Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

1) study of 3 point starter

2) Study of DC Motor

3) Find magnetization characteristics of a shunt Generator

4) Speed control of DC shunt motor

5) Load test on DC Series motor

6) Swinburnes test on DC shunt Motor

7) Plugging of DC Motor

8) Load Characteristics of DC shunt Generator

9) Study of stepper motor drive

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Experiment No.1 : study of 3 point starter

AIM: To study construction and operation of 3 point starter

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. 3 point starter
2. Dc Shunt Motor

THEORY:
A 3 point starter in simple words is a device that helps in the starting and run-
ning of a shunt wound DC motor or compound wound DC motor. Now the
question is why these types of DC motors require the assistance of the starter in
the first case. The only explanation to that is given by the presence of back emf
Eb, which plays a critical role in governing the operation of the motor. The back
emf, develops as the motor armature starts to rotate in presence of the magnetic
field, by generating action and counters the supply voltage. This also essentially
means, that the back emf at the starting is zero, and develops gradually as the
motor gathers speed.

The general motor emf equation E=Eb + Ia.Ra

at starting is modified to E=Ia.Ra as at starting Eb=0

therefore, Ia =

Thus we can well understand from the above equation that the current will be
dangerously high at starting (as armature resistance Ra is small) and hence its im-
portant that we make use of a device like the 3 point starter to limit the starting
current to an allowable lower value.
Let us now look into the construction and working of three point starter to under-
stand how the starting current is restricted to the desired value. For that lets con-
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

sider the diagram given below showing all essential parts of the three point start-
er.

Construction of 3 Point Starter :

3 Point Starter
Construction wise a starter is a variable resistance, integrated into number of sec-
tions as shown in the figure beside. The contact points of these sections are called
studs and are shown separately as OFF, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, RUN. Other than that there
are 3 main points, referred to as
1. 'L' Line terminal. (Connected to positive of supply.)
2. 'A' Armature terminal. (Connected to the armature winding.)
3. 'F' Field terminal. (Connected to the field winding.)
And from there it gets the name 3 point starter. Now studying the construction of
3 point starter in further details reveals that, the point 'L' is connected to an elec-
tromagnet called overload release (OLR) as shown in the figure. The other end of
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

OLR is connected to the lower end of conducting lever of starter handle where a
spring is also attached with it and the starter handle contains also a soft iron
piece housed on it. This handle is free to move to the other side RUN against the
force of the spring. This spring brings back the handle to its original OFF position
under the influence of its own force. Another parallel path is derived from the
stud '1', given to another electromagnet called No Volt Coil (NVC) which is fur-
ther connected to terminal 'F'. The starting resistance at starting is entirely in se-
ries with the armature. The OLR and NVC acts as the two protecting devices of
the starter.

Working of Three Point Starter:

Having studied its construction, let us now go into the working of the 3 point
starter. To start with the handle is in the OFF position when the supply to the DC
motor is switched on. Then handle is slowly moved against the spring force to
make a contact with stud No. 1. At this point, field winding of the shunt or the
compound motor gets supply through the parallel path provided to starting re-
sistance, through No Voltage Coil. While entire starting resistance comes in series
with the armature. The high starting armature current thus gets limited as the

current equation at this stage becomes Ia = as the handle is moved fur-

ther, it goes on making contact with studs 2, 3, 4 etc., thus gradually cutting off
the series resistance from the armature circuit as the motor gathers speed. Finally
when the starter handle is in 'RUN' position, the entire starting resistance is elim-
inated and the motor runs with normal speed.
This is because back emf is developed consequently with speed to counter the
supply voltage and reduce the armature current. So the external electrical re-
sistance is not required anymore, and is removed for optimum operation. The
handle is moved manually from OFF to the RUN position with development of
speed.
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Working of No Voltage Coil of 3 Point Starter :

The supply to the field winding is derived through no voltage coil. So when field
current flows, the NVC is magnetized. Now when the handle is in the 'RUN' po-
sition, soft iron piece connected to the handle and gets attracted by the magnetic
force produced by NVC, because of flow of current through it. The NVC is de-
signed in such a way that it holds the handle in 'RUN' position against the force
of the spring as long as supply is given to the motor. Thus NVC holds the handle
in the 'RUN' position and hence also called hold on coil.

Now when there is any kind of supply failure, the current flow through NVC is
affected and it immediately looses its magnetic property and is unable to keep
the soft iron piece on the handle, attracted. At this point under the action of the
spring force, the handle comes back to OFF position, opening the circuit and thus
switching off the motor. So due to the combination of NVC and the spring, the
starter handle always comes back to OFF position whenever there is any supply
problems. Thus it also acts as a protective device safeguarding the motor from
any kind of abnormality.

Drawbacks of a Three Point Starter :

The 3 point starter suffers from a serious drawback for motors with large varia-
tion of speed by adjustment of the field rheostat. To increase the speed of the mo-
tor field resistance can be increased. Therefore current through shunt field is re-
duced. Field current becomes very low which results in holding electromagnet
too weak to overcome the force exerted by the spring. The holding magnet may
release the arm of the starter during the normal operation of the motor and thus
disconnect the motor from the line. This is not desirable. A four point starter is
thus used.

RESULT: Thus the 3 point starter is studied.

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Answer the following Questions

1. What do you mean by DC motor?

2. What are the types of starters used for starting of D.C Motors?

3. Why is the starting current high in a DC motor (or) why do we use a starter?

4. What are the main parts of a 3 Point starter?

5. Difference between a four point starter and three point starter?

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Experiment No.2: study of DC Motor

AIM: To study construction and operation of DC Motor

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. DC Motor

THEORY:
Electrical motors are everywhere around us. Almost all the electro-mechanical
movements we see around us are caused either by a AC or a DC motor. Here we
will be exploring DC motors. This is a device that converts DC electrical energy
to a mechanical energy.

construction of DC motor:

1. Stator The static part that houses the field windings and receives the supply
2. Rotor The rotating part that brings about the mechanical rotations.
Other than that there are several subsidiary parts namely the

1. Yoke of DC motor.
2. Poles of DC motor.
3. Field winding of DC motor.
4. Armature winding of DC motor.
5. Commutator of DC motor.
6. Brushes of DC motor.
All these parts put together configures the total construction of a DC motor.
Now lets do a detailed discussion about all the essential parts of DC motor.

Yoke of DC Motor:
The magnetic frame or the yoke of DC motor made up of cast iron or steel and
forms an integral part of the stator or the static part of the motor
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

. Its main function is to form a protective covering over the inner sophisticated
parts of the motor

and provide support to the armature. It also supports the field system by housing
the magnetic poles and field winding of the DC motor.
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Poles of DC Motor:
The magnetic poles of DC motor are structures fitted onto the inner wall of the
yoke with screws. The construction of magnetic poles basically comprises of two
parts namely, the pole core and the pole shoe stacked together under hydraulic
pressure and then attached to the yoke. These two structures are assigned for dif-
ferent purposes, the pole core is of small cross sectional area and its function is to
just hold the pole shoe over the yoke, whereas the pole shoe having a relatively
larger cross-sectional area spreads the flux produced over the air gap between
the stator and rotor to reduce the loss due to reluctance. The pole shoe also car-
ries slots for the field windings that produce the field flux.

Field Winding of DC Motor:

The field winding of DC motor are made with field coils (copper wire) wound
over the slots of the pole shoes in such a manner that when field current flows
through it, then adjacent poles have opposite polarity are produced. The field
winding basically form an electromagnet, that produces field flux within which
the rotor armature of the DC motor rotates, and results in the effective flux cut-
ting.
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Armature Winding of DC Motor:

The armature winding of DC motor is attached to the rotor, or the rotating part of
the machine, and as a result is subjected to altering magnetic field in the path of
its rotation which directly results in magnetic losses. For this reason the rotor is
made of armature core, thats made with several low-hysteresis silicon steel lam-
ination, to reduce the magnetic losses like hysteresis and eddy current loss

respectively. These laminated steel sheets are stacked together to form the cylin-
drical structure of the armature core.
The armature core are provided with slots made of the same material as the core
to which the armature winding made with several turns of copper wire distribut-
ed uniformly over the entire periphery of the core.
The slot openings a shut with fibrous wedges to prevent the conductor from ply-
ing out due to the high centrifugal force produced during the rotation of the ar-
mature, in presence of supply current and field
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

The construction of armature winding of DC motor can be of two types:-

Lap Winding
In this case the number of parallel paths between conductors A is equal to the
number of poles P. i.e A = P
Wave Winding
Here in this case, the number of parallel paths between conductors A is always
equal to 2 irrespective of the number of poles. Hence the machine designs are
made accordingly.

