Laboratory Manual for DC Machines and Transformers for Diploma in Electrical
Engineering
EXPERIMENT NO. 4
AIM:
To perform swinburne test on DC Machine
OBJECTIVES: On complection of this experiment, learners will be able to
(i) Determine the efficiency of a DC shunt motor by performing no load test
(ii) Determine the losses of DC motor
NAME PLATE DETAILS:
Power rating =
Voltage =
Current =
Speed in r.p.m =
Field current =
Insulation class=
THEORY:
Swinburne’s test also called as no load or losses method is the most commonly used and
simplest method of testing of shunt and compound wound DC machines which have constant
flux at all loads. In this test the efficiency of the machine at any load is pre-determined. We
can run the machine as a motor or as a generator. In this method of testing no load losses are
measured separately and eventually we can determine the efficiency.
The circuit connection for Swinburne’s test is shown in figure 4.1. The speed of the machine
is adjusted to the rated speed with the help of the shunt regulator R and no load current I0 is
measured by ammeter A1 and Ish by A2 as shown in figure 4.1
Prepared by Chenga Dorji, Lecturer and Karma Singye, Technician
Page 1 of 5
Laboratory Manual for DC Machines and Transformers for Diploma in Electrical
Engineering
OR
Figure 4.1: Connection diagram for Swinburne’s Test
Calculation of Efficiency
Machine is run at rated speed and rated terminal voltage
Let
𝐼0 = No load line current measured by ammeter 𝐴1
𝐼𝑎0 = No load armature current
𝐼𝑠ℎ = No load field current measured by ammeter 𝐴2
𝑉 = Supply voltage
No load armature current
𝑰𝒂𝟎 = 𝑰𝟎 − 𝑰𝒔𝒉 … … … … (𝟒. 𝟏)
Power absorbed by the armature or no – load power input = 𝑉𝐼𝑎0
𝑉𝐼𝑎0 = 𝑁𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 + 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
𝑽𝑰𝒂𝟎 = 𝑾𝟎 + 𝑰𝟐𝒂𝟎 𝑹𝒂 … … … … … … … (𝟒. 𝟐)
Where
𝑊0 =no load rotational loss
𝑾𝟎 = 𝑽𝑰𝒂𝟎 − 𝑰𝟐𝒂𝟎 𝑹𝒂 … … … … … … . . (𝟒. 𝟑)
Shunt field loss 𝑾𝒔𝒉 = 𝑽𝑰𝒔𝒉 … … … … … … … … (𝟒. 𝟒)
Constant loss 𝑊𝑐 = 𝑛𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 + 𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠
𝑊𝑐 = 𝑊0 + 𝑊𝑠ℎ
2
𝑊𝑐 = 𝑉𝐼𝑎0 − 𝐼𝑎0 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑉𝐼𝑠ℎ
𝑾𝒄 = 𝑽(𝑰𝒂𝟎 + 𝑰𝒔𝒉 ) − 𝑰𝟐𝒂𝟎 𝑹𝒂 = 𝑽𝑰𝟎 − 𝑰𝟐𝒂𝟎 𝑹𝒂 … … … … … … … . (𝟒. 𝟓)
Since constant loss 𝑊𝑐 is known, efficiency of machine at any other load can be determined
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑘𝑊
Let 𝐼 = ( = ) be the load current at which the machine
𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑦 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑉
efficiency is required
Then,
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ (𝑀𝑜𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔) … … … . (𝟒. 𝟔)
𝐼𝑎 = 𝐼 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ (𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔) … … … … . (𝟒. 𝟕)
Prepared by Chenga Dorji, Lecturer and Karma Singye, Technician
Page 2 of 5
Laboratory Manual for DC Machines and Transformers for Diploma in Electrical
Engineering
Generator efficiency
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒊𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 + 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔
Output of generator = 𝑉𝐼
Armature copper loss = 𝐼𝑎2 𝑅𝑎 = (𝐼 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ )2 𝑅𝑎 . . 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 (𝟒. 𝟕)
Total loss= 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 + 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 = (𝐼 + 𝐼𝑠ℎ )2 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑊𝑐
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒊𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑶𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 + 𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔
𝑽𝑰
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 … … … … … … … (𝟒. 𝟖)
𝑽𝑰 + (𝑰 + 𝑰𝒔𝒉 )𝟐 𝑹𝒂 + 𝑾𝒄
Motor efficiency
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 − 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒊𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕
Input to the motor = 𝑉𝐼
Armature copper loss = 𝐼𝑎2 𝑅𝑎 = (𝐼 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ )2 𝑅𝑎 … 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 (𝟒. 𝟔)
Total loss= 𝐴𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 + 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑠 = (𝐼 − 𝐼𝑠ℎ )2 𝑅𝑎 + 𝑊𝑐
𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 − 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒊𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒏𝒑𝒖𝒕
𝑽𝑰 − (𝑰 + 𝑰𝒔𝒉 )𝟐 𝑹𝒂 − 𝑾𝒄
𝜼𝒈 = ∗ 𝟏𝟎𝟎 … … … … … … … (𝟒. 𝟗)
𝑽𝑰
Advantages of Swinburne’s Test
The main advantages of this test are:
1. This test is very convenient and economical as it is required very less power from
supply to perform the test.
