Fuctioning Of The Collector & Effect Of The

Magnetomotive Force In The Armature

 Acevedo Cardona David Andrés
Maquinas Eléctricas Rotativas, Universidad Tecnologíca De Pereira, Colombia
david.acevedo@utp.edu.co
 Abstract—the use of a collector is mandatory in the dc
machine because of the rectifying process of the sinusoidal wave,
but anyway when the machine starts its functioning the armature
effect appears from the magneto motive force created in the
armature when it has charge, making the neutral zone of the
rotor not equal to zero (as it is supposed to be), decompensating
the magnetic density flux in the poles, decreasing the efficiency
and damaging the internal function of the machine.
Keywords—armature, dc machines, brushes, magnetic flux,
neutral zone, poles, commute, rectify
I. INTRODUCTION
Because the currents that are produced in the dc machine
have sinusoidal form is necessary to rectify it to export it to the
load, that’s because its indispensable the use of a collector in
these types of machines.
Anyway in a dc machine, there are two main parts, the
stator, that mainly contains the poles of the machine, and the
rotor, that have the armature, when the machine has no charge,
the line fields go from north to south across the armature and
creates zones where the magnetic flux its equal to zero, this
zones are called “neutral zones”. However, when the armature
starts getting charge this neutral zone acquires values, this
makes the density flux to concentrate in only one pole, it is
known as “Effect Of The Magnetomotive Force In The
Armature” or “armature effect” and damages the internal
function of the machine.
II. THEORICAL FRAMEWORK
The collector is connected to 2 isolated rings in which are
installed a pain of brushes that are connected to the external
terminals of the generator. This collector is used to transfer
sinusoidal waves to direct waves that are received in the rotor.
Its functioning consist in the connection of cupper
segments (also called “Delgas”) to the ends of a spire, they are
both electrically isolated in the shaft of the rotor that rectifies
the current that goes to the rotor, so in that way the induced
e.m.f. is equal to cero when the brushes goes from a delga to
another. So, when the rotor starts to turn the spire generates a
variable e.m.f. so the collector doesn’t interfere with the
functioning of the machine.
Anyway, the armature effect only appears when the
machine starts its functioning, mainly because the magneto
motive force that produce the armature when it gets charge.
The saturation in the air gap decrease the density flux in one
pole and increase the flux in the other, making unequal the flux
across the poles, this allows the brushes to cause induced
voltages in the short-circuited coils and generating high sparks
that could damage the machine. The most common
consequences of this effects are:
 Overload limitation of the machine
 Malfunctioning of the commutator
 Demagnetization of the machine
Otherwise, this effect is more significant in commercial
machines and it’s a factor that must be taken into account,
mostly because, the relation between the current that produces
the field and the one produced by the armature is not lineal, so
in a mid/big scale can causes serious problems. Although, the
armature effect could be reduce when the machines are
designed.
For machines that manages high power, normally they use
“commutator poles” that are connected in series to the
armature, countering the flux and compensating the magneto
motive force in the armature avoiding the saturation in the
poles, making the neutral zone going to zero again, even so, the
magnetic field in the poles stay the same. Although is a very
way expensive to reduce the armature effect, is the most
efficient method.
There is another method to reduce the armature effect, for
small sized machines, moving the brushes to the neutral zone
(so they are not at 90 degrees), can guarantee a successful
commutation. However, is not efficient at all, because a bad
positioning of the brushes or a high current entrance can cause
that the neutral zone of the armature to change, demagnetizing
the machine in the direct linchpin, in other cases it could cause
the unstable functioning of a motor or a high voltage drop in a
generator. Thus, this method is normally used in low power
machines.
III. CONCLUSIONS
The use of a collector in the dc machines is always
important because the process of rectification, else, the dc
machine wont work. Anyway, the armature effect is caused
when the armature of the machine starts getting charge,
decompensating the magnetic density flux in the poles and can
cause serious troubles in the machines like demagnetization,
overload limitations, etc.
This effect is a big factor in the functioning of the
machines. So, for countering that effect there where developed
mainly two methods. For big and high-power machines, using
“commutator poles” that are connected in series with the
armature, to balance the flux in the armature avoiding
saturation in the poles. For small machines, just moving the
brushes to the neutral zone will make the machine to have a
good commutation.
Nevertheless, using commutator poles in the machines is
the most competent way to reduce de armature effect, even if it
is more expensive, it’s safer and more efficient than moving the
brushes to the neutral zone.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1] A. E. Fitzgerald, Charles Kingsly, Jr., Stephen D. Umans, “Maquinas
Eléctricas,”
[2] C.I. Hubert, “Electrical Machines: Theory, Operations, Applications,
Adjustmet and Control”
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXVdaMQYXSo