UNIT - I

D.C. GENERATORS
 D.C. GENERATORS-CONSTRUCTION & OPERATION

• DC Generators
• Principle of operation
• Action of Commutator
• Constructional details of DC Machine
• Types of DC generators
• EMF Equation
DC Generator
DC motor
What is a DC Motor?

An electric motor operated by DC (

direct current) is known as a DC
motor (unlike an induction motor that
operates via an alternating current).

A DC motor converts DC electrical

energy into mechanical energy.
 SOME MACHINE TERMINOLOGY
Electric machines can be classified in terms of their energy conversion
characteristics.

Generators convert mechanical energy from a prime mover (e.g., an

internal combustion engine) to electrical form.

Examples of generators are those used in power-generating plants, or

automotive alternator.

Motors convert electrical energy to mechanical form.

Electric motors provide forces and torques to generate motion in countless industrial
applications.
For Example Machine tools, robots, punches, presses, mills, and propulsion systems
for electric vehicles are but a few examples of the application of electric machines in
engineering.
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SOME WINDINGS TERMINOLOGY
Distinction can be made between different types of windings characterized by the
nature of the current they carry.
 If the current serves the purpose of providing a magnetic field and is
independent of the load, (it is called a magnetizing, or excitation, current) the
winding is termed a field winding.
(nearly always DC and are of relatively low power, since their only purpose is
to magnetize the core).

 However, if the winding carries only the load current, it is called an armature.

In DC and AC synchronous machines, separate windings exist to carry field and

armature currents.

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 D.C. GENERATORS PRINCIPLE OF
OPERATION

 DC generator converts mechanical energy into

electrical energy. when a conductor move in a magnetic
field in such a way conductors cuts across a magnetic flux
of lines and e.m.f. produces in a generator and it is defined
by faradays law of electromagnetic induction e.m.f. causes
current to flow if the conductor circuit is closed.
 Faradays laws
First Law :
Whenever the magnetic flux linked with a circuit
changes, an e.m.f. is always induced in it.
or
Whenever a conductor cuts magnetic flux, an e.m.f. is
induced in that conductor.
Second Law :
The magnitude of the induced e.m.f. is equal to the
rate of change of flux linkages.
Faradays Law of Electromagnetic
Induction
A changing magnetic flux
through a loop or loops of wire
induces an electromotive force
(voltage) in each loop.
Lenz’s Law

“The induced currents in a conductor are in such a

direction as to oppose the change in magnetic field
that produces them..”
OR
“The direction of induced E.M.F in a coil
(conductor) is such that it opposes the cause of
producing it..”
Fleming's Right Hand Rule

E.M.F

• The Thumb represents the direction of Motion

of the conductor.
• The First finger (four finger) represents Field.
• The Second finger (Middle finger) represents
Current
Fleming's Right Hand Rule
 The following are the basic requirements to be
satisfied for generation of E.M.F

1.A uniform Magnetic field

2.A System of conductors
3.Relative motion between the magnetic field and conductors

• Magnetic field :-
Permanent Magnet
(or)
Electro Magnet (practical)
• Conductor :- Copper (or) Aluminum bars placed in
slots cut around the periphery of cylindrical rotor
• Relative motion:-
By Prime Mover
Turbine
I.C Engine (Internal combustion)
Simple loop generator
Basic Generator
Generators
Simple loop generator
with slip ring
 Generators

Basic operation of the generator

As the loop rotates, the magnetic
flux through it changes with time
This induces an e.m.f and a current
in the external circuit
The ends of the loop are connected
to slip rings that rotate with the loop
Connections to the external circuit
are made by stationary brushes in
contact with the slip rings
Simple loop generator
with split ring
Simple loop generator
with split ring
 Working Principle of D.C Generator

Schematic diagram of a simple DC Generator

1st half cycle(00 to 1800 ) Path of current ABR1B1MLR2B2CD
2st half cycle(1800 to 3600) Path of current DCR2B1MLB2R1BA
 DC Generators, cont
• The output voltage always
has the same polarity
• The current is a pulsating
current
• To produce a steady
current, many loops and
commutators around the
axis of rotation are used
– The multiple outputs are
superimposed and the
output is almost free of
fluctuations
Unidirectional current wave shape

Resultant current wave shape when number of

conductors used result current wave shape
 Constructional Details Of DC Machine

 Yoke:
 Rotor:
 Stator:
 Field electromagnets:
 Pole core and pole shoe:
 Brushes:
 Shaft:
 Armature:
 Coil:
 Commutator:
 Bearings:
 Construction details of DC generator
Cross section view of dc machine

shaft

S
Main parts of a 4-pole d. c machine
Practical Dc Machine
• The above figure shows constructional details of a simple 4-
pole DC machine. A DC machine consists of two basic
parts; stator and rotor. Basic constructional parts of a DC
machine are described below.
1. Yoke: The outer frame of a dc machine is called as yoke. It
is made up of cast iron or steel. It not only provides
mechanical strength to the whole assembly but also carries
the magnetic flux produced by the field winding.
2. Poles and pole shoes: Poles are joined to the yoke with
the help of bolts or welding. They carry field winding and
pole shoes are fastened to them. Pole shoes serve two
purposes; (i) they support field coils and (ii) spread out the
flux in air gap uniformly.
3. Field winding: They are usually made of copper. Field coils
are former wound and placed on each pole and are
connected in series. They are wound in such a way that,
when energized, they form alternate North and South poles.
 Commutator
Need of a Split ring
commutator
According to Fleming’s right hand rule,
the direction of induced current changes
whenever the direction of motion of the
conductor changes. Let’s consider an
armature rotating clockwise and a
conductor at the left is moving upward.
When the armature completes a half
rotation, the direction of motion of that
particular conductor will be reversed to
downward.
Hence, the direction of current in every
armature conductor will be alternating. If
you look at the above figure, you will
know how the direction of the induced
current is alternating in an armature
conductor. But with a split ring
commutator, connections of the armature
conductors also gets reversed when the
current reversal occurs. And therefore, we
get unidirectional current at the terminals.
Types Of A DC Generator:
DC generators can be classified in two main categories, viz;
(i) Separately excited and
(ii)Self-excited.
(i) Separately excited: In this type, field coils are energized
from an independent external DC source.

(ii) Self-excited: In this type, field coils are energized from

the current produced by the generator itself. Initial emf
generation is due to residual magnetism in field poles. The
generated emf causes a part of current to flow in the field
coils, thus strengthening the field flux and thereby increasing
emf generation. Self excited dc generators can further be
divided into three types -
(a) Series wound - field winding in series with armature
winding
(b) Shunt wound - field winding in parallel with armature
winding
 EMF Equation of DC
As the armature generator
rotates, a voltage is generated in its
coils. In the case of a generator, the emf of rotation is
called the Generated emf or Armature emf and is
denoted as Er = Eg.
Therefore, the average induced e.m.f in one conductor will be
A 6-pole, DC generator has 800 conductors on its armature.
The flux per pole is 0.035 Wb. The speed of rotation of the
armature is 1500 RPM. Calculate the generated EMF when
the armature is, (a) Lap wound, (b) Wave wound.