Course Instructor:

Er. Suraj Shrestha, MSc,

Assistant Professor

1
 3. DC Generator
3.1 Constructional detail and Armature winding
3.2 Working Principle and Commutator Action
3.3 EMF equation
3.4 Method of excitation: separately and self excited, Types of DC Generator
3.5 Characteristics of series, shunt and compound generator
3.6 Losses in DC generators
3.7 Efficiency and Voltage Regulation

2
3.1 Constructional details and Armature winding Field Poles: Field poles are the iron core projected from
the yoke as in figure 3.2 . The upper part of the pole,
DC machines are rotating electrical machines which can be used which is connected to the yoke, is known as pole core.
either as generators or motors. The Figure 3.1 shows the cut-way The lower wider part is known as pole shoe. The
view of DC machines. Various part of the machines are Yoke, combination of many pole surface forms a circular gap at
Field pole, Field winding, Armature, Carbon Brush etc. the center of the machine. The field poles are generally
made form the laminated annealed steel sheet. The pole
shoe serves two purposes:
i) It spreads out the magnetic flux in the air gap and also,
being larger cross section, reduces the reluctance of
the magnetic path.
ii) It supports field winding.

Yoke: It is the outermost frame of the machine. It serves double

purpose in the dc machine.
i) It provides mechanical support for the field pole and as a
protecting cover for the whole machine.
ii) It carries the magnetic flux produced by the field poles.
In small machines where cheapness rather than weight is the main
consideration, yoke is made of cast iron. But for large machines,
cast steel or rolled steel is used which have high permeability. Figure 3.2 Field poles 3
Field Winding: It is the copper wire or strip wound on the filed Following figure show an armature core with shaft and
pole as show in figure 3.3. The windings are insulated from pole commutator arrangement.
core and each turn of winding are also insulated from each other
to protect form turn to turn short circuit. The enamel insulated
copper wire is used for that purpose. When DC current passed
though these coils, they will magnetize the pole core and
produce magnetic field in the central space of the machine.

Figure 3.4 Armature core with Shaft and Commutator.

Figure 3.3 Details of field pole
The bearing holds shaft on the central empty space of the
Armature: It is the rotating part of machine. The voltage is machine in such a way that there is small air gap few mm
produced in this part of machine. The various part an between armature and the pole shoes. The armature core
armature are Shaft , armature core, commutator and is made from laminated silicon steel sheet insulated with
armature winding. varnish. 4
 A typical lamination is shown in following figure.

Figure 3.5 A typical lamination of Armature core.

Commutator: It is another cylinder filtted on the shaft little away

from the armature core. It is made of number of copper
segments (known as commutator segments( Insulated from each
other and from shaft. A crossectional vies of a commutator is
shown in figure 3.6 . The coil end of the armature wings are
connected to each segment throuch the riser.

Figure 3.6 Commutator assembly

5
Armature winding: It is enamel insulated copper wire wound ii) Coil span: It is defined as the distance ( in terms of
on the slots of the armature core. There are definite rules number of teeth) between two sides of coil. If coil span is
and method for armature winding. Certain parameter equal to the pole pitch, then winding is called full pitch
regarding the armature winding are as follows. winding. If the coil span is less than the pole pitch, then
i) Pole pitch: It is defined as the periphery of the armature winding is called as short pitch winding.
divided by the number of poles. (i.e. distance between Types of Armature winding: There are mainly two type of
adjacent poles) armature winding.
a) LAP Winding
ii) Conductor: The length of the armature winding wire, lying b) Wave Winding
within the magnetic field is known as conductor. Figure 3.7
show a coil ABCD. The length AB and CD are know as a) LAP winding
conductor but length BC is not considered as conductor Finishing end F1 of 1st coil is
because emf will not induce in this part of the winding. connected to the starting end S2
of the second coil, stating under
B C the same pole as the starting
end S1 of the first coil.
In machine with such winding,
Coil sides Coil sides total conductors are divided in
Coil span
to the parallel paths equal to
A number of poles in the
D
machine.

Figure 3.7 Coil LAP winding6

While tracing the conductor path from the output
terminal of machine, the machine circuit will be as shown
in following figure.

