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WardLeonardMethodofSpeedControl|Electrical4u

WardLeonardMethodofSpeedControl
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Ward Leonard control system is introduced

by Henry Ward Leonard in 1891. Ward
Leonardmethodofspeedcontrolisusedfor
controllingthespeedofaDCmotor.Itisa
basicarmaturecontrolmethod.Thiscontrol
systemisconsistingofadcmotorM_1and
powered by a DC generator G. In this
methodthespeedofthedcmotor(M_1)is
controlled by applying variable voltage
acrossitsarmature.Thisvariablevoltageis
obtainedusingamotorgeneratorsetwhich
consistsofamotorM_2(eitheracordcmotor)directlycoupledwiththegeneratorG.
ItisaverywidelyusedmethodofspeedcontrolofDCmotor.

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PrincipleofWardLeonardMethod

BasicconnectiondiagramoftheWardLeonardspeedcontrolsystemisshowninthe
figurebelow.

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WardLeonardMethodofSpeedControl|Electrical4u

ThespeedofmotorM1istobecontrolledwhichispoweredbythegeneratorG.The
shuntfieldofthemotorM1isconnectedacrossthedcsupplylines.Now,generatorG
isdrivenbythemotorM2.ThespeedofthemotorM2isconstant.Whentheoutput
voltageofthegeneratorisfedtothemotorM1thenthemotorstartstorotate.When
the output voltage of the generator varies then the speed of the motor also varies.
Nowcontrollingtheoutputvoltage of the generator the speed of motor can also be
controlled. For this purpose of controlling the output voltage, a field regulator is
connectedacrossthegeneratorwiththedcsupplylinestocontrolthefieldexcitation.
ThedirectionofrotationofthemotorM1canbereversedbyexcitationcurrentofthe
generatoranditcanbedonewiththehelpofthereversingswitchR.S.Butthemotor
generatorsetmustruninthesamedirection.

AdvantagesofWardLeonardSystem

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WardLeonardMethodofSpeedControl|Electrical4u

AdvantagesofWardLeonardSystem
1.Itisaverysmoothspeedcontrolsystemoveraverywiderange(fromzeroto
normalspeedofthemotor).

2.Thespeedcanbecontrolledinboththedirectionofrotationofthemotoreasily.

3.Themotorcanrunwithauniformacceleration.

4.SpeedregulationofDCmotorinthiswardLeonardsystemisverygood.

DisadvantagesofWardLeonardSystem
1.The system is very costly because two extra machines (motorgenerator set)
arerequired.

2.Overallefficiencyofthesystemisnotsufficientespeciallyitislightlyloaded.

ApplicationofWardLeonardSystem
This Ward Leonard method of speed control system is used where a very wide and
very sensitive speed control is of a DC motor in both the direction of rotation is
required.Thisspeedcontrolsystemismainlyusedincollierywinders,cranes,electric
excavators,minehoists,elevators,steelrollingmillsandpapermachinesetc.

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