24EE204 – BASICS OF ELECTRICAL AND
ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
UNIT – III
DC MACHINES AND TRANSFORMERS
Construction, principle of operation, characteristic
and application – DC Motor
Construction, principle of operation, characteristic
and application – DC Generator
Types of DC motors and generators
Application: Electric Vehicle
Structure of electric power system
Introduction to single phase transformers
Construction, principle of operation, characteristics
and application.
Construction, principle of operation, characteristic and application of DC motor
DC Motor
DC motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. In a DC
motor, the input electrical energy is the direct current which is transformed into the mechanical
rotation.
Construction of DC Motor
Different Parts of a DC Motor
A DC motor is composed of the following main parts:
1. Shaft
2. Bearings
3. Commutator and brushes
4. Armature Core
5. Armature Windings
6. Pole Core and Pole Shoes
7. Field Winding
8. Interpole
9. Magnetic Frame and Yoke
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Shaft
Shaft is the inner most part of DC motor. It is made of mild steel with a maximum breaking
strength. The shaft is used to transfer mechanical power from or to the machine. The rotating parts
like armature core, commutator, etc. are keyed to the shaft.
Bearings
The ball or roller bearings are fitted in the end housings. The function of the bearings is to reduce
friction between the rotating and stationary parts of the machine. Mostly high carbon steel is used
for the construction of bearings as it is very hard material.
Commutator and brushes
Commutator
The commutator of a DC motor is a cylindrical structure that is made of copper segments stacked
together but insulated from each other using mica. The primary function of a commutator is to
supply electrical current to the armature winding.
Brushes
The brushes of a DC motor are made with graphite and carbon structure. These brushes conduct
electric current from the external circuit to the rotating commutator. Hence, we come to
understand that the commutator and the brush unit are concerned with transmitting the power from
the static electrical circuit to the mechanically rotating region or the rotor.
Armature Core
The armature core of DC motor is cylindrical in shape and keyed to the rotating shaft. At the outer
periphery of the armature have grooves or slots which accommodate the armature winding.
The armature core of a DC motor or machine serves the following purposes.
It houses the conductors in the slots.
It provides an easy path for the magnetic flux
Armature Windings
The insulated conductors are placed in the slots of the armature core. The conductors are wedged,
and bands of steel wire wound around the core and are suitably connected. This arrangement of
conductors is called Armature Winding. The armature winding is the heart of the DC Machine.
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Armature winding is a place where conversion of power takes place. In the case of a DC Generator
here, mechanical power is converted into electrical power.
Pole Core and Pole Shoes
The Pole Core and Pole Shoes are fixed to the magnetic frame or yoke by bolts. Since the poles,
project inwards they are called salient poles. Each pole core has a curved surface. Usually, the pole
core and shoes are made of thin cast steel or wrought iron laminations which are riveted together
under hydraulic pressure. The poles are laminated to reduce the Eddy Current loss.
Field Winding
Each pole core has one or more field coils (windings) placed over it to produce a magnetic field.
The enameled copper wire is used for the construction of field or exciting coils. The coils are
wound on the former and then placed around the pole core.
When direct current passes through the field winding, it magnetizes the poles, which in turns
produces the flux. The field coils of all the poles are connected in series in such a way that when
current flows through them, the adjacent poles attain opposite polarity.
Interpoles
Interpoles, also known as commutating poles, are small poles placed in between the main poles of
a DC generator. The effect of armature mmf on the main field flux is to distort the main field flux
and to reduce the net main field flux. Interpoles are designed in DC generator to overcome the
effects of the armature reactance and the self-induction of the machine.
Magnetic Frame and Yoke
The outer hollow cylindrical frame to which main poles and inter-poles are fixed and by means of
which the machine is fixed to the foundation is known as Yoke. It is made of cast steel or rolled
steel for the large machines and for the smaller size machine the yoke is generally made of cast
iron.
The two main purposes of the yoke are as follows:-
It supports the pole cores and provides mechanical protection to the inner parts of the machines.
It provides a low reluctance path for the magnetic flux.
Working principle of DC Motor
Whenever a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it gains torque and
develops a tendency to move. In short, when electric fields and magnetic fields interact, a
mechanical force arises. This is the principle on which the DC motors work.