Parallel paths A

No. of parallel path A = No. of pole P

While tracing the conductor path from the output
b) Wave winding terminal of machine, the machine circuit will be as shown
Finishing end F1 of 1st coil is connected to the starting end S8 of in following figure.
the 8th coil (for this particular case) which is located under the
similar pole (but one pole away) to one under which the 1st coil
was started. E
In machine with such winding, total conductors are divided in
to the two parallel paths.
Parallel paths A
No. of parallel path A = 2 7
Figure Armature winding diagram for 12 slot 2 pole machine
8
Brushes: It is made from carbon-graphite block. The function
of the brush is to collect current from the rotating armature coil
to the stationary load. The carbon brushes are housed in a
brush holder usually box type. The carbon brushes are fixed
and touching over the surface of commutator segments.

9
3.2 Working Principle and Commutator Action The following figure shows the arrangement for a 2-pole
The energy conversion is based on the production of elementary DC machine. When the field winding is excited
dynamically induced emf. by DC current, the field pole gets magnetised. If armature is
When the conductor of length l, with velocity v moves in a rotated continuously by the external forces, the armature
magnetic field of flux density B, then the emf is induced in conductor cuts the magnetic flux continuously and emf is
the length of that conductor according to Faraday’s law of induced in armature coil.
electromagnetic induction. The magnitude of such emf is
given by,
e  Blv sin  volts
where B  magnetic flux density(Wb/m 2 )
l  length ofconductor lying in magnetic field
v  velocity of conductor
  Angle between the direction of B and v
The direction of this induced emf i.e. direction of current
toward which this emf forces to flow, can determined by
Fleming’s Right Hand Rule.

Figure Elementary 2 pole DC machine.10

 S N S N

CCW v CW
B 2 v B
S N _ S 1 N 2 +
B 1 2
v 2
B 1 _
1
+ v

11
 Lets study nature of emf induced in armature coil, in 2 pole, single coil
machine. At the particular instant shown in following figure(a), the angle S N
θ=00. Therefore emf induced in the coil is zero. Let us assume this
position as initial zero position.
2 1
1
2
N 2 1
S S N S N S N S N S 2 N S N S
2
N S N
2 1
1 1 1 2
2 2 1
1

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

e
Em
0.707Em

ωt

-0.707Em

-Em
ωt= 00 ωt=900 ωt=180 0 ωt= 0 ωt= 270 0 ωt= 315 0 ωt= 3600
ωt= 450 ωt=135 0 225
Figure(j): Direction and magnitude of emf at various angular position of armature 12
After 450 rotation from this zero position in anticlockwise Commutator Action
direction, the situation will be as shown in figure(b). The In the absence of commutator segments and carbon
magnitude of emf is given by, brushes, there are two major problem in dc generator,
e =B.l.v sin θ = B.l.v sin 450 =0.707B.l.v i) It is practically impossible to connect a stationery
∴ e = 0.707Em external load across the rotating armature.
The direction of emf according t Fleming Right hand Rule will ii) The voltage output from the armature is ac, while we
as shown in figure(b) i.e. the current flowing in the conductor need dc voltage.
side ‘2’ and coming out through conductor side ‘1’. These two problem can be eliminated by introducing
After 900 rotation from the zero position, the situation will be commutator segments and carbon brushes in the machine.
as shown in figure (c). Here the conductor cuts magnetic flux
2
in perpendicular direction. The magnitude of emf is given by: C2
e = B.l.v sin 900 =B.l.v =Em S B1 B2 N
The direction of emf is same as in previous case. C1
1
After 1350 rotation, figure (d), e =0.707Em
After 1800 rotation, figure (e), e =0 Figure A. DC machine with commutator segments and
0
After 225 rotation, figure (f), e =-0.707Em , the direction of emf carbon brushes
is reversed. Above figure shows the dc generator with commutator
0
After 270 rotation, figure (g), e =-Em segments and brushes. The two terminal of coil are firmly
0
After 315 rotation, figure (h), e =-0.707Em joined to commutator segments C1 and C2, respectively.
0
After 360 rotation, figure (i), e =0 (same as θ=0 )0
Commutator segments rotate along with the armature.
From the above analysis it is clear that the nature of emf B1 and B2 are stationary carbon brushes, which are placed
induced in coil 1-2 is alternating(ac) in nature and wave form over the rotating commutator in such a way that they always
of emf induced is shown in figure (j) make electrical contact with the commutator segments.
13
 Since free end of conductor 1 and 2 respectively are terminated Let’s start counting the time from the instant when plane of
on C1 and C2, any point on C1 represents free end of conductor the coil is vertical i.e. along reference line, figure (a). There
1 and any point on C2 represents free end of conductor 2. can not be any induced voltage in conductor 1 and 2 at this
Assuming the armature being driven at a constant angular speed position.
of ω in ccw direction.

2 1 2
C2 C2 C2 C1 C1 C1 C2
C2 1 C1
2 B1 1 B1
S 2
S B2 B1 N S B2 B1 N S N S B2 B1 N S B2 B1 N S B2 B1 N S N B2 B1 N S B2 B1 N
B2
C1 C1 2 B2 C1 1
C1
C2 C2 1 C2 2
C2
C1
1 2 2 1 1
1 2

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)

VB1B2

ωt

ωt= 00 ωt= 450 ωt=900 ωt=1350 ωt=1800 ωt= 2250 ωt= 2700 ωt= 3150 ωt= 3600

Figure(j): Waveform of emf VB1B2 14

Let, the coil moves by some angle say 450. since conductor 1 iii) Particular Brush is not associated with a fixed
under the influence of N pole, the polarity of voltage induced conductor, but is makes contact with different conductor,
in it will be,⨀. Similarly, conductor being under the influence when they come at some particular position in space. In
of S pole, the polarity of voltage induced in it will be ⨂. this example, any conductor coming between 0<ωt<1800
Therefore, across B1 and B2, we will get a voltage with B1 being in space will be always connected to B1.
positive (+ve) and B2 being negative (-ve).
Although, the voltage VB1B2 is always unidirectional, its
The polarity of voltage in conductor 1 and 2 does not change,
magnitude does not remain constant. The DC is in the
so long 1 remain under N-pole and 2 remain under S-pole.
form of pulse. This is pulsating DC, the pulsation from
After ωt=1800, conductor 2 comes under N-pole and Conductor
zero to maximum, twice for each revolution of the loop is
1 comes under S-pole. Therefore, polarity of voltage in 2 is ⨀
called ripple.
and polarity of voltage in conductor 1 is ⨂. These ripples can be reduced by adding more loops and
Now, B1 makes contact with C2 and B2 makes contact with C1.
commutator segments to the existing armature. Two loops
Thus the polarity of B1 remains +ve as before and that of B2
at right angle connected to four commutator segment
remains –ve, unaltered. Hence, with proper arrangement of
provide two output instead of one
commutator and carbon brushes, we can obtain unidirectional
voltage form rotating machine.
Points to be noted:
i) Polarity of voltage across C1 and C2 will periodically reverse.
This is because any point on C1 always means free end of
conductor 1 and any point on C2 always means free end of
conductor 2. The voltage VC1C2 will be alternating.
ii) Polarity of voltage across B1 and B2 will not change with
time, in present case B1 always remain +ve and B2 always –
ve. The VB1B2 always remain unidirectional. 15
 These output are 900 displaced or apart which combine to In practical dc generator, armature have many loops
smooth the DC output. wound on the rotors. The field is composed many
electromagnets. Together these factor tend to create an
almost pure DC output.

ωt
00 900 1800 2700 3600
By adding magnets, we increase the number fields cut by
the armature. As we increase the number of loops and ωt
commutator segments, the variation between maximum
and minimum values decreases. This in effect tends to
flatten the DC output. 2
C2
S B1 B2 N
C1
1

ωt
00 900 1800 2700 3600 16
3.3 EMF equation ∴ Average emf generated per conductor is,
d P
e 
Let us define the following terms, dt 60 / N
  Flux per pole  PN
e 
P  Number of pole 60
Z  Total number of conductor or coil sides on armature Now, the number of conductor in series between a +ve
brush and –ve brush is equal to total number of
A  Number of parallel paths in armature conductor divided by number of parallel path.
N  Rotational Speed of armature in Revolution Per Minute (RPM)
The average emf generated per conductor is,
d E E
e
dt
During one revolution of armature in a P-pole generator, each
armature cuts magnetic flux P times, so flux cut by one conductor Wave winding Parallel
LAP winding Parallel paths
in one revolution is, paths
d  P ∴ Number of conductor in series per parallel paths =
𝑍
𝐴
Since the number of revolution made by armature in 1 minute is
Hence, the total emf generated between the terminals,
N. The time taken for 1 revolution dt is given by,
E  Average emf generated per conductor
N revolution in 1 minute
 number of conductor in each parallel path
N revolution in 60 second
 PN Z
60   volts
1 revolution is made in Second. 60 A
N
Z N P
 dt 
60 E   Volts
60 A 17
N
 Z N P
For LAP winding, A=P Emf E  
For wave winding, A=2
60 A
i) LAP connected
For given machine, number of pole P, number of No. of parallel path A  P
conductor Z per parallel path (Z/A) are fixed. Z N 720  0.05 1000
 PZ   Emf  E     600V
 E  K N  K   60 60
 60 A  ii) Wave connected
E N No. of parallel path A  2
Z N P 720  0.05 1000 6

or , E     
2 N 
Angular velocity , radian/sec   Emf  E     
 60  60 A 60 2
QSN 3.1 A 6-pole machine has an armature with  1800V
90 slots and 8 conductors per slot and runs at Circuit Model of DC generator
1000RPM, the flux per pole is 0.05Wb. Determine
the induced emf if winding is If Ia Here,
i) LAP connected Brushes
+ Rf = Resistance of field winding
ii) Wave connected. + Vdc = Field voltage
Φ 𝑉
n
Sol : Poles  P   6 Rf
Ra E
If = Field current = 𝑅𝑑𝑐
Vdc V 𝑓
Speed  N   1000 RPM _ E = Emf across the armature circuit
Ra = Resistance of armature circuit
Flux per pole    0.05Wb Armature
_Ia = Armature current
Total number of conductor Field Circuit Armature Circuit V = Terminal voltage
 Z   No.of slots  conductor per slot 𝜙 = Main flux
 90  8  720 18
3.4 Method of excitation: separately and self excited, Separately excited DC Generator
Types of DC Generator These are the generators whose
The field winding of DC generator needs DC current in field windings are supplied by an
order to produce magnetic field. The supply of DC current independent external DC voltage
to the field winding is known as “Excitation”. source. The field windings will not
On the basis of electrical connection between the field have electrical connection with the
winding and armature winding, there are two methods of armature circuit. The figure
excitation, which are as follows, alongside show the connection
i) Separate excitation diagram and figure below show the
ii) Self excitation circuit diagram of separately
The interconnection of field winding and armature winding excited generator.
Figure. Connection diagram
essentially determine the operating characteristics of DC If IL
generator. +
Ia
Types of DC Generator
+
According to method of excitation DC generators are Rf Φ
Vdc Ra E V RL
classified as follows
A) Separately excited DC generator _
B) Self excited DC generator _
a) Shunt DC Generator
Figure. Circuit diagram
b) Series DC Generator
c) Compound DC generator The symbols have their usual meaning.
i) Long Shunt DC generator IL= Load current
ii) Short Shunt DC generator. RL= Load resistance 19
Here, IL=Ia
Using Kirchoff’s voltage law for the armature and load circuit, If IL=200A
𝐸 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 − 𝐼𝐿 𝑅𝐿 = 0 +
Ia
Let, 𝑉 = 𝐼𝐿 𝑅𝐿 = Terminal voltage across the load +
Rf Φ
∴ 𝐸 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 = 𝑉 Vdc Ra E1 V=125V RL
The terminal voltage V is always less than emf E because of _
voltage drop 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 in the armature winding resistance. Some
_
voltage drop also takes placed due to the contact resistance
between the commutator segment and carbon brushes. Case II
∴ 𝑉 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 − 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 N2=800 RPM, IL2=?
#QSN 3.2 A separately excited DC generator, when running at We know.
1000RPM supplies 200A at 125V. What will be the load current Z N P
when speed drops to 800RPM and If is unchanged. Given that E 
the armature resistance =0.40 Ohm and brush drop is 2V.
60 A
Since Z, If ,P, and A are constant
Soln:-
EN Hence, E  N 2 E
Here given, 2 1
N1
E1 N1
Ra=0.40 Ohm, Vbrush=2V  
E2 N 2 800
  207  165.6V
Case I 1000
Again,
N1=1000 RPM, IL1=200A and V1=125V
V 125 E2  I a Ra  I L RL  Vbrush  0 165.6  2
 RL  1   0.625  IL  
E2  Vbrush 0.4  0.625
I L1 200 or , I L   I L  Ia 
Ra  RL
E1  V  I a Ra  Vbrush  125  200  0.4  2  207V 20
 If IL
Self excited DC Generator
Ia +
These are the generators whose field windings are excited by +
DC current generated by the armature of the machine itself.
Rf Ra E V RL
No external DC source is required for such generators. The
field windings and armature windings have electrical _
connection. The interconnection of field winding and _
armature winding can be done in different way and accordingly Fig. Circuit Diagram of DC shunt Generator
the self excited generators can be classified into three types. V
And the load current is given by, I L  and I a  I L  I f
a) Shunt DC Generator RL
b) Series DC Generator Voltage Build up in DC shunt generator
c) Compound DC generator A shunt generator be started without load, otherwise the
i) Long Shunt DC generator voltage will not build up.
ii) Short Shunt DC generator. At starting, the armature current as well as field current are
a) DC Shunt Generator zero, and the armature was rotated by external mechanical
In this type of generator, the field winding and armature force. There will be some residual magnetic flux produced by
windings are connected in parallel. Figure alongside shows the field poles, at normal condition.
circuit diagram of a DC shunt generator. Therefore, some emf will induce across the armature even in
Ia is the current generated by the armature. A part of this absence of field current.
current flows through the field winding and the remaining will As the load terminal is open at starting, the whole current
flow through the load. generated by armature will flow through the field winding.
V Due to this current, the field poles will produce more
The magnitude of field current is given by: I f 
Rf magnetic flux, there by inducing more emf across the
The terminal voltage across the load is given by: V  E  I a Ra armature. 21
 Because of this increased emf, additional field current will flow The load terminal voltage is given by,
which again helps to produce more emf in the armature. V  E  I a Ra  I f R f
This process goes on repeating until a stabilized rated emf is
induced across the armature. When the generator has build up If brushes voltage drop is also included,
its rated voltage, then load can be connected. V  E  I a Ra  I f R f  Vbrushes

