Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for AC/DC Machines

Experiment No. 2
DC COMPOUND GENERATOR – SELF EXCITED

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between the output voltage and the output current of a
DC generator with a shunt connected field and a cumulatively connected series field,
and driven at constant speed

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The field windings of a self-excited generator may be supplied in three different ways.
The field windings may be connected in shunt with the armature resulting in a shunt
generator. If the field windings are in series with the armature, the result is a series
generator. Finally, the field windings may consist of two sections, one of which is
connected in series and the other in shunt or parallel with the armature, resulting in a
compound generator. As in the case of a self-excited shunt generator, residual flux must
be present in the poles of the machine to get the self-excitation process started.

Compound generators are normally connected as cumulatively compound so that

magneto motive force (mmf) of the series field windings aids that of the shunt field
windings. The advantage is that through the action of the series field windings, the flux per
pole can increase with load, resulting in a voltage output, which is nearly constant, or
which even rises somewhat as load increases. The shunt field windings usually contains
many turns of relatively small wire while the series field windings, wound on the outside,
consists of a few turns of comparatively heavy conductor because it must carry the full
load armature current of the machine. The voltage of a cumulative compound generator
may also be controlled over reasonable limits by means of rheostat in the shunt field
circuit.

The external characteristic of a cumulatively compound generator depends upon the

relative strengths of the shunt and series field windings. As the load current increases, the
series field magneto motive force increases and tends to increase the flux, and therefore,
the generated voltage. In some generators, the increase in generated voltage is greater
than the IaRa drop so that instead of decreasing, the terminal voltage increases as shown
in Figure 3.1. Generators having this characteristic are called over-compounded
generators. The eventual drop of the characteristic curve after full-load condition occurs
because of saturation of the magnetic circuit. A flat compounded generator is one having
a full load terminal voltage equal to the no-load terminal voltage as indicated in Fig. 3.1.
The series windings of this generator are weaker than the one in the over-compounded
machine and therefore, do not increase the flux as much for a given armature current. Still
weaker series windings give the machine the characteristic of an under-compounded
generator where the full load terminal voltage is less than the no-load voltage.

When the series field windings are reversed from that of the cumulative compound
generator, the mmf of the series field windings weakens that of the shunt winding thereby
reducing the flux per pole. The result is a differential compound generator whose
characteristic is similar to that of the self-excited shunt generator but more drooping as
shown in Fig. 3.1.
Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for AC/DC Machines

EQUIPMENT INITIAL SETTINGS (double check)

FH2 MkIV Test Bend Speed Range: 1800 rev/min

DC Supply: 110 V
Field Rheostat: zero

Armature Rheostat: Infinite

START/STOP/RUN: Switch to Run

FH50 DC Compound Machine Test Machine – DC Generator

FH50 DC Compound Machine Prime Mover – DC Motor
FH3MkIV Instrumentation Frame
V2 DC Voltmeter 75 V Range
A2 DC Ammeter 1.5 A Range
R1 Resistive Load 50 ohms Rheostat set to infinity
(as diverter) 2000 ohms Rheostat set to infinity
Resistor 1000 ohms, 5 W(see later note)
(Decade Resistor or Additional R1
Resistive load)
FH210 Automatic Constant Speed Unit 1500 rev/min (FH210 is
optional)

PROCEDURES

1. Position the FH50 Mimic Diagram (Template) over the Machine Access Terminals
of the FH2 MkIVTest Bed.

2. Mount the Test Generator FH50 into the right-hand machine position and the Prime
Mover FH50 into the left-hand position. Locate the 16-way plugs of the two
machines in their respective sockets on the FH2 MkIVTest Bed.

3. Set up the equipment and connect the wiring diagram as shown in Fig. 3.2(a) or
Fig. 3.2(b).

Notes:
a. The 100 ohm resistor is included in order to reduce the effect of the shunt field
and thus emphasize the effect of compounding.

b. The 50 ohm rheostat of R1 is used as a series field diverter, and the 2000 ohm
rheostat as the generator load.

4. Switch on the FH2 MkIV at the Main switch and then press the GREEN ON
pushbutton to engage the contactor.

5. Start the prime mover by rotating the Armature Rheostat clockwise. Set the
Armature Rheostat so that the machines rotate at 1500 rpm. Adjust the 2000-ohm
rheostat to give an output current of 120 mA and allow the machines to warm up
for approximately 15 minutes.

6. Set the 50 ohm rheostat to 10 ohms. Turn the 2000-ohm rheostat of R1 to zero
and then to maximum resistance (∞). In steps, gradually decrease the 2000-ohm
Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for AC/DC Machines

rheostat to produce the current values shown in the Results table and record
corresponding values of output voltage and output current.

7. Repeat the whole procedure with the R1 50-ohm rheostat set to 40 ohms and then
zero.
It is recommended that output current settings are made by series of small
changes in R1, each accompanied by a correction of speed.

8. Record the results in Table 3.1

NOTE: To obtain good results ensure that

1. The motor speed is maintained at 1500 rev/min precisely. It may be necessary
to adjust the FH2 Rheostats to maintain this speed throughout the experiment.
A better option is to use the Automatic Constant Speed Unit, Type FH210.
Consult your instructor about his.

2. The R1 rheostat, 2000-ohm, is turned in ONE direction only. If the control is

turned in the reverse direction, it will be necessary to repeat the complete
procedure.

3. The output voltage at zero output current is returned to the value at the first
test (diverter at 10 ohms) before commencing subsequent tests. This may
require adjustment of the 100 ohm resistor.

9. Plot graphs of output voltage against output or load current for the four different
condition. In order to allow a direct comparison, it is recommended that all graphs
be plotted on a common set of axes.

WIRING DIAGRAM

A2 V2 R1

50 Ω

2000 Ω

Decade resistor or another R1

FH2 (set to 100 Ω)

Figure 3.2(a)
Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for AC/DC Machines

SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM

Series Field IL

AL

IA If
Shunt
Field
Diverter R1
Ia (50 ohms) VL R1 as load
2000 ohms
R1 or decade resistor
Armature (Set to 100 ohms)

Figure 3.2(b)

Applicable Equations:

VL = Eg – IARA– ISRS IA = If+ IL IS = IL when there is no diverter

resistor

CURVES

Over-compounded

VL Flat-compounded

Under-compounded

Differential Separately-excited
Compounded shunt

Self-excited shunt

IL

Figure 3.1 – Typical Characteristic Curves of

Different DC Generators
Department of Electrical Engineering Laboratory Manual for AC/DC Machines

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

Experiment 2 DC COMPOUND GENERATOR – SELF EXCITED

NAME: ______________________________ DATE: ________________

COURSE/SECTION: __________________ GROUP NO.: __________

Table 3.1

Compound Generator
Compound Generator with Compounding
without compounding
Output Voltage Output Voltage
Output VL (V) Output VL (V)
Current Current
Diverter Diverter Diverter Diverter
IL (mA) IL (mA)
at ∞ at 40 Ω at 10 Ω at zero Ω
0 0
50 30
100 50
150 70
200 100
250 110
300 120
350 130
400 120
450 110
500 80
550 60

_________________________
Instructor’s Signature