UNIVERSAL MOTORS

P R E S E N T E D B Y M E R A J WA R S I
Contents:
• Introduction
• Working
• Construction
• Draw back on AC supply
• Phasor diagram
• Equivalent Circuit
• Characteristic
• Applications
Introduction:

A universal motor is a special type of motor which is designed to run on

either DC or AC supply. These motors are generally series wound (armature
and field winding are in series), and hence produce high starting torque. That
is why, universal motors generally comes built into the device they are meant
to drive. Most of the universal motors are designed to  operate at higher
speeds, exceeding 3500 RPM. They run at lower speed on AC supply than they
run on DC supply of same voltage, due to the reactance voltage drop which is
present in AC and not in DC.
 Working:
A universal motor works on either
DC or AC supply. When the
universal motor is fed with a DC
supply, it works as a DC series
motor. When current flows in the
field winding, it produces an
electromagnetic field. The same
current also flows from the
armature conductors. When a
current carrying conductor is
placed in an electromagnetic field,
it experiences a mechanical force.
Due to this mechanical force, or
torque, the rotor starts to rotate.
The direction of this force is given
by Fleming’s left-hand rule.
Construction:
• Construction of a universal motor is very similar to the  construction of a DC machine. It
consists of a stator on which fi eld poles are mounted. Field coils are wound on the fi eld poles.
• The rotary armature is of wound type having straight or skewed slots and commutator with
brushes resting on it.
• If alternating voltage is applied on a dc series motor, then every half cycle the fi eld fl ux and
armature fl ux are reversed but due to reversal of both the fl ux the direction of torque remain
same.
• So we can say that a dc series motor will work even when an alternating voltage is applied.
• The torque produce when is supplied by ac supply will fl uxuated by twice the supply frequency.

Iₐ=Iₘsinὠt

TꭃIₐ^2=Iₘ^2sin^2ꞷt=Iₘ^2/2(1-cos2ꞷt)
•

2 cycle of torque

Tₑ(avg)

i
For ac supply torque frequency=2ꞷ

For dc supply torque frequency=0

In case of Universal motor due to ac supply hysteresis and eddy current losses will occur and to minimise the field pole
must me laminated.

Fractional Kw motor makes use of salient pole design where large size motor makes use of uniform motor.
Draw back over
AC supply:
• Hysteresis and eddy current
losses will occur so effi ciency is
reduce.
• The power factor is poor due to
large reactance of fi eld and
armature winding.
• The sparking at brushes is
increased.
Phasor diagram:

In a dc motor the back emf

opposes the fl ow of current. So
back emf must be opposite to the
current or we say that negative of
back emf should be oppose of
current.
Equivalent Circuit:

R=rₐ+r₣
If there is no reactance the angle of I, V, E are same.
Characteristic:
• The speed fall rapidly with the torque in case of ac supply
because due to reactance the voltage drop is increased.
• Applications:
Universal motors find their use in various home appliances like vacuum cleaners, drink and food mixers, domestic sewing machine etc.

The higher rating universal motors are used in portable drills, blenders etc.
Thank You