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Applications of DC Motor
Automotive applications (including electric vehicles)
Power tools
Appliances
Electronics
Robotics
Industrial machinery
Medical equipment
Household devices
Audio and video equipment
Computer equipment
Lathe
Electrical Traction
Types of DC motor
DC motors have a wide range of applications ranging from electric shavers to automobiles. To
cater to this wide range of applications, they are classified into different types based on the field
winding connections to the armature as:
Permanent magnet DC Motor
Separately Excited DC Motor
Self Excited DC Motor
Permanent magnet DC Motor
If the file of the DC motor is generated by permanent magnet then the motor is called
permanent magnet DC Motor.
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Separately Excited DC Motor
The field winding and the armature windings are excited by separate DC supply the motor is called
separately excited dc motor.
Self Excited DC Motor
The field winding and the armature windings are excited by common DC supply then the motor is
called self excited dc motor.
Types of Self Excited DC Motor
1. Shunt DC Motor
2. Series DC Motor
3. Compound DC Motor
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Shunt DC Motor
The field winding is connected parallel with the armature windings then the motor is called self
excited dc motor. Shunt motor is shown in figure
2. Series DC Motor
The field winding is connected series with the armature windings then the motor is called self
excited dc motor. Shunt motor is shown in figure
Compound DC Motor
Compound wound motors have both series field winding and shunt field winding. One
winding is placed in series with the armature and the other is placed in parallel with the armature.
This type of DC motor may be of two types
- short shunt compound wound motor and long shunt compound wound motor.
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DC Generator
A DC generator is an electrical machine that converts mechanical energy in to electrical energy
Construction of a DC Generator
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Different Parts of a DC Generator
A DC generator is composed of the following main parts:
1. Shaft
2. Bearings
3. Commutator and brushes
4. Armature Core
5. Armature Windings
6. Pole Core and Pole Shoes
7. Field Winding
8. Interpoles
9. Magnetic Frame and Yoke
Shaft
Shaft is the inner most part of DC generator. It is made of mild steel with a maximum breaking
strength. The shaft is used to transfer mechanical power from or to the machine. The rotating parts
like armature core, commutator, etc. are keyed to the shaft.
Bearings
The ball or roller bearings are fitted in the end housings. The function of the bearings is to reduce
friction between the rotating and stationary parts of the machine. Mostly high carbon steel is used
for the construction of bearings as it is very hard material.
Commutator and brushes
Commutator
The commutator of a DC generator is a cylindrical structure that is made of copper segments
stacked together but insulated from each other using mica. The primary function of a commutator
is to supply electrical current to the armature winding.
Brushes
The brushes of a DC generator are made with graphite and carbon structure. These brushes
conduct electric current from the external circuit to the rotating commutator. Hence, we come to
understand that the commutator and the brush unit are concerned with transmitting the power from
the static electrical circuit to the mechanically rotating region or the rotor.
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Armature Core
The armature core of DC generator is cylindrical in shape and keyed to the rotating shaft. At the
outer periphery of the armature have grooves or slots which accommodate the armature winding.
The armature core of a DC generator or machine serves the following purposes.
It houses the conductors in the slots.
It provides an easy path for the magnetic flux
Armature Windings
The insulated conductors are placed in the slots of the armature core. The conductors are wedged,
and bands of steel wire wound around the core and are suitably connected. This arrangement of
conductors is called Armature Winding. The armature winding is the heart of the DC Machine.
Armature winding is a place where conversion of power takes place. In the case of a DC Generator
here, mechanical power is converted into electrical power.
Pole Core and Pole Shoes
The Pole Core and Pole Shoes are fixed to the magnetic frame or yoke by bolts. Since the poles,
project inwards they are called salient poles. Each pole core has a curved surface. Usually, the pole
core and shoes are made of thin cast steel or wrought iron laminations which are riveted together
under hydraulic pressure. The poles are laminated to reduce the Eddy Current loss.
Field Winding
Each pole core has one or more field coils (windings) placed over it to produce a magnetic field.
The enameled copper wire is used for the construction of field or exciting coils. The coils are
wound on the former and then placed around the pole core.
When direct current passes through the field winding, it magnetizes the poles, which in turns
produces the flux. The field coils of all the poles are connected in series in such a way that when
current flows through them, the adjacent poles attain opposite polarity.
