EEPC 109 x EE 142
Module 3: DC Generators
DC generators are classified based on how their fields are excited (i.e. produced).
There are three methods of excitation, and thus three main types of DC generators:
1. Permanent Magnet DC Generators – Field coils excited by permanent magnets
2. Separately Excited DC Generators – Field coils excited by some external
source
3. Self-Excited DC Generators – Field coils excited by the generator itself
Self-excited DC generators can further be classified depending on the position of their
field coils. The three types of self-excited DC generators are:
1. Series Wound Generators
2. Shunt Wound Generators
3. Compound Wound Generators
Permanent Magnet DC Generator
When the flux in the magnetic circuit is created through the use of permanent
magnets, then it is known as a Permanent magnet DC generator.
It consists of an armature and one or several permanent magnets situated around the
armature. This type of DC generator generates does not generate much power.
As such they are rarely found in industrial applications. They are normally used in
small applications – like dynamos in motorcycles.
Separately Excited DC Generator
These are the generators whose field magnets are energized by some external DC
source, such as a battery.
A circuit diagram of separately excited DC generator is shown in the figure below. The
symbols below are:
Ia = Armature current
IL = Load current
V = Terminal voltage
Eg = Generated EMF (Electromagnetic Force)
Voltage drop in the armature = Ia × Ra (R/sub>a is the armature resistance)
Let,
Then,
Power generated is equal to
And power delivered to the external load is equal to
Self-Excited DC Generators
Self-excited DC generators are generators whose field magnets are energized by the
current supplied by themselves. In these type of machines, field coils are internally
connected with the armature.
Due to residual magnetism, some flux is always present in the poles. When the
armature is rotated, some EMF is induced. Hence some induced current is produced.
This small current flows through the field coil as well as the load and thereby
strengthening the pole flux.
As the pole flux strengthened, it will produce more armature EMF, which cause the
further increase of current through the field. This increased field current further
raises armature EMF, and this cumulative phenomenon continues until the excitation
reaches the rated value.
According to the position of the field coils, self-excited DC generators may be
classified as:
1. Series Wound Generators
2. Shunt Wound Generators
3. Compound Wound Generators
Series Wound Generator
In these type of generators, the field windings are connected in series with armature
conductors, as shown in the figure below.
Whole current flows through the field coils as well as the load. As series field winding
carries full load current it is designed with relatively few turns of thick wire. The
electrical resistance of series field winding is therefore very low (nearly 0.5Ω ).
Here:
Rsc = Series winding resistance
Isc = Current flowing through the series field
Ra = Armature resistance
Ia = Armature current
IL = Load current
V = Terminal voltage
Eg = Generated EMF
Then,
Power generated is equal to,
Power delivered to the load is equal to,
Shunt Wound DC Generators
In these type of DC generators, the field windings are connected in parallel with
armature conductors, as shown in the figure below. In shunt wound generators the
voltage in the field winding is same as the voltage across the terminal.
Here:
Rsh = Shunt winding resistance
Ish = Current flowing through the shunt field
Ra = Armature resistance
Ia = Armature current
IL = Load current
V = Terminal voltage
Eg = Generated EMF
Here armature current Ia is dividing in two parts – one is shunt field current Ish, and
another is load current IL.
So,
The effective power across the load will be maximum when I L will be maximum. So, it
is required to keep shunt field current as small as possible. For this purpose the
resistance of the shunt field winding generally kept high (100 Ω) and large no of turns
are used for the desired EMF.
Shunt field current is equal to,
Voltage across the load is equal to,
Power generated is equal to,
Power delivered to the load is equal to,
Compound Wound DC Generator
In series wound generators, the output voltage is directly proportional with load
current. In shunt wound generators, the output voltage is inversely proportional with
load current.
A combination of these two types of generators can overcome the disadvantages of
both. This combination of windings is called compound wound DC generator.
Compound wound generators 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 generators may be of two types- short shunt
compound-wound generator and long shunt compound-wound generator.
Short Shunt Compound Wound DC Generator
Short Shunt Compound Wound DC Generators are generators where only the shunt
field winding is in parallel with the armature winding, as shown in the figure below.
Series field current is equal to,
Shunt field current is equal to,
Armature current is equal to,
Voltage across the load is equal to,
Power generated is equal to,
Power delivered to the load is equal to,
Long Shunt Compound Wound DC Generator
Long Shunt Compound Wound DC Generator are generators where the shunt field
winding is in parallel with both series field and armature winding, as shown in the
figure below.
Shunt field current is equal to,
Armature current, Ia = series field current,
Voltage across the load is equal to,
Power generated is equal to,
Power delivered to the load is equal to,
In a compound wound generator, the shunt field is stronger than the series field.
When the series field assists the shunt field, generator is said to be commutatively
compound wound.
On the other hand, if the series field opposes the shunt field, the generator is said to
be differentially compound wound.
Problems for Generators
1. A four-pole simplex lap-wounded shunt generator supplies two-hundred forty
75 W, 110 V lamps. If the generator has 728 conductors having 30mWb flux per
pole, find the speed of the generator if the armature and shunt resistances are
110 ohms and 0.02 ohms respectively.
2. The armature of a series generator has a 0.05-ohm resistance where each of its
brushes has an effective resistance of 0.01 ohms. If the terminal voltage is 100
volts while the field resistance is 0.04 ohm, determine the power of the
generator if the current passing through the load is 40 A.
3. The field current of a 100KW, 250 V generator is 5 amperes when delivering
power at rated terminal voltage and load current. If the armature resistance is
0.01 ohms, calculate the efficiency of the generator.
4. A shunt generator supplies a load of 5000 W at 110 V through a pair of feeder
conductors having a resistance of 0.02 ohm each. The armature and shunt field
resistances are 0.15 and 50 ohms respectively. Find the emf generated.
5. The field current of a 250 KW, 240 V shunt generator is 10 A at full load. If the
armature resistance is 0.04 ohms, find the percent ratio of the output power to
the input.
6. How much load current delivered to a 510 V short shunt compound generator supplying
a 500 V load if the armature, shunt and series field resistances amount to 0.04, 75 and
0.03 ohms respectively?
