Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DC Motor
DC Motor
UniTrain-Course
"DC Machines"
Lucas-Nülle GmbH · Siemensstrasse 2 · D-50170 Kerpen (Sindorf) · Tel.: +49 2273 567-0
www.lucas-nuelle.com www.unitrain.com
Copyright © 2021 LUCAS-NÜLLE GmbH.
All rights reserved.
Training objectives 5
Equipment 6
Experiment card CO4213-7R 7
Armature 9
Stroboscope 11
Introduction 12
History 13
Advantages and disadvantages 14
Modern applications 15
Fundamentals of magnetism 16
Magnetic flux 20
Magnetic flux density 21
Electromagnetic induction 22
Lorentz force 23
Right-hand rule 24
Knowledge test 25
Principle of DC machines 26
Basic principle 27
Double-T armature in a magnetic field 28
Triple-T armature 30
Practical description of armature winding 31
Generator mode 32
Construction 33
Brush shifting 53
Series-wound motor 58
Connection and operation 60
Compound-wound machine 62
Connection and operation 64
Commutator winding 66
Compensation winding 67
Universal machines 68
Connection and operation 69
Main equations 76
Magnetisation characteristic 78
Knowledge test 79
Control of a DC machine 82
Welcome to the UniTrain DC-Machines course! The LUCAS-NÜLLE team wishes you loads of fun and
success performing the experiments. The following pages provide you with an overview of the
course contents and the required equipment.
In this course knowledge, both theoretical and practical, is conveyed on the subject of "commutator
machines", i.e. DC and universal machines.
Experiment-based investigations performed on series-wound, shunt-wound and universal machines are at
the focal point of this course and provide an understanding of how these machines operate and respond.
Training objectives:
Electromagnetic induction, Lorentz force
Motor, generator
Magnetic fields
Components and design of DC machines
Commutator, carbon brushes
Series-wound, shunt-wound and compound-wound windings
Brush shifting (lead)
Commutating field and compensation windings
Measurements of the armature and exciter current and voltage
Universal motor
Operation with alternating voltage
Rated data, rating plate
Adjusting rotation speed
Reversing rotation direction
Field weakening
Armature and field resistors
Speed measurement using a stroboscope
CO4203-
UniTrain Interface
2A
CO4203-
UniTrain-Experimenter
2B
Optional second
CO4203-
UniTrain Experimenter for use as
2B
docking station
The experiment card contains a fully operational DC machine for connection to the DC power supply unit
of the UniTrain system. For training and educational purposes the machine has been constructed with an
open design and equipped with an interchangeable rotor and adjustable carbon brushes. Both motor and
generator operating modes are possible.
Move the mouse pointer over the diagram to view details on the card's individual components.
Technical data:
two-pole, 2 separate
Stator:
windings
Winding resistance
22 Ω
(20°C):
Stator
2 separate windings
The ends of the windings are arranged as 2-mm connecting sockets for connection
configuration as desired for applications as a shunt-wound or series-wound machine
ATTENTION - note
When using this experiment card together with other experiment cards, starting resistances
may collide with the fault simulation circuitry because they are connected in parallel to the
relays.
When installing the armature in the stator, make sure that the fixing pin is inserted into the 4-mm socket
for 0 degrees.
WARNING
The armature unit is designed only to operate at protective low voltages. It must be used
exclusively with the UniTrain system's AC/DC power supply unit. A use of other power supply
units can prove life-threatening.
When connected to the UniTrain interface by means of a flexible cable, the LED unit serves as a
stroboscope which can be used for contactless measurement of rotational speed:
Further notes on using the stroboscope are provided in the related help documentation ("Stroboscope"
virtual instrument).
WARNING
To protect your eyes and retina, never look directly at the strobe LED.
Commutator machines are primarily operated on a DC voltage system and are thus generally referred to
as DC machines. However, in principle, they also work on alternating current.
Universal machines are designed like DC series-wound machines and have correspondingly similar
features, but are operated on an AC power system.
DC and universal machines are always equipped with a commutator, which operates like a mechanical
switch. For that reason they are called commutator machines.
As in all commutator machines, power is transferred to the rotating armature by way of the carbon
brushes and a commutator.
Two discoveries in the first half of the 19th century were critical in the development of DC commutator
machines.
Werner von
Siemens
Discovery of the dynamo-electric principle (self-excitation of
1866 generators), laying the groundwork for the construction of large-
scale machines
In England and America the first carbon brushes are put into
1885
operation.
Up until today commutator machines have been the most often used. This is primarily
due to the following advantages:
The range of speeds spans from a few revolutions per minute in large-scale drives up to approx. 10,000
revolutions per minute in small-scale drives.
Commutator motors can still be found in large numbers as so-called universal motors used in portable
electrical equipment and household appliances.
The operating processes in electrical machines are based on the elemental physical principles of
The field lines inside a coil are approximately parallel to and equidistant from each other. The magnetic
field there is uniform. By contrast, the field outside the coil is non-uniform.
The north pole forms where the magnetic field lines exit the coil. The south pole forms where the lines re-
enter the coil.
The higher the electric current and greater the number of turns in the coil, the stronger the magnetic field.
The product of the current I and the number of turns N of a coil is called its current linkage
or magnetomotive force Θ, although the term ampere turns (which derives from the units of
measurement) is used synonymously with both the former terms and in some areas is more common. The
current linkage is defined as a quantity equal to the electric current through any surface bounded by a
closed path, i.e. in this case the areas enclosed by the N loops of the coil, which each carry the same
current I.
Magnetomotive force is the cause of magnetic flux. In a comparison between magnetic and electrical
variables, magnetomotive force would be equivalent to voltage (electromotive force) and magnetic flux
corresponds to electric current.
Θ = I⋅ N
[Θ] = A
The magnetic effect is influenced decisively by the concentration of magnetic energy. The concentration of
magnetic energy increases with magnetomotive force, or as the field lines become shorter on average.
The concentration of magnetic energy is indicated via the magnetic field strength H. The magnetic field
strength is the ratio between the magnetomotive force Θ and average length lm of the field lines.
The unit of magnetic field strength is amperes (or ampere turns) per metre:
The entirety of the magnetic field lines of an energised coil or permanent magnet is termed magnetic flux
Φ, which serves as a measure of the magnetic force and is specified in volt-seconds (Vs) or webers (Wb).
In a comparison between magnetic and electrical variables, magnetic flux would correspond to electric
current.
The force exerted by an energised coil or permanent magnet increases as the field line pattern becomes
denser and as the permeated area becomes smaller. As the magnetic flux φ increases or the permeated
area decreases, the magnetic effect increases.
The magnetic flux density B is the ratio between the magnetic flux Φ and the area A and is measured in
units called teslas (T).
When an electrical conductor and a magnetic field experience relative motion, a voltage is induced in the
conductor. The greater the number of conductors moved through a magnetic field, the higher the induced
voltage.
Used therefore in practice is not a single conductor, but one or more conductor loops. Multiple conductor
loops in series result in a coil.
The greater the number of magnetic field lines which are intersected per unit of time, the higher the
voltage induced in the conductor loop. Accordingly, the induced voltage is maximised if the conductor loop
moves perpendicularly with respect to the magnetic field lines. If the loop moves in parallel to the
magnetic field lines, none of them are intersected and no voltage is induced either.
To grasp how electrical machines work, it is important to understand not only the law of induction but how
the magnetic field acts on a current-carrying conductor:
Lorentz force
When a current-carrying conductor passes through an external magnetic field, a force is
exerted perpendicular to the direction of the current flow and to the magnetic field.
This force is proportional to the current I flowing through the conductor and to the magnetic
induction B of the external magnetic field.
This so-called Lorentz force is responsible for the motion induced in a current-carrying conductor in
a magnetic field. It is the basis for how every motor operates.
The variables
are all located at right angles to each other. If you know the
directions of two variables, the direction of the third variable is
automatically given by the "right-hand rule".
1580
1914
1832
Laws of gravitation
Electromagnetic induction and Lorentz force
Stator windings
Terminal panel
Several answers
Carbon brushes may be correct.
Commutator
The conductor loop is connected to a voltage source with the aid of carbon brushes and a commutator. In
the illustration only the commutator and the two conductor rods are shown.
The commutator ensures that the pole of the conductor loop is always reversed after half a turn, so that,
for example, the lower conductor rod is always connected again to the positive pole. Then the magnetic
field generated by the conductor loop always remains at a favourable angle to the external magnetic field,
thereby constantly generating torque. This is how the continuous rotation of the motor is achieved.
The motor in the animation demonstrates the refined general principle of a two-pole DC motor. This time
the rotor is not depicted as a conductor loop, but comprises an iron core with winding. This achieves
considerably higher flux densities and correspondingly higher torques.
The illustrated armature is a so-called double-T armature. This is the simplest design possible for the
armature of a DC machine. The name is derived from its form which is reminiscent of two "T's" placed end
to end.
Rotor or armature:
Stator:
The beginnings and ends of the armature coils are connected to the laminated commutator. The
laminated sheets are insulated from each other by lining filler.
The current is supplied to the armature winding via the carbon brushes, which glide over the rotating
commutator thus establishing contact and supplying current to the coils.
A magnetic field forms there which interacts with the external magnetic field. Due to the fact that like poles
repel and opposite poles attract, the rotor is brought into a rotating motion. Right before reaching its
objective the current is interrupted because the carbon brushes are now making contact to the insulator
and not the conductive laminations. The rotor no longer has a magnetic field, in this position there are no
forces or torques being exerted. If the machine comes to a standstill it cannot start or resume rotation.
However due to the fact that the rotor still has momentum it is able to overcome this dead space, depicted
by the insulator between the laminations, and performs a full rotation. As soon as the brushes remake
contact to the next conductive lamination, the completed rotation has rotated the winding beginning and
end one half a rotation further thus reversing again the winding's polarity and the rotor's magnetic field.
Commutator and brushes can now be understood as a mechanical (reversing) switch, which
causes the current direction to be reversed when the collector passes through the dead point (zero
crossover).
DC motors with a double-T armature have one serious disadvantage: They are not self-starting. When the
commutator brushes are located at the so-called dead point, it is not possible for current to flow .
DC motors with "triple" T-armature can start from any given position and have no dead point.
The collector is allocated three laminated segments (orange). The two adjacent windings are connected
to each laminated segment by attaching to this the beginning and ending of the respective winding. In
principle a current flows through all of the rotor windings regardless of where the rotor is located. The
magnetic fields of the three partial windings resulting from these currents are added together to make the
total magnetic field. Now there are three "current transfers" (from one winding to the next) for each rotor
revolution.
In fact, real motors are designed to have a lot more armature windings and corresponding commutator
segments. This is done to achieve a much smoother rotation of the rotor in the machines. The following
illustration shows an excellent example of this. For the sake of simplicity, the windings are depicted on the
outside and the brushes on the inside. In reality, it is normally the other way round:
The coil ends are electrically connected to the two adjacent laminated segments of the commutator. A
beginning and ending of two coils are connected to each laminated segment, so that the rotor winding
appears as a self-contained winding system. This allows for a constant current flow to the rotor winding
below the exciter pole (despite rotor rotation).
The carbon brushes are in contact with either one individual laminated segment or two adjacent
segments. In the latter case the armature winding affected is briefly short-circuited.
In real motors the carbon brushes may be so wide that several armature windings are temporarily short-
circuited.
Commutator machines can have different designs. However, fundamentally they are comprised of the
following components:
1. Stator housing
2. Exciter winding (section 1)
3. Stator iron core
4. Pole piece
5. Armature windings
6. Commutator
7. Shaft
8. Bearing
9. Armature iron core
10. Exciter winding (section 2)
The construction of the experimenter DC machine stator is depicted in the following photos.
The iron core with armature windings, the commutator and the bearing are all situated on the rotating
shaft.
The main component of each commutator machine is made up of the commutator and carbon brushes.
They guarantee low dissipation current feed to the rotating armature winding and, as already
demonstrated, current transfer to each appropriate armature winding.
