ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (IUT)

ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

COURSE: EEE 4306 (ELECTRICAL MACHINES – I LAB)

EXPERIMENT NO. 1
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: CHARACTERISTICS OF SEPARATELY EXCITED & SELF-EXCITED DC
SHUNT GENERATOR

OBJECTIVE:
a. To draw the open circuit characteristic (O.C.C) curve of both separately excited & seld-excited dc shunt
generator.
b. To determine the critical speed and critical resistance from the O.C.C of self-excited dc shunt generator.

THEORY:
In the open circuit characteristic (O.C.C) curve, the relation between the no-load generated EMF in armature, Eo
and the field or exciting current, If at a given fixed speed is shown. For separately excited dc generator the field
winding is connected to an external source of direct current. The machine is driven at constant speed.

In a self-excited dc shunt generator the field winding is connected to the generator output. The self-excitation is
possible because of the residual magnetism in the stator poles. As the armature rotates, a small voltage is induced
across its windings. When the field winding is connected in parallel with the armature a small field current will
flow. If this small field current is flowing in the proper direction, the residual magnetism will be reinforced which
further increases the armature voltage and thus a rapid voltage build-up occurs. If the field current flows in the
wrong direction the residual magnetism will be reduced and the voltage build-up cannot occur. In this case,
interchanging the shunt field leads will correct the situation.

APPARATUS:
1. One dc voltmeter (0-400V)
2. One dc ammeter (0-300mA)
3. Tachometer
4. Rheostat
5. Motor-generator set

0~240V Shunt G V
DC Field

Connection Diagram of Separately Excited

DC generator
 A

Shunt
Field
G V

Connection Diagram of Self Excited DC

Shunt generator

PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the dc shunt generator according to the diagram for separately-excited dc generator.
2. An induction motor, coupled to the dc generator should be supplied from ac source. The speed of
the motor and hence the generator as well can be controlled by adjusting the voltage of the ac
generator.
3. Vary the field current, I by rotating the voltage control knob on the power supply. Not the effect
on the generated e.m.f in armature, Eo.
4. Tabulate your results as per the table shown.
5. Connect the dc shunt generator according to the diagram for self-excited dc generator.
6. Keeping the field switch of generator open, note terminal voltage.
7. Close the switch keeping the field rheostat at maximum resistance value. Note the terminal
voltage. If it is less than the voltage recorded in step 3, reverse the field connection (or the
direction of rotation).
8. Vary the field current by adjusting the field rheostat. Note the effect on the generated e.m.f in
armature, Eo with the variation of field current, If.
9. Tabulate your results as per the table shown.
10. Stop the motor and reverse the direction of rotation of the motor. Note the terminal voltage.
11. Stop the motor and reestablish the former direction of rotation. This time interchange the field
terminals of the dc generator. Note the terminal voltage.

If (mA) Eo (V)

CALCULATION AND GRAPHS:

1. Plot the O.C.C for different speeds for both separately-excited & self-excited dc shunt generator.
2. Calculate field resistance from O.C.C curve.
3. Determine from the graph the critical speed and critical resistance for self-excited dc shunt
generator.