Interpoles
Interpoles, also known as commutating poles, are small poles placed in between the main poles of
a DC generator or motor. The effect of armature mmf on the main field flux is to distort the main
field flux and to reduce the net main field flux. Interpoles are designed in DC motors to overcome
the effects of the armature reactance and the self-induction of the machine.
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Magnetic Frame and Yoke
The outer hollow cylindrical frame to which main poles and inter-poles are fixed and by means of
which the machine is fixed to the foundation is known as Yoke. It is made of cast steel or rolled
steel for the large machines and for the smaller size machine the yoke is generally made of cast
iron.
The two main purposes of the yoke are as follows:-
It supports the pole cores and provides mechanical protection to the inner parts of the machines.
It provides a low reluctance path for the magnetic flux.
Working principle of DC Generator
A DC generator is an electromechanical energy conversion device that converts mechanical power
into DC electrical power through the process of electromagnetic induction. A DC generator
operates on the principle of electromagnetic induction i.e. when the magnetic flux linking a
conductor changes, an EMF is induced in the conductor. A DC generator has a field winding and
an armature winding. The EMF induced in the armature winding of a DC generator is alternating
one and is converted into direct voltage using a commutator mounted on the shaft of the generator.
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Applications of DC Generator
Speed regulation
Battery charging
Lighting installation
Supplying power to DC motors
Arc welding
Compensating for voltage drop
Providing power supply for hostels, offices, and lodges
Power backup
Supplying DC to welding machines
Electric Vehicle
A vehicle that works on an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine is called
an Electric Vehicle. Electric Vehicles are useful as they reduce the harmful emission released by
the engine-based vehicle. They can be very helpful in reducing air pollution in the atmosphere.
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There are eight types of Electric Vehicles:
Plug-in Electric Vehicle
On- and Off-road Electric Vehicles
Space Rover Vehicles
Seaborne Electric Vehicles
Airborne Electric Vehicles
Electrically Powered Spacecraft
Range-extended electric vehicle
Railborne Electric Vehicles
The advantages of Electric Vehicles:
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reduce Air Pollution and health issues caused by it
Reduce dependence on petroleum
Reduced Noise Pollution
Electric Vehicles do not consume energy when stationary
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Structure of electric power system
The large network of conductors between the power station and the consumers can be
broadly divided into two parts viz., transmission system and distribution system. Each part can be
further sub-divided into two—primary transmission and secondary transmission and primary
distribution and secondary distribution. In Fig., the layout of a typical AC power supply scheme in
a power system is shown by a single line diagram. It may be noted that it is not necessary that all
power schemes include all the stages shown in the figure. For example, in a certain power scheme,
there may be no secondary transmission and in another case, the scheme may be so small that
there is only distribution and no transmission.
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Construction, Working principle and Applications of Transformer
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Application of Transformer
Transformers are used in a variety of applications, including power generation, transmission and
distribution, lighting, audio systems, and electronic equipment.
Power generation: Transformers are used in power plants to increase the voltage of the electricity
generated by the plant before it is sent to the grid.
Transmission and distribution: Transformers are used in the transmission and distribution of
electricity to increase or decrease the voltage of electricity as it is sent from power plants to homes
and businesses.
Lighting: Transformers are used in lighting systems to decrease the voltage of electricity before it
is sent to light bulbs.
Audio systems: Transformers are used in audio systems to increase or decrease the voltage of
electricity before it is sent to speakers.
Electronic equipment: Transformers are used in a variety of electronic devices, including
computers, TVs, radios, and cell phones.
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Unit 3
Two marks Questions
1. What do you meant by motor?
2. What do you meant by Generator?
3. What is the use of Yoke in DC machines?
4. What is the use of inter pole in DC machines?
5. What are the applications of DC Motor?
6. What is transformer?
7. List the types of transformers
8. Compare Core and Shell type Transformers
9. What is the working principle of transformer
10. Define the turns ratio of the transformer
16 marks Questions
1. Explain the construction and working principle of DC Generator with neat sketch
2. Classify the types of DC Generator with neat sketch.
3. Explain the construction and working principle of DC motor with neat sketch.
4. Classify the types of DC Motor with neat sketch.
5. Explain the construction and working principle of Transformer with neat sketch
6. Classify and explain the types of transformers with neat sketch.
7. Explain the structure of power systems with neat sketch.
8. Explain the operation of Electric vehicle with the help of block diagram.
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