1. Identify one tool/machine/application that used dc motor/dc generator at your home.

Inspect its rating in terms of power,voltage, current etc. Support your explanation with
photos of the machine and its rating plate. Discuss how the system works and relate the
role of the dc motor/dc generator that used. Based on the application, why do think the
dc motor/dc generator is being used instead of other type of machine? Is there any
drawback or limitation coming from the machine that used dc type? Evaluate which
type of losses that will influence the performance of the machine that you investigate.
[50 marks]
NOTEBOOK COOLER
Specification
Rated voltage: 5VDC
Operating Voltage: 4.5~5VDC
Starting Voltage: 4VDC
Rated Current: 0.13+10%A
Power input: 0.65W

Figure 1: Notebook/laptop cooler

 Figure 2: Rating plate of notebook cooler

How this system works?

This laptop cooler is a durable, yet lightweight metal laptop cooling pad that supports
netbooks or laptops ranging in size upto 17-inches. The cooler features a built-in five cooling
fan that work in high effective speed and produces very low noise during operation, which
will absolutely dissipate computer heat quickly away from laptop during operation so as to
prevent your laptop from overheated and better the performance of your computer. It powered
through USB connection to the laptop/netbook, which eliminates the need for an external
power adapter while quietly keeping your mobile computer cool for optimum performance. .

Role of DC motor
The motor is the basis of the cooling pad and derives its power from the laptop
through the USB port. The motor used in pad has a permanent magnet and can provide
speeds from 600RPM to 2300RPM and more. Laptop/notebook PC cooling fans demand low
noise and high efficiency. So that, the brushless dc motor is used. . The advantages of
brushless motors over motors with brushes is quite obvious, they produce less noise, they do
not produce sparks, and they are more reliable.

Why brushless DC motor is used instead of other types of machine?

In terms of differences, the name is a dead giveaway. Brushless DC motors lack brushes. But
their design differences are bit more sophisticated. A brushless DC motor mounts its
permanent magnets, usually four or more, around the perimeter of the rotor. Efficiency is a
primary selling feature for brushless DC motors. Because the rotor is the sole bearer of the
magnets, it requires no power, no connections, no commutator, and no brushes. Obviously,
brushless dc motor is more reliable and has more advantages as stated above. Compared to
brush motor it inadequate heat dissipation caused by the rotor limitations, high rotor inertia,
low speed range due to limitations imposed by the brushes, and electromagnetic interference
(EMI) generated by brush arcing.

Drawback or limitation coming from the machine that used dc type and type of losses
The drawback of using dc type is the dc motor needs high maintenance. Proper care are
required to maintain the mechanical interface used to get current to the rotating field.
Maintenance includes the comutator themselves. Dc types also not suitable in very clean
environment because it is vulnerable to dust which decreases performance. Type of losses is
copper losses

2. Identify machine that used dc motor/dc generator in industry.

Determine the features and its operating condition. Why do
you thing the machine is using dc instead of ac?

VACUUM CLEANER
 Figure 3: Wet or dry vacuum cleaner motor

Operating condition

o Equipment operating in environments requiring separation of working air from

motor ventilating air

o For wet/dry applications

o Commercial car wash

o Central vacuums

o Extractors

Features:

o Rated voltages: 240V

o Airflow (CFM): 85
 o Power range: 1000W

o stage: 3

o Working condition: continuous

o Loaded condition: vacuum cleaner

o Insulation: class B

o High quality, high efficiency, high reliability, little vibration, low noise

Since the speed of an AC motor depends on the frequency of the alternating current that
drives it, it turns at a constant speed unless you use a variable-frequency drive; the speed of
DC motors is much easier to control simply by turning the supply voltage up or down.
Though relatively simple, AC motors can be fairly heavy and bulky because of their coil
windings. Unlike DC motors, they cannot be driven from batteries or any other source of DC
power (solar panels, for example) without using an inverter (a device that turns DC into AC).
That's because they need a changing magnetic field to turn the rotor.

3. DC machine can be operated either as a motor or generator. Discuss its principle

when it is operated as a motor and a generator.

DC motor
DC machine is operated as a motor when when it is converts dc electrical energy to
mechanical energy. The principle of the operation of a dc motor is that whenever a current
carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a mechanical force. The
electrical system makes current flow through conductors that are placed in the magnetic field.
A force is produced on each conductor. If the conductors are placed on structure free to rotate,
an electromagnetic torque will be produced, tending to make the rotating structure rotate at
some speed. If the conductors rotate in a magnetic field, a voltage will also be induced in
each conductor.

Figure 4

Consider a coil in a magnetic field of flux density B in figure 4.When armature windings are
connected to a DC supply, current sets up in the winding. Magnetic field may be provided by
field winding (electromagnetism) or by using permanent magnets. In this case, current
carrying armature conductors experience force due to the magnetic field, according to the
principle stated above.A force is exerted on the coil as a result of the interaction of magnetic
field and electric current. The force on the two sides of the coil is such that the coil starts to
move in the direction of force. In an actual DC motor, several such coils are wound on the
rotor, all of which experience force, resulting in rotation.

DC generator

DC machine is operated as a motor when when it is converts mechanical energy to electrical

energy. The principle of the operation of a dc motor is that whenever a conductor moves in a
magnetic field, voltage is induced in a conductor. In generating action, the process is reversed
from motoring action. In this case, the rotating structure, the rotor is driven by a prime mover
such a steam turbine or a diesel engine. A voltage will be iinduced in the conductors that are
rotating with the rotor. If an electrical load is connected to the winding formed by these
conductors, a current wiil flow, delivering electoral power to the load. Moreover, the current
flowing through the conductor will interact with the magnetic field to produce a reaction
torque, which will tend to oppose the torque applied by the prime mover.

According to Faradays laws of electromagnetic induction, whenever a conductor is placed in

a varying magnetic field (OR a conductor is moved in a magnetic field), an emf
(electromotive force) gets induced in the conductor. The magnitude of induced emf can be
calculated from the emf equation of dc generator. If the conductor is provided with the closed
path, the induced current will circulate within the path. In a DC generator, field coils produce
an electromagnetic field and the armature conductors are rotated into the field. Thus, an
electromagnetically induced emf is generated in the armature conductors. The direction of
induced current is given by Flemings right hand rule.

Figure 5: DC Generator in principle of operation.

A DC generator is shown in figure 5. Let the armature be driven by a prime mover in the
clock wise direction and the stator field is excited so as to produce the stator poles as shown.
There will be induced voltage in each armature conductor. The direction of the induced
voltage can be ascertained by applying Fleming's right hand rule. All the conductors under
the influence of south pole will have directed induced voltage, while the conductors under
the influence of North pole will have: induced voltage in them. For a loaded generator the
direction of the armature current will be same as that of the induced voltages. Thus and
also represent the direction of the currents in the conductors. We know, a current carrying
conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences force, the direction of which can be
obtained by applying Fleming's left hand rule. Applying this rule to the armature conductors
in figure 5, we note that rotor experiences a torque (Te) in the counter clockwise direction
(opposite to the direction of rotation).