Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to examine and perceive the common characteristics of a DC motor.

ABSTRACT
The following experiment was carried out to study the characteristics of a DC motor. To start off the experiment,
all the components in the experiment are connected in accordance to the lab sheet. We have to make sure that
precautionary steps are taking properly. i.e. ensuring that the resistance of the armature is at the highest possible
value before we start off the motor to prevent the damage to the motor We conducted five tests and four of them
were meant to investigate the following things: relationship between armature voltage and speed, relationship
between armature current and speed, relationship between armature current torque, and lastly is the load test. Test
5 requires different connections compared to the other two tests. We tabulate the data that we have obtained in this
experiment and make use of it to plot graphs. Lastly we discuss the experiment results.

INTRODUCTION AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Electrical motors play a significant role in our daily lives. Most of the mechanical and electrical devices are us and
are powered by either an A.C. or a DC motor. A motors main function is to convert energy from one type to
another in this scenario electrical energy to mechanical energy.

Flemings left hand rule can be used to explain the principle of a direct current motor. If we place a current
carrying wire or conductor perpendicular to a magnetic field, it will experience a force that will cause it to move.
The direction of motion will be perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the direction of current and it will
also reverse in direction if the direction of current is reversed.

Fig 1. Left Hand Rule

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

As it can bee seen from the diagram, we can display this relationship by using our left hand with our index finger
being mutually perpendicular to our thumb and middle finger. The index finger is said to represent the direction of
magnetic field and the middle finger shows the direction of current. Therefore the thumb will display the direction
in which the dc motor experiences force.
A DC motor is similar to a DC generator in structure and construction size however both of them have opposite
functions. In a DC motor we are supplying energy to the input port and getting mechanical energy in return from
the output port. The block diagram below shows the relationship.

Fig 2. DC Motor Mechanism.

In this scenario we apply a voltage E and a current I is supplied to motor electrically and from here we got the
output in the form of mechanical energy. i.e. Torque and speed of the mechanical output.

We can relate the input and output parameters of the dc motor by the constant K.

The figure displayed above also helps to clarify the difference between a DC motor and DC generator.
I

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

In general we have 3 types of dc motor in practice, which are:

1) Shunt Motor
2) Series Motor
3) Compound Motor

Shunt Motor
In a shunt DC motor, the DC power source is connected in parallel to the armature or field windings. These type
of motors allow decent level of speed regulation even when the load varies but does not have high value of
starting torque as a series DC motor. It is primarily used in the industry or in applications where speed
adjustment is a requirement.
Series Motor
Here, the power source is simply connected in series with the armature and field windings. Speed regulation is
poor as there is an inverse relationship between the speed and the load. But it provides a very high starting
torque and has a lot of applications for machines that require high inertia load. It can be used for starting trains
or elevators and hoists. Since there is no mechanical load on the series motor, the value of current is low
resulting in a weak magnetic field. Therefore its necessary to ensure that the armature moves fast enough to
produce a sufficient amount of counter-EMF to balance out the supply voltage. If no load is applied to a series
motor, its speed will increase until the motor destroys itself.
Compound Motor
A compound motor is a combination of series and DC motor. The power source is connected in a series and shunt
combination to the armature and field windings. It has the characteristics of both a series and a shunt motor.
Therefore it can provide good speed regulation along with a high starting torque. In a cumulative compound motor
the series field is connected to help the shunt field and we are provided with a higher starting torque however the
speed control is significantly less.

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
In this experiment, shunt DC motor is used. Type of connection is illustrated as shown in figure below:

Figure 3: The connection route for shunt DC motor

It is noticed that this type of DC motor is connected parallel with the power supply, therefore, its armature and
field voltage is the same at all time. In simple, the total current is the sum of the armature and field current where
IT = IA + IF
Total input power, Pin = V x IT
We are required to study the characteristics of a DC motor so that we can predict its performance and achieve
maximum possible efficiency from the motor. Thus we can transfer the maximum possible electrical energy into
mechanical energy. We also need to ensure that the motors speed can be controlled. Because of all these reasons
we need to study the relationship between torque and the speed of the motor.
Assuming that the load on the shaft of a shunt motor is increased, the load torque, load will exceed the induced
torque, ind, where it slow down the motor and this will cause the internal generated voltage drops, then the
armature current, IA increases. As IA increase, the induced torque in the motor increases too. Eventually, the final
induced torque will equal to load torque at lower rotational speed, .
Firstly, we know by Kirchoffs voltage law (Stephen J. Chapman, 2001), =+, and
=
So, =+.
Since ind = KIA, thus, =
By deriving the equations and solving for motor speed yields
=//()2

For another characteristics study of DC motor is speed control. They are two ways to control the shunt machine:
a) By adjusting the field resistance we get the following results:
- An increase in the value of RF causes IF to decrease which causing decreases and lowers EA. Therefore, as EA
lowered down, IA increases which increases induced torque, ind too. Then it makes ind > load and the speed
increases. So, the increasing of speed causing the EA increase again and decreases IA. Finally, ind is decreased until
ind =load at higher motor speed.
b) Adjusting the armature voltage, V, this will yield the following results:

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

- When the armature voltage, V increases, IA increases which causing ind increases too. As ind increases which
makes ind > load, then the speed is increasing. It results in increasing in EA which decreases IA thus, ind decreases
until ind =load

Figure 4: The theoretical relationship between current and torque

Before calculating the efficiency, some losses are considered:

a) Copper loss, Pcopper - The sum of energy losses in the armature and field circuits of the motor, where:
Pcopper = IA2 RA + IF2RF
b) Core loss, Pc and frictional loss, Pf
The calculation of Pc and Pf can be expressed as follows:
If we assume that the motor rotates freely at a certain speed when there is no load and there is no output power.
Here Ia is very small and copper loss is more or less negligible. This includes all the losses from factors such as
brush and bearing frictions, loss from windage and losses from eddy current and hysterics. All these take place in
the armature core and are independent of the load. Some of these losses might depend on the load while others
might depend on the pertaining voltage.
Pc+Pf = Pin Pout Pcopper
For the efficiency of the motor, the equations are expressed as follow: =100%
Where Pin = V x IT
Pout = Pin Pcopper - Pc Pf

RESULTS
Test 1: Starting
Resistor (s)
Motor Armature Resistance
Motor Field Resistance

Resistance ()
6.25
625

Test 2: Armature voltage-speed relation

nrpm)
V(V)

1500
179

1600
180

1700
182

1800
185

1900
190

2000
198

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

2500

n(rpm)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

Voltage(V)
Graph 1. Speed vs Armature Voltage

Test 3: Armature current and speed with field current relation

n(rpm)

1600
0.20
1.80

IF (A)
IA (A)

1700
0.16
1.82

1800
0.14
1.87

1900
0.12
1.92

2000
0.03
1.98

2500

n(rpm)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

0.05

0.1

IA (A)

Graph 2: Speed vs Ia

0.15

0.2

0.25

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

2500

n(rpm)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

If(A)

Graph 3: Speed vs If

Test 4: Armature current-torque relation

Ia (A)
T(Nm)

2.0
0.050

3.0
0.425

4.0
0.9

5.0
1.4

Torque (Nm)
1.6
1.4

Torque (Nm)

1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

Current (A)

Test 5: Load test

Sheikh Shahir

Ia (A)
n (rpm)
T (Nm)
If (A)
Pcopper (W)
Pc + Pf (W)
Pin (W)
Pout (W)
(%)

DC Motor

2.0
2000
0.05
0.23
58.06
422.07
490.6
10.47
2.13

3.0
1850
0.50
0.24
92.25
523.75
712.8
96.8
13.59

KEM120702

4.0
1620
0.9
0.25
139.06
643.26
935
152.68
9.42

5.0
1550
1.4
0.26
198.5
731.46
1157.2
227.24
19.6

For calculations, IA = 2.0 , n=2000, T = 0.05 and IF =0.23 are taken as example:
Power input, Pin = VA ( IA + IF )
= 220 (2.0+0.23)
= 490.6 W
Power output
= (0.05) (2000)()/30
= 10.47 W
Efficiency (Pout / Pin )x 100%
= (10.47/490.6) x 100%
=2.13%
Copper loss, PCu = IA2 RA + IF2RF
= (2)2(6.25) + (0.23)2 (625)
= 58.06 W
Core loss and Friction loss, Pc + Pf = Pin - Pout - PCu
= 490.6 10.47 -58.06 = 422.07 W

25

Efficiency

20

15
Y-Values
10

Linear (Y-Values)

0
0

50

100

150

POUT

200

250

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

DISCUSSIONS
TEST 2: ARMATURE VOLTAGE-SPEED RELATION
The graph of speed versus armature voltage graph clearly displays how the armature voltage increases when the
speed of the motor increases. The graph is not linear though and thus we cannot say with certainty that the
relationship is proportional. Using the equation below we can figure out the values of the two variables that w
have discussed. The equation is given as:
=//()2
Where, = angular velocity of motor
= flux
VA = armature voltage
RA = armature resistance
K = constant
It is found that , since n = 30/
Thus, . Therefore, the experimental data does agree with the theory.
TEST 3: ARMATURE CURRENT AND SPEED WITH FIELD CURRENT RELATION
From the graphs it can be seen that both of them have negative gradients. So the relationship is that the speed of
motor is said to decrease when there is an increase in the armature current. Also, an increase in field current
results in a decrease in the armature current. These deductions are based on our plotted graphs. From theory we
know that an increasing field resistance results in the field current to decrease. This in turn causes the magnetic
flux to decrease and the value of EA is lowered. Now the armature current increases as the field current is
increasing. This in turn increases the torque.
We also can see based on the relationship of = and with in mind that the armature voltage in this
test is fixed, we can say that speed is directly proportional to armature current with negative gradient. Besides
that, from the relationship IL=IA+IF, it is noted that armature current, IA is directly proportional to field current, IF
too, with negative gradient. So we can conclude that the experimental results does follow the theoretical results.
TEST 4: ARMATURE CURRENT TORQUE
As seen from the graph the armature current increases when the value of the induced torque increase. From
theory, this should be a linearly proportional relationship. Thankfully our experimental result matches with the
theoretical equation so we can say that our experiment was successful.

