whereas, a negative brush is placed where direction of induced emf in
both the terminated conductors in negative.
Dummy coils:
For obtaining specific performance characteristics of the machine,
each machine has to be designed with the specific type of winding and with
the specific number of armature conductors. Sometimes, an armature may
not be available with the number of slots according the design
requirements. In such cases, an armature with more slots is taken and the
winding is placed, according to the requirement, omitting few armature
slots. But, this will disturb the mechanical balance of the armature and
make the machine unstable while running. Dummy coils are placed in the
empty slots to provide mechanical balance to the armature. They are just
like the other armature coils, except that they are not connected to any
commutator segments. Dummy coils are electrically insulated from the
armature circuit.
13
1.9 EMF equation and Torque equation:
In a DC machine, regardless of a motor or generator, generation of
emf and torque occur at the same time. For example, in a DC motor, there
will be induced voltage in the form of back emf in the armature conductors
when the motor is running. The same emf equation can be used to
calculate the generated emf in a dc generator and back emf in dc motor.
In the same way, the same torque equation can be used to calculate the
electromagnetic torque developed in a dc motor and a dc generator.
EMF equation:
Let us assume a dc generator, in which –
P = number of field poles
Z = total number of armature conductors
ɸ = flux produced per pole (in Wb)
A = number of parallel paths in the armature
N = rotational speed of the armature (in RPM)
Now,
𝑑𝛷
Average emf generated per conductor is given by (Volts) …(eq. 1)
𝑑𝑡
Flux cut by one conductor in one revolution = 𝑑𝛷 = 𝑃𝛷 ….(Weber),
Therefore,
𝑑𝛷 𝑃𝛷𝑁
from eq. 1, emf generated per conductor = = (Volts)...(eq. 2)
𝑑𝑡 60
The net generated emf across the generator terminals is the emf
generated in any one of the parallel paths. Eq. 2 gives the emf generated
in one conductor only and all the conductors are connected in series
forming the parallel paths.
14
Hence, the net generated emf across the armature terminals (Eg)
is given as –
𝑃𝛷𝑁 𝑍
𝐸𝑔 = (Volts)
60 𝐴
For a simplex lap wound generator, number of parallel paths is
𝑃𝛷𝑁 𝑍
equal to the number of poles. Therefore, 𝐸𝑔 =
60 𝑃
For a simplex wave wound generator, there are only two parallel
𝑃𝛷𝑁𝑍
paths. Therefore, 𝐸𝑔 =
120
Torque equation:
Whenever the armature conductors carry current in presence of
the field flux, they experience a force. But the force is opposite in direction
at the opposite sides of the armature, which gives rise to electromagnetic
torque. Torque is given by the product of the force and the radius at which
this force acts.
Torque T = F × r (N-m) ….where, F = force and r = radius of the
armature.
Work done by this force in once revolution,
Work done = Force × distance = F × 2πr (2πr = circumference of
the armature).
Net power developed in the armature
𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × circumference × 𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
= = =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
𝐹 × 2𝜋𝑟 × 𝑁
(Joules per second)
60
15
Armature torque:
Let, the torque developed in the armature be denoted as Ta.
Then the power developed in the armature Pa = Ta × ω = Ta × 2πN/60
We know, the power developed in the armature is actually converted from
the electrical power.
That is, mechanical power = electrical power
Ta × 2πN/60 = Eb.Ia
Eb is the back emf generated in the armature and it is calculated from the
𝑃𝛷𝑁 𝑍
same emf equation as that of dc generators. Therefore, 𝐸𝑏 =
60 𝐴
𝑃𝛷𝑁 𝑍
Therefore, Ta × 2πN/60 = × Ia
60 𝐴
𝑃𝑍
Ta = × 𝛷. 𝐼𝑎 (N-m)
2πA
𝑃𝑍
In the above equation, is practically constant for a DC machine.
2πA
Therefore, armature torque is directly proportional to the product of the
flux and the armature current. i.e. Ta ∝ 𝛷. 𝐼𝑎
Shaft torque:
The total developed armature torque is not available at the shaft.
Due to iron and friction losses in the machine, some of the armature
torque is lost and hence, the shaft torque is always less than the armature
torque. Unlike armature torque, the shaft torque is calculated from the
output power available at the shaft. It is denoted by Tsh.
𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠
Tsh = (N-m)
2πN/60
16
About the Author
Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.
Alternative Proxies: