DC Generators

Classification
 Generator Classification
Normally classified by the:
1. arrangement of the field structure
2. by the excitation method
• means by which the magnetism for the pole
pieces is provided
» Permanent magnets
» DC current

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Permanent Magnet Generator

1. Bearing
2. End bell (cap) – drive end (D.E.)
3. Removable cap for brush access
4. Armature windings
5. Brush holder
6. Commutator
7. Permanent magnet (attached to frame)
8. Armature magnetic core
9. End bell (cap) – opposite drive end (O.D.E.)

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 Generator Classification
A. Permanent Magnet Generators
• use permanent magnets for the field
• often referred to as magnetos
• permanent magnets are used for fields poles in small
machines only.
B. Separately excited
• the current for the electromagnetic field is supplied from
a DC source external to the generator
C. Self-excited
• the energy to produce the electromagnetic field of the
poles is derived from the generator itself
• they rely on residual magnetism to build the initial
voltage that energizes the electromagnetic field.

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 Generation of Voltage
• Factors:

1. Rotational Speed

2. Field Strength

3. Generator Load

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Fleming’s left-hand generator rule

• Thumb – Thrust (Motion)

• Forefinger – Flux
• Center finger - Current
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Left Hand Generator Rule

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 Stator of Large Machine
Showing Interpoles and Compensating windings

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 Generator Losses
• Copper losses (I2 R) – heating due to current flow through
resistance of windings.
– Armature I2 R losses.
– Field I2 R losses.
• Iron losses:
– Eddy current losses – heat generated due to circulating
currents in the magnetic cores.
– Hysteresis losses – heat generated by molecular friction
due to the AC in the armature core.
• Mechanical losses:
– Bearing or bushing friction.
– Brush friction
– Windage – losses to movement of air.
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 Types of Generators

• Shunt Generators

• Series Generators

• Compound Generators

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 Schematic Representation

A1 A2 Armature

Shunt or Separately Excited Field:

F1 F2
- many turns, small (fine) wire, high resistance

Series Field:
S1 S2
- few turns, large (heavy) wire, low resistance

Interpole or Commutating Pole:

C1 C2 - internally connected in series with the armature

Standard Direction of Rotation of a DC Generator is

clockwise when observing the shaft from opposite the
drive end, which is usually the commutator end (or, as
viewed from the end opposite the prime mover).

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 Shunt Generator

Field windings
connected in parallel
with the armature

Shunt generators may be self excited or separately excited. 12

Shunt Field Windings

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 Shunt Generator

F1
A2

Load

A1

F2

Self Excited Shunt Generator

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Self Excited Shunt Generator
- with shunt field control

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 Shunt Generators
Terminal Voltage verses Load Curve

Due to copper losses, the voltage output of a shunt generator will reduce
as the load increases.

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Self-Excited Shunt Generator

F1
A2

Load

A1

F2

Self Excited Shunt Generator

As the load increases, there will be a voltage drop in the output due to
copper losses in the windings in the armature. As this voltage drops, so
does the voltage that is supplied to the shunt field, therefore reducing the
magnetic effect on the armature.

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Self Excited Shunt Generator
- with Automatic Voltage Regulation

Self excited generators will use an automatic voltage regulator to control

the voltage of the shunt field to regulate this. It will monitor the voltage
across the load to adjust the shunt field.

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 Separately Excited Shunt Generator

F1
A2

A1
F2

Separately Excited (Shunt) Generator

Eg. “Static Excitation”

Separately excited generators will use an external DC power supply for the
field excitation. This eliminates the volt drop effect in the shunt field.
However, it does increase the amount of control necessary and the initial
installation cost.

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 Series Generator

Field windings
connected in series
with the armature

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 Series Field Windings

Another type of generator is a series field generator. There are few

generators that are 'series filed only.' However, the use of a series
field in most generators is important to understand for voltage
regulation purposes.

From the diagram, you can see that all the current that would be
drawn by the connected load flows through the armature AND the
series windings.
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22
 Series Generator
Terminal Voltage verses Load Curve

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 Series Shunt

If we looked at the voltage output curves of a

series and a shunt generator at the same time, we
can see how the voltage output of each reacts to
an increase of load.

We can combine the two to get the benefit of both

windings.
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 Compound Generator
Terminal Voltage vs. Load Curve

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 Compound Generators

• Compound Generators can be

compounded in one of two methods:

• Cumulative compound, both the series and shunt

windings produce the same magnetic polarity and
therefore aid each other.
• Differential compound, the series and shunt
windings produce the opposite magnetic polarity
and therefore oppose each other.

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 Compound Generators
(have both series and shunt windings placed on the field pole)

Cumulative-Compound
Currents in same directions
– same magnetic polarities
– aiding

Differential-Compound
Currents in opposite directions
• different magnetic polarities
• Opposing voltages
• Used in generator welders

Note: It is the current in the series field that is changed.

Changing the shunt field current would reverse the output polarity.
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 Countertorque
“motor effect”

Output (watts)
Input (Hp)

Prime Mover DC Generator

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 Countertorque (Motor Effect)

• The result of the attractive force between the

armature magnetic field and the magnetic field
produced by the field poles.
• The larger the load current, the stronger the
magnetic field of the armature and, therefore,
the harder it becomes to rotate the armature.
• Countertorque is a measure of the useful electric
energy produced by the generator.
• Countertorque is actually motor action.

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 Voltage Regulation

• The terminal voltage of a generator will change

with load unless some provision is made to keep
it constant.
• Voltage regulation – automatic changes in the
terminal voltage due to reactions within the
generator as the load current changes.
• Voltage control – intentional changes in the
terminal voltage made by manual or automatic
regulating equipment.

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 Voltage Regulation

% Regulation = No Load Voltage – Full Load Voltage x 100

Full Load Voltage

Ex: A DC generator has a no load voltage of 128V and a full

load voltage of 119V. Calculate the voltage regulation %.

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Armature Reaction (Field Distortion)

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 Armature Reaction
• the distortion (twisting or bending) of the
magnetic field of the pole pieces
• caused by the magnetic field of the rotor
• is proportional to the armature current
• results in a change in the neutral plane causing
arcing and sparking at the brushes.
• output voltage is also reduced (and irregular)
due to field distortion.

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 Correcting Armature Reaction
One method is to align (move in direction of rotation, by app. 15 0)
the brush assembly to the new neutral position – not suitable for
varying loads.

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 Correcting Armature Reaction
Another method is the addition of interpoles
(commutating poles)
• small poles located between field poles, wound with a few
turns of heavy wire and connected in series with the armature
(like series coils).

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 Interpole Wiring and Polarity

• Interpoles have a disadvantage in that

the field distortion is corrected only in
their immediate area.
• This can correct brush arcing but not the
reduction in output voltage.

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 Correcting Armature Reaction
Compensating Windings
On high current machines, compensating windings are added to
the face of the field poles. These windings carry armature current
and correct field distortion at the pole.

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 DC Generators

Requirements of the Prime Mover:

• Constant speed over varying load
(torque) requirements in order to
maintain a stable output voltage.
• The torque requirement for the prime
mover increases with generator load.

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Factors affecting DC generator terminal (output) voltage :
1. Field strength - directly proportional to terminal voltage
• ↑ field strength ↑ voltage
• ↓ field strength ↓ voltage

2. Speed in r.p.m. - directly proportional to terminal voltage

• ↑ speed ↑ voltage
• ↓ speed ↓ voltage

3. Voltage Drop IaRa (Ia = armature current, Ra = armature resistance)

• occurs internally, and is a product of the armature current and armature
resistance
• inversely proportional to terminal voltage
Vt = EG - IaRa
Vt = generator terminal (output) voltage
EG = voltage generated internally, as a result of field strength & speed
IaRa = internal armature voltage drop (IR drop)

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Failure to build up voltage – self excited generators
1. Wrong direction of rotation
• Causes reversal of output polarity, resulting in reversal of
current through the field(s). This results in cancellation of the
“residual field”, and therefore, loss of output voltage.
2. Generator started under load
• Starting under load results in a drop in terminal voltage, a
reduction in field current, and elimination of “residual voltage”.
(series generators are an exception)
3. Field rheostat resistance too high
• Rheostat should be set to minimum resistance at start-up,
permitting maximum field current, and rapid voltage build-up.
4. AC was accidentally applied to the field coils
• This de-magnetizes the field poles, resulting in loss of the
“residual field”.

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