Question 1: Explain the need of a starter for a large D.C motor.

Answer: A large D.C motors requires a large starting current during starting. Since the armature
resistance is very small (less than 1). This large large amount can burn the armature winding.
Hence resistance must be added in the armature circuit during starting. This incorporative in a
D.C motor starter.
Question 2: Explain the process of self-excitation for a D.C generator.
Answer: Modern D.C generators with field coils are self-excited, where some of the power
output from the rotor is used to power the field coils. The rotor iron retains a residual magnetism
when the generator is turned off. The generator is started with no load connected, the initial weak
field creates a weak voltage in the stator coils, which in turn increases the field current, until the
machine builds up to full voltage.
Question 3: Identify the symptoms of poor commutation in a D.C machine (motor & generator)
and explain how to overcome poor commutation.
Answer: since most generators supply power to varying loads, some means other than shifting
the brushing must be provided. One method is to install small poles midway between the main
poles. These are called interpoles and are connected in series with the armature. The purpose of
the interpoles is to provide flux so that the rotational emf produced in the dundergoing
commutation cancels out the reactance emf of the coil. Interpoles are as important in motors as
they are in generators. If a motor were not equipped with some means of compensating for
armature reaction, the brushes would have to be shifted with every change in load.









Question 4: Explain with aid of a diagrams armature reaction in a d.c machine and explain how
to overcome armature reaction.
Answer:

All current-carrying conductors produce magnetic fields. The magnetic field produced by current
in the armature of a dc generator affects the flux pattern and distorts the main field. This
distortion causes a shift in the neutral plane, which affects commutation. This change in the
neutral plane and the reaction of the of the magnetic field is called armature reaction. As shown
in diagram 1 above, consider a two pole machine having an armature with eight slots and two
conductors per slot. The front end connections of the armature winding are represented by
curved lines between the conductors and the commutator segments. Those on the outside of the
armature represent the back end connections. The armature winding is of the double layer type,
like all modern D.C windings. The end connections of the outer layer are represented by full
lines and the inner layer is represented by dotted lines.
A and B are brushes placed so that they are making contact with conductors which are moving
midway between the poles and have therefore no e.m.f induced in them. When the armature
moves anticlockwise, the direction of the e.m.fs generated in the various conductors is opposite
to that of the currents. This is shown in Diagram 2(b) by dots and crosses. As shown Diagram
2(a) where the end connections are omitted, it is usual to show the brushes midway between the
poles.
Since most generators supply power to varying loads, some means other than shifting the brushes
must be provided. One method is to install small poles midway between the main poles. These
are called interpoles and are connected in series with the armature. The purpose of the interpoles
is to provide flux so that the rotational emf produced in the coil undergoing commutation cancels
out the reactance emf of the coil. Interpoles are as important in motors as they are in generators.
If a motor were not equipped with some means of compensating for armature reaction, the
brushes would have to be shifted with every change in load.
Question 5: Explain with aid of diagrams the two (2) methods used to control the speed of a d.c
motor. In each case state the effect of increasing the resistance of the variable resistor.
Answer:
By connecting a variable resistor in series with the field winding.


If we increase the resistance of the variable resistor, R, due to ohms law, this would cause a
decrease in the field current, I
f
. since I
s
equals to I
f
+ I
a
due to Kirchhoffs current law, this would
cause an increase in the armature current, I
a
. since the armature current, I
a
is proportional to the
speed of the motor, n. this results in an increase in the motors speed. Similarly a decrease in R
would result in a decrease in the motor speed, n.




By connecting a variable resistor is in series with the armature winding.

If the resistance of the variable resistor is increased this would cause a decrease in the armature
current, I
a
due to Ohms law. Since the armature current is proportional to the speed. This would
result in a decrease in the motor speed, n. Similarly if the variable resistor is decreased, this
would increase the armature current, which would increase the motor speed, n.

Question 6: Sketch a cross-sectional diagram of a D,C motor and identify seven (7) different
parts.

Answer:


Cross-sectional Diagram of a D.C motor

Question 7: Sketch circuit diagrams for the following types of D.C machines:
A. Series
B. Shunt
C. Compound wound

Answer:

A. Series


B. Shunt



C. Compound Wound

Question 8: Explain what is the critical field resistance for a D.C generator.

Answer: Critical field resistance is the minimum resistance of a shunt wound generator field
winding that will give a proportional increase in terminal voltage with respect to field current.




Question 9: Sketch the toque/speed characteristic for :
A. Series wound motor
B. Shunt wound motor
Answer:
A

B

Question 10: (1) Explain why the terminal voltage of a shunt generator driven at constant speed,
falls when load increases.
(2) Describe with aid of a diagram one method of restoring the terminal voltage of the above
generator to its original values.

Answer:
(1)The terminal voltage will decrease with an increase in load because of the armature R
a
I
a
drop
and the armature reaction. However, when V decreases, the field current in the machine
decreases with it. This causes the flux in the machine to decrease, decreasing E, thereby causing
the terminal voltage to drop still further.
Terminal voltage on a shunt generator decreases as load increases because as the load current on
a generator having a constant field current and running at constant speed increases and hence the
armature voltage drop, I
a
R
a
increases. The generated voltage, E, is larger than the terminal
voltage, V , and from the voltage equation for the armature circuit, , E being a
constant causes V to decrease with increasing load.

(2)One method of restoring the terminal voltage is by connecting a variable resistor in series with
the field winding. Increasing the variable resistor, R, would decrease the field current, I
f
, and by
increasing the load current, I
L
, (since I
a
is constant). Since V
T
I
L
. Therefore V
T
increases.




















I
L
V
T
I
f
R
f
Question 11: State four losses of a D.C machine.

Answer: Four losses of a D.C machine:
Copper Loss
Iron Loss
Friction and Windage Loss
Brush Contact Loss










Question 12: Sketch and label a circuit diagram showing the field and armature connections for a
separately excited D.C machine.

Answer: