THE UNIVERSITY OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

FINAL ASSESSMENT/EXAMINATIONS DECEMBER 2013

Course Code and Title: POWA3003_PCVD320B: Power Converters and Drivers

Programme: B.A.Sc. / M.Eng. Utilities Engineering

Date and Time: Wednesday 18th December 2013 Duration: 9.00am – 12.00noon

PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS

EXAMINATION

Instructions to Candidates

1. This paper has SEVEN (7) pages and SEVEN (7) questions.
2. You are required to answer ONLY SIX (6) questions.

Key Examination Protocol

1. Students please note that academic dishonesty (or cheating) includes but is not limited to
plagiarism, collusion, falsification, replication, taking unauthorised notes or devices into an
examination, obtaining an unauthorised copy of the examination paper, communicating or
trying to communicate with another candidate during the examination, and being a party to
impersonation in relation to an examination.
2. The above mentioned and any other actions which compromise the integrity of the academic
evaluation process will be fully investigated and addressed in accordance with UTT’s
academic regulations.
3. Please be reminded that speaking without the Invigilator’s permission is NOT allowed.

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December 2013 Final Examinations
POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 1 of 7
Problem (1) [10 %]
a) What are main components of an electric drive system? Show a block diagram. State the
function of each component.

b) What are the main factors which decide the choice of an electrical drive for a given
application?

c) What are different types of load requirements (torques)? Give Examples for each load type

d) What effect does armature reaction have on the torque-speed characteristics of a shunt DC
motor? Can the effect of armature reaction be serious? What can be done to remedy this
problem?

Problem (2) [10 %]

(a) Drive an expression for the speed torque relationship of a series DC-motor?

(b) What are the various methods of varying the speed of Series DC motors? What are the
advantages and disadvantages of each method?

(c) A 20-hp, 240-V, 76-A, 1200 r/min series motor has a field winding of 33 turns per pole. Its
armature resistance is 0.09 Ω, and its field resistance is 0.06 Ω. The magnetization curve
expressed in terms of magnetomotive force versus EA at 1200 r/min is given by the
following Figure:

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POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 2 of 7
Armature reaction is negligible in this machine. Find the new motor speeds in rpm and
developed torques in N.m for these different loading conditions. Then Draw the T-n motor
Characteristic

Ia (A) 25 50 75 100 125 150

Ea (V)
N (rpm)
T (N.m)

Problem (3) [10 %]

a) What are the various methods of varying the speed of Separate excited DC motors? What are
the advantages and disadvantages of each method?

b) What are the various components used in DC speed control?

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December 2013 Final Examinations
POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 3 of 7
c) A 100 hp, 220 V, 1200 rpm DC shunt motor with an armature resistance of 0.05  and a
field resistance of 50 . The motor has compensating windings, so armature reactance can be
ignored. Mechanical and core losses may be ignored also. The motor is driving a drilling
machine, TL  (1/n). The motor is driving a load with a line current of 120 A and an initial
speed of 1200 rpm. Assume Linear Magnetization curve

i. What is the motor speed if the field resistance is increased to 55? While supplying a
constant-torque load
ii. Calculate the motor speed as a function of the field resistance, assuming a constant-
Load Torque. Plot the motor speed as a function of the field resistance.

RFC 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
Nm 1200

Problem (4) [10 %]

a) Why starter is needed to start DC machine? Explain your answer using the following graphs;
time versus speed, time versus the generated Voltage (Ea) and time versus the armature
current.

b) With the help of neat and clean diagram explain the working principle of the automatic
starter of the separate excited DC motor.

c) A 5-kW, 250-V shunt motor has an armature resistance of 0.1 Ω and a field-circuit
resistance of 80 Ω. When the motor is operating at rated voltage, the speed is observed to be
1200 r/min when the machine is loaded such that the armature current is 30 A. In order to
protect both the motor and the dc supply under starting conditions, an external resistance
will be connected in series with the armature winding (with the field winding remaining
directly across the 250-V supply). The resistance will then be automatically adjusted in steps
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POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 4 of 7
 so that the armature current does not exceed 300 percent of rated current. The step size will
be determined such that, until all the external resistance is switched out, the armature current
will not be permitted to drop below 150 percent of rated current. In other words, the machine
is to start with 300 percent of rated armature current and as soon as the current falls to 150
percent of rated current, sufficient series resistance is to be cut out to restore the current to
300 percent. This process will be repeated until all of the series resistance has been
eliminated.

i. Find the maximum value of the series resistance.

ii. How much resistance should be cut out at each step in the starting operation and
iii. At what speed should each step change occur?
iv. Plot the following graphs; time versus speed, time versus the generated Voltage (Ea) and
time versus the armature current.

Problem (5) [5 %]
a) Explain hoist operation:--
i. Loaded cage to be taken up against weight.
ii. Empty cage to be taken up against free upwards.
iii. Empty cage to be taken down against free upwards.
iv. Loaded cage to be taken down against free down movement.

b) Give the type of load torque for

i. Fan,
ii. centrifugal pump,
iii. compressor,
iv. Ship propeller.

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POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 5 of 7
c) A 250 volts shunt motor run at 1800 rpm when the armature current is 100 A, the armature
circuit resistance is 0.3 ohms.
i. Find the required resistance to be added in series with the armature to reduce the speed to
1000 rpm while supply a constant load torque.

ii. Calculate the motor speed as a function of the added resistance, assuming a constant-Load
Torque. Plot the motor speed as a function of the added resistance.

Radded 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8

Nm 1800

Problem (6) [10 %]

a) What is regenerative braking? Describe the regenerative braking in separately excited DC
motor and series excited DC motor with the help of neat circuit diagrams.

b) What is dynamic braking? Give equivalent circuit diagram for dynamic braking in a
separately excited motor

c) A separate excited DC motor is running at 1000 rpm when the armature voltage is 600 V.
The motor has a field constant K = 4 V.sec and the armature resistance of the motor is 0.8
Ω.

i. Calculate the value of the resistance of the dynamic braking at full load. The armature current
should be limited to 200 % of the rated value.
ii. If the motor operates in regenerative braking at a speed of 1200 rpm, calculate the armature
current.

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POWA3003_PCVD320B Page 6 of 7
iii. If the terminal voltage is reversed and reduced to 90 V, calculate the steady-state speed of the
motor.
iv. Calculate the terminal voltage required to block (stop) the rotor.
v. Sketch the speed-torque characteristics and show all operating conditions.

Problem (7) [10 %]

a) With a neat circuit diagram, explain the operation of single phase fully controlled rectifier
fed DC motor. Compare a semi-controlled rectifier with a fully controlled rectifier fed DC
drive.

b) Explain with neat circuit diagram and waveforms, a dual converter fed dc motor drive. Get
the expression for the average output voltage.

c) The speed of a 10 hp, 220 V, 1200 rpm separately excited DC motor is controlled by a
single-phase full-controlled dual converter. The rated current is 40 A. Ra= 0.25 ohm, and La=
10mH. The AC supply voltage is 265 V. Motor constant is Ka=0.18 V/rpm. Assume the
motor current is constant and ripple free. Determine converter firing angles for the following
operating points:

i. Motoring operation at rated motor torque and 750 rpm.

ii. Braking operation at rated motor torque and 750 rpm.
iii. Motoring operation at rated motor torque and (-500) rpm.
iv. Braking operation at rated motor torque and (-500) rpm.

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