Module 7

DC Motors

Engr. Gerard Ang

School of EECE
 DC Motor

Electric Motor – it is a machine which converts

electric energy into mechanical energy or work
and requires electric energy input.

 There is no constructional difference between a dc

generator and a dc motor. The functions of a dc
generator and a dc motor are interchangeable is
that a generator may be operated as a motor and
vice versa.
 Principle of Operation

The electric motor works on the principle that when a

current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field
the, conductor experiences a mechanical force
 Back EMF or Counter EMF
Back Emf – it may be defined as the induced emf in the
armature of a motor opposite or counter to the impressed
voltage driving current in the armature conductors.
Where:
Eb = back emf in volts
𝒁𝑷𝝓𝒏 P = number of poles
𝑬𝒃 =
𝟔𝟎𝒂 N = speed of prime mover in rpm
Z = number of armature conductors
φ = flux per pole in Weber
1 Weber = 1 x 108 Maxwells a = number of armature current paths

a = mP  for lap winding

a = 2m  for wave winding

m = “plex” of winding (m = 1 for simplex, 2

for duplex, 3 for triplex, and so on)
 Types of DC Motors
1. Shunt Wound Motor
2. Series Wound Motor
3. Compound Wound Motor – it contains a field coil
which is a combination of the series and shunt
field.
Two Types:
a. Short-Shunt Compound Motor
b. Long-Shunt Compound Motor
 Symbols Used
Eb = back or counter emf
VT = terminal voltage
Ra = armature winding resistance
Rf = shunt field winding resistance
Rs = series field winding resistance
Ia = armature current
If = shunt field current
IL = line current
Pd = power developed in the armature
 Shunt Wound Motor
It contains field windings composed of many turns of wire
connected in parallel with the armature.
𝑰𝑳 = 𝑰𝒂 + 𝑰𝒇

IL 𝑽𝑻
F1 𝑰𝒇 =
A2 𝑹𝒇
Shunt Ra
Rf If Ia
Field V
Eb
𝑽𝑻 = 𝑬𝒃 + 𝑰𝒂 𝑹𝒂
F2 A1

𝑷𝒅 = 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂
 Series Wound Motor
It contains field coils composed of a few turns of wire
connected in series with the armature.
Series Field
S1
𝑰𝑳 = 𝑰𝒂 = 𝑰𝒇
S2
Rs

A2 IL = If 𝑽𝑻 = 𝑬𝒃 + 𝑰𝒂 (𝑹𝒂 + 𝑹𝒔 )
Ra Ia V
Eb 𝑷𝒅 = 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂
A1
 Short-Shunt Compound Motor
The series field winding is connected in series to both the
armature and shunt field winding which are connected in
parallel across the line..
𝑰𝑳 = 𝑰𝒂 + 𝑰𝒇
Series Field
S1 S2
Rs
𝑽𝑻 − 𝑰𝑳 𝑹𝒔
F1 A2 IL 𝑰𝒇 =
𝑹𝒇
Shunt Ra Ia
Rf If V
Field Eb

F2
A1 𝑽𝑻 = 𝑬𝒃 + 𝑰𝒂 𝑹𝒂 + 𝑰𝑳 𝑹𝒔

𝑷𝒅 = 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂
 Long-shunt Compound Motor
The shunt field winding is connected in parallel to both
the series field and the armature, which are then
connected across the line.
Series Field 𝑰𝑳 = 𝑰𝒂 + 𝑰𝒇
S1 S2
Rs 𝑽𝑻
IL 𝑰𝒇 =
A2 F1 𝑹𝒇
Ra Shunt If
Ia Rf V
Eb Field
𝑽𝑻 = 𝑬𝒃 + 𝑰𝒂 (𝑹𝒂 + 𝑹𝒔 )
A1 F2

𝑷𝒅 = 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂
 Horsepower Output of a Motor
The horsepower output of a motor is given by:

𝟐𝝅𝑻𝒏
𝑯𝑷 =
𝒌
Where:

HP = horsepower rating of a motor

T = torque developed by the motor
n = motor speed in rpm
k = constant

Value of k
k = 33,000 if the torque is in pound-foot (lb-ft)
= 44,760 if the torque is in Newton-meter (N-m)
 Sample Problems
1. A 440-V, shunt motor has armature resistance of 0.8 Ω and
field resistance of 200 Ω. Determine the back emf when
giving an output of 7.46 kW at 85 per cent efficiency.

2. A 25-kW, 250-V, dc shunt machine has armature and field

resistance of 0.06 Ω and 100 Ω respectively. Determine the
total armature power developed when working as a motor
taking 25 kW input.
 Motor Torque
Torque – it is meant the turning or twisting amount of a
force about an axis. It is measured by the product of the
force and the radius at which the force acts.

𝑻=𝑭×𝒓
 Armature Torque
Armature Torque (Ta) – it is the torque developed by the
armature of a motor at a certain speed. It is also called
as developed torque or gross torque.

𝒁𝑷𝝓𝑰𝒂
𝑻𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓𝟗 𝑵−𝒎
𝒂

𝒁𝑷𝝓𝑰𝒂
𝑻𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟏𝟕𝟑 𝒍𝒃 − 𝒇𝒕
𝒂

𝑬𝒃𝑰𝒂
𝑻𝒂 = 𝟗. 𝟓𝟓 𝑵−𝒎
𝒏
 Armature Torque

For a given dc motor, Z, P and a are constants

𝑻𝒂 = 𝒌𝝓𝑰𝒂

𝑻𝒂 = 𝒌𝟏 𝑰𝒂 𝟐 For dc series motor

𝑻𝒂 = 𝒌𝟐 𝑰𝒂  For dc shunt motor

 Shaft and Lost Torque
Shaft Torque (Tsh) – it is the torque available at the
shaft which is for doing useful work

𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝑻𝒔𝒉 = 𝟗. 𝟓𝟓 𝑵−𝒎
𝒏

Lost Torque (Tlost) – It is the torque which is due to the

iron and friction losses of the motor.
Where:
Ta = armature torque in N-m
𝑻𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 = 𝑻𝒂 − 𝑻𝒔𝒉 Tsh = shaft torque in N-m
Tlost = lost torque in N-m
Eb = back emf of the motor
Ia = armature current
N = armature speed in rpm
 Sample Problems
3. A dc motor takes an armature current of 110 A at 480 V.
The armature circuit resistance is 0.2 Ω. The machine has
6-poles and the armature is lap-connected with 864
conductors. The flux per pole is 0.05 Wb. Calculate (a) the
speed and (b) the gross torque developed by the
armature.

4. A 250-V, 4-pole, wave-wound dc series motor has 782

conductors on its armature. It has armature and series
field resistance of 0.75 ohm. The motor takes a current of
40 A. Determine its speed and gross torque developed if it
has a flux per pole of 25 mWb.

5. A dc shunt machine develops an o.c. emf of 250 V at 1500

rpm. Find its torque and mechanical power developed for
an armature current of 50 A.
 Sample Problems
6. Determine developed torque and shaft torque of 220-V, 4-
pole series motor with 800 conductors wave-connected
supplying a load of 8.2 kW by taking 45 A from the mains.
The flux per pole is 25 mWb and its armature circuit
resistance is 0.6 

7. A 220-V dc shunt motor runs at 500 rpm, when the armature

current is 50 A. Calculate the speed if the torque is doubled.
Given that Ra = 0.2 Ω.

8. A 500-V. 37.3 kW, 1000 rpm dc shunt motor has on full-load

an efficiency of 90 per cent. The armature circuit resistance
is 0.24 Ω and there is a total voltage drop of 2 V at the
brushes. The field current is 1.8 A. Determine (a) full-load
line current (b) full-load shaft torque in N-m (c) total
resistance in motor starter to limit the starting current to 1.5
times the full-load current.
 Speed Regulation
 Speed Regulation – it describes the change in speed of a
motor as a load is placed upon it, other conditions remaining
constant.
 Percent Speed Regulation (%SR) – it refers to the change in
speed between no-load and full-load and is expressed in per
cent of full-load speed

𝒏𝑵𝑳 − 𝒏𝑭𝑳
%𝑺𝑹 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝒏𝑭𝑳

Where:
nNL = no-load speed
nFL = full-load speed
 Applications of DC Motors
Type of
Characteristics
Motor
 Approximately constant
speed
Shunt  Adjustable speed
 Medium starting torque (up
to 1.5 F.L. torque)
 Variable speed
Series  Adjustable speed
 High starting torque
 Variable speed
Compound  Adjustable speed
 High starting torque
Applications
For driving constant speed
line shafting
Lathes, centrifugal pumps,
machine tools
blowers and fans,
reciprocating pumps
For traction work i.e.
Electric locomotives, rapid
transit systems, trolley cars,
cranes and hoists, conveyors
For intermittent high torque
loads
For shears and punchers,
elevators, conveyors, ice
machines, heavy planers,
rolling machines, printing
presses and air compressors
 Motor Power Stages
A B C

Driving
Motor Input Copper Power in Iron and Motor
Friction
= V IL Losses Armature Losses Output
= E b Ia

Copper Losses = A - B

Iron and Friction Losses = B - C

 Motor Efficiencies
 Mechanical Efficiency
𝑪 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝜼𝒎 = =
𝑩 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂

 Electrical Efficiency
𝑩 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂 𝑬𝒃 × 𝑰𝒂
𝜼𝒆 = = =
𝑨 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑽𝑻 × 𝑰𝑳

 Over-all or Commercial Efficiency

𝑪 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝜼𝒄 = = =
𝑨 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑽𝑻 × 𝑰𝑳
 Losses in a Motor

The following are the losses in a motor:

 Copper Losses
 Magnetic Losses
 Mechanical Losses

Condition for Maximum Efficiency

Variable Loss = Constant Loss

Armature Cu Loss = Constant Loss

 Sample Problems
1. A 4-pole series motor has 944 wave-connected armature
conductors. At a certain load, the flux per pole is 34.6 mWb and
the total mechanical torque developed is 209 N-m. Calculate the
line current taken by the motor and the speed at which it will run
with an applied voltage of 500 V. Total motor resistance is 3
ohms.
2. A dc series motor operates at 800 rpm with a line current of 100
A from 230-V mains. Its armature circuit resistance is 0.15 Ω
and its field resistance is 0.1 Ω. Find the speed at which the
motor runs at a line current of 25 A, assuming that the flux at
this current is 45 per cent of the flux at 100 A.
3. A belt-driven 100-kW, shunt generator running at 100 rpm on
220-V bus-bars continues to run as a motor when the belt
breaks. Then taking 10 kW. What will be its speed? Given
armature resistance = 0.025 Ω, field resistance = 60 Ω and
contact drop under each brush = 1 V. Ignore armature reaction.
 Sample Problems
4. The armature winding of a 4-pole, 250 V dc shunt machine is
lap-connected. There are 120 slots, each slot containing 8
conductors. The flux per pole is 20 mWb and current taken by
the motor is 25 A. The resistances of armature and field circuit
are 0.1 and 125 Ω respectively. If the rotational losses amount
to 810 W, find (a) gross torque (b) useful torque and (c)
efficiency.
5. A 20 hp, 230-V, 1150-rpm 4-pole, dc shunt motor has a total of
60 conductors arranged in two parallel paths and yielding an
armature circuit resistance of 0.2 Ω. When it delivers rated
power at rated speed, it draws a line current of 74.8 A and a field
current of 3 A. Calculate the flux per pole (b) the torque
developed (c) the rotational losses (d) total losses expressed as
a percentage of power.
6. A shunt motor running at 600 rpm takes 80 A at 250-V. Ra = 0.1
Ω, Rf = 50 Ω. Iron and friction losses 2,188 watts, find (a) HP
output (b) total torque (c) shaft torque (d) lost torque (e)
electrical efficiency (f) mechanical efficiency (g) commercial
efficiency.