1. Company logo
2. DC machine, recognisable
as a shunt wound machine
on account of the exciter
data
3. Rated voltage of the
armature winding = 220 V
4. The mechanical power 1+2
continuously available at
the shaft amounts to
0.15 kW 3 10
5. Rated speed = 2000 rpm
4
(min-1)
6. Rated exciter voltage = 5
220 V
7. Insulation class B, 6 11
describes the quality of the
winding insulation 7+8
8. Protection class (here
IP 20) describes the 9 12
protection against ingress
of water or foreign Rating plate of a small DC shunt wound machine
particles
9. The Lucas-Nülle motor
type designation
10. Rated current of the
armature winding = 1.0 A
11. Rated current of the
exciter winding = 0.1 A
12. The machine corresponds
to VDE 0530 stipulations
DC machines
Asynchronous machines
Several answers
Universal machines may be correct.
Synchronous machines
Exciter winding
Squirrel-cage rotor
Stator housing
Stator plates with pole pieces
Shaft Several answers
may be correct.
Commutator
Static converter
Armature with windings
Carbon brushes
An armature winding as well as an exciter winding form part of every electrically excited DC machine's
operating principle.
These windings can be connected to the voltage supply in a variety of ways. The type of wiring
significantly influences the motor's properties, thus resulting in the distinctions described next.
Shunt-wound machines: The excitation winding is connected in parallel with the armature
winding.
Series-wound machines: The excitation winding is connected in series with the armature
winding.
Compound-wound machines: The excitation source is made up of a shunt winding and a
series winding.
In DC machines there are various types of windings whose terminals have the following designations:
A1 - A2 Armature winding
B1 - B2 Commutating (field) winding
C1 - C2 Compensation winding
D1 - D2 Series wound winding
E1 - E2 Shunt wound winding
F1 - F2 Separate excitation
The letters stand for the winding type, the number 1 stands for the beginning of the winding and number
2 stands for the end of the winding.
The armature and exciter winding are connected in parallel here. Corresponding to the armature voltage,
the exciter voltage cannot be set independently:
UA = UE
The armature current is load-dependent. However, changes in the armature current do not influence the
exciter current or excitation.
The excitation can only be modified via the voltage, this naturally influencing the armature current too.
By connecting the exciter winding to a constant exciter voltage the DC shunt-wound motor obtains a
constant exciter current and thus a magnetic flux independent of the load.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the DC machine is put into operation as a separately excited shunt-wound
machine.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
In the case of new machines that have not yet been worked in, you might need to have to
increase the voltage by a few volts to get the machine started.
The armature current and exciter current are always the same.
The armature voltage and the exciter voltage are always the
same. More than one
answer may be
The armature current is load-dependent. correct.
The exciter current is load-dependent.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the speed of a DC shunt-wound machine is measured without making
physical contact using a stroboscope.
The set-up used in the previous experiment is kept unchanged. It is only supplemented by adding
the stroboscope which is used to flash the rotor but without making contact.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
FREQUENCY: 65 Hz
Press the POWER button. Illuminate the rotor with the strobe light, and reduce
the frequency slowly until a stationary image is obtained.
Point the flash at the rotating armature. Slowly reduce the flash frequency until you clearly obtain
a discernible standing image. For additional information on the stroboscope, have a look at the
help texts (e.g. by pressing the F1 key after you have opened the stroboscope in the virtual
instruments ((VI)). Read off the frequency and determine which speed results for this
measurement?
__ rpm
Note:
Apparently there are standing images for many different rotation speeds. But there are only very few flash
frequencies at which a truly sharp image emerges. Only then can you really draw a conclusion regarding
the rotation speed. After a brief period of practising, you will have enough experience to assess whether
the result is conclusive or not.
What also proves helpful in determining the speed is to focus on one fixed point on the armature. For this,
use the LN sticker on the rotor.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the position of the brushes in the DC shunt-wound machine is modified and
the effects of this action monitored.
The set-up used in the previous experiment remains unchanged with the exception of the position
of the armature.
Alter the position of the carbon brushes by turning the rotor unit slightly.
Orient yourself here using the scale attached to the stator, see the chapter titled "Armature".
Please open the DC- Motor Supply from the menu Instruments / Motor
Control.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
Shunt-wound machines are frequently operated at a constant exciter voltage, in which case they are also
termed "separately excited".
A separately excited machine's mechanical design is fully identical to that of a shunt-wound machine. The
advantage of connecting the exciter winding to an external source is the ability to adjust the machine's
excitation completely independently of the armature voltage.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the separately excited DC machine is put into operation.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
In the case of new machines that have not yet been worked in, you might need to have to
increase the voltage by a few volts to get the machine started.
The armature current and exciter current are always the same.
The armature voltage and the exciter voltage are always the
same. More than one
answer may be
The armature current is load-dependent. correct.
The exciter current is load-dependent.
The exciter winding is connected in series with the armature winding, so that the machine's excitation
depends on the armature current. Because this current is load-dependent, the excitation also rises with
the load.
I E = IA
Unlike a shunt-wound machine, a series-wound machine's excitation has a load-dependent magnetic flux.
Instead of the relatively "hard" characteristic of the shunt-wound machine, the speed curve of a series-
wound machine is hyperbolic.
The machine might start "racing" if there is a lack of counter-torque (no-load) with the motor's speed
assuming impermissibly high values. This does not apply for small machines, where friction losses cause
a sufficient no-load current to arise whose magnetic field limits the maximum attainable speed.
The series-wound machine is primarily used in the area of light rail and industrial rail transport. Due to M
~ I2 the high torque required for start up can be achieved with less loading of the power supply than in a
shunt wound motor where M ~ I holds true.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the DC machine is put into operation as a series-wound machine.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 20 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
The armature current and exciter current are always the same.
The armature voltage and the exciter voltage are always the
More than one
same.
answer may be
The armature current is load-dependent. correct.
The exciter current is load-dependent.
Compound-wound machines are equipped with a shunt-wound winding and a series-wound winding.
To compensate for the "involuntary" field weakening caused by the voltage drop across the armature
circuit, a load-dependent excitation can be added to the constant excitation of the shunt-wound winding
by means of a series-wound winding.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the commutator machine is put into operation as a compound-wound
machine.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 24 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
During the process of commutation, undesired commutation and induced voltages arise on the armature
winding. These voltages can be compensated for by replacing the armature field with an opposing,
commutating field.
This field is generated by means of commutator windings. Large DC machines additionally have wound
poles between the main poles. Their windings are connected in series with the armature so as to create
an opposing magnetomotive force proportional to the armature cross field.
Commutator windings improve commutation. They reduce brush sparking and thus avoid damage to
carbon brushes and lamina.
Even with the commutation pole winding, the areas around the pole pieces still experience field distortion
and its consequences. This is particularly disadvantageous when the machine is supposed to be operated
for speed control with a weakened exciter field. In this case the armature crossfield must be compensated
for in the area of the main poles.
To do this practically all large-scale machines are equipped with a compensation winding connected in
series to the armature and commutating poles.
Since this winding has an elaborate design and is correspondingly expensive, it is normally dispensed
with in machines of low to medium power.
As in the series-wound machine the magnetic flux of the excitation is dependent on the load in the
universal machine.
As was the case with the series-wound machine, a universal machine also generates a hyperbolic speed
curve. When there is a lack of counter-torque (no-load operation) the universal machine may also "race.
In actual practice this is mostly avoided because of the unavoidable friction and by giving generous
dimensions to the fan blades.
Of course, for safety reasons a suitably dimensioned exciter circuit ensures that the torque no longer
increases exponentially in the overload range but only linearly with the armature current. Otherwise, if a
drill jammed, for example, it could no longer be physically held.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the commutator machine is put into operation as a series-wound machine
connected to an AC voltage.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 13 V
f: 50 Hz
The equivalent-circuit diagram displays the exciter winding as a combination of an inductor and ohmic
resistor connected in series.
The inductor's reactance does not have any effect during operation with direct currents. In the case of a
universal motor which always runs on an alternating current, it is necessary to also account for a
reactance attributable to the inductance.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the reactance of the universal machine operating at a standstill is
determined at 50 Hz.
Complete the experiment as specified in the animation, in order to connect up the measurement
inputs.
CHANNEL C: CHANNEL D:
RANGE: 50 V RANGE: 50 V
MODE: RMS MODE: RMS
DC DC
CHANNEL E: CHANNEL F:
RANGE: 3 A RANGE: 3 A
MODE: RMS MODE: RMS
DC DC
Open the 3-Phase Supply from the menu Instruments / Power Supplies.
Configure the following settings:
U: 10 V
f: 50 Hz
Winding current __ A
Impedance Z = U / I = __ ohms
Please open the DC- Motor Supply from the menu Instruments / Motor
Control.
U: 16 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
Read the voltage and current from the virtual instruments and transfer the values to the fields
provided for this purpose.
Ohmic resistance R = U / I = U / I = __
Induced voltage
The mean induced voltage Uq in the armature winding is dependent on the motor speed in rpm n , the
intensity of the magnetic flux, the number of pole pairs and the number of winding turns.
Uq = c · F · n
c = 4 · p · N = machine constant
Torque
The torque is dependent on the armature current IA , the strength of the magnetic flux F, the number of
pole pairs and the number of winding turns.
M = (c · F · IA) / (2 · p)
(friction losses have been ignored)
Voltage equation
U A = U q + I A · RA + U B
where UB = voltage across the carbon brushes
Rotation speed
n = (UA - IA · RA) / (c · F)
The three main DC machine equations are used to deduce the operating response of the DC
machine. The speed of all direct current machines decreases more or less strongly under load. This
relationship can be described with mathematical functions and displayed graphically:
Ideally we can assume that the relationship between the exciter current IE and the magnetic flux FE is
linear.
The constant factor cE is a constant of proportionality, which is established by the machine's construction
and the materials used therein. This assumption is useful if we wish to demonstrate the basic operation of
DC motors.
However, in reality the influence of magnetic saturation arising in the iron parts of both rotor and stator
must be accounted for with their magnetisation characteristics.
Then the remanence (residual magnetization) also becomes considerably more noticeable.
Use the buttons to examine the difference between the ideal and real magnetisation characteristic curve.
Compound-wound machine
Series-wound machine
Shunt-wound machine
Universal machine
Compound-wound machine
Series-wound machine
Several answers
Shunt-wound machine may be correct.
Universal machine
Compound-wound machine
Series-wound machine
Several answers
Shunt-wound machine may be correct.
Universal machine
Compound-wound machine
Series-wound machine
Shunt-wound machine
Universal machine
Tacho generator
Oscilloscope
Stroboscope
Complete the statements on various DC machines below by selecting the correct option in each
case.
Commutator winding
No-load winding
Primary winding
Compensation winding
One of the main equations for a DC machine is: M = (c · Φ · IA) / (2 · π). Which conclusion is
therefore correct?
The basic method of speed control for a shunt-wound or series-wound motor can be deduced from the
equivalent circuit diagram and the main equations:
The rotation speed and torque of DC machines directly related to the armature voltage and armature
current.
In motor operating mode the direction of rotation can be reversed either by reversing the poles of the
armature voltage or by reversing the poles of the exciter voltage. Both methods lead to the same result.
Due to the low-cost and robust nature of speed control equipment, which contain controlled rectifier
bridges, nowadays it is easy to not only adjust the amplitude of the armature voltage but also the polarity
of the armature voltage.
Experiment objective
In this experiment all the possibilities are explored on how to reverse the rotation direction of a
separately excited DC machine.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
Observe the rotation direction of the machine with the power supply sources connected up differently. For
reversing simply interchange the two connections for the exciter or the armature winding.
"Not reversed or twisted" means connection corresponds to the animation shown.
In which direction does the machine rotate? Determine the correct assignments below through
experimentation.
A simple method of adjusting speed can be realised by connecting a series resistor in the armature circuit.
The change in armature resistance with the aid of the series resistor has an impact on the slope of the
load curve. The no-load speed n0 remains unaffected.
This method of altering the speed is only used in small machines due to the high power losses in the
series resistor and the resulting poor efficiency.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the influence of the armature series resistance on the rotation speed of a
separately excited DC machine is examined.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
Now bridge the resistor R6 using a short cable and observe the effects.
Note:
To demonstrate the full effect of this, the machine response has to be shown under different loads.
Consequently the experiment only shows one point respectively for each load of the diagram
shown on the previous page.
The load characteristic maintains its original gradient and is merely shifted to a parallel position by the
voltage adjustment. In contrast to speed control using armature resistance, this method can be used to
adjust the no-load speed as well.
By adjusting the armature voltage the rotation speed can be set over a wide range without any additional
power losses.
The discovery of semiconductors and the introduction of controllable rectifiers based on thyristors made
available an inexpensive and robust technology for open-loop and closed-loop speed control that has
been used for decades.
It has only been with the introduction of frequency-converter operated three-phase machines that this
technology has gone into decline.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the influence of the armature voltage on the rotation speed of a separately
excited DC machine is measured. The speed is measured without physical contact using a
stroboscope.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 18 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
FREQUENCY: 90 Hz
Press the POWER button. Illuminate the rotor with the strobe light, and reduce
the frequency slowly until a stationary image is obtained.
Point the flash at the rotating armature and now measure the speed in the fashion know from previous
experiments at the exciter voltage values specified in the table:
6000
n [rpm]
5500
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
UA [V]
The exciter voltage can be set either with the aid of a variable series resistor or directly with a change in
voltage. Since the exciter current remains constant independent of the load, both methods lead to the
same result.
By varying the exciter field first of all the no-load speed n0 is changed and secondly the slope of the load
characteristic.
Field weakening increases the rotation speed. This method is thus well suited for speeds higher than the
nominal speed. In actual practice the magnitude of the set motor speed is limited due to the mechanical
strain of the rotor's centrifugal force. The maximum rotation speed should not exceed two to four times the
value of the nominal speed.
In practice some applications see the methods of voltage and field adjustment combined making speed
adjustment possible over a wide speed range.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the influence of the exciter voltage on the rotation speed of a separately
excited DC machine is measured. The speed is measured without physical contact using a
stroboscope.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 20 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
FREQUENCY: 90 Hz
Press the POWER button. Illuminate the rotor with the strobe light, and reduce
the frequency slowly until a stationary image is obtained.
Start the motor by connecting the A1 socket on the rotor unit to the +15V socket of the experimenter.
Point the flash at the rotating armature and now measure the speed in the fashion know from previous
experiments at the exciter voltage values specified in the table:
6000
n [rpm]
5500
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
8 10 12 14 16 18
UE [V]
If a motor is switched on directly from standstill, during run-up current spikes arise which can be several
times higher than the rated current. Such current spikes disturb the mains and can pose a hazard to the
machine and should thus be avoided.
One reliable procedure for starting DC machines is to control start-up using stepped starting resistors. In
this process the resistors are short-circuited one by one using contactors during start-up until ultimately
the entire series resistance is shunted.
Experiment objective
In this experiment it is demonstrated that the starting current can be significantly reduced with
the aid of starting resistors.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
Using the oscilloscope, measure the armature voltage with channel A and the armature current with
channel B.
ΔT1: 0,3 s
ΔT2: 0,3 s
ΔT3: 0,3 s
ΔT4: 0,3 s
U: 0 V
Rheostatic braking is primarily used to shutdown drives. This is achieved by disconnecting the armature
from the mains (using switch S1) and connecting a resistance RV using switch S2. The armature current
and the torque reverse their polarity (generator operation).
Use the button to switch back and forth between braking and driving.
Experiment objective
In this experiment the effects of a braking resistor are investigated during a braking process.
Set up the experiment as shown in the animation. The shaft of the rotor is inserted into the stator
until the plexiglass housing clicks into place. When attaching the rotor make sure that the marking
on the plexiglass housing is located above the 0° mark on the stator scale.
U: 15 V
Note: The actual reading may differ from the indicated value because the
voltage is unregulated.
Switch the armature voltage on using the power button, wait until the maximum speed has settled in and
then pull the connector plug out of the V1 socket.
Use the oscilloscope to record the timing characteristic of the armature voltage at the moment of switch-
off and copy the result into the following placeholder:
Congratulations!
This is the last page of the course. You have completed the course "DC-Machines".
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