1.
DC GENERATORS
I. Separately excited generator. In a separately excited
generator, the field fluxes derived from a separate power source
independent of the generator itself.
2. Shunt generator. In a shunt generator, the field flux is derived
by connecting the field circuit directly across the terminals of the
generator.
3. Series generator. In a series generator, the field flux is
produced by connecting the field circuit in series with the armature
of the generator.
4. Cumulatively compounded generator. In a cumulatively
compounded generator, both a shunt and a series field are
present, and their effects are additive.
5. Differentially compounded generator. In a differentially compounded generator, both a shunt
and a series field are present, but their effects are subtractive.
➢ Voltage regulation (VR): positive voltage regulation means a
drooping characteristic, and a negative voltage regulation means a
rising characteristic.
➢ All generators are driven by a source of mechanical power, which is
usually called the prime mover of the generator.
➢ A prime mover for a dc generator may be a steam turbine, a diesel
engine, or even an electric motor.
➢ Assuming constant speed prime movers.
➢ The equivalent circuit of a dc generator is looks similar to the
equivalent circuits of a dc motor, except that the direction of current
flow and the brush loss are reversed.
2. THE SEPARATELY EXCITED GENERATOR
➢ Construction
A separately excited dc generator is a generator whose field current is
supplied by a separate external dc voltage source.
➢ Equivalent circuit
➢ Characteristic operation curves
1. What happens in a generator of this sort when the load is increased? When the
load supplied by the generator is increased, IL (and therefore IA) increases. As
the armature current increases, the IARA drop increases, so the terminal voltage
of the generator falls.
2. In generators without compensating windings, an increase in IA causes an increase in
armature reaction, and armature reaction causes flux weakening. This flux weakening
causes a decrease in 𝐸𝐴 ↓= 𝑘𝜑 ↓ 𝜔,which further decreases the terminal voltage of
the generator.
➢ Voltage control
3. THE SHUNT DC GENERATOR
➢ Construction
A shunt dc generator is a de generator that supplies its own field current by
having its field connected directly across the terminals of the machine.
➢ Equivalent circuit
Voltage Build up in a Shunt Generator
• The voltage buildup in a dc generator depends on the presence of a
residual flux in the poles of the generator.
• When a generator first starts to turn, an internal voltage will be generated which is given by 𝐸𝐴 =
𝑘𝜑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝜔
• That voltage appears at the terminals, it causes a current to flow in the generator's field coil 𝐼𝑓 ↑= 𝑉𝑇 /𝑅𝑓
• This field current produces a magnetomotive force in the poles, which increases the flux in them. the
increase in flux causes an increase in 𝐸𝐴 ↑= 𝑘𝜑 ↑
𝜔 which increases the terminal voltage VT
• When VT rises, IF increases further, increasing the
flux φ↑ more, which increases EA, etc.
Causes for the voltage to fail to build up during
starting
1. There may be no residual magnetic flux in the generator
If this problem occurs, disconnect the field from the armature circuit
and connect it directly to an external dc source such as a battery, the
current flow from this external dc source will leave a residual flux in
the poles this procedure is known as "flashing the field,"
2. The direction of rotation of the generator may have been
reversed, or the connections of the field may have been
reversed,
If this problem occurs, it can be fixed by reversing the direction of rotation, by
reversing the field connections, or by flashing the field with the opposite magnetic
polarity,
3. The field resistance may be adjusted to a value greater than the
critical resistance.
The solution to this problem is to reduce RF.
➢ Characteristic operation curves
1. As the load on the generator is increased, IL increases 𝐼𝐴 ↑= 𝐼𝐹 +
𝐼𝐿 ↑
2. 𝑉𝑇 ↓= 𝐸𝐴 − 𝐼𝐴 ↑ 𝑅𝐴
3. Armature reaction causes flux weakening 𝐸𝐴 ↓= 𝑘𝜑 ↓ 𝜔
4. 𝑉𝑇 ↓↓= 𝐸𝐴 ↓ −𝐼𝐴 ↑ 𝑅𝐴
➢ Voltage Control for a Shunt DC Generator
1. Change the shaft speed of the generator.
2. Change the field resistor of the generator, thus changing the field current.
4. THE SERIES DC GENERATOR
➢ Construction
A series dc generator is a generator whose field is connected in series with its armature. Since the armature has a
much higher current than a shunt field, the series field in a generator of this sort will have only a very few turns
of wire, and the wire used will be much thicker than the wire in a shunt field.
➢ Equivalent circuit
➢ Characteristic operation curves
5. THE CUMULATIVELY COMPOUNDED DC
GENERATOR
➢ Characteristic operation curves
With increasing load current
These two effects oppose each other, with one tending to increase VT and the other tending to decrease VT . Which
effect predominates in a given machine? It all depends on just how many series turns were placed on the poles of
the machine. The question can be answered by taking several individual cases:
➢ Voltage Control of Cumulatively Compounded
DC Generators
6. THE DIFFERENTIALLY COMPOUNDED DC GENERATOR
➢ The Terminal Characteristic of a Differentially
Compounded DC Generator
➢ Voltage Control of Differentially Compounded
DC Generators