Electrical Machines Interview

Questions D.C Machines

Dileep - November 26, 2013 - Electrical Machines

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Q. Principle of operation of a generator?

A. An electric generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. An electric generator
is based on the principle that whenever flux is cut by a conductor, an e.m.f. is induced which will cause a current to
flow if the conductor circuit is closed. The direction of induced e.m.f. (and hence current) is given by Flemings
right hand rule.

Q. What is the role of a Commutator?

A. The function of commutator is to facilitate the collection of current from armature conductors. It converts the
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alternating current induce in the armature conductors into unidirectional current in the external load circuit.
Q. What is the function of brushes?
A. The purpose of brushes is simply to lead current from the rotating loop or winding to the external stationary
load.
Q. What are the different types of generators?
A. Generators are generally classified based on their methods of field excitation
(i) Separately excited d.c. generators
(ii) Self-excited d.c. generators
Q. How do you define separately excited generators?
A. A d.c. generator whose field magnet winding is supplied from an independent external d.c. source (e.g., a
battery etc.) is called a separately excited generator.
Q. How do you define Self Excited Generators?
A. A d.c. generator whose field magnet winding is supplied current from the output of the generator itself is called
a self-excited generator. There are three types of self-excited generators depending upon the manner in which the
field winding is connected to the armature,
(i) Series generator , the field winding is connected in series with armature winding so that whole armature
current flows through the field winding as well as the load.
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(ii) Shunt generator , the field winding is connected in parallel with the armature winding so that terminal voltage
of the generator is applied across it.
(iii) Compound generator there are two sets of field windings on each poleone is in series and the other in
parallel with the armature. A compound wound generator may be:
(a) Short Shunt in which only shunt field winding is in parallel with the armature winding
(b) Long Shunt in which shunt field winding is in parallel with both series field and armature winding
Q. What are the different types of losses in DC Machines?
A. The losses in a d.c. machine (generator or motor) may be divided into three types
1. Copper losses: These losses occur due to currents in the various windings of the machine.
2. Iron or core losses: These losses occur in the armature of a d.c. machine and are due to the rotation of
armature in the magnetic field of the poles. They are of two types
a. Hysteresis loss: Hysteresis loss occurs in the armature of the d.c. machine since any given part of the armature
is subjected to magnetic field reversals as it passes under successive poles.
b. Eddy current loss: The voltages induced in the armature conductors produce circulating currents in the armature
core known as eddy currents and power loss due to their flow is called eddy current loss. The eddy current loss
appears as heat which raises the temperature of the machine and lowers its efficiency.
3. Mechanical losses: These losses are due to friction and windage. These losses depend upon the speed of the
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machine. But for a given speed, they are practically constant.

Q. What are constant and variable losses?
A. constant losses: Iron losses, Mechanical losses, Shunt field losses
Variable losses: Copper loss.
Q. Explain armature reaction?
A. Armature reaction is the effect of magnetic field setup by armature current on the distribution of flux under main
poles of a generator. The armature magnetic field has two effects
a. It demagnetizes or weakens the main flux
b. It cross-magnetizes or distorts it.
The first effect leads to reduced generated voltage and second to the sparking at the brushes.
Q. Why do we use compensation windings?
A. Compensation windings are used to neutralize the cross magnetizing effect of armature reaction.
Q. What if there are no compensation windings?
A. In the absence of compensation windings the flux will be suddenly shifting backward and forward with every
change in load inducing an e.m.f in the armature coils. The magnitude of this e.m.f may be so high as to strike an
arc between the consecutive commutator segments. This may further develop into a flash-over around the whole
commutator thereby short circuiting the whole armature.
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Q. What is commutation?
A. The currents in the coils connected to a brush are either all towards the brush (positive brush) or all directed
away from the brush (negative brush). Therefore, current in a coil will reverse as the coil passes a brush. The
reversal of current in a coil as the coil passes the brush axis is called commutation.
Q. How do you improve Commutation?
A. Improving commutation means to make current reversal in the short-circuited coil as spark less as possible.
This can be done using
(i) Resistance commutation
(ii) E.M.F. commutation
Q. What is voltage regulation?
A. The change in terminal voltage of a generator between full and no load (at constant speed) is called the voltage
regulation. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the voltage at full-load.
%Voltage Regulation=(VNL-VFL)/VFL*100
VNL= Terminal voltage of generator at No load.
VFL= Terminal voltage of generator at full load.
Q. What are the advantages of parallel operation of generators?
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A. 1. Continuity of service
2. Efficiency
3. Maintenance and Repair
4. Increasing plant capacity
5. Non availability of single large unit