Commutator of DC Motor:

The commutator of DC motor is a cylindrical structure made up of copper seg-

ments stacked together, but insulated from each other by mica. Its main function
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

as far as the DC motor is concerned is to commute or relay the sup-

ply current from the mains to the armature winding housed over a rotating struc-
ture through the brushes of DC motor.
Brushes of DC Motor:
The brushes of DC motor are made with carbon or graphite structures, making
sliding contact over the rotating commutator. The brushes are used to relay the
current from external circuit to the rotating commutator form where it flows into
the armature winding. So, the commutator and brush unit of the DC motor is
concerned with transmitting the power from the static electrical circuit to the me-
chanically rotating region or the rotor.

Principle of DC Motor

This DC or direct current motor works on the principle, when a current carrying
conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a torque and has a tenden-
cy to move. This is known as motoring action. If the direction of current in the
wire is reversed, the direction of rotation also reverses. When magnetic field
and electric field interact they produce a mechanical force, and based on that the
working principle of DC motor is established.

The direction of rotation of a this motor is given by Flemings left hand rule,
which states that if the index finger, middle finger and thumb of your left hand
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

are extended mutually perpendicular to each other and if the index finger repre-
sents the direction of magnetic field, middle finger indicates the direction of cur-
rent, then the thumb represents the direction in which force is experienced by the
shaft of the DC motor.

Structurally and construction wise a direct current motor is exactly similar to

a DC generator, but electrically it is just the opposite. Here we unlike a generator
we supply electrical energy to the input port and derive mechanical energy from
the output port. We can represent it by the block diagram shown below.

Here in a DC motor, the supply voltage E and current I is given to the electrical
port or the input port and we derive the mechanical output i.e. torque T and
speed from the mechanical port or output port.
The input and output port variables of the direct current motor are related by the
parameter
K.
So from the picture above we can well understand that motor is just the opposite
phenomena of a DC generator, and we can derive both motoring and generating
operation from the same machine by simply reversing the ports.

Detailed Description of a DC Motor

To understand the DC motor in details lets consider the diagram below,
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

The direct current motor is represented by the circle in the center, on which is
mounted the brushes, where we connect the external terminals, from where sup-
ply voltage is given. On the mechanical terminal we have a shaft coming out of
the Motor, and connected to the armature, and the armature-shaft is coupled to
the mechanical load. On the supply terminals we represent the arma-
ture resistance Ra in series. Now, let the input voltage E, is applied across the
brushes. Electric current which flows through the rotor armature via brushes, in
presence of the magnetic field, produces a torque Tg. Due to this torque Tg the dc
motor armature rotates.
As the armature conductors are carrying currents and the armature rotates inside
the stator magnetic field, it also produces an emf Eb in the manner very similar to
that of a generator. The generated Emf Eb is directed opposite to the supplied
voltage and is known as the back Emf, as it counters the forward voltage.
The back emf like in case of a generator is represented by

Where, P = no of poles
= flux per pole
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Z= No. of conductors
A = No. of parallel paths
and N is the speed of the DC Motor.
So, from the above equation we can see Eb is proportional to speed N. That is
whenever a direct current motor rotates, it results in the generation of back Emf.
Now lets represent the rotor speed by in rad/sec. So Eb is proportional to .
So, when the speed of the motor is reduced by the application of load,
Eb decreases. Thus the voltage difference between supply voltage and back emf
increases that means E Eb increases Due to this increased voltage difference,
armature current will increase and therefore torque and hence speed increases.
Thus a DC Motor is capable of maintaining the same speed under variable load.
Now armature current Ia is represented by

Now at starting, speed = 0 so at starting Eb = 0.

Now since the armature winding electrical resistance Ra is small, this motor has a
very high starting current in the absence of back Emf.

As a result we need to use a starter for starting a DC Motor.

Now as the motor continues to rotate, the back Emf starts being generated and
gradually the current decreases as the motor picks up speed.

Types of DC Motors:
Direct motors are named according to the connection o the field winding with the
armature. There are 3 types:

1. Shunt wound DC motor

2. Series wound DC motor
3. Compound wound DC motor

RESULT: Thus the construction and operation of DC Motor is studied.

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Answer the following Questions

1. What is the principle of motor?
2. What are Motor Generator Sets and explain the different ways the motor
generator set can be used?
3. What is the function of commutator?

4. Why field poles are laminated in DC machine?

5. Why armature teeth of DC machine are skewed?

6. What are the Application of DC Motors?

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Experiment No.3 : Find Magnetization Characteristics of a Shunt

Generator
Aim: To conduct an experiment on a D.C shunt generator and draw the magnet-
ization characteristics (OCC) and to determine the critical field resistance

Name Plate Details: (To be noted Down from the Machine)

Apparatus required:
Sr.No Name of the Equipment Range Quantity
1 DC Voltmeter 0-300V 1

2 DC Ammeter 0 -2A 1

3 Rheostat 300,1.3A 1
3. Tachometer 0- 9999 1

Theory :
Open circuit characteristics or magnetization curve is the graph between the generated
emf and field current of a dc shunt generator. For field current is equal to zero there will
be residual voltage of 10 to 12V because of the residual magnetism present in the ma-
chine .If this is absent there the machine cannot build up voltage to obtain residual mag-
netism the machine is separately excited by a dc source from OCC we can get critical
field resistance and critical speed.
Critical field resistance: It is the resistance above which the machine cannot build up
emf.

Critical speed: It is the speed below which the machine cannot build up emf.
 Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

3. Magnetization Characteristics of a Shunt Generator

Model Graph
Armature Voltage Eg

Critical Field
resistance Rc

Fiedcurrent If
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Procedure :

1. Connect circuit diagram as shown in figure

2. Set field Rheostat for Min position and PD (Potential Divider for DC Excitation)
zero output position

3. Switch on DC Power supply

4. Run the DC Prime mover of generator with help of 3 point DC starter

5. Adjust the speed of the Prime mover to the rated value of generator speed using
field rheostat of motor

6. Switch on DC Supply to the field winding of generator and pass a small current
changing setting of excitation unit or potential divider, note field current and gen-
erator voltage .Increase field current in steps and note the corresponding armature
voltage. Take that reading up to slight higher then rated voltage.

7. Plot armature voltage versus field current

Observation Table:

Sr. no. Filed current If Armature Volt-

in amps age in V volts
1

Result: Thus an experiment on a D.C shunt generator is conducted and drawn

the magnetization characteristics (OCC) through that the critical field resistance
is found.
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Answer the following Questions

1. What are the conditions to build up e.m.f?
2. Does voltage will be developed at zero field current? Justify your answer
3. What are the reasons for failure of building up e.m.f in a DC generator?
4. What is the importance of hysteresis loop?
5. What information we can be drawn from such loops?
6. What are the characteristics of a material to be used for electromagnets?
7. What is residual magnetism?
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Experiment No.4: Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor.

Aim: To Conduct an experiment on Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor

The methods are
1. Armature voltage control method 2. Flux control method

Name Plate Details: (To be noted Down from the Machine)

Apparatus required:
Sr.No Name of the Equipment Range Quantity
1 DC Voltmeter 0-300V 1

2 DC Ammeter 0 -2A 1

3 Rheostat 300,1.3A Each 1

200,1.7A
3. Tachometer 1- 9999 1

Theory :
i) Armature voltage control method:
For a load of constant Torque, the speed is proportional to the applied to the ar-
mature. Therefore speed voltage characteristic is linear and is a straight line. As
the voltage is decrease across the armature the speed falls. This method gives
speeds less than rated speeds.
Eb N Eb N
V-Ia(Ra+R) N
As the voltage is decreased speed decreases.
ii) Flux Control Method:
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

With rated voltage applied to the motor, the field resistance is increased i.e. field
Current is decreased. I t is observed that speed increases.
Eb/ N N Eb/If
The characteristics If Vs N is inverse (or) if it is hyperbola.
Procedure:
i) Armature Voltage Control Method
1) Make connections as per the circuit diagram.
2) Keeping both rheostats at minimum, Start the motor with the help of starter
and by adjusting field rheostat bring the motor to rated speed.
3) By increasing armature circuit rheostat in steps note down voltage, Ia and
speed at every step.
4) The corresponding graph is draw between armature Voltage Vs speed.
ii) Flux Control method:
1) The machine run at its rated speed and rated voltage obtained.
2) The voltage is kept constant and for different values of field current the
Speed is noted.
Observation Table

Sr.no Armature control Field control

Va If Speed Va If Speed

4
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Speed Control of DC Shunt Motor

Model Graph

N N

If (I) Va (V)

N Vs If N Vs Va

Result: Thus Speed control of DC Shunt motor is performed

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Answer the following Questions

1. What is the significance of back EMF in a DC motor?

2. Enlist types of dc generator?
3. How can you reverse the direction of rotation of a D.C Motor?
4. What happens when a D.C motor is connected across an A.C supply?
5. What will be the effect on the direction of rotation of dc motor if the

Supply terminals are reversed?

6. What will happens if the shunt field is open during running?

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Experiment No.5 : Load Test on DC Series Motor.

Aim: To conduct Load test on DC Series motor

Name Plate Details: (To be noted Down from the Machine)

Apparatus required:
Sr.No Name of the Equipment Range Quantity
1 DC Voltmeter 0-300V 1

2 DC Ammeter 0 -10A 1

3 Rheostat 200,1.7A 1

3. Tachometer 0-9999 1

Theory:
DC series motors are widely used in traction vehicles, such as locomotives and
electric cars, because of their ability to produce a high torque without a corre-
sponding high armature current. However, there is a drastic change in speed
when a series motor is loaded. In traction equipment, the heaviest load is at start,
when torque is more important than speed.
In a DC series motor, the armature current and the field current are the same
current, since the two are in series. Torque output is proportional to the armature
current and field flux. The field flux, then is proportional to armature current.
This makes torque proportional to the square of armature current. For light loads
a series motor produces less torque for the same armature current; for heavy
loads it produces more torque than a shunt motor.
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Series motors are always rigidly connected to their loads, and never operated
without some Ioad. A shunt motor can operate unloaded because a strong field
flux is always present. Enough CEMF (counter Electro motive force) is generated
to lower armature current to just the amount needed to overcome windage and
friction losses. A series motor, on the other hand, will get into an run away con-
dition, if unloaded. That is when the motor continues to increase in speed until it
tears itself to pieces.
Assume a series motor is running under load and the load is suddenly removed
The torque that was driving the load is now applied to the motor shaft as accel-
erating torque. As the motor begins to speed up, additional CEMF is generated.
Reducing armature current enough to stop the motor from accelerating. The mo-
tor speeds up more.
Armature current continue dropping but the field keeps getting weaker.CEMF
can never catch up with the armature current. Even at light loads, the speed can
become excessive before armature current decrease enough to eliminate the ac-
celerating torque.
Procedure:
1) Make connections as per the circuit diagram.
2) Set Diverter for MAX position
3) Switch on the power supply.
4) Using hand wheel of break drum arrangement Pre-load the motor about 30%
because series motor is not allowed to run on NO load condition
5) Run the DC motor help of 2 point DC Starter
6) Note down the motor armature voltage and current, field current, speed &
load on balances W1 & W2 Kg.
7) Using Hand wheel of brake drum arrangement load the motor in steps from
no load to rated torque.
Rated torque T= (W1-W2)*A
A=Break drum constant =Radius of pulley (meter)*9.81
Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

8) At each step repeat step 7

9) Calculate power output P=2NT
10) Calculate efficiency = output/input =2NT X 100 = ---------- %
VLIL

Load test on DC Series Motor

 Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

Observation Table

S.No Line Armature Load Speed Torque Input output effi-

Voltage current power power ciency
Volts W1 W2 W1-W 2 N T %
Amps (IL) Pi Po
(VL) (Kg) ( Kg) (Kg)
(rpm) (Nm) watts watts

Model Graphs

Result : Thus Load test on DC Series motor is performed

Answer the following questions

Electrical /PHCET Electrical Machines I

1. How is hysteresis and eddy current losses minimized?

2. Why are carbon brushes preferred for dc machines?

3. What is the suitable dc motor for electric traction? Why?

4. How do you control the speed of the series motor?
5. Why series motor is never started on No Load?