DC Machine

DC machine is a rotating electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice
versa. It generates electrical energy in DC system or it converts the electrical energy in DC system into the
mechanical energy in the form of rotation. A dc machine can be used as generator as well as motor.

The energy conversion is based on the principle of the production of dynamically induced e.m.f. That is
whenever a conductor cuts magnetic flux, dynamically induced e.m.f. is produced in it according to Faraday’s
Laws of Electromagnetic Induction. This e.m.f. causes a current to flow if the conductor circuit is closed.

Major Parts are:

1. Yoke
2. Field System
 Field Poles
 Windings
3. Armature
 Armature Conductor
 Armature Core
 Commutator
4. Brush

Yoke
The outer frame or yoke serves double purpose:
(i) It provides mechanical support for the poles and acts as a protecting cover for the whole machine and
(ii) It carries the magnetic flux produced by the poles.
It is made up of cast iron. For large machines, rolled steel, cast steel or silicon steels are also used.

Field Poles:
Field poles are the iron core projected from the yoke as shown in Fig below. The upper part of the pole, which
is connected to the yoke, is known as pole-core. The lower and wider part is known as pole- shoe. The
combination of many pole shoes surface forms a circular gap at the center of the machine. The field poles are
generally made of laminated annealed steel sheet.

Field Windings:
Enamel insulated copper wire are wound on field poles as field windings. When DC current is passed through
these windings, the pole core gets magnetized and produces magnetic flux in the central space of the machine.

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Armature: It is the rotating part of the machine. It consists of a number of slots on its periphery to house
armature conductors The armature core is made of laminated silicon steels sheet insulated with varnish.

Armature Windings:

The armature winding is made up of copper wires. Depending upon the the requirement of voltage and current
rating of the machine, the armature winding are lap winding and wave winding. In case of the lap winding, the
number of parallel paths (A) equal to the number of poles (P) and for wave winding, the number of parallel
paths (A) are equal to 2.

Commutator: It is mechanical rectifier which converts alternating ac voltage inside the windings into dc
current and then sends to the stationary brush circuit. It is made of many numbers of copper segments from
each other and from the shaft.

Brushes
Brushes are used to make an electrical connection with the rotating commutator. They collect current from the
moving commutator. Brushes are usually made up of carbon. They are housed in brush holders and are in
contact with the commutator surface with the help of spring pressure.

Operating principle of DC generator

The operating principle of DC generator is based on Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. Let us
consider a 2-pole elementary DC machine as shown in Fig.below.

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When the field winding is excited by DC current ( I f ), the field poles get magnetized and magnetic flux
flows. If the armature is rotated continuously by some prime mover, then the armature conductors a and a’
continuously cut the magnetic flux. Hence, according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction emf will
induce in the armature conductors.

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Brush Contact Drop
It is the voltage drop over the brush contact resistance when current passes from commutator segments to
brushes and finally to the external load. Its value depends on the amount of current and the value of contact
resistance. This drop is usually small and includes brushes of both polarities. However, in practice, the brush
contact drop is assumed to have following constant values for all loads. 0.5 V for metal-graphite brushes. 2.0 V
for carbon brushes.

Types of DC Generator
The field winding of a DC generator has to be supplied by DC current in order to produced magnetic field. The
supply of DC current to the field winding is known as “excitation”. The excitation can be provided by various
ways and accordingly DC generators are classified as follow:

a) Separately excited DC generator

b) Self-excited DC generator

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Armature Reaction

Definition:

The armature reaction represents the impact of the armature flux on the main field flux. The armature field is
produced by the armature conductors when current flows through them. And the main field is produced by the
magnetic poles.

The armature flux causes two effects on the main field flux.

The armature reaction distorted the main field flux.

It reduces the magnitude of the main field flux.

Magnetic Neutral Axis, MNA:

The axis along which there is no emf induced in armature conductors is called MNA. The brushed are always
placed on MNA as there is no emf induced.

Geometric Neutral Axis, GNA

The axis perpendicular to the poles axis.

Case-a ,Only field carrying current

Only the MMF of the main poles exists in the generator. The MMF flux is uniformly distributed along the
magnetic axis. The magnetic axis means the Centre line between the north and south pole. The arrow in the
below-given image shows the direction of the magnetic flux ΦM.

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The MNA coincides with the geometrical neutral axis (GNA). The brushes of the DC machines are always
placed in this axis, and hence this axis is called the axis of commutation.

Case-b, Armature carries current only

Consider the condition in which only the armature conductors carrying current and no current flows through
their main poles. The direction of the current remains the same in all the conductors lying under one pole. The
direction of current induces in the conductor is given by the Fleming right-hand rule. And the direction of flux
generates in the conductors is given by the corkscrew rule.

The flux induces in the armature conductor ΦA is given by the arrow shown above.

Case-C Field coil and armature both carry the current

The figure below shows the condition in which the field current and the armature current are simultaneously
acting on the conductor.

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