Mapua Institute of Technology

School of EECE

DC Shunt Generator
Experiment No.1

Leader: Sartin, Raymart P.

Member: Blastique, Harold A.
Cabral, Angelo Albert B.

Date Performed: 23 July 2013

Date Submitted: 30 July 2013
Grade

Engr. Paulo Tindogan

Professor

Experiment 1: The DC Shunt Generator

Harold A. Blastique#1, Angelo Albert B. Cabral*2, Raymart P. Sartin#3
#

School of EECE, Department of EE, Mapa Institute of Technology

Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
1

harold_blastique@yahoo.com

angelo_albert07@yahoo.com.ph
3

raymart.sartin@yahoo.com

Abstract The small voltage generated is due to the residual flux

when the field current is zero. The output voltage increases as the
rotation increases due to the increase also of the field current. In
a shunt excited shunt generator, flux became small due to the
field current that decreases as the terminal voltage decreases.
Keywords residual flux, self-excited shunt generator, field
current, rheostats, and motor speed

I. INTRODUCTION
Direct current devices are used frequently in todays
technology. Rotating electrical machines are widely used for
converting energy from one form to another. Dc generator and
dc motor are the two frequently used machines. In studying dc
generator, there are three types of dc generator: shunt, series,
and compound. Each type can be characterized by its field
winding or windings. If the excitation is produced by a field
winding that is connected to full the machine is known as dc
shunt generator. The winding of a dc shunt generator is
connected in parallel with the generator armature.
The excitation current in a shunt generator is dependent
upon the output voltage and the field resistance. Normally,
field excitation is maintained between 0.5 and 5 percent of the
total current output of the generator.
The shunt generator, running at a constant speed under
varying load conditions, has a much more stable voltage
output than does a series generator. Some change in output
voltage does take place. This change is caused by the fact that,
as the load current increases, the voltage drop across the
armature coil increases, causing output voltage to decrease. As
a result, the current through the field decreases, reducing the
magnetic field and causing voltage to decrease even more.
II. METHODOLOGY
The materials used in the experiment were FH2 MkIV Test
Bed, FH50 DC Compound Machine, V2 DC Voltmeter, A2
DC Ammeter, R1 Resistive load, R2 General Purpose
Rheostat and FH210 Automatic Constant speed unit. After
Gathering all the materials, we can now connect the circuit.

Figure 1 Set Up for Run 1

Before connecting the wires, we individually check their

connectivity using the Voltmeter, this will help us to be sure
that there will be no open circuit once we connect the circuit
diagram. Having no connectivity of the wire is one of the
common erorr that has been done in the past which was told
by our professor.
The first part of the experiment aims to investigate the
relationship between the open circuit voltage and the field
current for a DC shunt generator having a shunt field windings
separately excited and the armature driven at constant speed.
We first placed the two motor at the left and right place of the
dynamometer, Be sure the pin is properly inserted into the
hole to make it stable. After checking the connectivity of the
wire, we now connect the circuit diagram. TO easily connect
the circuit, just have a loop from left then to right on each
component. . To run the generator, We need to turn on the
three switches, the main switch, the green on Button then start
the prime over to rotate the armature rheostat.
We now set the rotation of machine to 1500 rev/min by
the armature rheostat. Make the field current to zero by setting
the R1 on its maximum resistance. Increase the value of the
field current to a desired interval by adjusting the R1, then
read its Voltage. Make 8 to 10 ,then the rotation must be
constant to 1500 rpm in every trial. Then decrease now the
values of field current by setting the R1 at its minimum value.

For the second part of the experiment, We determine the

Output Voltage, Field Current and Rev/min by varying the
output current . Adjust R1 to control current. Increase the
output current by rotating the R1 control clockwise. Make
sure that the motor speed is rotating at 1500 rev/min in every
trial to arrive to a good results. Adjust the armature rheostat
and maintain the exciting current, .

Figure 3 Set Up for Run III

III. RESULTS AND DATA ANALYSIS

TABLE I
INCREASING FIELD CURRENT

Figure 2 Set Up for Run II

In the third part of the experiment, determine the

Output Voltage, and Field Current with a constant motor
speed of 1500 rev/min for all values of Output current.
For the third part of the experiment, the machine speed is
1500 rev/min for every trial. Rotate R1 clockwise to
increase the output current and obtain the Output
Voltage, and Field Current. Note that to obtain good
results, the rheostat should turned in one direction only
and the motor speed.

Field Current
If(mA)
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110

Output Voltage
Eo(V)
38 V
46 V
54 V
60 V
66 V
72 V
100 V
120 V

TABLE II
DECREASING FIELD CURRENT

Field Current
If(mA)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30

Output Voltage
Eo(V)
72 V
66 V
60 V
53 V
47 V
39 V
32 V
28 V

Fig.1 Curve of results in Run 1

SEPARATELY EXCITED SHUNT GENERATOR

Trial
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Output
Voltage
90
88
86
84
82
80
78
76
74
72

Output
Current
0.15
0.17
0.19
0.21
0.22
0.24
0.25
0.27
0.29
0.31

Field
Current
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160
160

rev/min
1500
1486
1460
1440
1420
1400
1370
1350
1330
1310

In Fig.2 we can observed the relationship between the

output voltage and output current and that they are inversely
proportional with each other.
On self-excited shunt generator, the data was almost the
same with the separately excited shunt generator. Table IV
shows that the output voltage is also inversely proportional
with the output current, but the field current is decreasing. It
also shows that when the output voltage is decreased, the field
current is also decreased and vice versa.
In Fig.3 we can observed the relationship between the
output voltage and output current and that they are inversely
proportional with each other.

Fig.3 Curve of results in Run 3

Fig.2 Curve of results in Run 2

TABLE IV
SELF- EXCITED SHUNT GENERATOR

Trial
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Output
Voltage
90
88
86
84
82
80
78
76
74
72

Output
Current
0.04
0.04
0.045
0.06
0.08
0.1
0.12
0.14
0.16
0.18

Field
Current
126
124
122
120
120
120
120
115
110
100

rev/min
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165
165

On the first part of the experiment, we can see on Table I

that increasing the field current will also increase value of the
output voltage. On the other hand, decreasing the value of the
field current will also decrease the value of the output voltage
which is based on Table II. By this observation, the field
current is directly proportional to the output voltage.
On Table III, as the output voltage decreases, the output
current increases. In addition, it also shows that whether there
is a change on the value of the output current and output
voltage, the field current is constant all throughout. By this
observation, the output current is inversely proportional to the
output voltage.

IV. CONCLUSION
After performing the experiment, we can conclude that the
field current of the generator is proportional to the output
voltage. When the field current, I f, increases, the output
voltage or the open-voltage also increases. The relationship
between the field current and the output voltage is still
proportional when the value of the field current is decreased.
For the separately excited shunt wound generator, we
have observed that having an increasing output current and a
decreasing output voltage, the field current is constant all
throughout the experiment as seen on Table III.
For the self-excited shunt wound generator, we have
observed that the output current increases and as we decrease
the output voltage, field current also increases.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, we are very thankful that we finished this
experiment on time, thanks to our professor, Engr. Paolo
Tindogan, for guiding us and giving us support in performing
the experiment. And lastly, to God who guided us and gave us
strength and knowledge in doing the experiment.
VI. REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]

http://www.ehow.com/list_7577812_characteristics-dc-shuntgenerator.html#ixzz2aRM6slAj
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunt_generator
Electrical Machines Direct and Alternating Current by Charles S.
Siskind

VII.

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET