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DC Motors: DC Motors are electromechanical devices which use the interaction of magnetic fields and conductors
to convert the electrical energy into rotary mechanical energy
Electric Motors
DC Motors
A Textbook of Electrical Technology Volume II: AC and DC Machines ; Author, B L Theraja, A K Theraja A Typical Small DC Motor
DC Motors And Their Applications
Teknologi Aktuator Electrical DC Motors are continuous actuators that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The DC motor
Ahmad Agus Setiawan, PhD achieves this by producing a continuous angular rotation that can be used to rotate pumps, fans, compressors, wheels,
[Link] etc.
As well as conventional rotary DC motors, linear motors are also available which are capable of producing a continuous
Departemen Teknik Nuklir dan Teknik Fisika FT UGM liner movement. There are basically three types of conventional electrical motor available: AC type Motors, DC type
2025 LinkedIn Spotlight Motors and Stepper Motors.
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The Basics of DC Motors Normal DC motors have almost linear characteristics with their speed of rotation being determined by the
The DC Motor or Direct Current Motor to give it its full title, is the most commonly used actuator for applied DC voltage and their output torque being determined by the current flowing through the motor
producing continuous movement and whose speed of rotation can easily be controlled, making them ideal windings.
for use in applications were speed control, servo type control, and/or positioning is required. The speed of rotation of any DC motor can be varied from a few revolutions per minute (rpm) to many
Generally, a DC motor consists of two parts, a “Stator” which is the stationary part and a “Rotor” which is thousands of revolutions per minute making them suitable for electronic, automotive or robotic
the rotating part. The result is that there are basically three types of DC Motor available. applications. By connecting them to gearboxes or gear-trains their output speed can be decreased while
at the same time increasing the torque output of the motor at a high speed.
• Brushed Motor – This type of motor produces a magnetic field in a wound rotor (the part that rotates)
by passing an electrical current through a commutator and carbon brush assembly, hence the term “Brushed” DC Motors
“Brushed”. The stators (the stationary part) magnetic field is produced by using either a wound stator A conventional brushed DC Motor consist basically of two parts, the stationary body of the motor called
field winding or by permanent magnets. Generally brushed DC motors are cheap, small and easily the Stator and the inner part which rotates producing the movement called the Rotor or “Armature” for
controlled. DC machines.
• Brushless Motor – This type of motor produce a magnetic field in the rotor by using permanent The motors wound stator is an electromagnet circuit which consists of electrical coils connected together
magnets attached to it and commutation is achieved electronically. They are generally smaller but in a circular configuration to produce the required North-pole then a South-pole then a North-pole etc,
more expensive than conventional brushed type DC motors because they use “Hall effect” switches type stationary magnetic field system for rotation, unlike AC machines whose stator field continually
in the stator to produce the required stator field rotational sequence but they have better rotates with the applied frequency. The current which flows within these field coils is known as the motor
torque/speed characteristics, are more efficient and have a longer operating life than equivalent field current.
brushed types.
These electromagnetic coils which form the stator field can be electrically connected in series, parallel or
• Servo Motor – This type of motor is basically a brushed DC motor with some form of positional
feedback control connected to the rotor shaft. They are connected to and controlled by a PWM type both together (compound) with the motors armature. A series wound DC motor has its stator field
controller and are mainly used in positional control systems and radio controlled models. windings connected in series with the armature. Likewise, a shunt wound DC motor has its stator field
windings connected in parallel with the armature as shown.
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The Permanent magnet (PMDC) brushed DC Conventional (Brushed) DC Motor
motor is generally much smaller and cheaper
than its equivalent wound stator type DC
motor cousins as they have no field winding.
In permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motors
these field coils are replaced with strong rare
earth (i.e. Samarium Cobolt, or Neodymium
Iron Boron) type magnets which have very
high magnetic energy fields.
The use of permanent magnets gives the DC
motor a much better linear speed/torque
characteristic than the equivalent wound
Series and Shunt Connected DC Motor motors because of the permanent and
sometimes very strong magnetic field, making
The rotor or armature of a DC machine consists of current carrying conductors connected together at one end to them more suitable for use in models,
electrically isolated copper segments called the commutator. The commutator allows an electrical connection to robotics and servos.
be made via carbon brushes (hence the name “Brushed” motor) to an external power supply as the armature
rotates.
The magnetic field setup by the rotor tries to align itself with the stationary stator field causing the rotor to rotate Although DC brushed motors are very efficient and cheap, problems associated with the brushed DC
on its axis, but can not align itself due to commutation delays. The rotational speed of the motor is dependent on motor is that sparking occurs under heavy load conditions between the two surfaces of the commutator
the strength of the rotors magnetic field and the more voltage that is applied to the motor the faster the rotor will and carbon brushes resulting in self generating heat, short life span and electrical noise due to sparking,
rotate. By varying this applied DC voltage the rotational speed of the motor can also be varied. which can damage any semiconductor switching device such as a MOSFET or transistor. To overcome
these disadvantages, Brushless DC Motors were developed.
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The “Brushless” DC Motor
The brushless DC motor (BDCM) is very similar to a permanent magnet DC motor, but does not have any brushes Brushless DC Motors
to replace or wear out due to commutator sparking. Therefore, little heat is generated in the rotor increasing the
motors life. The simplest type of motor is the brushed DC motor. In
The design of the brushless motor eliminates the need for brushes by using a more complex drive circuit were the this type of motor, electrical current is passed through
rotor magnetic field is a permanent magnet which is always in synchronisation with the stator field allows for a coils that are arranged within a fixed magnetic field. The
more precise speed and torque control. current generates magnetic fields in the coils; this
causes the coil assembly to rotate, as each coil is
Then the construction of a brushless DC motor is very similar to the AC motor making it a true synchronous pushed away from the like pole and pulled toward the
motor but one disadvantage is that it is more expensive than an equivalent “brushed” motor design. unlike pole of the fixed field. To maintain rotation, it is
The control of the brushless DC motors is very different from the normal brushed DC motor, in that it this type of necessary to continually reverse the current—so that
motor incorporates some means to detect the rotors angular position (or magnetic poles) required to produce the coil polarities will continually flip, causing the coils to
feedback signals required to control the semiconductor switching devices. The most common position/pole continue “chasing” the unlike fixed poles. Power to the
sensor is the “Hall Effect Sensor”, but some motors also use optical sensors. coils is supplied through fixed conductive brushes that
make contact with a rotating commutator; it is the
Using Hall effect sensors, the polarity of the electromagnets is switched by the motor control drive circuitry. rotation of the commutator that causes the reversal of
Then the motor can be easily synchronized to a digital clock signal, providing precise speed control. Brushless DC the current through the coils. The commutator and
motors can be constructed to have, an external permanent magnet rotor and an internal electromagnet stator or brushes are the key components distinguishing the
an internal permanent magnet rotor and an external electromagnet stator. brushed DC motor from other motor types.
Figure illustrates the general principle of the
Advantages of the Brushless DC Motor compared to its “brushed” cousin is higher efficiencies, high reliability,
brushed motor.
low electrical noise, good speed control and more importantly, no brushes or commutator to wear out producing
a much higher speed. However their disadvantage is that they are more expensive and more complicated to
control.
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Comparison of Generator and Motor Action
Motor
Principle
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Significance of the Back emf
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