UNIT - I

D.C. GENERATORS
 D.C. GENERATORS
Constructional features
EMF equation
Armature windings
Types
Armature reaction
Commutation
No Load and Load characteristics
DC Generator
DC motor
 D.C. GENERATORS PRINCIPLE OF
OPERATION

 DC generator converts mechanical energy into electrical

energy.
 DC generators works on the principle of Faraday’s laws of
Electromagnetic induction.
“when a conductor moves in a magnetic field in such a way
conductors cuts across a magnetic flux of lines ,an e.m.f.
induced in a conductor. e.m.f. causes current to flow if the
conductor circuit is closed”.
 Constructional Details Of DC Machine

 Yoke:
 Field electromagnets:
 Pole core and pole shoe:
 Armature:
 Shaft:
 Commutator:
 Brush and Bearings:
 Construction details of DC generator
Cross section view of dc machine

shaft

S
Main parts of a 4-pole d. c machine
Practical Dc Machine
 1)Yoke
1)Yoke(outer frame):-
- Mechanical support for the poles.
- Acts as a protecting cover.
- low reluctance for magnetic flux.
- High Permeability
-- For Small machines -- Cast iron—low cost
-- For Large Machines -- Cast Steel (Rolled steel)

Large DC machine Small DC machine

 2)pole cores and pole shoes
2)Field Magnets:-

a) Pole core (Pole body) b) Pole shoe:-

 Carry the field coils
Rectangle Cross sections.
 Made of Cast iron or cast
steel.
 Laminated to reduce heat
losses.
Fitted to yoke through bolts
.
•Acts as support to field
poles .
•spreads out flux in the air
gap, reduces
reluctance of the magnetic
path.

The complete pole core and pole shoes are built from thin laminations of
annealed steel which are rivetted together under hydraulic pressure.
The thickness of the laminations varies from 1mm to 0.25 mm.
FIELD COILS (POLE COILS/MAGNETIZING COILS)
• consists of copper wire, are former wound for the correct dimensions.
•The former is removed and wound coil is put into place over the core.
•When current flows through these coils, they electromagnetise the poles
which produces the necessary flux that is cut by revolving armature
conductors.
3)Armature core
3)Conductor system:-
a) Armature core (Armature):-
 To support armature windings
 To rotate conductors in a magnetic field
 cylindrical or drum shaped.
 Made of high permeability silicon steel stampings (of 0.5 mm thick)
 Each stamping is separated from other one by thin varnish as insulation.
 Laminated to reduce eddy current losses
 High grade silicon steel used to reduce
i) Hysteresis loss
ii) Eddy current loss
 Ventilating ducts are provided to dissipate heat to dissipate heat generated
by above losses.
The slots are either die-cut or punched on the outer periphery of the disc.

b) Armature Winding:-
 Various conductors of the coils are insulated from each other.
The conductors are placed in the armature slots which are lined with tough
insulating material.
 4)commutator
Commutator:-
Hard drawn copper bars
segments insulated from each
other by mica segments
(insulation).
Facilitate collection of current
from the armature conductors.
Converts alternating current
induced in armature conductors
to direct current.
Cylindrical structure , wedge
shaped segments of These
segments are insulated by thin
layer of mica.
Number of segments are equal
to number of armature coils.
Brushes :-
Bearings and Brushes
 Carbon, Carbon graphite in the shape of rectangular blocks.
Housed in brush holder.
Flexible cu-pigtail mounted on the top of the brush conveys current
from the brushes to the holder.
used to Collects current from commutator (in case of Generator)
Shaft and bearings:-
 Shaft-- Mechanical link between prime over and armature
 Bearings –for free rotation.
DC Machine Construction
DC Machine Construction

Rotor of a dc machine
DC Machine Construction

Cutaway view of a dc machine

Generated EMF or EMF Equation of a generator

Let  = flux/pole in Weber

Z =Total number of armature conductors
=No. of slot × No. of conductors/slot
P= No. of generator poles
A =No. of parallel paths in armature
N= Armature rotation in revolutions per minute (r. p. m)
E= e.m.f induced in any parallel path in armature
Generated e.m.f Eg= e.m.f generated in any one of the parallel
paths i.e E
Average e.m.f generated/conductor = d  volt
dt
Now, flux cut/conductor in one revolution d  = P wb
 No. of revolutions/sec=N/ 60
Time for one revolution , dt= 60 /N sec
According to Faraday’s Law of electro magnetic induction
E.M.F generated/conductor = d= PN volts
dt 60
No. of conductors (in series) in one parallel path= Z / A

E.M.F generated/path=  PN × Z Volts

60 A
Generate E.M.F, Eg= Z N × P Volts
60 A
For
i) Wave winding A = 2
ii) Lap winding A = P
 Armature Winding

Armature Winding is classified into two types:

Lap winding

Wave windings
Armature windings
Armature windings
Lap Winding:

 are used in machines designed for low voltage and high current
applications.

armatures are constructed with large wire because of high current.

are used is in the starter motor of almost all automobiles .

The windings of a lap wound armature are connected in parallel. This

permits the current capacity of each winding to be added and provides a
higher operating current.

No of parallel path, A=P ; P = no. of poles

Wave winding:

 are used in machines designed for high voltage and low current
applications.

 windings connected in series.

 When the windings are connected in series, the voltage of each winding
adds, but the current capacity remains the same.

 are used is in the small generator.

 No of parallel path, A=2,

Finishing end of one coil is connected to the commutator segment
and starting end of the adjacent coil under the same pole.
Conductor under one pole(N) connected to conductor under other pole(S)
and again to conductor under consecutive north pole and so on until it
reaches the conductor under original pole.. As it progresses-wave winding.

Ya= Yb+Yf
2
.

Advantages of Wave windings over lap windings:

 for a given number of poles and armature conductors , the e.m.f is
more in wave than lap.
Conversely, lap winding requires large number conductors(more
copper, more cost, less efficient utilization of space.
Any inequality in pole fluxes affects two paths equally in wave windings
but in lap wound armature, unequal voltages are produced setting up
circulating currents that produces sparks at the brushes.
Armature windings Terminology:
Pole pitch: The distance between the two adjacent poles. It equal to
number of armature conductors(armature slots) per pole.
Conductor: Length of wire in the magnetic field where an e.m.f is
induced.
Coil: two conductors along with end connections constitute one coil
of armature windings.
single turn coil: will have two conductors.
Multi turn coil: many conductors per coil side.
Beginning end of each coil must be connected to commutator for both
lap and wave winding.
Coil span(Ys ): The distance between two sides of a coil.(1800
electrical). Coil sides lie under opposite poles.
If coil span =pole pitch-----------full pitched winding.(emfs are
additive)
If coil span < pole pitch--------- fractional pitched winding.(phase
difference exists between emfs induced in coil sides).used to save
end connection copper and improve commutation.
 Pitch of the armature winding:

Yb: back pitch(distance b/w two coil sides connected around the back of armature).
Yf: front pitch(distance b/w two coil sides which are connected at the commutator
segments
Y=Yb-Yf (for lap winding)
=Yb+Yf (for wave winding)
 Generators

D.C Generators A.C Generators

(Alternators)

Cummulatitave differentially Cummulatitave differentially

 Types of Generators
1)Separately excited generators(field windings
has large number of turns of thin wire)

2)Self excited generators

i) shunt wound
ii) series wound
iii) compound wound
a) long shunt
b) short shunt
 Clasifications of Generators

G G

G
G
Separately excited generators

G Ra

Ia=IL
E=Vt+ IaRa +BCD
shunt wound
L

VL
G
 series wound

G VL
compound wound
long shunt
L

G
VL

L
Short shunt compound D.C Generator

G VL

L
 The Practical DC Generator

 Nearly all practical generators use

electromagnetic poles instead of the
permanent magnets used in our
elementary generator
 The main advantages of using
electromagnetic poles are:
 (1) increased field strength and
 (2) possible to control the strength
of the fields. By varying the input
voltage, the field strength is
varied. By varying the field strength, the
output voltage of the generator
can be controlled.

Four-pole generator (without armature)

 Armature Reaction
The effect of magnetic field set up by armature
current on the distribution of flux under main poles
of a generator. The armature magnetic field has two
effects:
(i) It demagnetizes or weakens the main flux

(ii) It cross-magnetizes or distorts.

 Field axis

• Assume no load on generator, there is no current in armature conductors.

• The main flux is distributed symmetrically along the axis joining the centres of
north and south poles- polar axis.
• Magnetic Neutral Axis:- The axis along which there is no e.m.f induced in the
armature conductors.
• It is also called as “axis of Commutation” since current reversal takes place
along this axis.
• Fm is the m.m.f responsible for producing the main flux.
• Brushes are always placed on M.N.A
• Field coils are unexcited, where as armature conductors are carrying current.
• Current carrying armature conductors try to magnetise the armature core along the
brush axis.
• The mmfs of the armature conductors combine to send flux downwards.
• The direction of flux produced by the current carrying conductors is vertically
downwards in the armature conductors.(FA) and parallel to brush axis.
 Crowded flux

Weakened flux

In practical DC generators, both the fluxes (Fm and FA) appear simultaneously resulting
in non uniform flux and unsymmetrical about the pole axis.

The resultant mmf (OF) is obatined by vectorial combining both the fluxes. The new
M.N.A which is always perpendicular to total flux also shifts by an angle θ from its initial
position along with the brush shift.

Armature conductors and current are redistributed. The brush position changes in the
same direction as that of rotation of armature.
The Armature mmf is found to lie in the direction of New MNA(brush axis)
Represented by vector OFA inclined at an angle θ to the left.

Fd- Demagnetising component since in the direction opposite to Fm(main flux).

Fc- Cross magnetising component which is perpendicular to Fm produces distortion
in the main field.

The Demagnetising and distortion will increase with increase in armature current.
COMPENSATING WINDINGS

• Compensating windings are used in large machines which are subjected to large
fluctuations in load to neutralize the cross magnetising effect of armature
reaction.

• They are embedded in the slots in pole shoe and connected in series with
armature in such a way that current in them flows in opposite direction to that of
armature conductors and provide sufficient mmf to counter balance the armature
 Commutation
It is the process of converting A.C generated voltage
in the armature conductors to D.C for external load.
• The brush width is equal to the width of the one commutator segment and one mica insulation.

• Coil B is about to be short circuited because brush is about to come in touch with commutator
segment ‘a’.

• Assuming each coil carries 20A, so that brush current is 40A.Prior to the beginning of short
circuit, Coil B belongs to the group of coils lying to the left of the brush and carries 20A from
left to right.
• Coil B has entered its period of short circuit and its approximately at one-third of
this period of short circuit and is approximately at one-third of this period.

• The current through coil B has reduced down from 20A to 10A. The area of contact
of the brush is more with segment ‘b’ than with segment ‘a’ , it receives 30A from the
former.

• In fig (c), the coil B is in the middle of its short circuit period. The current through it
has decreased to zero. The Two currents of value 20A each, pass to the brush directly
from coil A and C. The brush contact areas with the two segments ‘b’ and ‘a’ are
equal.

• In fig (d), Coil B has become part of the group of coils lying to the right of the brush.
It can be seen that brush contact area with segment ‘b’ is decreasing rapidly
whereas that with segment ‘a’ is increasing.

• In Fig (e), the moment when coil B is almost at the end of commutation or short
circuit period. For ideal commutation, current through it should have reversed by
now (20A through each coil). The difference of current between coils C and B is 5A,
which directly jumps from segment B to the brush through air producing the spark..
Methods Of Improving Commutation:
1) Resistance commutation

a) Consists of replacing low resistance copper

brushes by high resistance carbon brushes.

b) When current from coil C reaches

commutator segment b, it has two parallel
paths to flow, the first part is from bar b to
c) by increasing the contact
the brush and other parallel path is via the
resistance between the
short circuited Coil B to bar ‘a’ and then
commutator segment and
to the brush. If the Cu brushes are used , it
brushes will limit the short
prefers the shortest path, But when carbon
circuit current and reduce time
brushes having high resistances are used,
constant of circuit , and
the current flows through Coil B as
helping in quick reversal of
resistance r1 of first path will be
current.
increasing due to decrease in contact area
of brush.
Advantages of Resistance Commutation:

• They are to some degree self lubricating and polish the commutator.

• Even if sparking occurs, damage to the commutator will be reduced.

Disadvantages of Resistance commutation:

• Due to high resistance, approximately there is loss of 2V and not used in

small machines.

• The Commutator to be made larger for heat dissipation without rise in

temperature for using carbon brushes.

• Larger brush holders are required due to lower current density.

2) EMF Commutation:

• Arrangement is made to neutralize the reactance voltage by producing a

reversing E.M.F in the short circuited coil under commutation.

• It is in opposition to the reversal voltage and is both the voltages are made
equal, producing quick reversal of current in short circuited coil resulting in
sparkless commutation.

• The reversing E.M.F in produced in two ways:

i. By giving the brushes a forward lead sufficient enough to bring
the short circuited coil under the influence of next pole of opposite
polarity.

ii. By using interpoles.

• The distinction between compensating windings and interpoles is that
even though both are connected in series, and their mmfs are such that
they neutralize armature reaction, Compensating poles additionally
supply mmfs for counter acting the reactance voltage induced in the coil
undergoing commutation.

• The action of compensating poles is localized and has negligible effect on

the armature reaction occuring on the remainder of the armature
periphery.
 D.C. Generator Characteristics

The following are the three most important

characteristics in a D.C. generator:

1. Open Circuit Characteristics (Eo/IF)

2. Internal Characteristics (E/Ia)
3. External Characteristics (V/Ia)
 Critical Resistance for shunt Generator

Critical field resistance is a term that is associated with a DC Shunt generator. The
value of resistance of shunt field winding beyond which the self generator fails to
build up its voltage is known as " critical resistance
at a given speed it is the maximum field resistance with which the shunt generator
excite. Shunt generator will build up voltage only if field circuit resistance is less
than critical field resistance.
 How to Draw O.C.C. at Different Speeds?
If we are given O.C.C. of a generator at a constant speed N1 then we can easily
draw the O.C.C. at any other constant speed N2.Fig (3.11) illustrates the
procedure. Here we are given O.C.C. at a constant speed N1.It is desired to find
the O.C.C. at constant speed N2 (it is assumed that n1 < N2)For constant
excitation, E α N.
E2/E1=N2/N1
As shown in Fig. (3.11), for If = OH, E1 = HC. Therefore, the new value of e.m.f. (E2)
for the same If but at N2i.
E2=HC ×( N2/N1) = HD
 Critical Speed (NC)
The critical speed of a shunt generator is the minimum speed below which it fails to
excite.
Therefore , Speed α Critical resistance
In order to find critical speed, take any convenient point C on excitation
axis and erect a perpendicular so as to cut Rsh and R’sh lines at points B and
A respectively. Then,
BC/AC =NC/N
or NC = N ×(BC/AC)
 Conditions for Voltage Build-Up of a Shunt
Generator
The necessary conditions for voltage build-up in a shunt generator are:

(i) There must be some residual magnetism in generator poles.

(ii) The connections of the field winding should be such that the field current
strengthens the residual magnetism.

(iii) The resistance of the field circuit should be less than the critical resistance. In
other words, the speed of the generator should be higher than the critical
speed.
Open circuit characteristics of Separately Excited D.C.
Generator
Internal and External Characteristics
Characteristics of Shunt Generator
Characteristics of Series Generator
Compound Generator Characteristics
 Applications of D.C Generators
Separately excited generators

i) These are used for speed control of D.C motors over a large range.
ii) These are used in areas where a wide range of terminal voltage is required

Self excited generators

i) shunt generators :-
i) These are used as exciters for exciting the field of synchronous machines and separately
excited D.C generators
ii) These are used for battery charging because it’s terminal voltage are almost constant or
can be kept constant.
iii) Commonly used in ordinary lighting purposes and power supply purposes.
 ii) series generators:-
i) These are used for series arc lighting
ii) Series incandescent lighting
iii) As a series booster for increasing the voltage across the feeder to compensate the
resistance drop of the line. because of their rising characteristic.
iv) Special purposes such as supplying the field current for regenerative
breaking of D.C locomotives (railway service).
v) Constant current for welding.

iii) compound generators:-

i) Compound generators are used where constant terminal voltages have to be
maintained for different loading conditions.
ii) Cumulatively compound generators:-These are for domestic lighting
purposes and to transmit energy over long distance and for heavy power service
such as electric railways.
iii) Differential compound generator:- The use of this type of generators is very
rare and it is used for special application like arc welding.
Total losses in a D.C Machine
D.C
 • The force experienced by
armature conductors
tends to rotate the
armature in the
anticlockwise direction
and forces collectively
produce driving torque.

• Commutator helps to produce unidirectional and

continous torque.
Speed Control of D.C.Machines:
Testing is performed to determine efficiency and power losses.

Direct Load Test Brake Test

Testing of DC
Motors: Swinburne’s test
(No-Load or Losses
Test)
Hopkinson’s test
Indirect Load (Back to Back test)
test
Retardation Test
Another simple method of measuring rotor
output is by use of poney brake one form.

A rope is wound round the pulley and its

two ends are attached to two spring
balances S1 and S2.

The tension of the rope can be adjusted

with the help of swivels.

The force acting tangentially on the pulley

Is the difference between the readings of the
two spring balances.

If R Is the pulley radius, the torque at the

pulley=(S1-S2)R

Motor output is calculated.

Swinburne’s test(No Load
Test)
•simple test in which losses are
measured separately, Efficiency at any
load can be predetermined in advance.

•Applicable to machines where flux is

constant, (Shunt and compound wound
motors).

•The motor is made to run at rated

voltage at no load, the speed is adjusted
to rated speed with the help of shunt
regulator.

•The no-load current(Io) is measured by

ammeter(A1), where as shunt field
current is given by A2.
•Iao=(Io-Ish)
In calculating Cu loss, ‘hot’ resistance of armature
should be used. A stationary measurement of armature
circuit resistance at the room temperature, say 150 C is
made by passing current through the armature from a
low voltage DC supply.
Hopkinson’s Test or Back to Back Test or regenerative Test :
•Full load test can be carried out on two shunt machines preferably
identical ones without wasting their outputs.

•The two machines are mechanically coupled, such that one acts as
generator and other as motor.

•The mechanical output of motor drives generator and electrical output

of generator runs the motor.

•The losses are supplied by an extra motor which Is belt connected to

motor-generator set or electrically from supply mains.

•Machines are connected in parallel, and started as unloaded

machines.
•Machine M(motor) will be started with the help of starter whereas
main switch S of other machine(generator) is kept open.

•Its speed is adjusted to normal value by field regulator, M drives

G as generator and voltage is read on V1 .

•The voltage of generator is adjusted such that Voltage V1 reads

zero. The switch S is closed, to parallel the machines.

• Generator current I1 can be adjusted to any value, by increasing

the excitation of G or by reducing the excitation of M.
Because of full load conditions, any change in iron loss due to flux
distortion at full-load, is taken into account in hopkinson’s test.

The disadvantage is with regard to the availability of two identical

machines, iron losses cannot be separated, machines are not loaded
equally in small machines, leading to difficulty in analysis.
Retardation Test:
When supply Is cut off, the
armature speed and
voltmeter reading falls. By
noting different values of
voltage fall in different
amounts of time, the curve Is
drawn between time and
speed.
 Losses in D.C Machine

Electrical or Core losses

Brush losses
copper losses or iron losses

Mechanical Stray load

losses losses
Electrical or copper losses or winding losses:
Present because of the resistance of the windings(armature windings, field
windings, interpoles, compensating windings).
In a compound machine, both shunt and series field losses occur. These are
about 20% of the full load losses.
Armature copper losses are about 30 percent of total full load losses.
Copper losses in shunt field of shunt machine.
Copper losses in the series field of a series machine.
Copper losses in interpole windings.
Copper loss in compensating winding.

Magnetic losses or core losses or iron losses:

Hysterisis loss and eddy current losses- since machines are usually operated
at constant flux density and constant speed, these are almost constant.they
constitute about 20 percent of full load losses.

Brush Losses:
Power loss at brush contacts between copper commutator and carbon
brushes. The voltage drop across set of brushes is constant over large range of
armature currents.
Mechanical Losses:
Consists of bearing friction loss and windage loss(losses associated with
overcoming are friction between moving parts and the air inside the machine for
cooling purposes.

Stray load losses:

Miscellaneous losses that result from
•distortion of flux due to armature reaction.
•Short circuit currents in the coil undergoing commutation.
By convention, they are taken to be one percent of full load output power.
Iron losses (Magnetic losses) (20 to 30% of full load losses)
1)Hysteresis losses
2)Eddy current losses

Hysteresis losses (Wh):-

The losses is due to the reversal of magnetisation of the armature core
Every portion of the rating core passes under N and S poles alternately. There
by attaining S and N polarity respectively. The core undergoes one
complete cycle of magnetic reversal after passing under one pair of poles.
P=No. of poles
N= Armature speed in rpm
frequency of magnetic reversals
f=NP
120
The losses depends upon the volume and B max and frequency of reversals.
Hysteresis losses is given by steinmetz formula
Wh=η B1.6maxf V wats
V=Volume of the core in m3
η= Steinmetz hysteresis coefficient
The total losses in a dc machine are
1.Cu losses
2.Iron losses
3.Mechanical losses
Cupper losses are mainly due to the current passing through the
winding. 1.Armature cu losses (30 to 40% of full load losses)
Cu losses 2.Shunt field cu losses(20 to30% of full load losses)
3.Series field cu losses
Armature cu losses=Ia2 Ra
Ra=Armature resistance
Ia= Armature current
--Losses due to brush contact resistance is usually include in
armature cu losses
Shunt field cu losses=Ish2Rsh
Rsh=Shunt field resistance
Ish=Shunt field current
Series field cu losses=Ise2Rse
Rse=Series field resistance
Ise=Series field current
Eddy current losses:-(We)
when the armature core rotates, it cuts the magenetic flux hence an
e.m.f induced in in the body of the core according to faradays law of
electro magnetic induction. This e. m.f through small sets up large current
in the body of the core due to its mall resistance. This current is known as
“Eddy Current”
-These core laminations are insulated from each other by a thin coating
of varnish. Due to the core body being one continuous solid iron piece (fig
a)
The magnitude of eddy current is large. As armature cross sectional area is
large it’s resistance is small. hence eddy current losses is large.
In (fig b) The same core has been split up in to thin cross section has very
high resistance, hence magnitude of eddy currents is reduced
considerably there by reducing eddy current losses.
We=k B2 maxf2t2v2 watts
Bmax=maximum flux densities
f=Freequency of the magenetic reversals
v=volume of the armaturecore
t=Thick ness of lamination
we∞t2 hence t should be kept as small as posible.
Eddy current losses is reduced by laminated core but hysteresis losses can
not be reduced by this way.
 Efficiency of D.C Generator
Efficiency of generator is defined as the ratio of output power to input power
Efficiency (η) =output ×100
input
input=output+ losses (or) output=input-losses
For D.C generator input mechanical & output electrical

Variation of η with load current

•Generator
Let R be the total resistance of the armature circuit(brush contact, series winding,
interpole winding, compensating winding resistance..).

Total copper loss in the armature circuit is =

Power loss in the shunt circuit=VIsh
Mechanical losses=Friction loss at bearings+friction loss at commutator+windage
loss.
Core losses=hysteresis loss+ eddy current loss
Stray loss=mechanical loss+ core loss

The sum of the shunt field copper loss and stray losses may be considered as a
combined fixed loss that does not vary with load current I.

Therefore, constant losses (in shunt and compound generators)=Stray loss+shunt

field copper losses.

Total losses=
 Ward Leonard method of Speed Control
•Variation of applied voltage to the armature.

•M-main motor whose speed is to be controlled.

•G- separately excited DC generator driven by three phase driving motor

which can bean induction motor or a synchronous motor.

•By changing the generator field current, the generator voltage is changed.

•This voltage when applied direct to the armature of the main dc motor M
changes its speed.

•The motor field current Ifm is kept constant so that the motor field flux
remains constant.

•The motor armature current Ia is kept equal to its rated value during the
speed control.
Ward Leonard Drive
•The generator field current is varied such that armature voltage Vt changes from
zero to its rated value.

•The speed will change from zero to base value.

• Since the speed control is carried out with rated current Ia and with constant
motor field flux Φm and constant torque upto rated(base) speed is obtained.

•Since Pα N, it increases with speed (N).

•Hence with armature voltage control method, constant torque with variable
power drive is obtained from speed below the base speed.

•For speed control above base speed field flux control is used. Ia is maintained
constant at its rated value and generator volatge Vt is maintained constant. Motor
field current Ifm is decreased and hence Φfm decreases…i.e field is weakened to
obtain higher speeds.

•In Field control mode, Constant power and variable torque is obtained for speeds
above base speed.
Advantages Of Ward Leonard Drive:

•Smooth speed control of dc motors over wide range is possible.

•It has inherent regenerative braking capacity.

•The overall power factor of the system can be improved by using an overexcited
synchronous motor as a drive for DC generator.

•For intermittent loads such as rolling mills, the drive motor used is an IM, with
flywheel mounted on its shaft to smooth out the intermittent loading to a low
value.

Drawbacks of ward Leonard Drive:

•Higher initial cost due to the use of two additional machines of same rating as the
main DC motor.

•Larger size, weight and requires larger space area, frequent maintenance, lower
efficiency due to higher losses, more noise.
Starting of DC motors:
• a starter is a device used to
start and accelerate a motor.

•Since starting current is large

in DC motors, an extra
resistance must be connected in
series with armature to limit the
starting current until motor
builds up the stable speed and
back E.M.F.

•The series resistance is divided

into two sections which are cut
out one by one as speed of the
motor rises and emf builds up ,
when speed of the motor builds
up to its normal value, the extra
resistance is completely cut-out.
•Prior to starting , the handle H is kept in OFF position by a spring S.

•For starting the motor, the handle H is manually moved and when it makes
contact with resistance stud 1, it is in start position, the field winding receives full
supply voltage.

•But Ia is limited by R=(R1+R2+R3+R4), then starter handle is gradually moved

from stud to stud allowing the speed to build up until it reaches the RUN position.
-the motor attains full speed.
- supply is directly across the windings of the motor.
-the resistance is completely cut-out.

•The starter handle is held at RUN position by an electromagnet energized by

NoVolt trip coil connected in series with field winding.

•In the event of switching off, or during complete failure of supply while motor is
running, NVC is deenergized.and releases the handle back to OFF position.

•It also provides protection against open circuit in field winding- also known as
UNDERVOLTAGE PROTECTION COIL.