Electric Machine-I (Course Code: EE 551 )

Chapter –3 ( DC Generator)

Lecture No.10
 

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 Chapter –3 ( DC Generator )
 
3.4 Types of DC generator:
The field winding of a DC generator has to be supplied by DC current in order to produced magnetic field.
The supply of DC current to the field winding is known as “excitation”. The excitation can be provided by
various ways and accordingly DC generators are classified as follow:
a) Separately excited DC generator
b) Self-excited DC generator

a) Separately excited DC generator:

It is the generator, whose field winding is excited by an independent external DC voltage source as shown
in Fig.3.18. There is no electrical connection between field winding and armature winding. Fig.3.18(a)
shows the connection diagram and 3.18(b) shows the circuit diagram of separately excited DC generator.

Here,
Rf = Resistance of field winding
If = Current through the field winding
E = Emf induced across the armature circuit
Ra = Resistance of armature circuit
V = Terminal voltage across the load
RL = Load resistance
IL = Load current

Fig.3.18 Separately excited DC generator

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 V
I  f Here, Ia = IL
f R
f
Using Kirchoff’s voltage law in armature and
load circuit:
E – Ia.Ra – IL.RL = 0
[ note that : IL.RL = V = load terminal
voltage ]
Therefore, E – Ia.Ra = V (3.4)

The terminal voltage is always less than the emf generated, because there will be some voltage drop in the
armature resistance. Some voltage drop also takes place in the contact resistance between carbon brushes
and commutator segments. Hence, the actual terminal voltage is given by:
V = E – Ia.Ra – Voltage drop in the brushes. (3.5)

b) Self excited DC generator:

It is the generator, whose field winding is excited by the DC current generated by the armature of the
machine itself. No external DC source is required for such generator. The field winding and armature
winding have electrical connection. The inter-connection of field winding and armature winding can be
connected in different ways and accordingly the self excited DC generators are classified into following
types:

i) DC Shunt generator
ii) DC Series generator
iii) DC compound generator

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 i) DC Shunt generator:
In this type of generator, the field winding and armature winding are connected in parallel. In
other word, the armature circuit is shunted by the field winding circuit. Fig.3.19 shows
circuit diagram of DC shunt generator.
V V
Field winding curreny I  f  (3.6)
f R R
f f
Here, Ia = IL + If (3.7)

Terminal voltage across the load V = E – Ia.Ra (3.8)

V
Load current I  (3.9)
L R
L

Fig.3.19 Circuit diagram of DC shunt generator

As the field winding current is much less with compare to armature current and load
current, the field winding is made of thin wire and it will have higher resistance with
compare to Ra.
A shunt generator must be started without load, otherwise the voltage will not build-up. If
the shunt generator is started with load, all the current generated by armature at starting
will flow through the load circuit and voltage build up can not take place.

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At starting both armature current and field current are zero.
However, there will be some magnetic flux in the air-gap of
the machine due to the residual flux of the field pole. The
magnitude of this residual flux will be very small. When the
armature is rotated by external mechanical force, the armature
will generate a small voltage due to residual flux. As the load
terminal is open at the starting period, all the current generated
by the armature will flow through the field winding. The field
winding current at the beginning of voltage buil-up process is
given by:
E
(0)
I  (3.10) Where, E(0) = Emf generated by armature due to residual flux.
f(0) R
f
Now, the magnetic flux produced by the field poles will increase to to I f(0). Hence, the
magnitude of emf will increase and accordingly more field current will flow. This process
will keep on going and the magnitude of emf goes on increasing and finally the armature
generates a steady constant voltage. Then the load can be connected. The detail of this
voltage build-up process shall be discussed in the next section.