b) DC Series Generator b) DC compound Generator

This type of generator will have two sets of field windings.
In this type of generator, the field winding is connected in One of them is connected in series with the armature or
series with the armature circuit. Following figure show the load and the other set is connected in parallel with the
circuit diagram of a DC series generator. armature circuit.
If IL
Therefore, such type of generator will have a mixed type of
Ia +
Rse characteristics lying between shunt and series generator.
+ The series winding is made form thick wire with few
Ra E V RL number of turns because it has to carry full load current,
_ where as shunt Field winding is made from thin wire with
_ many number of turns because full rated voltage is
appeared across it.
Fig. Circuit Diagram for DC series Generator There are two types of shunt generator
Here same current flows through the armature, field and the i) Long shunt DC compound generator
load.  Ia  I f  I L
ii) Short Shunt DC compound generator
Voltage build up process is same as in DC shunt generator, but the
DC series generator must be started with load, otherwise no current
will flow through the filed winding and the voltage will not build up. 22
 Following figure show the circuit diagram of a long shunt
DC compound generator and short shunt DC compound
generator respectively.

Long Shunt Short Shunt

In the long shunt generator, the series field winding Rse is
connected in series with the armature winding and the
shunt field winding Rsh is connected across the load.
Where as in short shunt generator series field winding
Rse is connected in series with load and shunt field
winding Rsh is connected across the armature.
For long shunt generator,
V
If  and V  E  I a Ra  I a Rse
Rsh
For short shunt generator,
E  I a Ra Vsh
If  = , Vsh  E  I a Ra and V  E  I a Ra  I L Rse 23
Rsh Rsh
 Following figure show the circuit diagram of a long shunt 3.5 Characteristics of series, shunt and compound generator
DC compound generator and short shunt DC compound Different type of DC generator have different characteristics.
generator respectively. The following two are the man characteristics of DC
generators.
i) No load Characteristics(or Open Circuit Characteristics
or OCC)
ii) Load Characteristics
i) NO load characteristics or Open Circuit Characteristics or OCC
(E vs If)
No load characteristics is a curve showing the value of emf generated
across the armature at no load for different value of filed current at
Long Shunt Short Shunt
constant speed. The no load characteristics of separately, shunt and
In the long shunt generator, the series field winding Rse is series excited generator can be obtained practically in a similar way.
connected in series with the armature winding and the The circuit arrangement for obtaining data for no load
shunt field winding Rsh is connected across the load. characteristics curve is shown in following figure.
Where as in short shunt generator series field winding If
Rse is connected in series with load and shunt field A
winding Rsh is connected across the armature.
+
For long shunt generator, Rf Φ
V Vdc Ra E V
If  and V  E  I a Ra  I a Rse
Rsh _
For short shunt generator,
E  I a Ra Vsh
If  = , Vsh  E  I a Ra and V  E  I a Ra  I L Rse 24
Rsh Rsh Figure. Circuit diagram for OCC Test
In case of shunt and series generator, the field winding has It should be note that no load characteristics curve (or
to be disconnected temporarily and connect them as shown OCC) for a higher speed will be above this curve and for
in fig. lower speed , it will be below this curve as shown in
The armature of the generator is rotated at a constant rated following figure. N 2
speed by the external means. The emf induced across the E N
armature at different values of filed current are noted, then N1
the resulting curve is shown in figure.
E N1<N<N2
B
If

