DC SHUNT MOTOR SPEED CONTROL

AIM – To conduct the speed control of a D.C. Shunt Motor by the following methods
1. Armature Control Methods (armature resistance and terminal voltage)
2. Field Control Methods

APPARATUS:

1. DC motor
2. DC ammeters
3. DC Voltmeters
4. Rheostat 500W 5K (field circuit)
5. Rheostat 500W 0.2K (armature circuit)
6. Tacho generator
7. Tachometer

THEORY:

The speed of a DC motor (N) is equal to:

Hence the speed can be varied by changing:

1. The terminal voltage of the armature, V.

2. The external resistance in armature circuit, Ra.
3. The flux per pole, φ.
1. Field control method
In this method, a variable resistance (called field rheostat) is connected in series with the shunt field
winding. By increasing the resistance of the field rheostat, the shunt field current Ish can be reduced
and hence the field flux. Thus, by the flux control method, the speed of a DC shunt can only be
increased above the normal speed.
The flux control method is frequently used for the speed control of DC shunt motors because it is
simple and inexpensive method.

PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the circuit as per the circuit diagram.
2. Use an ohmmeter to measure armature resistance and record the value.
3. Make sure that an appropriate range resistance (starting rheostat) is used in series with an
armature and be a maximum resistance. The field rheostat be at minimum also before
starting motor.
4. Start the motor without load.
5. Adjust the armature rheostat for the motor to run with rated speed or near rated speed. Now
decrease field current by the help of rheostat slowly, step by step and take readings of field
current and speed from tachometer at every step. Adjust the field rheostat to give maximum
speed at which it is safe to operate the motor. Make steps of 0.02A
6. Plot field current(If) vs the speed(N)

OBSERVATION TABLE

Field Current Speed

S. No
If(A) N (RPM)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2a Armature control

The armature resistance control method is based on the principle that by varying the voltage
available across the armature, the back EMF of the motor can be changed, which in turn changes
the speed of the shunt motor.
In this method, a variable resistance RC (called controller resistance) is inserted in series with the
armature.
 1. Torque vs. armature current (Ta/Ia)
In case of DC shunt motors, we can assume the field flux ɸ to be constant. As we are neglecting
the change in the flux ɸ, we can say that torque is proportional to armature current. Hence, the
Ta-Ia characteristic for a dc shunt motor will be a straight line through the origin. Since heavy
starting load needs heavy starting current, shunt motor should never be started on a heavy load.

2. Speed vs. armature current (N/Ia)

As flux ɸ is assumed to be constant, we can say N α Eb. But as back emf is also almost constant,
the speed should remain constant. But practically, ɸ as well as Eb decreases with increase in load.
Back emf Eb decreases slightly more than ɸ, therefore, the speed decreases slightly. Generally,
the speed decreases only by 5 to 15% of full load speed. Therefore, a shunt motor can be
assumed as a constant speed motor.

3. Speed vs armature torque (N/Ta)

The speed torque characteristics are similar to speed current
characteristics.

These motors are used where constant speed and low starting torque is
required like centrifugal pumps, fans, blowers, conveyers etc.
It is understood that the speed reduces when the load torque.
increases.

PROCEDURE:

1 Use an ohmmeter to measure armature resistance and record the value.

2 Connect the circuit as per the circuit diagram ‘
3 Make sure that an appropriate range resistance 200(starting rheostat) is used in series with
an armature and be at maximum resistance. The field rheostat at minimum.
4 Start the motor without load.
5 Adjust the armature rheostat for the motor to run with rated speed or near rated speed.
6. By increasing the resistance of the rheostat, note down the readings of the
Armature voltage and the speed of the shunt motor

Use the formula Eb=V-IaRa to calculate Ia where V is the supply voltage.

Calculate the torque as shown in the table below.
 OBSERVATION TABLE:

Ra+Rext() Eb(V) N(rpm) Ia(A) Ta= 9.55EbIa

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Plot the three DC shunt motor characteristic curves

1. Torque Vs Armature current characteristic (Ta/Ia)

2. Speed Vs Armature current characteristic (N/Ia)
3. Speed Vs Torque characteristic (N/Ta

2b Voltage control

In this method of speed control the armature resistance and field current are not varied. Since the
no load speed, the speed versus Ia characteristic will shift parallel for different values of Va.

As flux remains constant, this method is suitable for constant torque loads. In a way armature
voltage control method is similar to that of armature resistance control method except that the
former one is much superior as no extra power loss takes place in the armature circuit. Armature
voltage control method is adopted for controlling speed from base speed down to very small speed
as one should not apply across the armature a voltage which is higher than the rated voltage.

PROCEDURE:

1) Make the connection as per the circuit diagram above.

2) Apply rated voltage to the motor at intervals of 30v for 8 measurements.

3) Record speed for each interval of supply voltage made.

Supply voltage(V) Speed(N)

Plot supply voltage(V) vs speed(N)

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Compare the above three methods of speed control of a dc motor stating the advantages and
disadvantages of each.

2. With the aid of a diagram describe the three-point starter method of speed control of a dc motor.

3. Why the shunt DC motor should never be started on heavy load.

4. Applications of dc shunt motors