2. Since constant losses are known, efficiency of Swinburne’s test can be pre-
determined at any load.
Disadvantages of Swinburne’s Test
The main disadvantages of this test are:
1. Iron loss is neglected though there is change in iron loss from no load to full load due to
armature reaction.
2. We cannot be sure about the satisfactory commutation on loaded condition because the
test is done on no-load.
3. We can’t measure the temperature rise when the machine is loaded. Power losses can
vary with the temperature.
4. In DC series motors, the Swinburne’s test cannot be done to find its efficiency as it is a
no – load test.
Prepared by Chenga Dorji, Lecturer and Karma Singye, Technician
Page 3 of 5
Laboratory Manual for DC Machines and Transformers for Diploma in Electrical
Engineering
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
Sl. No. Items Specifications Quantity
1 DC Shunt Motor 200V, 0.94A, 1500 rpm, 3.5 kW, DC. (Rotor: 1 No.
220V, 18.8A)
2 Voltmeter 0 – 250, DC 1 No.
3 Ammeter 0 – 20A & 0 – 2A, DC 1 No.
4 Rheostat Variable 500Ω, 2A 1 No.
5 Digital Multimeter Metravi, 750VAC, 1000VDC, 0-10A 1 No.
6 Load Bank Spring Balance, 0 – 50Kgs 1 No.
7 Tachometer Auto Range (0 – 3000 RPM), Display: 5 1 No.
Digitals, 18mm
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:
Figure 4.2: Circuit Diagram for Swinburne’s test of DC shunt motor
PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the circuit diagram as per figure 4.2.
2. Set the rheostat position of 𝑅𝑓 at minimum position.
3. Switch ON the power supply.
4. Start the motor on no load with the help of three – point starter.
5. Adjust the motor at rated speed with the help of rheostat (Rf) and measure the speed
(N) of motor by tachometer.
6. Note down the readings of ammeter (Io, Isho, Iao and voltmeter (V)) in the observation
table 4.1
7. Also calculate the losses and efficiency at half load also at, rated terminal voltage and
speed.
8. Now bring the rheostat Rf back to zero position.
Prepared by Chenga Dorji, Lecturer and Karma Singye, Technician
Page 4 of 5
Laboratory Manual for DC Machines and Transformers for Diploma in Electrical
Engineering
9. Bring back the three – point starter knob to the zero position.
10. Reduce the voltage regulator to minimum position
11. Put off the MCB of D.C power Supply.
OBSERVARION TABLE
Record the readings of various instruments connected in circuit of figure 4.2 in table 4.1
Measure Shunt Resistance (Rsh) = …………… (Ω), Armature Resistance (Ra) = ……………
(Ω), using multimeter.
Table 4.1: Observation table for Swinburne’s test of DC shunt motor
Measured Value Calculated Value
Sl. Voltage No Load Shunt Field No Load Speed No Load Armature
No. (V) Current Current Ish Armature (N) rpm Current Iao = Io - Ish
Io (A) (A) Current Iao (A) (A)
Sl. Voltage Load Shunt Field Load Armature Speed Load Armature
No. (V) Current Current Ish Current Ia (A) (N) rpm Current Ia = I - Ish (A)
I (A) (A)
PRECAUTIONS:
1. The resistance of the armature is to be measured when it is hot.
2. Supply must be switched OFF before making or breaking the circuit.
3. Make sure that the variac of D.C power supply is at ZERO output position before
supply is ON and before the supply is OFF
CALCULATIONS:
Using equation (4.1) to (4.9) calculate the armature losses, constant losses and efficiency of
machine as motor and as generator
CONCLUSION:
Prepared by Chenga Dorji, Lecturer and Karma Singye, Technician
Page 5 of 5