A ii) Load Characteristics ( V vs IL )

O If a) DC Shunt Generator: Consider a DC shunt generator shown
Figure. Open Circuit Characteristics (OCC) Curve in following figure. When there is no load, the armature
current Ia=If (∵IL=0) which is very small current with compare
OA is the emf generated across the armature due to residual
to full load current. If IL
flux in the pole even in absence of the field current.
Z N P I +
We know that, E   volts and   I f a
60 A +
Since the armature is driven at constant E   or E  I f Rf Ra E V RL
Therefore , the no load characteristics curve is a straight line _
indicating that the emf increases proportionately with If up
_
to point B. After point B, the magnetic pole gets saturated
and emf does not increase even in the If is increases. Figure. DC shunt Generator 25
 If IL
Therefore, the voltage drop in armature is very small. Hence the +
terminal voltage V is nearly equal to E. Ia Rse
When the generator is loaded, the armature current (Ia=If + IL) +
will increase. Ra E V RL
Now the terminal voltage is given by, 𝑉 = 𝐸 − 𝐼𝑎 𝑅𝑎 _
Therefore, the terminal voltage ‘V’ will decrease with the increase _
in load current as described by the following curve.
V Figure. DC series Generator
E
0VL But on the other hand the flux per pole will also increase.
V Therefore emf will increase. Hence, series generator has rising
f L
voltage characteristics as in following figure.
But at overload condition, the voltage starts decreasing ( as
shown by dotted line) due o excessive demagnetisation effect
of armature reaction and saturation effect.
IfL IL V
Fig. Load Characteristics
b) DC Series Generator: Consider a DC series generator
V
shown in following figure. Here, the field winding, armature
and load are connected in series . Therefore the field winding
armature and load carries the same current.
When load current increases, the armature current as well as
field current will increase. Therefore voltage drop in armature IL
resistance (IaRa) will increase. Fig. Load Characteristics 26
c) DC Compound Generator: If the series field amp-turns are such as to produce the
It is seen that a shunt generator has a dropping characteristics same voltage at rated load as at no load, then the generator
and series generator has rising voltage characteristics. is called as flat-compounded.
A compound generator has a characteristics lying between shunt
If the series field amp-turns are such as to produce the
and series generators.
voltage at rated load is greater than no load voltage , then
A shunt generator can be modified into a compound generator
the generator is called as over compounded.
to supply substantially constant voltage by adding few turns of
field winding in series with load or armature. If the series field amp-turns are such as to produce the
As the load current increases, the current through the series voltage at rated load is less than no load voltage , then the
field winding also increases there by increasing the flux per pole. generator is called as under compounded.
Due to increase in flux per pole, emf is also increases. By 3.6 Losses in DC generators
adjusting the number of series turns, terminal voltage ‘V’ can be
controlled in different ways.
V
Over compounded
V0
Flat compounded
Under compounded

IL(rated) IL
Fig. Load Characteristic of compound generator 27
3.6 Losses in DC generators

28
3.7 Efficiency and Voltage Regulation C  m e
The efficiency of the DC generator is defined as the ratio of Voltage Regulation
output power to input power. Change in generator terminal voltage, when load is
Output Power Input Power  Losses
  changed from full load to no load as a percentage of full
Input Power Input Power load terminal voltage.
Output Power 0VL  f VL
 Voltage Regulation  100%
Output Power  Losses f VL

Power Stages: where, 0VL  No Load Voltage

The power stages of DC generator are as follows. f VL  Full Load Voltage
It is the voltage drop characteristics of generator.
Mechanical Electrical Power
Iron and Electrical Power
Power input developed in Cu loss
friction output = VI Watt
= Output of Armature
loss
driving engine = E Ia

Following three are generator efficiency,

Total watt generated in armature B
Mechanical Efficiency  m  
Mechanical Power Supplied A
Watt Available in load circuit C
Electrical Efficiency  e  
Total Watt Generated in armature B
Overall efficiency and commercial efficiency,
Watt Available in load circuit C
C   29
Mechanical Power Supplied A
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37