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Characteristic of Shunt Wound DC Generator
Characteristic of Shunt Wound DC Generator
Magnetic Characteristic
Critical Load Resistance
Internal Characteristic
External Characteristic
In shunt wound DC generators the field windings are connected in parallel with armature
conductors as shown in figure below. In these type of generators the armature electric
current Ia divides in two parts. One part is the shunt field electric current Ish flows through shunt
field winding and the other part is the load current IL goes through the external load.
Three most important characteristic of shunt wound dc generators are discussed below:
The terminal voltage can always be maintained constant by adjusting the of the load terminal.
When the load resistance of a shunt wound DC generator is decreased, then load current of the
generator increased as shown in above figure. But the load current can be increased to a certain
limit with (upto point C) the decrease of load resistance. Beyond this point, it shows a reversal in
the characteristic. Any decrease of load resistance, results in electric current reduction and
consequently, the external characteristic curve turns back as shown in the dotted line and
ultimately the terminal voltage becomes zero. Though there is some voltage due to residual
magnetism.
We know, Terminal voltage
Now, when IL increased, then terminal voltage decreased. After a certain limit, due to heavy load
current and increased ohmic drop, the terminalvoltage is reduced drastically. This drastic
reduction of terminal voltage across the load, results the drop in the load current although at that
time load is high or load resistance is low.
That is why the load resistance of the machine must be maintained properly. The point in which
the machine gives maximum electric current output is called breakdown point (point C in the
picture).
This type of machines are of low rating and consists of the magnetic poles
fixed in the inner periphery and the armature coils feed or being fed by the
supply in case of generator and motor respectively.
In the separately excited machine the field windings are being fed by a
separate D.C source (battery) and the. e.m.f generated in case of generator
would be the sum of the supply voltage and the armature resistance drop.
If the field winding is connected across the armature winding then the machine
is called the shunt machine. In the shunt generator, as the shunt winding has
to overcome the generated voltage it has to be made with higher turns of
lower cross-sectional conductors. They have higher resistance as compared to
the series coils,but the current is less.
Let,
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
Ia=Ish + IL
In this type of generator the field coils are connected in series with the
armature terminals and the conductors would be of higher cross- section and
with lesser number of turns.
The current flowing through the coil would be the same as that of the
armature current. So, it is made with higher cross-sections.
c) Compound Generator
The combination of two windings i.e., series winding and shunt field winding
is considered as a compound generator. In the compound generator, normally
the field of the shunt will be more'than the series field and will be less than
the individual shunt machine. The same is the case with the series field also.
Based on the type of connection of the shunt field to the armature and series
field it is classified as,
In this type of compound machine, the series current and the armature current
is made , same and the shunt connection is made after the series connection
is done.
In this type of machine, the series field current is made same to that of the
line current. The connection of shunt field is done first and then to the series
field.
Whatever the connection of machine long or short shunt machines, if the flux
produced by the series field aids with the shunt field then the machine is called
cumulative compound machine or if the series field opposes the shunt field
then the machine is called the differential compound machine.