D.C Motor:
Q. What is the principle of operation of a D.C Motor?
A. The operation of a D.C Motor based on the principle that when a current carrying conductor is placed in a
magnetic field, the conductor experiences a mechanical force. Basically, there is no constructional difference
between a d.c. motor and a d.c generator. The same d.c. machine can be run as a generator or motor.
Q. What is back e.m.f or counter e.m.f?
A. When the armature of a d.c. motor rotates under the influence of the driving torque, the armature conductors
move through the magnetic field and hence e.m.f. is induced in them as in a generator. The induced e.m.f. acts in
opposite direction to the applied voltage V (Lenzs law) and in known as back or counter e.m.f Eb. It is always less
than the applied voltage V, although this difference is small when the motor is running under normal conditions.
Q. What is speed regulation?
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A. Speed regulation is the change in speed when the load on the motor is reduced from rated value to zero. It is
expressed as a percentage of rated load speed.
Q. Why series motor cannot be started on no-load?
A. Series motor cannot be started without load because of high starting torque. Series motor are used in Trains,
Crane etc.
Q: Which type of motor is used in trains, what is the rating of supply used?
A. Dc series is in the used in trains to get high starting torque while starting of the trains and the operating voltage
is 1500v dc.
Q. Explain different methods of speed control of d.c shunt motors?
A. Speed control of a d.c shunt motor can be done using
1. Flux control method (N1/)
2. Armature control method
3. Voltage control method
Q. Explain different methods of speed control of d.c series motors?
A. Speed control of a d.c series motor can be done using
1. flux control method
2. Armature-resistance control control method
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Q. Why is the starting current high in a DC motor (or) Why do we use a starter?
A. For DC motors, Voltage equation is
V=Eb-IaRa
Where V = Terminal voltage,
Eb = Back emf in Motor
Ia = Armature current
Ra = Aramture resistance.
At starting, Eb is zero. Therefore, V=IaRa, Ia = V/Ra, where Ra is very less like 0.01ohm.i.e, Ia will become
enormously increased. The excessive current will damage commutator and brushes and eventually blow out the
fuses.
Q. How can you reverse the direction of rotation of a D.C Motor?
A. We can reverse the direction of rotation of a D.C Motor by either reversing the field current or armature current.
If both the currents are reversed the motor will run in original direction.
Q. Why the field of a D.C Shunt motor should not be open?
A. The shunt motor will achieve dangerously high speed and may destroy itself.
Q. What will happen if the direction of current at the terminals of a D.C Motor is reversed?
A. The direction of rotation of motor remains the same as current in armature and field.
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Q. What happens when a D.C motor is connected across an A.C supply?

A. 1. The motor will run but it would not carry same load as it would on d.c supply.
2. More sparking at the brushes
3. Eddy currents will be high and will cause overheating and may eventually burn on a.c supply
Q: Mention the methods for starting an induction motor?
A. 1. DOL direct online starter
2. Star delta starter
3. Auto transformer starter
4. Resistance starter
5. Series reactor starter
Q. What are the types of starters used for starting of D.C Motors?
A. There are two principal types of d.c. motor starters viz., three-point starter and four-point starter. As we shall
see, the two types of starters differ only in the manner in which the no-volt release coil is connected.
Q. What are the advantages of star-delta starter with induction motor?
A. The main advantage of using the star delta starter is reduction of current during the starting of the motor.
Starting current is reduced to 3-4 times of current of Direct online starting. As the starting current is reduced, the
voltage drops during the starting of motor in systems are reduced.

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Q. What are the different tests conducted on D.C Machines?

A. 1. Brake test
2. Swinburnes test or No-load test
3. Regeneration test or Hopkinsons test
4. Retardation or Running down test
Q. Why is Swinburnes test conducted?
A. Swinburnes test is conducted at No-load condition to predetermine the efficiency at different loads and to
measure the losses separately.

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DILEEP
Dileep is the contributing editor of electricalprep.com.

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1 comment 4 months ago

devendra tiwari mr.dileep defination of power factor

Aristopher pls provide link to download it....

u have given is truely wrong!

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