DC Motor

Q1. Write the working principle of a DC Motor.

A1. Basic Principle:

Working Principle: In a DC Motor when field magnets are excited and its armature conductors
are supplied with current from the supply mains, they experience a force tending to rotate the
armature. Armature conductors under N-pole are assumed to carry downwards(crosses) and those
under S-pole are assumed to carry current upwards(dots). By applying Flemming’s Left Hand
Rule, the direction of the force on each conductor can be found. It is shown by small arrows
placed above each conductor. It will be seen that each conductor can be found. It will be seen
that each conductor experience a force F which tends to rotate the armature in anti-clockwise
direction. These forces collectively produce a driving torque which sets the armature rotating.

Q2. Write the Significance of back e.m.f in a DC Motor.

A2. When the motor armature rotates, the conductor also rotates and hence it cut the flux. In
arcordance with the laws of electromagnetic induction, e.m.f. is induced in them whose direction,
as found by Fleming’s Right-hand rule, is in opposition to the applied voltage. Because of its
opposite direction, it is referred to as counter e.m.f. or back e.m.f. Eb . The equivalent circuits of
a motor is shown in the following figure:-

The rotating armature generating the back e.m.f. Eb put across a supply mains of V volts.
Obviously, V has to drive Ia against the opposition of Eb. . The power required to overcome this
opposition is Eb Ia.

In this case of a cell, this power over an interval of time is converted into chemical energy, but in
the present case, it is converted to into mechanical energy

Net _ Voltage V  Vb
It will be seen that I a
 
Resis tan ce Ra
Where Ra is the resistance of the armature circuit. As pointed out above,

Eb = ϕ Z N * (P/A) Volt where N is in r.p.s.

Back e.m.f. depends, among other factors, upon the armature speed. If the speed is high, Eb is
large, hence armature current Ia, seen from the above equation, is small. If the speed is less, then
Eb is less, hence more current flows which develops motor torque. So, we find that Eb acts like a
governor i.e., it makes a motor self-regulating

Q3. What will happen if the back emf of a DC motor vanishes suddenly?

A3. If back emf vanishes suddenly, motor circuit will try to retain back EMF by drawing more
current from supply. If supplying unit didn’t trip down by this time, excess current in armature
may heat up the armature.

Q4. Why are some parts of a de machine laminated?

A4. Some parts of a DC machine are laminated because to reduce the eddy current losses.

Q5. Explain the functions of brushes and commutator in a de machine.

A5. Function of Brushes: It carries the current from commutator and gives it the load

Function of Commutator: It carries current from armature winding and provide it to the
brushes.

Q6. What is meant by self excitation of a de generator?

A6. Self excitation of a DC generator means that the field winding of a DC generator is
magnetized or excited from the current produced by the DC generator itself.

Q7. What is meant by separately excitation of a de generator?

A7. Separately excitation of a DC generator means that the field winding of a DC generator is
magnetized or excited from external DC source such as battery etc.

Q8. Write the voltage equation of a DC motor.

A8.
Q9. Write the condition for Maximum Power for a DC motor.

A9.

Eb = V/2

Where Eb = Back EMF & V= Terminal Voltage

Q10. Write the application for Shunt, Series and Compound Motor.

A10.

Q.11. What is the necessity of a Starter in a DC motor?

A.11. Whenever a DC MOTOR starts it requires a current that is equal to 5-6 times its load
current to start. Thus it is required to reduce the voltage when the motor starts. This job is done
with a starter. In its simplest form, the starter of a dc motor works like a variable resistance in
series with the armature circuit. Its work is to reduce the starting voltage upto such a value so
that the increased current does not burn the armature windings. As the rotating armature of dc
motor picks up speed, the starter resistance is gradually reduced to almost zero. At full speed the
motor starts running normally, i.e. the job of starter finishes here.
In other words, the starter offers resistance during starting of dc motor only to provide large
current. At full speed, the starter is electrically out of armature circuit of the motor.