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ii) DC series generator:
In this type of generator, the field winding is connected in series with the armature circuit as shown in
Fig.3. 20.
Here, the same current passage through armature winding,
field winding and load.
Therefore, I a = If = IL (3.11)
The voltage build-up process is same as in shunt
generator. However, it must be started with load.
Otherwise, no current will flow through the field winding
and voltage build-up can not take place. Fig.3.20 Circuit diagram of DC series generator
The load terminal voltage is given by: V = E – Ia.Ra – If.Rse (3.12)

Here, the series field winding has to carry full load current, it is made of thick wire few number of
turns.
iii) DC compound generator :
In this type of generator, there will be two sets of field windings. One set is connected in series with
armature or load and another set is connected in parallel with the armature. Therefore, this type of
generator will have a mixed type of characteristic lying between shunt and series characteristics. As the
series winding has to carry full load current, it is made of thick wire with few turns. Whereas, the shunt
field winding is made of thin wire with many numbers of turns. Because, the shunt field winding has to
carry only small value of excitation current (If). The compound generator had been further classified into
following two types:
a) Long shunt compound generator
b) Short shunt compound generator

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 Fig.3.21(a) and Fig.3.21(b) shows the circuit diagrams of long shunt DC generator and short shunt
generator respectively.

Fig.3.21(a)Long shunt compound generator Fig.3.21(b) Short shunt compound generator

For long shunt generator:

V VE-I R -I R (3.14)
I  (3.13) a a a se
f R
f
For short shunt generator:
V EI R
I  f  a a and V VI R (3.15)
f R R f se. se
f f

VE-I R -I R (3.16)
a a L se

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Illustrative Example :
A DC compound generator delivers 50A to the load at 500V. The armature, series field and field windings
resistances are 0.05 , 0.03  and 250  respectively. The voltage drop in carbon brush is 1 V per brush.
Calculate the generated emf a) for long shunt compound b) Short shunt compound

Solution:
Given parameters : Ra = 0.05 ohm, Rse = 0.03 ohm and Rf = 250 ohms

a) Long shunt compound:

Voltage across the load V = 500 V
V 500 IL = 50 A
Shunt field current I    2A
f Rf 250

 Ia = IL+ If = 50 + 2 = 52 A

Then emf induced E = V + Ia (Ra+Rse) + drop in brushes = 500 + 52×(0.05+0.03) +1×2 = 506.16 V

b) Short shunt compound:

Voltage across the shunt field winding:
Vf = V +ILRse= 500 + 50×0.03 = 501.5 V
V 501.5
I  f   2.006 A
f R 250
f
 Ia = IL+ If = 50 + 2.006 = 52.006 A

Then Emf E = Vf + Ia Ra + drop in brushes = 501.5 + 52.006×0.05 +1×2 = 506.1 V

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3.5 Characteristics of DC generator:
Different types of DC generators have different characteristic and accordingly they are suitable for
different applications. The followings are the main characteristics of DC generator.
i) No-load characteristic (or open circuit characteristic or OCC curve)
ii) Load characteristic (or external characteristic)
3.5.1 No-load characteristic of DC generator:
No-load characteristics is a curve showing the values of emf generated across the armature at different
values of field current at no-load and constant speed. The no-load characteristic of separately excited,
shunt, series and compound DC generators are similar. The characteristic curve can be obtained
practically as shown in Fig.3.22.

Fig.3.22 Circuit diagram for OCC curve Fig.3.23 OCC curve of DC generator

The field winding is disconnected temporally for test purpose. The armature of the generator is rotated at
a constant rated speed by some prime mover and the magnitudes of emf induced at different values of
field current are measured. The resulting curve is shown in Fig.3.23.

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The magnitude of emf induced across the armature is given by:
Z . N P
E  And   If Since, the armature is driven at constant speed, E  If
60 A

When the field current is zero, there will be some

residual flux in the air gap of the machine. Therefore,
some emf ( OA) will induce across the armature even the
field current is zero. When in the field current increases,
the magnetic flux () increases proportionately and the
emf (E) increases accordingly up the point ‘B’. The point
‘B’ of the saturation point corresponding to field current
‘Ifsat’. If the field current is further increased above I fsat,
the magnetic flux will not increase proportionately. The
magnetic flux will increase by very small value with
compare to increase in field current and accordingly the
emf induce (E) will also increase by very small amount
as shown in Fig.3.23. Fig.3.23 shows the OCC curve at
rated speed N1. The OCC curves at different speeds are
shown in Fig.3.24.

Fig.3.24 OCC curves at different speeds

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3.5.2 Load characteristic of DC generator:
Load characteristic is the curve showing the load terminal voltage at different values of load current.
The different types of DC generators have different load characteristics.
Shunt generator: Let us consider a DC shunt generator as shown in Fig.3.25. When the generator is
operated at full load, the field current ( If ) is very small with compare to the load current (IL).When there
is no load, the armature current ( Ia = If ) is very small with compare to full load current. Therefore, the
voltage drop in armature resistance is very small and hence, terminal voltage is nearly equal to emf
induced (i.e. V E).

(a) Circuit diagram ( b) Load Characteristics

Fig.3.25 Load characteristic of DC shunt generator

When the generator is loaded, the armature current ( Ia = If + IL) increases, then the load terminal
voltage ( V = E – Ia. Ra) decreases. The magnitude of load terminal voltage at different values of load
current is shown in the Fig.3.21(b), which is known as load characteristic.

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 Let 0
VL = load terminal voltage at no-load
V = load terminal voltage at full-load
f L

The total voltage drop from no-load to full-load = 0VL - fVL

Voltage regulation of generator is defined as change in load

terminal voltage (from no-load to full-load) expressed as
percentage of no-load terminal voltage.
0 VL - fVL
Hence Voltage Regulation (%)   100 (3.15)
0VL

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 Series generator:
Let us consider a DC series generator as shown in Fig.3.26. Here, the filed winding, armature
winding and load are connected in series. Therefore, all of them carry the same current.

(a) Circuit diagram of DC series generator (b) Load Characteristic curve

Fig.3.26 Load characteristic of DC series generator
When the load current (IL) increases, the armature current as well as the field current increases.
Therefore, the voltage drop Ia(Ra+Rse) increases. But, at the same time, the air gap flux increases
due to increase in If. Therefore, magnitude emf induced ‘E’ increases. Before the magnetic
saturation, the increase in emf dominates the armature voltage drop. Therefore, load terminal
voltage increases with load current up to the saturation as shown in Fig.3.26(b). Load
characteristic curve is just below the OCC curve by an amount of armature voltage drop. Hence,
a series generator has a rising voltage characteristic. However at over-load condition, the load
terminal voltage starts decreasing due to excessive demagnetizing effect of armature reaction
and saturation effect.
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Compound generator: We have seen that a shunt generator has a dropping voltage
characteristic and a series generator has a rising voltage characteristic. Since a compound
generator has shunt as well as series field winding, a compound generator has a characteristic
lying between shunt and series generators. A shunt generator may be modified into a
compound generator to supply substantially constant voltage by adding few turns of field
winding in series with load or armature. As the load current increases, the current through the
series field winding also increases there by increasing the air gap flux. Hence, the emf
induced in armature increases. By adjusting the number of series turns, the load terminal
voltage can be controlled in different ways and accordingly different type of load
characteristics can be obtained as shown in Fig.3.27.
i) If the series field amp-turns are such as to
produce the full load terminal voltage equal to the
no-load terminal voltage, then such generator is
called as flat-compounded generator.
ii) If the series field amp-turns are such as to
produce the full load terminal voltage greater than
the no-load terminal voltage, then such generator
is called as over-compounded generator.

iii) If the series field amp-turns are such as to

produce the full load terminal voltage less than
the no-load terminal voltage, then such generator Fig.3.27 Characteristics of compound generator
is called as under-compounded generator.

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3.6 Voltage Build-Up Process in DC generator:
Before loading a DC shunt generator, it should be allowed to build-up its voltage up to its rated value.
Usually, there is always some residual magnetic flux produced by the filed pole even in the absence of
field current. Therefore at starting, when the armature is rotated at its rated speed by its prime-mover, a
small amount of emf will induce across the armature due to this residual flux. As the load is not connected
during this voltage build-up process, this emf forces current through the field winding. Hence, the air-gap
flux will increases, provided the field circuit is correctly connected to the armature, otherwise this current
may wipe off the residual flux. Because of this increase in air-gap flux, the magnitude of emf induced
across the armature increases. Because of this increase in emf, field current will increase and air-gap flux
will increase. This process goes on repeating until the emf reaches a final steady value. Now the question
is when the emf reaches final steady value and what will be this final value. These facts can be explained
with the help of OCC curve as shown in Fig.3.28.

Fig.3.28 Voltage build-up in a DC shunt generator

Fig.3.28 shows the OCC curve and the plot of R f line in a common current and voltage axis. The voltage
build-up process follows the path of OCC. Let us consider an instant when the field current had increased
to OA2.

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 At this instant, Emf generated E = A2C2 Ohmic voltage drop in Rf = A2B2
dI
L f
B2C2 = Opposing self induced emf in the field coil due to changing current I f = f dt

As the voltage build-up process proceed on, the ohmic voltage drop goes on increasing and self
induced emf goes on decreasing.

When the voltage build-up process reaches the point of intersection between OCC curve and the R f line at
point ‘P’, the total emf (E) is equal to the ohmic voltage drop in Rf and self induced emf Lf.dIf/dt has
decreased to zero. That means If becomes constant or If is no more increasing. Hence, the voltage biul-up
process stops at point ‘P’ and steady emf generated is equal to E0 as shown in Fig.3.28.

From the above explanation, it is clear that the instant ‘P’ depends upon the nature of OCC curve and the
value field winding resistance ‘Rf’. Fig.3.29 shows the voltage build-up process at different values of field
winding resistance.

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 Fig.3.29 Voltage build-up with different values of field winding resistance
When the field winding resistance is equal to Rf, the maximum voltage build up is equal to E0.

If the field winding resistance is increased to Rf1, the resistance line shifts up as shown in Fig.3.29. Now the
new point of intersection is P1 and the maximum voltage build up is equal to E1 , which is less than E0.

If the field winding resistance is increased to a large value ( say to R f2 ), then there is no intersection between
OCC curve and Rf2 line. Therefore, the generator can not build up the voltage with value of field winding
resistance.
The maximum value of field winding resistance at which the generator just can build-up its voltage is R C,
which is just tangent to the OCC curve. Above this value of resistance, the generator cannot build-up the
voltage. This value of resistance is known as “Critical resistance”.

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Fig.3.30 shows the voltage build-up at different speed for a given value of field winding resistance.

Fig.3.30 Voltage build-up with different speed

If the generator is allowed to build-up the voltage at lower speed N 1, then the new point of inter-section
is P1 and the maximum voltage build up is equal to E1 , which is less than E0. If the generator is allowed
to build-up the voltage at further lower speed NC, the OCC curve is just tangent to the given value of R f
line. The generator will be just able to build-up its voltage at this speed. However, the maximum value
of emf will be very small and equal to EC. This speed is known as critical speed. Below the critical
speed, the generator cannot build-up the voltage.

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Illustrative Example 3.5
A DC shunt generator generates 500V at no-load. The armature and field windings resistances are 0.05 
and 250  respectively. When the generator delivers 30 A to the load, Calculate the terminal voltage and
voltage regulation.
Solution:
At no-load V=E= 500V
At loaded condition:
V E V 500  V
I   
f R R R
f f f
500  V
And I  I  I  30 
a L f 250

Then load terminal voltage:

500  V
V  E - Ia.Ra  500 - (30  )  0.05
250
Or 250V = 500×250 – (30×250 + 500 –V) ×0.05
Or 250V = 125000 –(375 + 25 – 0.05V)
Or 250V – 0.05V = 125000 – 400
Or 249.95V = 124600
Or V = 498.5 V

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Illustrative Example 3.6
A DC series generator has armature and field windings resistances of 0.5  and 0.3  respectively. When
the generator delivers 5 A to the load, the load terminal voltage is 250V. Calculate the terminal voltage
when the load current is 25A. Assume that the speed is constant
Solution:
Given that V = 250V, Ra = 0.5 ohm and Rse = 0.3 ohm

Z . N P
For Series generator E  
60 A
For constant speed E    If = Ia = IL

When load current IL1 = 5 A, E1 = V1 + IL1. (Ra + Rse) = 250 +5 (0.5 + 0.3) = 254V

E1  IL1 and E2  IL2

E I I
 2  L2 OR E  L2  E  25  254  1270V
E I 2 I 1 5
1 L1 L1

 V2 = E2 – IL2( Ra + Rse) = 1270 – 25(0.8) = 1250V

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