TEST 5: LOAD TEST

From the graph it can be seen that as the power output increases, the efficiency also increases. But it can also be
seen that as the variables increase in value the line becomes less and less step. Thus it can be said that graph has a
decreasing gradient as the power output is seen to increases. We can also deduce that at a certain power output we
get maximum efficiency
For the copper loss, Pcopper versus power output graph, we can see that the copper loss is declining until its
minimum value and increasing back as the power output increasing. This is because based of the quadratic
characteristic of the copper loss equation:
PCu = IA2 RA + IF2RF
It is known that power output = ind
ind
A. We found that the increase in values of torque causes
armature current to increase although the field current is decreasing, but still the decreasing increment is much
lower than increasing increment of armature current which shows that the overall copper loss would be
increasing. So, in this case the value of copper loss decreases to minimum value then increases again.
Meanwhile, for the core loss, Pc and friction loss, Pf, it shows clearly that the non-linear relationship with the

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

power output, whereby the core loss and friction loss increases with decreasing gradient as the power output
increases.
DISCUSSION
1. Why is the starting resistor used?
We use a starting resistor to ensure that the DC motor is protected. This is done by controlling the amount of
current flow until the speed of the motor adjusts by itself while building up. This is also done because the internal
resistance of the motor is very low compared to its size. Since there is high current flow, it might permanently
damage the DC motor. A starting resistor allows us to prevent this from happening. However, the resistor cannot
be a permanent entity in the circuit as it would cause excess loss and the motors torque speed characteristic would
drop off excessively with the increased load.
2. Why must the field current be increased when the motor is started?
We do this to makes sure that the motor doesnt reach its speed limit immediately. When the field current is
increased, it results I the magnetic flux to also increase. This in turn slows down the speed of the motor and it
doesnt reach its speed limit. By using the equation EA=K, we can prove our above explanation. Here is
magnetic flux and is angular velocity of the DC motor to understand the situation explained better. From the
equation its clear that the angular velocity is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the magnetic field/.
3. Why is the shaft moved in armature resistance measurement?
Armature resistance movement will cause resistance contact. Therefore we must do this to avoid resistant contact.
4. Do we need to fix the speed in test 4?
Yes, it is necessary to do that in order to find out the relationship between torque and speed.
ind
A.
If not, the results would not yield because the magnetic flux is changing all the time as the torque changes. This
is proven by the equation EA=K, where EA is internal voltage generated by DC motor, is magnetic flux, is
angular velocity of motor and K is constant. If the speed is not fixed, then the magnetic flux will keep on changing
all the time.

5. What will happen if disconnecting the supply while the armature current still high?
It will be converted into a shunt generator in a circuit form.
6. When the armature resistor is reduced in test 5, what is the observation from the condition?
We can see that the armature current, IA increases and induced torque, ind increases too. Then it makes ind > load ,
the next thing the speed increases. The increasing speed causes the EA to increase again and decreases armature
current, IA. At last, the ind is decreased until ind =load at higher motor speed.

CONCLUSION
From the five tests that conducted above in this experiment, we find out the characteristics of DC motor where we
can conclude that:
1) When the speed of motor increases, the armature current decreases.

Sheikh Shahir

DC Motor

KEM120702

2) The torque is increasing as the armature current values increases.

3) The armature voltage is directly proportional to the motor speed.
4) The efficiency of motor is increasing until its maximum value as the power output of motor increases.
5) When armature current values are decreasing then the field current would increase
6) The copper loss is decreasing until its minimum value and increase again as the power output goes up.
7) The core loss and friction loss is increasing as the power output increasing.

REFERENCES
1. Edward Hughes, Hughes Electrical Technology, 7th Edition, Revised by Ian McKenzie Smith, Longman Group
Limited, 1995.
2. B. L. Theraja, A. K. Theraja, A Textbook Of Electrical Technology, Nirja Construction & Development Co. (P)
Ltd, 1994.
3. S.J. Chapman, Electric Machinery and Power System Fundamentals, McGraw-Hill, 2002.
4. Power and Electric Machine Notes
5. Laboratory Worksheet